Jeannette Seibly

A couple of years ago I took a strategic business workshop and achieved a 127% increase in sales that year! How did that happen? I had to get real and take new actions consistent with creating new outcomes!

It’s that time of year – time to complete 2016 and prepare for 2017. We often get excited about a New Year, quarter or month, hoping for different results without reviewing what we’ve actually accomplished to-date. Creating 2017 without completing 2016 only ensures a repeat of 2016! (You may wish to reread that sentence!) When creating your 2017 goals, be sure to incorporate new actions that will support achieving these new goals.

New Results Require New Actions

Complete the Past. If you haven’t done this, make this an important part of your quarterly and annual reviews. Being aware of our accomplishments and sharing them appropriately builds on future successes. Complete the five steps outlined in the book, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition and review them frequently. This new action will build a natural inner confidence, attract new opportunities and build credibility in your sales presentations! (http://BizSavvyBrag.com)

Make Objective Decisions. Business decisions based on good, objective data rather than how you feel in the moment will improve your results. Whether it’s using qualified assessments for hiring, reviewing financial forecasting with current numbers, or reading the fine print before signing an agreement, each requires taking responsibility for how you make your business decisions. Your new actions include: hire an attorney to review or write legal documents, use a system to capture all accounting data (and keep it up-to-date), and use a business advisor to keep you focused on the right things.

Create Strategic Alignment. When you find something is not working, stop! Don’t just try to power through. Instead, review where you are not aligned with the outcome. Your new action is to have straight conversations with your business advisor or coach to review your 2017 goals to prevent derailing yourself. Derailment often happens when you are bored with the same-old activities and no new results, or stopped by challenges that seem insurmountable. The new other new actions are to truly listen, be coachable, and design actions you will complete so you move forward to achieve your intended outcomes. Remember, to include the right people and create the right environment to support your efforts.

Develop a Winning Mindset. Whether you know it or not, your mental monologue and inner beliefs determine your willingness to take the right actions to get the intended results. Clarity, a focused action plan, and taking initiative to obtain the necessary resources are new actions that will help you avoid busy-work and doing things simply because they feel good in the moment.

Using these four new actions will help you get and stay on track in 2017.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2016

Ready? Create a powerful 2017. Contact Jeannette Seibly @ http://SeibCo.com/contact  She will guide you through an amazing exercise designed to complete 2016 and prepare you for a great 2017! One client sold her company for $.5M by completing the exercise yearly, prior to the sale!

Why is it important to learn how to brag? Being aware of your successes helps you take actions consistent with your commitment to achieve amazing results! Get your copy of, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition today: http://BizSavvyBrag.com.

Jeannette Seibly has been a business advisor and executive coach for 24 years; along the way she’s guided the creation of three millionaires. She is laser sharp at identifying the leverage points that will take a business and its team to the next level of performance and success. Check out her website, http://SeibCo.com , or contact Jeannette for a free, confidential conversation at http://SeibCo.com/contact. Remember to get your copy of her 5th and newest book, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition: http://BizSavvyBrag.com .

During the holidays (and many other times during the year), we often find ourselves in overwhelm. We feel and focus on the stress of everything we believe needs to be done, including expectations from our boss, family, and community activities. Instead of being excited about this time of the year, we succumb to being overwhelmed, then we procrastinate and that only makes us feel worse!

Help is on the way … follow these 6 steps to reduce overwhelm and feeling stuck.

1. Make a list of everything you need to get done (stick with it – most of it will disappear after this exercise).
   • This includes everything you said you would do, but haven’t.
   • Those things you thought of doing and mentioned to others.
   • Those things you thought of doing, but didn’t mention to anyone.
   • Those things you believe are expected of you.
   • And, everything else!

2. Now, cross off everything you know you will not do. Don’t kid yourself … if you’re not going to do them, cross them off! Leaving them on the list will sap your energy and allow your inner voice to become very loud!

 It’s time to clear the deck!

3. Circle the top 5 items left on your list.

4. Now rank them.

5. Get #1 done. Once it is completed, get #2 done. (When your inner chatter quiets down, you will find you get things done quicker and more efficiently because you are focused on one thing. Keep in mind, multi-tasking is a myth that creates overwhelm, stress and procrastination!)

Remember, you may have some cleanup work to do (like promises made to others that you are unable to fulfill). Apologize, offer possible solutions, and move on.

After this exercise, you will enjoy your holiday and New Year a whole lot more!

©Jeannette Seibly, 2016

Why is it important to learn how to brag? Being aware of your successes helps your inner voice speak confidently, which others will see! Get your copy of, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition today: http://BizSavvyBrag.com.

Jeannette Seibly has been a business advisor and executive coach for 24 years; along the way she’s guided the creation of three millionaires. She is laser sharp at identifying the leverage points that will take a business and its team to the next level of performance and success. Check out her website, http://SeibCo.com, or contact Jeannette for a free, confidential conversation at http://SeibCo.com/contact. Remember to get your copy of her 5^th and newest book, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition: http://BizSavvyBrag.com.

A business owner achieved his dream! He sold his business. However, within several months, he was bored! Instead of building on his success, he focused on his boredom and became self-absorbed. With coaching, he expanded his limiting beliefs and realized he had a lot to contribute to others. He learned how to share his evolution of being a successful businessman, expand their knowledge and how to have fun.

Congrats! You that have just completed a major project or event, launched a dream or sold your business.

The question often is, “What’s next?”

The answer is, “Build on what you’ve accomplished.”

Celebrate. Be magnanimous. You didn’t do it by yourself. Create a get-together that includes everyone involved in the success. During this event, have everyone review, write down and share, “What worked?” and “What didn’t work?” Make sure you acknowledge each person for their contributions. (See, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Results, http://ow.ly/1KEG305HHpt). Share the insights gleaned from this celebration with the next leader, as you turn-over the reins.

Brag. Hubris often leads to being thought of as egotistical and no one wants to work with you. Use the 5 steps in It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition, and get specific about your accomplishments. Then, learn how to share them in a business savvy manner to entice others to want to work with you in their ventures. (Get your copy of the book, http://BizSavvyBrag.com )

Give It Away. Turn over the reins. For ongoing projects and events, or new company ownership, remember, you’re no longer the leader. It’s someone else’s turn, even if you’ve been asked to stay. Consider they won’t do it the way you did it and that’s OK. Be available to answer any questions, speak well of their progress and support them as requested (and as appropriate). Keep your stay short and leave on a positive note.

Help Others. It expands your success through your contributions to their successes! Be available to others working on similar projects or challenges. By using your Brag statements, you can help build awareness of what is possible for others — and yourself, if you choose to launch another venture.

Be Frisky. Enjoy and have fun! The keys are, enjoy your work and schedule time to honor the other important things in your life (e.g., family, community, fitness, etc.). Focus on working with people you enjoy, help them build on their successes and failures.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2016

Why is it important to learn how to brag in a business savvy manner? Sharing your successes builds new opportunities for what’s next! Learn how by getting your copy of, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition today: http://BizSavvyBrag.com

Jeannette Seibly has been a business advisor and executive coach for 24 years; along the way she’s guided the creation of three millionaires. She is laser sharp at identifying the leverage points that will create success and attract new opportunities. Check out her website, http://SeibCo.com, or contact Jeannette for a free, confidential conversation at http://SeibCo.com/contact. Remember to get your copy of her newest book, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition: http://BizSavvyBrag.com

Many sales people, consultants and entrepreneurs believe that most of Q4 is a time to coast due to the holidays! They buy into the false belief that it’s a struggle to prospect, network and sell “since no one buys” non-retail items at this time. The reality is, true sales people don’t buy into this view and instead use this unique time period to do business and give themselves the gift of a bigger payday at year-end and during Q1 of next year!

Success Depends on Your Willingness!

Decisions can be and are made now! Clients have more time to listen, learn and buy at this time due to budgets that must be spent before year end, and new budgets being finalized. Your competition is lax. Remember, if the product or service is important to the buyer and you provide a clear value proposition showing why it’s important — they will buy now!

5 Sales Success Factors During the Holidays

Say, “Thank You!” People will have more time to read emails, review websites longer, and take phone calls. Tap into your client and prospect lists. Call and sincerely wish people, “Happy Holidays!” Ask if they have time to meet for a quick coffee or lunch and schedule it now. Show up to all of your meetings having conducted due diligence about the person you are meeting via LinkedIn and acknowledge any awards they’ve received, articles they’ve published or job changes.

Take Time to Reflect. This is when many buyers take the time to review the past year — what worked, what didn’t work and why. If you’re truly listening (and not playing on your electronic gadgets … you know who you are), they will share these insights with you – providing a one-time opportunity on how you can help them now! (Helpful coaching tip — conduct your own personal and professional reflection prior to your meetings (reference, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Results, http://ow.ly/1KEG305HHpt). This will keep you focused on the other person during the conversation and not in your head about your own successes and failures.) Remember, it’s all about them, not you!

Provide a Clear Differentiation. Outline clear and concise brag statements that get people’s attention by focusing on what’s important to them! In It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition (www.BizSavvyBrag.com), it outlines how to do this. DON’T WING IT! Do your homework by reading the person’s social media activity; don’t forget to read the company’s information too! Tap into your network for insider information — this will help you fine-tune your brag statements and sharpen your ability to close the sale. Also, to maximize your results, review networking pointers in Chapter 9 and sales tips in Chapter 11. (www.BizSavvyBrag.com)

Follow-Up and Follow-Through. Be sure to use a tracking system to rigorously ensure you are engaging them. This includes being in communication before, during and after you’ve sent the information and proposals they have requested. Lack of follow-up and follow-through are the #1 and #2 reasons sales people fail to close the sale! The other top reason is saying, “I’m too busy.”

Acknowledge Others as Valuable Sources of Information. Ask for referrals from everyone you meet. If they say “yes,” have the person provide an email introduction to both of you at the same time, or setup a lunch meeting for a personal introduction. During any conversation be sure to include, “xxx says you are a valuable source of information.” This will increase the likelihood of them taking your calls and scheduling meetings with you.

Focusing your energy and engaging in these 5 sales success factors during the holidays will make all the difference in your year-end numbers and paycheck! It’s a gift to you!

PS: Don’t forget to schedule your celebratory January vacation now!

©Jeannette Seibly, 2016

Why is it important to learn how to brag? Differentiating gets people’s attention! Bragging will offer clarity about the value you and your products, services, and ideas can provide! Get your copy of, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition today: http://BizSavvyBrag.com.

Jeannette Seibly has been a business advisor and executive coach for 24 years; along the way she’s guided the creation of three millionaires. She is laser sharp at identifying the leverage points that will take a business and its team to the next level of performance and success. Check out her website, http://SeibCo.com, or contact Jeannette for a free, confidential conversation at http://SeibCo.com/contact. Remember to get your copy of her 5^th and newest book, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition: http://BizSavvyBrag.com.

“If you’re waiting for someone else to resolve it, they are too!” Jeannette Seibly

As leaders, key employees, executives and fast-track professionals, you don’t have the luxury of complaining to everyone who will listen! It’s important to take responsibility for your complaints rather than dumping them on someone else. Gossiping, blaming, shaming and criticizing are reactive actions that will hinder you from making a positive difference. While the process may seem overwhelming or not do-able, take on the following three actions to proactively resolve your issue. Developing your proactive abilities will prepare you for the next promotion or job opportunity!

3 Actions to Be Proactive

Document the Issue. In the workplace it’s critical, due to a myriad of employment laws and standard operating procedures, that everything is documented. Stick to the facts – opinions won’t make a difference. Include date, time and the names of others witnessing the issue and a brief overview of the concerns. Include the positive and not-so-positive. (You may wish to reference, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Results, http://ow.ly/1KEG305HHpt)

Remember, not everyone is going to agree with your assessment of the situation. Be clear and concise (stick to the facts). Most people lose the opportunity to impact needed changes when they focus on their own personal and professional concerns and lose sight of how the solution can make a positive difference for everyone.

Tell Someone Who Can Make a Difference. Actively telling anyone that will listen about the issue may make you feel better momentarily, but won’t make a difference in the long run. In fact, it’s likely to hurt your future career growth and alienate your co-workers, boss and team when you violate confidentiality, belittle others, and fail to offer solutions!

Privately share your documentation with your team leader, boss, HR, or the vendor with the intention of creating win-win-win outcomes. Be responsible for your attitude and tone of voice. Share the concerns if it is not resolved – do not issue ultimatums. Offer one or two suggested solutions. Give them time to review and evaluate. Follow-up and be ready if the person is unable or unwilling to resolve it. This may then require you to take the complaint to a higher level executive.

Stay Away from Gossiping, Blaming, Shaming and Criticizing. The biggest problem and reason others won’t listen to you is you are too busy pointing your finger at your boss, the company, co-workers, vendors, clients or team members. Your commentary and opinions won’t resolve anything! Instead it will limit your ability to make a positive and proactive difference! When you are pointing a finger at someone, take the time to look at the three fingers pointed back at you and ask yourself: “What can I do differently that will make a positive difference?” Talk with your mentor or business advisor and get in action to resolve the complaint! Remember, you may need to restate the solution over and over until the right people hear you and resolve the complaint.

As leaders, it’s important you know how to take complaints and resolve them into win-win-win outcomes that make a positive difference. Use these three actions to be proactive and enjoy the amazing results.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2016

Why is it important to learn how to brag? It honors your willingness to make a positive difference! Bragging will offer clarity about the value you and your team provide, along with the products and services you offer! Get your copy of, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition today: http://BizSavvyBrag.com.

Jeannette Seibly has been a business advisor and executive coach for 24 years; along the way she’s guided the creation of three millionaires. She is laser sharp at identifying the leverage points that will take a business and its team to the next level of performance and success. Check out her website, http://SeibCo.com, or contact Jeannette for a free, confidential conversation at http://SeibCo.com/contact. Remember to get your copy of her 5^th and newest book, It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition: http://BizSavvyBrag.com.

Whether you are in a one-on-one or group meeting or on a conference call, everyone has a role in conducting effective meetings! As the facilitator, it’s important to ensure everyone is included, whether you want to hear from them or not, or they want to contribute or not. Participation determines the quality of the decisions being made and the level of productivity. As a participant, your responsibility is to stay engaged in the conversation and ensure every person is heard, good decisions are being made, and the process stays on-track.

7 Factors to Improve the Quality of Your Meetings Now:

One: Start and End on Time

This requires everyone in their seats (or on the call) ready to begin 5 minutes before the actual start time. Turn off electronic gadgets, put phones on mute and minimize other distractions. If you are the facilitator or presenter, you need to be there even earlier to ensure the room is setup, presentation is ready to go, all electronics are working and all printed materials have been passed out (even if information was already sent to everyone).

Two: Come Prepared

Everyone is responsible to come prepared — that means read all documents, agendas and other materials before the meeting and bring them with you to the meeting. Be prepared with written questions and make sure everyone actively participates to get these questions answered. If you have conducted preliminary research, be sure it’s completed and information is in a handout for everyone to view prior to the meeting (NOTE: simple graphs with short narratives are easiest to readily understand).

Three: Take Turns

Make sure you hear from everyone! Unless each person contributes, ideas get missed, important nuances get overlooked, misunderstandings occur, and arguments can erupt. Team members will not voice their concerns if laughed at, ignored or interrupters are not managed. When you are on a conference call, make sure each person is called on by name. If they have nothing to contribute, have them simply say, “Pass.” Remember, conflicts should not be overlooked and people labelled as difficult to work with – they may have valid points no one wants to hear. (Reference, Do You Know How to De-escalate Conflict? http://wp.me/p2POui-10S)

Four: LISTEN!

This is the most important factor to improve your meetings now. Many people, particularly younger professionals, view listening like a computer taking in data, which they regurgitate back. However, listening requires active involvement — particularly, when they hear things they don’t want to know, don’t agree with or don’t believe in. Active listening has three components: 1) hearing what is said verbally, 2) hearing what is not said, and 3) being aware of non-verbal cues (e.g., attitude, tone, physical). It involves a back-and-forth dialogue that is on-point and moves the conversation forward (rehashing what has already been said doesn’t help resolve the concern). This creates new opportunities to resolve old issues and formulate new ideas for products and services. It’s a skill everyone needs to develop.

Five: State Your Point Upfront

Most attendees will stop listening when others are talking too long, sharing inappropriate gossip, repeating themselves, or using technical terms (aka jargon). Stay away from monologues or lengthy responses by starting with the point first, then provide any supporting information to reinforce the point presented.

Six: Ask Questions

Too often, we don’t ask questions to learn more about a comment or statement someone has offered. Instead, we believe we “get it” and then misuse the information. Or, we judge it as irrelevant without further investigation. Learn how to drill down and clarify by asking questions out of a commitment to resolve the issue or move the project forward. Stay away from using an interrogation modality – it doesn’t work and puts everyone on the defense.

Seven: Reach Alignment

Hoping and waiting for consensus is non-productive since too much time is spent wooing a person to agree with the majority, creating group think. Instead, alignment means you and the team take the best information available and make a decision. Then consider the following: Can everyone live with this decision? Is it workable and doable? If not, what needs to be added or changed so that everyone is on the same page moving forward? Then, stand firm and respond factually to the naysayers.

Using these 7 factors will improve the decisions being made, opportunities being pursued, and results being achieved! Active participation gives everyone the opportunity to voice their concerns, be heard, ask the right questions and make the best decisions!

©Jeannette Seibly, 2016

Jeannette Seibly has been a business advisor and executive coach for 24 years; along the way she’s guided the creation of three millionaires. She is laser sharp at identifying the leverage points that will take a business and its team to the next level of performance and success. Check out her website, http://SeibCo.com, or contact Jeannette for a free, confidential conversation at http://SeibCo.com/contact.