Category Archives: Goals

Achieve your goals!

A Sales Gig Primer: Accelerate Onboarding and Ramp Up Part 5 of 5

Onboarding and Ramp UpA Sales Gig Primer: Three Critical Items for Accelerating Onboarding and Ramp Up Part 5 of 5

POKE: Did you register yet for this event: Your Job Search Goes Social with Sima Dahl? I am attending and I want you to consider it, too. Sima is even offering the event FREE to people who are unemployed – on the honor system. She is clearly about making a difference!

Accelerate your Onboarding and Ramp Up

Now that you have honed in on the short list of companies you would like to sell for, here are the 3 T’s I want you to find out to make sure you are landing in your right next home. YOU want successes quickly. Make sure that your Onboarding and Ramp Up Time are maximized.

The Three T’s: Training, Tools, and Time

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

TRAINING
It is a mistake to think that the only thing you will need to learn are the company’s products and presentation materials. You must know what to expect about how you will be trained on the systems they use – like CRM’s and Expense Report and other Reporting Tools that you will be required to use.

How will you be trained to navigate the company to get the resources you need? Where do you get what? How do issues get resolved?

How will you be trained on prospecting processes and territories (include questions about social selling training in this section)? You want to make sure you are clear and comfortable with how the company uses social media, if appropriate, to gain prospects and any compliance issues you may need to be aware of.

Can you expect good coaching from your sales manager? What do they offer to keep you sharp and state-of-the-art?

  • I like to hear it when a company says they will bring you to headquarters for a week or two to get you fully immersed.
  • Even better when you are going to be assigned a mentor (make sure you meet them first).
  • Awesome when they have ongoing training events or allow you a budget to invest in your own development.

If they promise “ride-alongs” or “sit-ins” with other salespeople, make sure you know how many to expect , how they get set up , and that they are with a performing salesperson (the last thing you need is to ride-along with an underperformer).

TOOLS
Selling tools are absolutely CRITICAL for your success. The better suited the tools are for your work, the more likely you are to perform.

Tools will include things like sales collateral and presentations.

They also include your CRM, Contact Information Finders, Outreach Templates, Social Media Tools, Lead Generators, and Drip Marketing Systems.

I recommend that you REALLY dig in on what to expect here. I have heard horror stories about people who go to work for cheap companies who expect them to sell into the C-Suite or SVP level of a company, but provide absolutely NO assistance like LinkedIn Premium services and something as simple as Avention (OneSource) or a similar Contact Information Database.

In horrifying companies, highly skilled salespeople are spending 45 minutes tracking down an email address or phone number AFTER they have spent who-knows-how-much-time locating the person with the right title. This is the WORST kind of way to spend your time. It is exhausting and demoralizing. Make sure this company is smart enough to spend a few dollars to get you what you need instead of thinking that it is a good use of your time to do these things. Can you IMAGINE?

I also really want you to understand how your organization wants you to use the CRM.

Is it for YOU or is it for THEM?

I have seen so many managers make their salespeople use the CRM in such convoluted and twisted ways that it is clear that you are only helping them micromanage or run inconsequential reports – information that never leads to a sale, but sucks your time and happiness.

Learn how the CRM system helps you stay on track with your hot prospects, measures your effectiveness at prospecting and conversion, and gives you quick access to the right prospects when a Trigger Event occurs. Anything else is standing in the way of your performance.

TIME
For your sanity, and the sanity of the people in your life who rely on you for an income, I strongly recommend that you dig into what to REALLY expect as a ramp up time until you are earning your On Target Earnings.

I want you to ask about Sales Cycle Lengths. And I want you to be clear when they talk about the sales cycle – how do they know that? Is it from Cold to Close? Or from the time you present to the decision-maker to close? (A BIG DIFF).

Ask what the average sales person’s ramp up time is to On Target Earnings. OF COURSE, you are going to be the star and blow it out of the water, but do not let them tell you the experience of the top performer, you want to know what to really expect.

And, how much time do they expect you to spend on certain activities? What have they identified as their Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)? (In other words, what activities have they seen are most likely to produce results?) Are these the things you want to spend your day doing?

Finally, make sure you know what their tolerance is for you getting up-to-speed. What are the signs that you are on track at 1 month, 90-days, 180 days? If they cannot articulate these milestones, BE WARY. Also, how do they correct performance that isn’t on track? How much time do you have to show results? How do they document and evaluate your progress? These are CRITICAL things to know before you start. Too many companies are churn-and-burn and I want to make sure you are not caught in the cycle.

Remember, my lovelies! Your life is to be enjoyed, not endured (Cowboy Mouth). If you ask all the right questions, you can be pretty darn sure that you will have a job that you ENJOY, not ENDURE. And, believe me, YOU DESERVE IT!

Love yourself UP!

The Irreverent Sales Girl

 

 

 

A Sales Gig Primer: Investigate, Investigate, Investigate Part 4 of 5

So, now we’ve taken the time to get to the bottom of what we want Investigatein a job. We’ve right-sized our thinking about our place in the market. We’ve talked about picking the right boss and getting set up in the right type of compensation plan.

All very important – even critical.

Let’s  take it a few steps further, though, to make sure you can really thrive in your new role. I have made five suggestions for further investigation. Please add YOUR suggestions in the comments.

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

Continue reading A Sales Gig Primer: Investigate, Investigate, Investigate Part 4 of 5

A Sales Gig Primer: Show Me the Money! Part 3 of 5

OK! So, today is about Show Me the Money!

Before we start though – did you register for this yet? It’s going to ROCK! Check out this event: Your Job Search Goes Social with Sima Dahl I am attending and I want you to consider it, too. Sima is even offering the event FREE to people who are unemployed – on the honor system. She is clearly about making a difference!

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

Show Me the MoneyShow-Me-The-Money-538x218
There are really three ways to get paid as a salesperson – all others are variations on one a theme:

Straight Up Salary
This position pays a straight salary and you are evaluated on your performance against specific measures – maybe the number of appointments you set, or your conversion rates, or the deals you bring in.

This set up is ideal for the person who does not like income fluctuation. It is also ideal for the person who feels more comfortable REALLY selling a product when they can honestly say there is “nothing in it for them”.

Base Plus Commission
This sales gig pays you enough of a base to ensure you have some living expenses covered as your income fluctuates, but provides enough incentive to get the job done and perform at the top of your game.

Be sure to know what you need to be OK first, make yourself comfortable enough with the base so that you have the flexibility to go out and sell confidently (people can sniff out desperation from a mile away). But, not SO comfortable that it takes your edge off of the hunger.

This set up is ideal for someone who has a moderate degree of money motivation. Usually this person is also intrinsically wired to simply need to achieve. They also love the “unlimited” income potential that comes along with this situation, without having it all at risk.

Commission Only
(I consider Commission with a Draw to fit into this same category. A draw is NOT a base salary. It is like going into debt against future commissions.)

This sales gig is for people who are highly risk-tolerant. They want to be paid (and paid WELL) for the results they produce. They can command much higher commission rates because they are taking on all of the fluctuation and risk of performance.

These people are self-reliant and REALLY love the “Sky’s The Limit” nature of the work.

If you are entering one of these gigs, be absolutely certain that you can rely on your employer to provide the full training and resources you will need to succeed. Many companies who pay on “Commission Only” are just fine with churn and burn of sales people. Make sure this is an environment where you can THRIVE!

Love yourself UP!

The Irreverent Sales Girl

A Sales Gig Primer: Find the Right Boss – Part 2 of 5

Pick the Right BossSo, my lovelies. We are on day two of Finding the Right Sales Gig for You: Finding the Right Boss.

Before we start though, if you didn’t do it yesterday, do it today! Check out this event: Your Job Search Goes Social with Sima Dahl I am attending and I want you to consider it, too. Sima is even offering the event FREE to people who are unemployed – on the honor system. She is clearly about making a difference!

We’ve talked about this before, and I cannot stress the importance of this enough. If you want to succeed, you are much more likely to do it if you have the RIGHT BOSS. Here is a post I wrote a couple of years ago, it’s one of my favorites! Pick Your Boss, Not Your Job

How do you do that? Here are three ideas:

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

Continue reading A Sales Gig Primer: Find the Right Boss – Part 2 of 5

Finding the right sales gig for YOU! The Sales Gig Primer

Sales Gig Primer

So, you’re looking for a new sales gig. (Or you’re in a sales job and you’re wondering if it’s right for you).

I have heard so many horror stories this week about people in the wrong sales environment that I just had to put together a bit of a primer for finding the perfect fit for YOU!

Before we start though. Check out this event: Your Job Search Goes Social with Sima Dahl I am attending and I want you to consider it, too. Sima is even offering the event FREE to people who are unemployed – on the honor system. She is clearly about making a difference!

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

So , we’re going to make this the week of finding your dream job. Here’s our five step primer to getting you the right gig for you.

Monday: Doing the Due (Diligence, that is)

Tuesday: Finding the right boss

Wednesday: Show me the money (How do you want to get paid?)

Thursday: Investigate, Investigate, Investigate

Friday: Accelerating Onboarding and Ramp Up

Are you ready to get started?

Continue reading Finding the right sales gig for YOU! The Sales Gig Primer

Hungry Like The Wolf

What is the one goal that you  haven’t met in the last five years? You have SAID you wanted it over-and-over. You know the one I mean.

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

This is the year!

What will YOU do to get Hungry Like the Wolf for your goal? Where can you BLAST the resignation? Where do you promise you will NOT GET STOPPED this year?

Now, write it down and look at it very single dingle day. Do something about it every single dingle day.

I got married last month. I wanted to look great.

I went to the gym for an hour and a half every single dingle day for 7 weeks in a row (except Thanksgiving).

I looked great.

If you want it bad enough, you can have it.

You just got to be Hungry Like the Wolf.

Love your goals UP!

The Irreverent Sales Girl

 

All Revved Up and EVERYPLACE to Go!

Rock 2015 Meatloaf Style
All REVVED UP and EVERYWHERE to go!

What a great holiday season it has been. The most holidayed year of any I can remember. With Christmas Eve falling on a Wednesday – and New Year’s Eve doing the same?

Kudos to all of you who worked like banshees throughout these lazy weeks, but most of us have probably really enjoyed relaxing, solving jigsaw puzzles, watching endless TV marathons or all the movies we could stand.

Good cooking. Great leftovers. Good times with family and friends.

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

Me, personally. I got married and honeymooned last month! I have been absent, but I am back! In your pocket. Ready to rock what is possible.

Now, we are armed and ready with plenty of rest. Plenty of new ideas! Ready to get started and hungry all over again.

For those about to make 2015 your BEST YEAR EVER, I salute you!

We will be in this shoulder-to-shoulder, day-to-day! I can’t imagine a better group to share this with. Let’s make this a year to remember!

Here’s your chance to share what you want this year or what you want me to write more about. Please don’t share New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t believe in them. 😉

Love ’em UP!

The Irreverent Sales Girl

Here’s a quote to start your week!

Do it like you mean it!

The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.

~Ayn Rand

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

VaVaVaVoom Interview! Success is NOT for the weak of heart!

BE WARNED!

You are about to read an extraordinary interview that might REALLY shake you up!

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

If you are committed to being successful – you may have found books and conferences on success intriguing, but they don’t  get you there…Dan upsets that applecart!

BEWARE – Dan’s message can be confronting. It is the TRUTH about what it takes to be a top performer. Not a guide on how to shortcut your way to the top.

(Notice how that hasn’t worked for you?)

If you can handle the truth, READ ON!

I can handle the truth

Has success been elusive? Get EDGY!

Got EDGY?Check this out! Dan’s EDGY introduction of the game-changing book!

I HEART DAN WALDSCHMIDT. He is one of the most accomplished, generous, and committed people I know – committed to OTHER’S success. He is EDGY and real and awesome. The Irreverent Sales Girl would be nowhere near where we are today without his awesome-ness!

Here is what Dan has to say about the book he released today!

“It took us four years of work to figure out what really makes ordinary people do amazing things. Like you, we had read many books about how to be successful in business, how to stay motivated, and how to get rich. When we finished reading each one we though “if that formula works so well why is it that I don’t get the results that the book says I should be getting?”

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

We threw away the books and motivational seminars and started looking around at ordinary people who ended up unbelievably achieving outrageous success. We looked for common people who accomplished amazing feats of success and dug a little deeper into their stories. The more we started looking, the more examples we found.

From business to math to science to sports to politics,  we studied 1,000 ordinary people who achieved success against all the odds. What we uncovered were four clear character traits that I had never read about in any book. We call it EDGY. (And wrote our own book about it.)”

IMPORTANT LINKS:

SHORT AUTHOR BIO:

Dan Waldschmidt is an international business strategist, speaker, author, and extreme athlete.  His consulting firm solves complex marketing and business strategy problems for savvy companies all over the world. Dow Jones calls his Edgy Conversations blog one of the top sales sites on the internet. He’s been profiled in Business Week, INC Magazine, BBC, Fox News, The Today Show, and Business Insider, has been the featured guest on dozens of radio programs, and has published hundreds of articles on progressive business strategy. He is author of Edgy Conversations: How Ordinary People Achieve Outrageous Success.

AND, if you order NOW, he’ll send you his workbook FREE!

Love your success UP!

The Irreverent Sales Girl