Friday, March 30, 2007

Cold Calling Executives Mindset - a Way of Life

The time of mental transition comes to different people at different points in time. But if you plan to cold call high-level decision-makers expect a transition to come. At some point, perhaps without you even realizing it has happened, the way you think will morph into the very kinds of thoughts top decision makers think. You will have their perspective of the world.

You'll no longer be stuck in the quagmire of low-level decision-makers who make decisions within limited decision making capacity as dictated by the high-level decision makers. You will be free to think and move through business transactions with the same abilities as higher levels of your prospects' organizations.

A case in point.

This week on the fourth day of waiting in ICU for "official" updates re: my sister-in-law's health disposition I flipped over to my cold-calling-executives mindset. Nurses said they could provide no information, seven different physicians said they were not the attending physician and could not counsel the family.

For whatever reasons these medical professionals were limited in their problem solving ability. The hospital administrator was the next logical stop - as he was "the buck stops here guy who was accountable to share holders."

One call to his office resulted in an on site visit by his personal assistant; the appearance of the previously unknown "attending physician"; and the collection of family's constructive feedback was reported back to the hospital administrator.

The hospital administrator immediately recognized as did I:

1. If his well-educated highly-paid medical staff was failing to connect with the patient's family, he (the hospital administrator) had a systems problem in need of fixing immediately.

2. If just this one hospital patient had 7 siblings, their spouses, children and grandchildren in a room who were feeling emotional pain and suffering from neglect -- he (the hospital administrator) had a big, unnecessary PR problem looming on the horizon.

3. In a litigious society his (the hospital administrator's) hospital had huge potential exposure for a lawsuit.

4. If this one situation had been brought to his (the hospital administrator's) attention, odds were at least 100 more just like were lurking in the shadows.

Contrary to the beliefs of most people who have reason to visit a hospital the physicians and nurses were not/are not the ones who resolve systems issues.

When our family was not communicated with, it became clear a breakdown in the hospital's communication protocols had occurred. How sad and frustrating that well intended, highly skilled and talented medical professionals who wanted more than anything to care for their patients and their families failed to do so because of an ineffective system. How sad and frustrating that a family who respected and wanted the counsel of those medical professionals did not receive it on a timely basis.

As you begin to think like a "Top Dog," you'll see and experience considerably less frustration in your personal and professional life, because you will know:
1. who to talk to
2. how to talk to them
3. all for the purpose of resolving the problem and/or making things better
That third point is an important one -- even in the midst of emotionally high-charged situations, high-level decision-makers are not interested in assessing blame, condemning, or venting anger. They are interested in making things work better for all involved. When making things work better for all involved becomes your predominant mindset take note. This is evidence that you have made the transformation to "Top Dog" thinking.
Visit: www.coldcallingexecutives.com

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Remember - No Fear Cold Calling

This week I am reminded once again that successful cold calling is really a way of living.

Tuesday evening our family was all gathered at the hospital. Overnight we found ourselves in the position of deciding when to pull the life support from my sister-in-law who had suffered a massive coronary and stroke that effectively destroyed her brain. We were working this through when at ten minutes after midnight our nurse entered the waiting room with a solemn look on her face. She let us know that my mother-in-law had just died.

There are many lessons and many marvelous things that have happened during this period of intenense grief and I will share the stories in a variety of settings.

As for right now, for you and me and all of us who cold call here are a few lessons I am reminded of and want to pass on to you with passion behind the words.

1. Life is short. Make the time you spend count. There is no need for you to waste weeks, months, even years "working your way" from the low levels of an organization to the top. Cold call high-level decison makers from the get go. They want and need to hear from you. If they are rude to you that's their problem. In your mind just say to yourself, "next" and call another prospect. You are on the lookout for the people you want to do business with. It doesn't take many to make for a great year. Go find them.

2. Fear not. Living in fear sucks the life right out of you and keeps you from doing what you are meant to do with your life. Not everyone is gifted with the ability to sell. No doubt about it, you have a gift. Go use it.

3. Use fear to move you forward. Being prompted by fear in a way that helps you grow emotionally and professionaly is a most excellent use of that emotion.

4. Love your life and live out loud. Care enough about your prospects to call them and let them know what you have to offer that will make their businesses better. This very well may dictate that you feel the fear ... and make your calls anyway. Get to it.

Thank God in all things. He gives us life greatly to enjoy. Learn your lessons and get on about the business of living - because life is short - and you have a contirbution to make.
Visit: www.coldcallingexecutives.com

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Friday, March 23, 2007

Don't Mess with a Successful Cold Calling Script

A newbie to cold calling said that a successful sales pro shared his cold calling script with her.

She asked me, "How can I make the script sound more like me?"

I said, "Whoa Nellie!" If a seasoned pro was willing to share a script that brings results - don't change a single word until you've made 50 cold calls with that script and closely examined the verbal exchanges you have with your prospect and the results of those calls.

The successful cold calling script to the uneducated reader may just seem like a few words on paper. And it may seem logical to ask, "what's the big deal if I change a few words here and there?" The fact that this question even comes to your mind is evidence that you you shouldn't be changing one single word ... at least not yet.

A cold calling script is an extremely sophisticated sales presentation that must open the door, build rapport, establish your right to procede with the call, and get the desired outcome (an appointment) ... all in the span of 90-seconds (or less) of phone time that you have with your prospect. Every word spoken either helps or hinders your results. Seasoned pros know this. Don't even think about changing their scripts until you understand why every word is there in the first place.
Visit: www.coldcallingexecutives.com

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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Efficient, Effective Cold Calling

Many folks ask for ways to make cold calling time as "efficient and effective" as possible. This powerful combination comes when every single word you speak is intentional.

Each word you speak, each question you ask, each bit of information you give can be crafted to to move you towards the outcome you want -- an appointment with a decision maker.

Do this. Jot down a rough outline of a recent cold call you have made to a prospect. Examine each word spoken. An honest examination will shine a spotlight on the words that are helping you get the results you want ... and the results you don't want.
Visit: www.coldcallingexecutives.com

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Monday, March 19, 2007

Cold Calling for New Business Development

Thanks to William for sending this message, "I am a new Business Development Banker for a small community bank ( 16 Branches ) in Bucks/NE Phila. Part ( 50% ) of my job is to bring in new business. This involves cold calling to companies, I want to use this time to be as effective as possible. Any ideas or tip from you would be great."

Here's quick idea for those who are starting up, maybe even new to cold calling. Pick 10 businesses you would love to have as clients. Then, pick 10 businesses from the phone book. Practice cold calling the later 10 so you'll be sharp, confident, and productive when you make your calls to the first 10.
Visit: www.coldcallingexecutives.com

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Saturday, March 17, 2007

Welcome To Cold Calling Tools!

FACT: A Whopping 98% of Cold Calls Fail to Secure Executive-Level Appointments.

When you're cold calling executives, you can't afford to waste time searching for words. At most, you have 90 seconds to state your case and win an appointment. Or you'll hear the click of your prospect hanging up.

It's frustrating. Infuriating. Even embarrassing.

But "rejection" at "the top" is NOT a necessary evil. Not any more.

I will provide resources and tools so you can cold call C-level executives with confidence!
Visit: www.coldcallingexecutives.com

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