I watched the movie Hot Tub Time Machine over the weekend. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and it actually made some great points. The premise of the film was that three buddies and a nephew were transported 20 years back in time to a pivotal weekend of their youth. They were instructed to not change anything, so they reluctantly made the same mistakes again, hoping to not upset the course of the future. However, at one point, they decide it’s ok to upset the cart and to change things. They acknowledge things aren’t so great in the current future; they’re just familiar, so why are they trying so hard to protect it? Instead of making the same mistakes again, they made better choices and ended up in an alternate future where things turned out much better and happier.

The moral of the story? Do not believe your past business mistakes are just how you work and you can’t change. Don’t get caught up in the status quo and refuse to make changes for fear of that unknowable future. Do things right and correct what you can. Be brave and move forward. Make your future better than it will be if you stay on the current course.

–Sonya

If you have kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren or even encounter kids during your day-to-day routine, chances are you’ve seen Silly Bandz. Those crazy-colored silicone bands that are shaped like pretty much anything under the sun (including the sun). Trade them, wear them, fling them across the room. They’re one of the hottest kid crazes to hit in years. And we just might learn something from the man behind the craze in America, Robert Croak.

While the shaped bands were originally invented in Japan, Croak saw their potential and built on the concept by producing them here in the U.S. in a greater variety, thus encouraging kids to trade them. The company has used viral marketing and social media outlets such as Facebook and YouTube to fuel the craze.

From the funny, shaped bands he encountered about three years ago at a tradeshow, Croak has built an empire on Silly Bandz. While they’re surely a passing fad, he’s already at work on future products to keep Silly Bandz a household name. The success of Silly Bandz is an example of what can happen when you look for opportunity even in the most unlikely places. Whether you’re designing a product or selling it, think what potential it may have beyond what you see in front of you and seize every opportunity.

–Tamzen

Adults retain 20 percent of what they hear and 90 percent of they say as they do. That knowledge should radically alter the format of the classic sales presentation, where the salesperson usually talks and the customer listens. Whether it’s a product or a concept you are selling, if you want to close that customer, you can help yourself immensely by asking him or her to do something and tell you about it at the same time. Suggestions like “Swing this driver and tell me how it feels,” or “Shift the transmission into Sport mode and tell me what you experience” may be closing statements initiated by the customer!

–Byron

Across all industries, we often hear, “We’re different.  We’re slow to change.” Everyone thinks his industry is different, special, slower than others. But really, they’re not. People are people and they operate the same regardless of what they make, do or sell. If you feel your business is in a rut or not moving quickly enough, consider what is working in other non-competing industries and apply it to yours. It just might work.

As for accepting change, it’s easier for people to embrace change when they understand why something will be better. So, when enacting change, engage your employees as early as possible and make sure they don’t just know the change that will take place, but how the decision was made, and then how it will be implemented and what it will mean to them, to clients and to the company.

–Sonya

Selling a product or service in a way that it makes your customers’ lives easier can be a key in boosting sales. Take, for example, Old El Paso. According to an Advertising Age story, General Mills boosted the sales of its Old El Paso taco line by providing a convenient and affordable family dinner in one box…just add meat. In a time when budgets are tight and time is sometimes even tighter, the company provided just what the average family needed. Additionally, a microsite was created that offers games and coupons.

Think about how you might bundle your products or services to make them more attractive. How can you make your customers’ lives simpler—saving them time and money?

–Tamzen

Many of the clients we work with today were just employees of companies we worked with a dozen years ago and weren’t the decision-makers at the time. Now, many of them are. I was reminded of this when I got a response to an email from someone I had sent two years ago. You read right, two years. Maybe in two more years, he may be our biggest client. Strong networks aren’t built in a day. Some things just take time. So hurry up already!

–Jim

The importance of eye contact in communication is well documented, yet people are generally uncomfortable in sustaining it for too long. Someone blinks; sometimes it might be you. But people usually talk about eye contact in the context of generating warmth and trust—and that’s important—but there’s another facet of eye contact to consider from a persuasive perspective. If you are negotiating with a customer, and there’s a difference of opinion, maintaining eye contact is every bit as crucial as it was during the initial handshake. So here’s a little trick that virtually guarantees you not blink first: Don’t look ‘em in the eye. Look between the customer’s eyes. The customer will still think you are holding eye contact.

But if the customer knows the same trick, you might be in for a prolonged staring contest.

–Byron

When communicating through your sales channel, be as brief as possible.  Say everything that needs to be said, and simply, but don’t drone on because you want to add more words, longer words, or jargon. 

What does this mean? For written communications, it means it takes longer to write because each word needs to mean the right thing, you must edit more before you send, and you must think carefully about what you’re writing. For the reader, it means it takes less time to read and to understand what is being said, which is good.

–Sonya

Over the last few decades, companies have begun to realize the benefits of encouraging wellness and physical fitness among employees. And it makes sense, right? The fitter you are, the healthier you are—better for both the employee and the employer. Fewer illnesses and days missed, more energy, more focus, better performance.

Volkswagen recently launched a fitness program for its production workers at its new plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. They call it developing an “industrial athlete” who can withstand the physical requirements of assembling vehicles. And another automaker, Chrysler, just received the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Award from the National Business Group on Health for its culture of wellness.

What is your company doing to encourage fitness among its employees? Consider encouraging your employees and distributor network with incentives such as hosting a fitness challenge, offering discounts at a local gym or creating a weight loss support group.

–Tamzen

Asking for help is good. If something is too big to tackle by yourself, every second you spend in the weeds is time wasted. Get help first. When you engage others in your struggle, you may discover the problem or challenge isn’t really that big after all. Plus, that person may even have gone through a similar challenge successfully and can give you the keys. And, if you do need help, maybe, if the person you turn to can’t help, they can refer you to someone who can. But you can’t begin until you ask.

–Jim