This is the one that started it all. The original parody of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, I feel needed a little work. taking a Christmas song or poem and putting our special sales twist on it.
Sing along to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and join our fun.
Eddie the eager salesman Had a lots of curious deals And if he ever closed it It would really be unreal
All of his friends and family Kept saying go get a real job They always had poor Eddie Felling sad and not getting deals done.
Then one foggy Christmas eve Eddie trained real hard “Eddie, with his sales skills right Closed 3 deals Dual deals that night?”
In a world full of strife, where worries are rife, Eddie, the eager, brought hope to our life. With a smile so bright, he’d ignite the night, As they shouted with glee, what a wonderful sight!
“Eddie, the salesman,” they all would say, “Big residuals will come your way. You’ve changed your own life, it’s plain to see, Eddie the Eager salesman, He’ll go down in history.
I hope this little take on a classic Christmas song is better than last years and of course made you laugh a little and motivated you a lot to always be learning even during some down over the holiday break.
May you have a happy, healthy, safe holiday season, closing the year strong (yup, you can still close more sales and bounding into January with a fast start!
We can have a great cadence, a great system, tools, you name it. However, if our head is not in the right place let’s face it we are not going to be able to perform.
Some salespeople are afraid to pick up the phone and call a prospect or get out of their car. So we want to rely on automation via tools. Prospecting and sales is a person-to-person game, but the games begin in our own minds. Our mindset going in predetermines what we’re going to achieve coming out.
So how do you get our heads in the right place?
Lett’s look at five ways to create momentum with our mindset.
1. Remember your objective.
Our objective is to help others see and achieve what they didn’t think was possible. That’s it. Our objective is not to sell them but to help. But to do that, we’ve got to engage with them. The chances of them buying during the first call are slim to none. So our objective is just to engage them and to create a next step.
2. Break it down into activities.
It becomes much more palatable if we can just focus on the next activity. If we think every call has to lead to a sale, we are going to mentally mesh our mind up pretty quickly.
Instead, let’s focus on moving the customer through one step at a time.
3. Set early goals.
Early goals might be: By 9:00 AM I want to do this, or by 10:00 AM I want to complete that.
Think of goals that we know we can achieve. Why? Because it begins to help our minds thinking that we can win. Motivation creates motivation. Momentum creates momentum.
4. Write down our success list.
I was speaking with a gentleman the other day and he said, “I’m having a hard time prospecting because my head’s just not in the right place.” Hey, at least he was honest.
Take a piece of paper and write down your five or ten best customers, and then next to that, write down the outcomes you helped them achieve. Not what you sold them, but the outcomes you helped them achieve. And then you give yourself a big hug. Always focus on our successes. Don’t wallow in our defeats.
5. Create momentum with a cadence.
The top performing salespeople have a routine that they never deviate from. They stay with it. If you’re a runner, let’s say you get up in the morning and you go run. I’m sure there are days that you wake up in the morning and you don’t want to run. One of the best ways to get out of that head space is to have a routine, because it’s just what you do.
When our head is screwed on correctly it’s amazing how were going to listen better. And when we can listen effectively, I bet we’ll be more successful.
Being great is not something that just happens. Greatness is all up to you. The truth is everyone can be great at something.
When it all comes down to it, greatness has a simple formula to it. Anybody can achieve greatness, should they choose to. The path may not be spelled out perfectly, but it is there.
Each of us have been gifted with some very unique talent. There is something deep inside of you that you have been gifted with. The first step is to find out what that talent is. Finding your gift takes time and energy.
Second, and most important, once you find that talent, it is going to take a lot of time and energy to develop it. Talent alone is not enough. Sadly, most people do not want to put in the time or energy. The cemetery is filled with far too many people that never used their talents to their full potential. Unfortunately, for many people, the power of their excuses are much more powerful than their dreams and goals.
In order to be great, you have to have a commitment to greatness. Most people will never achieve true greatness in their life because they’re not willing to put in the work. It is important to understand that you were designed for greatness. You have a talent and an amazing gift inside of you. That is why you were created. So many people in this world will be blessed by you when you find that gift and nurture that gift and work hard at it. Whether you realize it or not, that is your purpose.
Most people feel that being average is just good enough for them. They find something that they’re good at and make a pretty good living at it. Even though, they are not achieving fulfillment, they’re satisfied because their bills might be paid by the end of the month. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is not a put down. My point is that there is much more to life than that.
When you think about mediocrity, it is just as close to the bottom as it is to the top. My question for you today is are you ready to achieve greatness? As I stated, you are amazingly gifted at something. Get a paper and pen and write out your talents and believe me, you have a lot of them. Now, it is time to make a commitment to being great with these talents.
Once you’ve done that, it’s time to put a success plan together. Take a look at your inner circle. There’s a good chance you may need to change some of the people you are spending a lot of time with. Take inventory of what your daily habits look like. it’s time to change some of them as well.
Most important, it’s time to go to work. It will not be easy, but I promise you this, the results will be amazing.
Are you ready to level up?
Are you ready to achieve your maximum potential?
Are you ready for greatness?
This is your time to go out and make it happen. Start your greatness journey today!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. For a couple of weeks every year the world takes on a magic glow, people seem merrier and even winter somehow feels cozy.
Whether you’re celebrating a religious festival, like Hanukkah or Christmas, or a more secular occasion, you’re sure to have your own selection of rituals or customs that make the holiday season so special. Our favorite Christmas traditions around the world are loud, proud, and guarantee oodles of festive fun.
Here are Top 10 weird & Cool Christmas traditions from around the world
10. Giant Lantern Festival, Philippines
The Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu) is held each year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve in the city of San Fernando – the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” The festival attracts spectators from all over the country and across the globe. Eleven barangays (villages) take part in the festival and competition is fierce as everyone pitches in trying to build the most elaborate lantern. Originally, the lanterns were simple creations around half a metre in diameter, made from ‘papal de hapon’ (Japanese origami paper) and lit by candle. Today, the lanterns are made from a variety of materials and have grown to around six meters in size. They are illuminated by electric bulbs that sparkle in a kaleidoscope of patterns.
9. Gävle Goat, Sweden
Since 1966, a 13-metre-tall Yule Goat has been built in the center of Gävle’s Castle Square for the Advent, but this Swedish Christmas tradition has unwittingly led to another “tradition” of sorts – people trying to burn it down. Since 1966 the Goat has been successfully burned down 29 times – the most recent destruction was in 2016.
If you want to see how the Goat fares this year when it goes up on December 1st, you can follow its progress on the Visit Gävle website through a live video stream.
8. The Yule Lads, Iceland
In the 13 days leading up to Christmas, 13 tricksy troll-like characters come out to play in Iceland. The Yule Lads (jólasveinarnir or jólasveinar in Icelandic) visit the children across the country over the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. For each night of Yuletide, children place their best shoes by the window and a different Yule Lad visits leaving gifts for nice girls and boys and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones. Clad in traditional Icelandic costume, these fellas are pretty mischievous, and their names hint at the type of trouble they like to cause: Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod), Giljagaur (Gully Gawk), Stúfur (Stubby), Þvörusleikir (Spoon-Licker), Pottaskefill (Pot-Scraper), Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker), Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer), Skyrgámur (Skyr-Gobbler), Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage-Swiper), Gluggagægir (Window-Peeper), Gáttaþefur (Doorway-Sniffer), Ketkrókur (Meat-Hook) and Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer). Visit Iceland this Christmas and catch them all!
7. Norway
Perhaps one of the most unorthodox Christmas Eve traditions can be found in Norway, where people hide their brooms. It’s a tradition that dates back centuries to when people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on. To this day, many people still hide their brooms in the safest place in the house to stop them from being stolen.
6. Lighting of National Hanukkah Menorah, Washington, D.C. – US
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated with much fanfare across the United States with one of the most elaborate events taking place on a national stage. Since 1979, a giant nine-meter Menorah has been raised on the White House grounds for the eight days and nights of Hanukkah. The ceremony in Washington, D.C. is marked with speeches, music, activities for kids, and, of course, the lighting of the Menorah.
The lighting of the first candle at the White House takes place at 4pm, rain or shine, and an additional candle is lit each successive night.
5. Venezuela
Love Christmas, but think it could be improved by a spot of roller-blading? If the answer is yes, visit Caracas, Venezuela this year. Every Christmas Eve, the city’s residents head to church in the early morning – so far, so normal – but, for reasons known only to them, they do so on roller skates. This unique tradition is so popular that roads across the city are closed to cars so that people can skate to church in safety, before heading home for the less-than-traditional Christmas dinner of ‘tamales’
4. Day of the Little Candles, Colombia
Little Candles’ Day (Día de las Velitas) marks the start of the Christmas season across Colombia. In honor of the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception, people place candles and paper lanterns in their windows, balconies and front yards. The tradition of candles has grown, and now entire towns and cities across the country are lit up with elaborate displays. Some of the best are found in Quimbaya, where neighborhoods compete to see who can create the most impressive arrangement.
3. Cavalcade of Lights, Toronto
In wintry, wonderful Toronto the annual Cavalcade of Lights marks the official start to the holiday season. The first Cavalcade took place in 1967 to show off Toronto’s newly constructed City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. The Square and Christmas tree are illuminated by more than 300,000 energy-efficient LED lights that shine from dusk until 11 pm until the New Year. On top of that, you’ll get to witness spectacular fireworks shows and engage in some outdoor ice skating.
2. Saint Nicholas’ Day, Germany
Not to be confused with Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas), Nikolaus travels by donkey in the middle of the night on December 6 (Nikolaus Tag) and leaves little treats like coins, chocolate, oranges and toys in the shoes of good children all over Germany, and particularly in the Bavarian region. St. Nicholas also visits children in schools or at home and in exchange for sweets or a small present each child must recite a poem, sing a song or draw a picture. In short, he’s a great guy. But it isn’t always fun and games. St. Nick often brings along Knecht Ruprecht (Farmhand Rupert). A devil-like character dressed in dark clothes covered with bells and a dirty beard, Knecht Ruprecht carries a stick or a small whip in hand to punish any children who misbehave.
And the # 1 Top 10 weird & Cool Christmas traditions from around the world is.
1. Kentucky Fried Christmas Dinner, Japan
Christmas has never been a big deal in Japan. Aside from a few small, secular traditions such as gift-giving and light displays, Christmas remains largely a novelty in the country. However, a new, quirky “tradition” has emerged in recent years – a Christmas Day feast of the Colonel’s very own Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The festive menu will soon be advertised on the KFC Japan website and, even if you don’t understand Japanese, the pictures sure will look delicious with everything from a Christmas-themed standard bucket to a premium roast-bird feast.
KFC for Christmas? I may could get behind that. Is the coleslaw allowed? They do have good biscuits.
They are great on a relaxing Saturday afternoon as a pleasant diversion from the craziness of the holiday season.
Many Christmas movies are light on plot and heavy on sentimentality. Others have a strong moral message, or maybe remind the kids to be good, because Santa Claus IS watching.
I enjoy them all, because they’re invariably about appreciating the good in your life, even when it’s hard to recognize. It’s a wonderful reminder any time of year.
It won’t surprise you that my favorite Christmas movies are the ones that surprise you with the wise business lessons hidden at their core. If you’re partial to the Hallmark variety of Christmas movies, you’ve no doubt witnessed their unending variety of charming small town shops, seasonal bakeries, and craft competitions.
Fair warning: I won’t be taking a public position on the great “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” debate (it is by the way). But here are some holiday classics and the business wisdom they share:
1. Money isn’t everything – but it does help–
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
This is a classic Christmas Time business reminder: there is a lot more to life than money.
In “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” the boss’s decision to eliminate holiday bonuses nearly sends Clark Griswold off the proverbial cliff. In an effort to save a few bucks, Mr. Shirley nearly ruined the holiday season and maybe even the year for his employees. At the movie’s climax, Clark describes what a rotten move it was, explaining to Mr. Shirley how employees depend on it as a portion of their income. Mr. Shirley learns that alienating his employees is no way to run a business or make a profit, and Clark learns that he doesn’t need an extravagant backyard pool. A similar business lesson appears in the Holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol.” The hardworking but chronically underpaid Kermit the Frog – I mean Bob Cratchit – embodies the ideal that money isn’t everything. He and his family are a loving group that appreciate what they have, but most importantly appreciate each other. Their generous and loving spirit convinces Michael Cain-;I mean Scrooge-;that his miserly ways are not sustainable for his business or his life.
2. Be Yourself – ELF
In “Elf,” Will Ferrell’s Buddy is different from the elves on the North Pole, with hands that are too big to make the intricate toys. Buddy’s enthusiasm and Christmas spirit, however, are boundless, and it turns out that he is a fabulous storyteller. Interestingly, famous author Miles Finch is the only other gifted author, and he, too, is physically different from those around him. Even the combined efforts of all the generic businessmen in suits cannot match what Buddy and Miles are able to accomplish. Buddy is also an inspiration to those around him, unafraid to spread joy by decorating elaborately and “singing loud for all to hear.” What makes Buddy different is what makes him great. This is the most important thing you can give your customers. Don’t try to be like everyone else. Your unique value proposition is why they want to do business with you.
3. There’s bad karma in ruining others. – Trading Spaces
If you are looking for an end-of-the-year boost in sales and productivity, just about the worst thing a boss can do is to negatively influence the personal lives of their employees. This type of upheaval carries directly over into the workplace, and is almost certain to negatively impact your company. In “Trading Spaces,” the Duke brothers use Winthorpe and Valentine as guinea pigs in a twisted social experiment.
When Winthorpe and Valentine realize how they have been abused, they rain down karmic fire on the brothers. Ultimately, the Duke brothers lose everything over a $1 bet. When doing business, conduct yourself with honor. People do business with people they like, so it’s a profitable strategy. Plus, what goes around comes around, and you don’t need to sew any bad seeds.
4. Dream Big – A Christmas Story
Throughout most of “A Christmas Story,” Ralphie Parker strategizes how to convince the adults in his life that he is mature enough for a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. He tries to make lawyerly arguments to his mother, is cooperative when asked to help his little brother, and is (almost) tolerant when forced to wear a humiliating costume made by an aunt. Ralphie puts forth considerable effort paying his dues to prove he is mature enough for the rifle. Even though on Christmas morning it appears that his dream will not come true, Ralphie is content with his Christmas, and has come to appreciate his family more than ever before. When it is revealed that he is, in fact, receiving the rifle, the victory is all the sweeter from the effort he put into achieving it. You should dream big in business, too, no matter how unachievable it seems.
We are 11 days away from Christmas! Enjoy the season and don’t stress over what we can’t control.
It’s that time of year for me to attempt to write a sales rendition of a favorite Christmas song or poem. I already done something similar with an Ode to Black Friday. I’ve chosen the classic song that also purported to be the first song ever played in space back in 1965 by the Gemini 6 astronauts: “Jingle Bells!”
When you think of salespeople on film, movies like Glengarry Glen Ross, The Boiler Room, and The Wolf of Wall Street are probably the first that come to mind, probably because of the blog post I’ve made in the past.
