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 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

Women In Business-Are We Ready To Take On Small Business As A Society?

Now is the time for women in business to excel and thrive in the small business world! We are poised to seriously move forward as a gender related society in small business. Women are everywhere, from politics to corporate leadership, but small business is where women have ample opportunity to excel and thrive now and into the next decade!

In my experience as a coach, I wonder if women are really ready to proceed as leaders in small business? I encounter resistance, insecurity, and passive characteristics with some clients and prospects. I feel they are almost ready, but not quite there yet. They have distrust for other people in small business, and wonder what's in it for them.

However, I also encounter women of great strength, courage, tenacity, and a feeling of indescribable unity (amongst all women in small business). Many women have identified the significance of their role and leadership in business, and I see the spirit of connectedness making a serious effort to advocate and advance women in all roles for the next few decades.

So, are we ready to take on small business as a society? Yes....and no is the correct answer. This is evolutionary, exciting, and scary. We are making progress and have ample opportunity for future market share, and the fear and anxiety we feel can only amplify our spirit to greatness.

Women in business.... let us seize the moment, unify in masses, and come forward to for all women everywhere, and for the strength of the women of the future!

Thanks and hope you enjoyed this message. Comments welcome. Contact me at   donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Why Having A Sales Plan Is An Essential Component To Your Marketing Plan

Author: Donna Slater

http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donna_Slater

Why Having A Sales Plan Is An Essential Component To Your Marketing Plan In Small Business by Donna Slater

Why is it that people in small business do not generally create and implement a written "marketing plan"? And, why is it that people in small business also do not generally implement a "sales plan" to compliment the marketing plan? Even if your plan is in your head, how are you tracking your activities? These are questions I ponder as I talk with small business owners every day. If your perspective of what exactly a "marketing plan" is and the value which it brings to your business is not aligned, you should take a step back and re-visit your goals, vision, and mission statements.

Your marketing plan is optimal when you're tracking your sales activities, which tie back to your marketing plan and who your ideal client is, what they want, and how they want it! The main key is to utilize strategy marketing vs. tactical marketing. Knowing your client's hot buttons, accessibility needs, what they are thinking, and how you differ from the last coach they spoke to, will give you the leverage you need to find qualified clients. Try to enter the thought process going on in your client's head during their decision process.

A sales plan is absolutely necessary to supplement your marketing efforts and implementation. This will determine whether you run your business with a revenue or expense focus. The no-brainer is we all should absolutely focus on revenue. (Another day, we'll talk about the Pareto's 80/20 rule, which is very interesting when you break down your daily activities). If you are a visual person, mind mapping is an effective way to create your sales process. Creating a sales process, while it sounds administrative, is actually a sales tool, rather than something to be perceived as negative.

Reflect on the following questions as it relates to your sales and marketing plans simultaneously:
1. Do I have a written marketing plan and is it effectively aligned with the values of my mission and vision statements? Are my daily activities reflective of the actions needed to support my vision and mission statements?
2. Am I meeting my financial expectations? Is the business making money? Could I take on more clients? What do I need to do to increase business, sales, and revenue?
3. Do I have different methods that separate me, or a bold statement I can back up with action?
4. Do I have opportunity to raise prices based on demand, my competitors, and the marketplace?

The common thread with small business growth is a well-thought marketing and sales plan. Once you have these in place and implemented, your "ideal client" will be obvious to you and your prospects. This is when you define who your "qualified client" and focus on those prospects 80% of your time. You and your client will have a win-win experience.
Finally, the questions above create great discussion points in any coaching, consulting, or general business. Thank you.

I will give anyone who enjoys this, my first article, a Comprehensive Business Assessment ($1,000 valued) for free for the remainder of January.. Comments are also welcome. Email donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru, or fill in your contact information at http://www.women4womenclub.guru/contact Alternatively, give me a call at 925-822-8519 for a free consultation.

About Me & What to Expect in Future Blogs

A little bit about me...

Hi, my name is Donna Slater. I am the founder and owner of Women4WomenClub. I created my company with passion and purpose, having identified a need and support for women in business. I spent the last 30 years in the corporate world, in some of the most fascinating roles, and learning valuable lessons and skills every day of my career.

What I have found through careful research and reflection, is I have a larger opportunity to grow with and impact other women in business, one on one in the small business arena, rather than working the masses in the corporate arena. The revelation in which I had greater opportunities as a woman, working and connecting with women, and providing all women in business a forum to mentor and collaborate, was a passionate cause, in which I was willing to commit the rest of my career.

As for my work history, I possess a finance background, with a focus on sales, revenue growth, lead generation, and analytics. Additionally, I incorporated leadership, coaching, operational processes, sales & marketing strategies, and coaching into my skillset, as a result of learning and growing every day.

I have worked at some of the most fascinating companies, where I was encouraged to grow, such as Wells Fargo NA, Morgan Stanley, and Balboa Thrift and Loan.

I am humbled talking about myself, as my real purpose and passion is to help and serve women in business find their own passion. I chose the gender association with women as a result of my experience in the corporate world, and the differences I witnessed with gender equality. I hesitate to state the obvious, but as a woman, I, therefore feel compelled to help and support other women in business create their own successes.

Committed to your success,

Donna

Future blogs will feature women's advancement & advocacy, sales and marketing strategies, women's issues, sales ideas. I will be real and transparent about my views, opinions, and non-judgements. If you like my blog, forward on to another women, who might enjoy the same content.

My Blog's Purpose...

I write this blog to allow women in business a platform to connect on many levels.....life, work, spiritual, creative, and business to find their passion. My passion in life and work is to help women, particularly in small business, manifest big ideas into reality. You see, as a female in business for many years, I am compelled to encourage and advocate, and help advance women in business. This is my life's purpose and I will use my blog to achieve my passion, purpose, goals, and life's work.

As for today, remember nothing in life and business is your personal status quo. Every day your priorities change, you face new challenges, and you have
opportunities to choose your moments of peace, grace, and humility. Your perception on how you view the last statement is how your path then plays out into reality. Think about how you view events in your day and try to view these events with a clean slate of consciousness, rather than judging as good or bad, right or wrong.