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Monthly Archives: April 2025

Keeping Communications Flowing Through All Obstacles

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Many of us begin our day with a plan of action … off we go, we’re into it …. and then, something happens. A client calls with an emergency --- you realize you need to learn how to use a resource that your want/need to use in your planned activity for the day ---- your creative juices just aren’t working, etc. etc. etc. The day ends without the morning’s vision of the day being accomplished!

Sometimes we suddenly find ourselves in a Zoom breakout room with a new contact who is an ideal prospect and we get tongue tied or worse we hear ourselves going on and on with information overload!

A favorite moment for us all is an “out of the blue” phone call from a new prospect asking us how they might work with us. We don’t have our questions organized in our head and we lose control of the conversation … sometimes costing us the opportunity. Sometimes getting lucky with the deal but it’s off on a wrong foot.

All of the above are what I refer to as motivation zappers. They can get in our way and rob us of our forward movement. I believe they are situations we can all relate to in one way or another. Situations that take the joy out of our work and our day.

Having strategies can keep our day on track WHILE allowing for disruptions and interruptions. Much like the above photo of the stream, all keeps flowing even when obstacles show up. The streams of water adapt and adjust accordingly and continue on there way. There are interruptions but they don’t stop progress.

You might be questioning what I'm saying for multiple reasons. One of these might be that you believe that strategies are for projects, not for when a new prospect calls out of the blue, etc. You are partially correct, Strategies are for projects, but they ARE ALSO EXCELLENT to have in our pockets for that phone call, for a chance encounter, etc.

Let's first just talk about strategies and their five wonderful traits:

  1. They are created by ourselves and/or with others in meetings devoted to the purpose.
  2. All the pieces of applicable communications are identified, gathered and harnessed together.
  3. All the thinking and decisions are made upfront, especially for what to do upon obstacles appearing.
  4. Those who implement the strategy know what they are doing and why.
  5. They allow 100% of energy to be fully applied to the implementation.

AND …. YES, strategies may be created for ANY purpose! Create a strategy for introducing your business. Create a strategy of questions for when a prospect call arrives out of the blue. Create a strategy for your online communications for a targeted sales accomplishment. Create a strategy for developing your business. Create a strategy for any purpose you desire! BUT, isn't that total confusion, you ask? NO, because ALL strategies include the same steps......Upon becoming very comfortable with the same steps it is easy to apply them to different purposes for short term results, long term results, online and offline!!

The meetings for creating strategies, even with ourselves, are fun and rewarding The joyous difference you will experience upon implementing your strategies will excite you! You will have so much more focus on what you are doing in that moment vs having your brain busy doing parallel thinking. Having all the thinking done ahead of time is the HUGE difference for me personally.

IF you need some help, choose an actual goal that you need a strategy for and create it with me as you learn the steps!! If that sounds good, lets have a conversation..

Be #communicationsstrong

Here's to your communications success in 2021!

margie

How Communications Flow …

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HOW COMMUNICATIONS FLOW ...

Communications … marketing, sales, networking, socializing, personal … ALL communications, follow a natural flow that comes within our natural instincts as human beings. It’s possible (and very easy) to overthink this flow… make it complicated, confuse the issue, and just make it so we get in our own way for having our communications be successful.

I believe the easiest way to describe this flow is with stages that have applicable labels to all assigned styles of communications, i.e. marketing, sales, networking, socializing, personal. These labels are very simple: Trust, Credibility, Expertise, Loyalty.

  • TRUST is the first stage. It begins when we are first attracted to people. We are attracted because of a likeness between us, something that we both have in common … similar tastes, likes, likeness, etc. Because we “like” the person, without any opposition, we begin to build “trust.”
  • CREDIBILITY follows trust. As we begin to trust new acquaintences there may be something said that hits home, causes a high-five, a “wow … that’s me!” reaction. We show the person that we “get them!” These are the moments and words that build “credibility.”
  • EXPERTISE evolves from these earlier “get to know” stages. Now there is a reason to want to know more, explore each other, find out how far we can take this matching of ourselves that has been so “right on” while building trust & credibility. This is also where things can get messy. There are lots of “matches” to explore and learn about. We want to be at our best and show our “expertise.”
  • LOYALTY is part of our human instinctive behavior also. We find something we like and go with it, we maintain a loyalty to it. Ever have a hard time leaving your hair cutter? Or manicurist? There is a seeded loyalty that seems to always come with these services.. and they are the best way I can describe it. All the pieces are good and we want to keep our communications .. they are working, so stay put!! It’s what keeps couples together, friendships strong, and yes, clients returning with repeat and referral sales.

I hope you see how easy this flow can be applied to ALL your communications. If you would like guidance on applying its simplicity to your sales & marketing communications, let’s have a conversation. I integrate it into my trainings and it is a core piece of my "7 Step Formula For Achieving All Goals." T.H.E. Learn it once and you can apply it to all your communication goals and more!!

Be #communicationsstrong

Here's to your communications success in 2025!

margie

What Does “Digging Deep” Mean?

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Your content here...

..WHAT DOES "DIGGING DEEP" MEAN?

Dig Deep! What does it mean? We hear the phrase used quite frequently in conversation, but how often do we really hear the words and respond by “digging deep?”

Dig Deep! What does it mean? We hear the phrase used quite frequently in conversation, but how often do we really hear the words and respond by “digging deep?”

The phrase can actually stimulate multiple types of actions based upon the situation it is referencing. In general the phrase directs us to “find out more” … “find the source” ….of something. What that “something” is can vary and may include digging deep into:

- the external (or internal) history of a topic

- our internal values

- a knowledge base located internally or externally

- source of our emotions

- source of strength, energy

Digging Deep helps us understand a situation and/or people, including ourselves. It also can give us more capability, insight, empathy, knowledge, awareness, growth, maturity, and the list goes on!!! It's kind of a good habit to grab on to, wouldn't you say?

The process is pretty simple - it is often subliminal, but when broken down, it's a process of following a series of links that connect to each other, beginning with where we are at and what is going on in front of us. From this surface layer we can go to the previous “link” and continue on down each connection to “deeper” layers … and finally the “deepest” source of info for achieving our purpose. Fascinating stuff!

PURPOSE is a huge guiding light in the process of digging deep. Knowing what your purpose is will keep you on track when going deep…. It is actually the same “purpose” used to take ourselves forward For example when we need that one more burst of energy for the purpose of accomplishing a task, that purpose is what drives us to dig deep to find that energy! It’s the same purpose we used when we first set out to accomplish the task prior to needing to dig deep.

So let’s walk through “Digging Deep” in an everyday application:

THE PURPOSE: Know why you chose what you are wearing today!

  1. you chose what you are wearing because you have a zoom call .-> business attire
  2. what was the image of yourself you were trying to project -> professional
  3. why did you choose the color -> black makes me feel more grounded in my profession
  4. why did you choose the style -> turtle neck under tailored jacket -> cold outside, season
  5. why a tailored style - east coast traditional business classic taste
  6. does the east coast influence enter into all your attire decision -> kind of, sure.
  7. and so on until this simple "what do you have on" can take you to other levels of exploration. To continue ...
  8. does the east coast influence other things that you do, business & personal? -> absolutely
  9. what is the first other thing that you do -> favorite sport teams
  10. and so it continues.....

Slowing down and thinking through the layers can reacquaint ourselves to ourselves … it is amazing what we forget that is part of our beings! It also helps us understand those we live with, play with AND work with!

Making the effort to “Dig Deep” into our business prospects is what will enable us to create the communications that will “connect” to them at all stages of the buyer journey. When you look at the buyer journey as … TRUST – CREDIBILITY – EXPERTISE – LOYALTY …. we need to know more about our prospects than just their immediate needs. We need to “dig in” and explore what makes them tick and then “dig deep” to find those links within those layers that drive “THEIR PURPOSE” …. this is what we must connect with!

Make a habit to remember to "Dig Deep!" Go for finding MORE! Try it out on yourself …. what makes you choose a restaurant, drive a certain route, choose a movie, but a stock, etc

AND OF COURSE .... Dig Deep to discover & learn more about your prospects!

Be #communicationsstrong

Here's to your communications success in 2021!

margie

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“BEFORE & AFTER” FUN WITH WORDS1

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Your content here...

ENJOY SOME "BEFORE & AFTER" FUN WITH WORDS --- To keep you connected to the importance of WORDS, i.e. your choice, placement & delivery of the words used in your business communications, you are invited to experience several "Before & After" communications! In each example, the BEFORE lines were modified into AFTER lines for better connectivity with their targeted readers. Notice how just a small tweak, an added minute of thought (in many of these examples), a reversed placement of words, etc. can make a huge difference in the experienced strength of connectivity.

Note: The BEFORE “lines” were seen real time online and were modified into an AFTER for the purposes of this mailing. You are being invited to “play” with them as well, and see how you might modify them!

Here we go!

BEFORE: “Limited time offer! Get 50% off today!”

AFTER: TODAY ONLY - 50% Savings for New & Existing Customers!

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BEFORE: “Our company is the best in the industry. Trust us!”

AFTER: Work with us and join our family of satisfied clients who have chosen us as their trusted partner.

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BEFORE: “Our new product is amazing, buy it now!”

AFTER: Tired of stubborn stains? Discover exceptional results from the transformative power of our NEW stain removal product, XYZ.

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BEFORE: "Upgrade your outdated software and increase productivity!"

AFTER: Watch productivity immediately increase with an upgrade to our new “cutting-edge” software - tailor designed for the unique demands of your business.

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Are you seeing some differences? Learning is also by "doing" so It's now your turn! Have some fun with your own modifications & gain some further awareness. Remember to focus on:

- Highlighting the benefits

- Addressing specific needs

- Bringing the reader into the message

Develop a curiosity about your business communications by asking yourself: What words are you using? How are they being placed within your sentences and paragraphs? And how are you delivering them, i.e. are the resources you are using the same resources your buyers are using?

MOST IMPORTANT -- Move forward by creating a habit of “pausing” before hitting that send or post button to sync yourself with your message. Here is a message check list to review during that pause:

► Is it making an immediate connection to the mind receiving my message.

► Will the topic and/or intention catch their attention.

► Is it written to achieve your targeted purpose?

► Have you assigned it a targeted purpose?

► Is it easy for the reader “get” your intention?

► Are their gaps between words & sentences allowing a loss of connectivity?

► Is it being sent to where your prospects are located?

Enjoy! -- Have some fun creating your AFTERs! --- Learn!


Here's to your communications success in 2025!

#communicationsstrong

margie