Straight Talk

Straight Talk

Leslie Grossman, cofounder of Women's Leadership Exchange®, has her eye on success for all of us as we move into Fall.  Here's her thoughts on how she keeps Women's Leadership Exchange® on the success path and they just could help you succeed, too.

I have a large bag of tricks to keep me positive and focused. As the economy continues to sag, I continue to look for new opportunities to add to that bag. Just like the smartest business women realize that learning is a lifelong opportunity to grow your business, which is why so many of you attend WLE conferences and teleseminars, I am like a sponge soaking up new ideas and connections.

Last week, I attended a workshop "Loving, Learning and Mastering the Art of Selling" presented by Tony Smith, CEO, VSA Consulting Group, in alliance with The Harvard Business School Club of NY.  Tony, who coached me for several years, is a master in having us look at how our past affects our present and creating a major shift that reaps positive results. I've recounted more details of the workshop in a recent blog entry which you can access here.  However, I'd like to share a few new takes on "selling" that are sure to help you succeed in the next several months. Consider that selling is not just about selling the product or service you deliver. It is so much more. Tony shared some of transformational statements his clients made about selling after completing his course:

• "Selling is creating and communicating value that inspires, engages, and contributes to another, and they say so."
• "Selling is an adventure and a creative process that makes a difference for all concerned."
• "Life/selling is getting to know people, to fulfill what matters most."
• "Selling is a creating with another in an exciting intimate way that opens up new possibilities for unseen benefits, solutions, and learnings."
• "Selling is an intimate adventure, a game where everyone wins and contribution is a prize."

I am working on my own personal statement of what selling is to me that makes me feel good about it and enables me to succeed in these challenging times. How about you? How can you make sales something you can feel good about … AND succeed?