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

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

ENJOY!!

Women In Business-Ask for Referrals...It's Not That Hard!

Whenever a client or prospect says "thank you for all your work", most sales people say "my pleasure...blah blah blah". You can fill in anything with blah blah blah, but I will give you the correct  general response....you are very welcome...this is my passion and I love what I do....and, because you feel this way, can you give me three names of people you know who would appreciate the same client experience? At that point, you can add....my ideal client is just like you, with the same needs, (fill in the rest)....

This is not intended to encompass the entire conversation, but at this point, the client will feel compelled and obligated to give you 3 "qualified" names. One example of how to make them accountable is to ask for name, email and phone number by email introduction with their referral cc'd. Of course the client will probably ask permission of their friends or family they refer first, and they should ask permission of those people! Nobody wants to be blindsided and transparency is the best policy.

It's really that simple. While many in sales think this is awkward, remember... your client's expect you to ask for referrals, as they know this is a standard in business. Bottom line is if you were able to close the business, you should be courageous enough to ask for referrals. Need I say timing is everything???

Hope you enjoy my blogs...comments welcome...
donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru

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

Women In Business-Small Business Sales Tip: Seek Qualified Prospects

Small business owners instinctively know sales is paramount to their business. Because of this, finding "qualified prospects" is imperative to business owners more than ever before. Moreover, small business owners lack the time to delve deep into all their prospects. You've heard of "suspects" and "prospects" as a description of whom is in your sales pipeline. Tip: delete your suspects, and focus your energy honing in on your "qualified prospects".

A prospect is not qualified until you have a solution for the issue they need addressed! A qualified prospect must acknowledge you have what they want, whether it is a product or service. You must communicate your solution in such a way that you enter the conversation going on in the mind of your prospect, and help them understand why you are the person or resource they need to invest in.

A tool to help you make the most of the time you put into sales is Pareto's 80/20 rule. If you set aside 2 hours today for sales and prospecting, 80% of your efforts should be directed towards "qualified clients", and 20% can be directed to those prospects, which can eventually become qualified. Suspects are nothing more than energy suckers, and the revenue you receive from them is usually insignificant.

I would be remiss if I didn't also suggest that if you work 10 hours today, 80% of your time should be focused on everything to do with implementing sales and marketing strategies, and 20% of your time can be focused on other tasks. Out-source if you need to, but manage your time for optimal revenue!

Comments welcome... donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru
www.women4womenclub.guru

Thanks for tuning in today.