Category: <span>2021</span>

Strategies for Success Newsletter February 2021 Issue 182

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Published by Emily Huling Selling Strategies
www.sellingstrategies.com
Copyright 2021 Emily Huling. All rights reserved.

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In this February 2021 issue:

1. Thoughts from Home
2. Thoughts from the Office
3. Josmo’s Cafe
4. Stay Energized

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1. Thoughts from Home

You’re doing my job

John and I split the laundry duties. I have the easy part. Sheets and towels. John launders all the clothes. His schedule is every seven to ten days, so we are never short of clean clothes. Over the holidays, we got off schedule on many things and spent more time lounging around. All of my favorite comfy sweats were dirty.

I love my morning quiet time and get up 30-60 minutes before John. I went through the laundry basket and pulled out all of our sweats to wash in one load. John got up and heard the washing machine. He asked what I was washing. “All of our sweats,” I replied. He looked hurt and said to me, “You’re doing my job. I would have done them today.”

Moral of the story. We may think we’re helping out by doing a person’s job without asking about it. Instead, the message we give is that we don’t have the confidence in the person to get the job done. This is true at work and at home. Show respect and trust by letting others do the work they are assigned to do.

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2. Thoughts from the Office

How hard are you really working?

Rate yourself. On a scale of one to five, one being low and five being high, what number would you give yourself for working proactively, efficiently, and accurately to accomplish what needs to be done every day in your job and grow your organization?

What I hear from the dozen managers I coach regularly is that there are too many employees who are doing the bare minimum in their jobs. They are showing up and completing required tasks. What’s not being done is showing initiative to do better or to be better. This is troubling.

Insurance professionals are fortunate to be in an essential industry. Obviously, that doesn’t mean our jobs are secure since our insureds aren’t so fortunate and our economics reflect theirs. Consider both me-thinking and we-thinking reasons to work at level five every day.

1. You own your reputation. Consider how your coworkers and clients view your work ethic and standards.
2. You own all the knowledge you gain both from job experience and structured educational offerings.
3. You own your relationships. Each contact you make has the potential to be a long-term trusted colleague.
4. Your organization needs level five performance from each person to profitably operate and grow.
5. Your coworkers need you to perform at level five so they can do their jobs at level five.
6. Your clients count on you and pay you to work at level five.

Our up-ended work world will be here for a while longer. Stop the excuses for not giving 100% at work. Learn about your company’s business goals. Review your job description and performance review. Embrace and become skilled for what is needed in the virtual world to be an exceptional level-five employee. If you don’t, you are wasting valuable time to advance your career and your organization.

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3. Josmo’s Café

Extended lockdown means more time to find fabulous recipes. We have two winter recipes for you this month. Both will make the house smell wonderful and your tastebuds will thank you! Steelhead Trout Bake with Dijon Mustard and Sheet Pan Vinegar Chicken. Happy winter eating!

Looking for more great recipes? We have over 100 recipes on our Josmo’s Café page on the website.

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4. Stay Energized

Our Energizer Minute for February may shift your mindset. It’s titled Against the Tide.

Speaking of altering your perspective, the 2004 movie What the Bleep Do We Know? did that for me. Part documentary and part dramatization, we follow Amanda (Marlee Matlin) on her journey from chaotic self-destructive thinking to realizing the power she holds within to positively change her life. Worth watching especially during the long cold month of February.

Follow me on Twitter @EmilyHuling to read my Energizer Moments.

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Please share any of my free stuff, articles, or newsletter content when proper credit is included.

Selling Strategies: Strategies for Success Newsletter is published by Emily Huling Selling Strategies. For further information, contact emily@sellingstrategies.com.

© 2021 Emily Huling Selling Strategies All rights reserved.

Strategies for Success Newsletter January 2021 Issue 181

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Published by Emily Huling Selling Strategies
www.sellingstrategies.com
Copyright 2021 Emily Huling. All rights reserved.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In this January 2021 issue:

1. Thoughts from the Road
2. Thoughts from the Office
3. Josmo’s Cafe
4. Stay Energized

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1. Thoughts from the Road

It helps to ask questions

I was walking with a neighbor on a beautiful fall Saturday. A man in a car with a South Carolina license plate stopped us. “Excuse me. Can you tell me how to get to I-77? Even with my GPS, I seem to have gotten lost.” I piped up first and gave the man directions. He repeated them back to us to be sure he understood. Then Pam, my neighbor, asked, “Where are you going?” The man said he was going to Lake Norman State Park. Pam told him there is a faster and easier way to get there. Would he be interested in having those directions? Of course he was! Yea Pam!

Moral of the story. Before directly answering a question, clarify the question you have been asked. With more knowledge, you may have a better solution to the question.

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2. Thoughts from the Office

It’s always about the money – is it?

Pandemic homestay motivated us to buy a new mattress. Like most buyers, John and I did our homework. We checked Consumer Reports on retailers, manufacturers, warranties, and buyer reviews before we chose one of the dozens of mattress stores in the area. We were ready!

We visited the mattress store on a Tuesday morning knowing it would be a slow time. It was. The manager, Mark, was the only person working. We had the place to ourselves. Laughably, they had totally different mattresses and options than we had researched! Now we had to rely on a mattress salesman and whatever info we can find using our phones.

We tested mattresses, we listened to all the options, we asked questions, and we answered questions. There’s a lot to consider on an item where you spend a third of your time. Like any good salesperson, Mark was upselling the mattress we were interested in. For only so much more, we can have all these whiz-bang features. Not interested. Not interested. Not interested. In fact, he offered so much, we were in overwhelm. I told Mark we needed to do more research and we’d be back. You could see his wheels turning. Don’t let them leave! We were almost out the door. “Wait,” he said. “I know it’s about the cost.”

Not once had we mentioned money. I told him it wasn’t about the money, we were in overwhelm. “It’s always about the money,” he said. “I’ll make you a deal.”  He did. He reduced the price 25% on the fancy model we originally weren’t interested in, threw in delivery and taking the old mattress away. We ended up paying about what we expected for a no-frills mattress.

We love the mattress. We really like the fancy features we hadn’t intended to buy. Was Mark right that it’s always about the money? I don’t think so. Mark is the one that made it about the money.

Moral of the story. If the salesperson is fixated on the price, then the sale is about the money. What do you focus on when talking with your customers?

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3. Josmo’s Café

We discovered a new sensational cocktail Disaronno Amaretto Bourbon Sour over the holidays that rivals our famous Josmo’s Cosmo. A word of caution. It goes down very easily and packs quite a punch!

Speaking of great drinks… Bloody Mary fans, the absolute BEST Bloody Mary Mix is Nan’s Naughty and Nice. It also makes a delicious seasoning in chili, tacos, and sloppy joes. Recipes are on the site. Shipping is free. Headquartered in Wisconsin, owned by my good friend Peggy Hansen, it was Peggy’s mother Nan who developed the Bloody Mary mix recipe. Check out their Facebook page to see all the great places Nan’s appears including a Williams Sonoma Bloody Mary gift box this Christmas.

Whoops on the Eggnog Cookie recipe last month! I neglected to list the amount of vanilla on the ingredient list. Corrected recipe is now posted.

We have over 100 recipes on our Josmo’s Café page on the website. Many great dishes and sweets to make and enjoy!

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4. Stay Energized

Our Energizer Minute for January is Embrace the Mystery. A fitting kick-off for 2021!

Armchair travel time. We are still months away from safe vacation travel. In the meantime, enjoy these spectacular photos from all 50 states. Discover places in your state you have never seen.

Did you know the Bee Gees composed over 1000 songs and had 20 number one hits over five decades? Learn more about the talented Gibb brothers on the HBO documentary How Do You Mend A Broken Heart. John and I really enjoyed it. Watch a few great clips on the link.

Follow me on Twitter @EmilyHuling to read my Energizer Moments.

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Please share any of my free stuff, articles, or newsletter content when proper credit is included.

Selling Strategies: Strategies for Success Newsletter is published by Emily Huling Selling Strategies. For further information, contact emily@sellingstrategies.com.

© 2021 Emily Huling Selling Strategies All rights reserved.