Why Women In Business Should Do Business With Other Women!

This might be a controversial subject, but one worth exploring in my opinion. I think we would all agree women have come along way in business, especially since the 1960's. I think we would also agree women have much more work ahead of them to have equal access to pay, respect, and relevance in the business world. But are we doing enough to help each other? I worry about this as a business owner.

My stance is I feel compelled as a woman in business (for over 25 years) to conduct business with other women, if possible. I've witnessed the inequality time and time again, and I am determined to see women through probably the most important time of their lives, right now. We need to support and propel each other in business for the following 3 reasons:

• NOW is the time!! Not next year or the year after, but now. Why? Because women in business growth has been on the rise for a few years, and you need to get into the action now. 
• All the stars are aligned NOW! There has never been a better time in history to advocate for and endorse women in business. The internet and technology have given us this perfect opportunity to create and manifest our own passions and results.
• Women can make a huge difference in business, bringing many traits our males counterparts might not possess, like intuition, stability, and passion. Even emotional support during difficult times, such as divorce, or death of a spouse.

I know many will disagree with me and make statements like:

"I need to do business with men in order to stay afloat", or

"I will miss opportunities on half the population", or

"This is sexist"

I am not advocating that we take men out of the mix. I am only suggesting when you have a job to do, and you are the decision-maker or influencer, try to direct your business to another woman with the same qualifications, if appropriate. Many people support men and women alike in business, but how many women support and advocate for each other?

Comments always welcome...

Donna Slater

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Why I Will Never Go Back To Corporate America!

Just look at this beautiful scenery above. This scenery represents peace, calm, presence, and happiness. I made a huge decision to leave my corporate job December 2013. At that time, the decision was practically a no-brainer for me. I had to eliminate stress in my life, and my job was the least of my priorities. Most people will never understand this decision because I had a good job, great colleagues, and I had no job to go to! But, what most people won't understand, these are the exact reasons I left my job!

I worked in Corporate America for over 25 years.  I had a very satisfactory journey, and will not regret one moment.....for the most part! LOL. However, over those years, I've developed quite a perspective of WHAT Corporate America DOES to most people over a long period of time. Here are the 3 top examples:

• IT creates unbelievable stress for employees, because companies are forced (by Wall Street) to squeeze margins, so much that employees are performing the jobs of many people at one time. Corporate America dictates that we do more with less.
• IT creates animosity among employees, because those same employees (who are performing 2 or 3 jobs) are now forced into "positioning" themselves against their colleagues, supervisors, and direct's for the same jobs.
• IT creates horrible client satisfaction, because there is simply not enough people to do all the work client's expect and deserve.

It's all one big snowball effect. Team members become jaded, distrustful of leadership, and create overall office dissension amongst team members. For me, Corporate America turned people (I worked with), whom I've grown to really love and care for, become frantic, distressed, paranoid, and unhappy. 

If nothing else, Corporate America prepared me for how to live the second part of my life, with grace, integrity, dignity, and peace! All that matters now is I will continue to grow, but in my own business, with what Corporate America taught me the last 25 years. And, I know this journey will be amazing without all those factors I left behind. 

thanks for following....

Donna

Women In Business-Does Your Sales & Marketing Coach "Forecast Your Potential Results"?

When you go to market your product or service, the menu of options is vast, fast-moving, and overwhelming. You can literally spend 80% of your day figuring out how to: market your brand, lead generation strategies, and result tracking. No doubt these strategies are important, but my question to you is how do you complete the cycle if your coach or online system does not help you "forecast":

• what sales activities and processes you want to apply daily?
• how many products/service bundles you need to sell?
• which services/products do you need to sell (to maximize your margins)?
• what it takes (in dollars) to ensure you making more than you spend?

When you write your business plan, you "forecast" your sales, revenue, expenses, and risk, right? Why wouldn't your sales and marketing plan include forecasting "what-if scenarios", from safe to aggressive, which you will use as a base for HOW you modify your activities in the future?

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

 

Women Helping Women-How Can We Support & Advocate For Women In Business?

It's a simple question. Really? Really! Maybe we agree to disagree, but I only accept one answer to this question: JUST DO IT! 

It's time we stop all this nonsense (as my mother would say). It's time we stop all this competition, positioning, mania, and narcissism towards each other! It's time we change the pattern and "woman-up"! We are all guilty at some point or other. 

How can we support and advocate for women in business? Woman-Up!! We need to elevate, inspire, advocate, and support each other. Try these 3 rituals:

1. We are pros at developing and executing our daily rituals, aren't we, women? Try an additional ritual, and gift "a word of encouragement" to another woman in business. 
2. As women, we want to be respected, valued, and relevant. Try just a smile and thank you to another woman in business today.
3. We want our colleagues to listen to our ideas and provide valuable feedback. So, try to converse with each other with kindness, care and sincerity...and truth...and the rest will fall into place.

Simple...really...try, try, try, and just do it!!

Ladies, what one answer will you accept to this question?

thanks for joining me today...donna slater

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Women In Business-Why Everyone Deserves To Be "Coached" (Part 4 of 4)

Welcome back! Yesterday I gave you pointed questions to ask coaches and mentors, as you decide which coach is the best fit for you. I also gave you some things to think about as you listen to their answers (to your questions).

I will now demonstrate how you have a "secret coach" you probably did not even know existed. Think about it...

• We are coached everyday either formally or informally. During the normal course of our lives, we tell individuals something of significance to us every day, listen to their feedback, then act on their feedback, or not. If that person engages with you, listens to you, and provides some form of answer, advice, or statement, that moment could be a "coaching moment". 
• It is how you reflect and respond to the feedback which is the act of being "coached". You may or may not agree with their feedback. You may or may not have asked for coaching, but you might have given the other person the impression you were open to coaching.
• We all need an individual, other than a family member or friend, who can be "real" with us all the time. If that person is only there to tell you what you're doing is perfect, then you have affirmation your solutions are on track. Normally, it's another set of eyes and brains which is there to collaborate, brainstorm, offer other ideas or options, or become your partner in crime!

Even coaches need coaches...... which might be a surprise to some of you. Coaches and mentors are fallible, just like you and me, which means not everything they say and think is right or wrong,  and good or bad! It is simply something for you to consider, as you process your thoughts.

I have seen senior management in huge corporations being coached. Many chairman's have coaches or mentors. Not because they are weak, but because they are strong and always learning as a student of life!

I made an admission to myself last year that I am open to any kind of coaching everyday of my life! Yesterday, I was coached by my partner when I explained a time constraint in my day. ALLOW yourself to be coached, as it can be one of the most satisfying moments of your life. Listen to what people say, whether you agree or not. Reflect or act on their statements, whether it is to take action, or not take action.

WHO IS YOUR SECRET COACH THIS WEEK? Please respond and comment if you were the recipient of a coaching moment, and you now recognize that moment as such!

Hope you've enjoyed the 4 part series and have better insight into why everyones deserves to be coached.

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

www.women4womenclub.us

Women In Business-Why Everyone Deserves To Be "Coached" (Part 3 of 4)

Today, in part 3 of this series, I will give you pointed questions to ask prospective coaches and mentors. Tip: always listen to your gut!

Before you ask these questions and listen to their answers, keep in mind:

• It's not always the answer to the question which will help you make your decision. It's more about the manner in which they answer and how their answer makes you feel. Ask yourself: Are they on the same page with me? 
• Notice their tone and inflection. Are they reading from a script or do you hears words from their heart? Do you feel their passion about what they do?
• After a few minutes, take note if they are talking about themselves or the solution/answer to your issue? Are they answering the questions in my head? Does it sound feasible, or does it sound confusing?

Questions:

1. How is your style of coaching different from other coaches?
2. What benefits will I receive from you which I won't receive from other coaches?
3. How do you differentiate yourself from your competition?
4. How will we communicate?
5. How will we measure the success of our relationship?

Have fun with your conversations. Words should flow easily. The coach should make you feel like they are easy to talk to. Always listen to your gut!

Tomorrow, in part 4 of the series, I'm going to ask you who your secret coach might be.....

Thanks for joining me here and hope you enjoyed!

Donna Slater

Women4womenclub.US

Women In Business-Why Everyone Deserves To Be "Coached" (Part 2 of 4)

Welcome back. Yesterday in part 1 of this series, I described the experience of being coached and gave you 3 reasons why a coach adds more value than a friend or family member could possibly offer, consistently.

Though, let's be real. Finding the right coach can be challenging, and you have to kiss a lot of coaches before you find the right one. Bottom-line: you must feel a connection with your coach before you will ever believe anything they say; before you will trust their integrity; or before you will ever act on their suggestions or plans. 

A connection can come in many forms:

• a gut feeling
• intuition
• you both like the Dallas Cowboys
• ease of speaking with each other
• anything that tells you "I like this person"

The truth is there are no right or wrong answers. But, feeling that connection with anyone you work with is essential to the success of the relationship, and therefore, the success of the businesses. You cannot have a successful business relationship without a real connection between both parties. As a society, we know the phrase "relationship building" is utilized in sales organization's to seal a long-lasting business deal. But it doesn't just relate to a professional-client relationship. "Relationship Building" relates to all of our relationships, including B2B. 

Each and every small business owner deserves to be coached and expect a real connection with that coach or mentor. Do you need a coach? Will you allow yourself to be coached? Can you take the truth? If the person you engage with (as a coach or mentor) cannot evoke a feeling of calm with answers to those questions, he/she is not the right coach! 

Remember what I stated in part 1...The experience of being coached by somebody who has a vested interest in you, somebody you trust, and somebody who will except your vulnerability, will help you open doors in your life you hardly know exists. 

 

Tomorrow...part 3 of 4, I will give you specific questions to ask a potential coach/mentor and some insight into your "secret coach"!

Thanks for following...hope you enjoy!

Donna Slater

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Women In Business-Why Everyone Deserves To Be "Coached" (Part 1 of 4)

What is a coach? Oy vey, that's a loaded question! Coaches come in all forms, they excel in unique skills, and they all serve many purposes to society. No one coach is alike! In the society we live in they can be Business Coaches, Sport Coaches, Psychotherapists, Teachers, Life Coaches, Mentors, and on and on. The point is many individual people can serve others through "coaching" at different moments or periods in their life. By the way, I am not suggesting these individuals all serve the same purpose and can, therefore, be interchangeable. Just saying...don't get lost in the messaging.

Each and every one of us have engaged in "coaching", whether we were the recipient or the coach at some point in our lives. We all learn and grow until the day we die. If you are reading this and you think you have learned all you can learn, and grown as as a student of life as much as you possibly could, you need not read further. But, if you are a student of life, so to speak, and your brain is a sponge for information, intellect, and stimulation, allow yourself to be coached.

The experience of being coached by somebody who has a vested interest in you, somebody you trust, and somebody who will except your vulnerability, will help you open doors in your life you hardly know exists. 

Let's not go crazy, I am not comparing "coaches" to Archangels or Greek Goddesses. Coaches are just like you and me, come in all colors and religions, and some are smarter than others...enough said. However, I contend coaches can offer some unique traits that a friend or family member does not normally provide, even when asked. Consider these factors:

• Coaches will always tell you the truth, no matter what, simply because they are not your friend or family member. 
• Coaches will listen to you without judgement and understand your idiosyncrasies in a way no other individual can.
• Coaches will allow you to be a vulnerable student of life, guiding you through moments of dizziness to clarity, so to speak.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not insinuating our family and friends cannot provide us the supportive traits described above. But the truth is our family and friends cannot provide this support at all times. Whether it is because they have their own busy lives and stresses, or they are not skilled, nobody has a vested interest in you to excel like a coach or mentor does. 

Of course, finding the RIGHT COACH is another coaching opportunity...for another day.....tomorrow...

Thanks for reading my blog for women in business. Comments, topics, and perspectives are always welcome....

Donna Slater

Business Coach & Consultant

donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Women In Business - Small Business Sales Tip: Seek and Focus On "Qualified" Prospects

New Article:  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_Slater

ENJOY!!

Women In Business - How Well Do You Respond To The Sales Monster?

Having worked my entire career in a corporate sales culture (until last year), I have seen and heard it all from my colleagues and leaders. I've seen some of the best salespeople and some of the worse salespeople in action. I've seen producers trained to keep their prospect on the phone, even if the prospect has a stroke. I've seen producers trained to answer every objection a prospect might throw at them with a question. And, I've seen some of the smoothest salespeople, where even I want to purchase anything from them.

As a society, we don't answer the sales phone call or make eye contact in the department store when a salesperson is approaching us. For many, it's a source of anxiety and fear. Bottom line, sales can be so exhausting for many consumers and businesses.

Here is my sales monsters (yes, plural) story. Last year, I completed my name and phone number to an online ad for a refinance quote. Within 2 minutes, five different salespeople from different companies embarked on me like the monsters in my nightmares. Before I knew it, I was hiding behind the couch praying for the phone to stop ringing. These 5 individuals called me day and night, and some still call every now and then. None of them wanted to give me information, they only wanted to take my information. I had specific questions, where specific answers would give me the information I needed to make an informed decision. I became too frustrated to pursue the answers to my questions!

How do I respond to these sales monsters? Simple...I hide and pray them away. In case you are confused at this point, I do not respond very well to sales monsters. Are there women in small business who do respond well to sales monsters? I haven't met any....yet!

Seriously, not all salespeople are bad, many salespeople care about their prospects and clients. The truth is you do not have to respond well to sales monsters. We have a nation of salespeople who are kind and caring servants to people like you who just want a fair deal and real answers to questions (you need to make informed decisions). One last note, keep looking until you find that one person who doesn't stuff sales down your throat! They are out there!

Thanks for reading my 22 cents. Hope you enjoyed. Comments are welcome.
donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

"The Persuasion Sales & Marketing Recipe" for Women In Business

Are you confused by all the types of marketing, such as content marketing, strategic marketing, tactical marketing, social media marketing, etc? Join the club and let me introduce you to yet another type of marketing....Persuasion Marketing!

The reason why "persuasion marketing" is important is because this recipe will enable you look your prospects in the eye or send an email, and compel them to stop what they are doing, and listen to or read what you have to say. You have approximately 6 seconds to not only gain their attention, but to keep their attention through the recipe process, as well.

Persuasion Marketing is simply organizing the buying and
selling processes so you can present compelling information
about your product or service that will persuade your prospects
to take a specific action....

• All marketing should inform and persuade your prospects
• Marketing is a science that follows a very simple equation:

• It MUST grab the reader’s attention
• It MUST facilitate the prospect’s information gathering & decision making process
• It MUST provide a specific, low risk, easy to take action that helps them make a good decision

The Persuasion Sales & Marketing Recipe is:

•  Interrupt
•  Engage
•  Educate
•  Offer

Interrupt, Engage, Educate, and Offer are the secret ingredients and must be processed in order and naturally. You Interrupt with your headline or bold statement to your prospect. You Engage them by what you say next or your sub-headline, which is playing off of your interrupt ingredient. You then Educate them with a solution or idea for an issue in their head. Finally, you give them an Offer they can't refuse.

Follow the Persuasion Marketing Recipe and you will see results!

Hope you enjoyed...comments are welcome.... donnaslater@women4womenclub.us