Hanging Around

April 30th, 2011

On the Ile de la Cite, just behind Notre Dame where the footbridge from Ile St. Louis connects the two islands, there is a small park. Just at the corner where the park meets the footbridge, there was - until last year - a mighty willow tree. Standing alone, its long sweeping branches hung out over the river Seine below, just as a willow tree's should Read More...

Disagree with your prospective client..

November 26th, 2010

Do you look for a reason to disagree with your prospective client? One primary goal in a first meeting with a prospective client is to create a connection. I want them to think of me as someone they'd like to know. Being irascible and contentious is not the way to get there. Ultimately, it's only through harmony that one can invite any change Read More...

I think we have a product that will solve your problem

November 3rd, 2010

Question #9 in the would you or would you not series is... You're in a meeting with a new potential client and they mention a need they have that one of your products can solve. Do you wait for them to pause and then tell them about your product? This is a perfect situation. They have a problem and your product can solve it Read More...

The Next Three

June 15th, 2010

At Selling with Creativity we are working through a list of a dozen actions a salesperson might do or say at a first meeting with a new prospective client.  Here are actions four through six.  Remember, it’s your first time face to face with a new client.  Are these things you would do or say? 4)   Summarize a transaction you are currently working on with a well-known client Read More...

The Picture on the Wall Question

May 26th, 2010

Here is question number two (and my response) to the salesperson's 'would you or would you not' quiz.   Is this something you would do at a first sit-down meeting with a prospective client? 2)  Ask a question about a picture on their office wall. Too hokey? Does it seem to much like a glad-handing salesperson trying too hard to be chatty?  Despite this risk Read More...

The First Conversation

May 1st, 2010

This blog is a merger between structured creativity and selling.  There is a natural union between the two.  Since 1993, I have been exploiting that union for myself and for my clients. This blog is perhaps just another iteration of that exploitation.  It is a sales blog, but underpinning everything in it, is structured creativity Read More...