Archive for category: Professional Development

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What’s Your Pick-Up Line?

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We know … we know … pick-up lines are for social settings. However, a great opening line helps you professionally as well.

Listen to the show to hear our opening line. It doesn’t translate well to print. Mary-Lynn also shares the “cheesiest” pick-up line she ever heard.

The paperboy who became a billionaire
W. Clement Stone sold papers as a kid. He became a billionaire by selling insurance door-to-door. He documented what he learned in his great book, The Success System That Never Fails.

Picture this – you respond to a knock at your door. You open it to see a young man pointing to a list of names. You recognize quite a few of them – they’re your friends and neighbors. All this has happened within a split second as he begins to speak:

“I believe this will interest you also.”

He didn’t tell them his name or say, “Hello.” He didn’t ask them how they were doing or talk about the weather. No! He had tested … and tested … and tested.  He knew this was his best opening line. It was part of his success system.

Let’s look at three essential components to a great opening line.

#1 – Take the “you” view.
You have to think from the other person’s point of view if you want their attention. You’re probably familiar with the acronym WIIFM – what’s in it for me? Immediately address it because everybody is so busy.

#2 – Engage them.
W. Clement Stone’s opener is intriguing, isn’t it?

You ask yourself, “Why does he think that I’ll be interested? Why were my friends and neighbors interested?”

It’s a disturbing comment! That’s one way to engage people. You may also ask a disturbing question. “Ever notice” how Andy Rooney, with 60 Minutes, does this? Can you hear his voice?

One example of a disturbing question is to ask something that doesn’t ring true. We recently did a show / blog entitled 112 Does It Pay Be Smart]?

You say to yourself, “Well, of course it does! So why are they questioning it? What‘s the rest of the story?” Go ahead … check it out …. you know you want to!

You can also engage people by telling a short story that is humorous, gripping, or inspirational.

#3 – Appeal to their emotions.
Let’s go back to the W. Clement Stone story. Picture him at your door again. He delivers his opening line – “I believe this will interest you also” – as he points to his list of your friends and neighbors.

Do you start to worry that you might be left out? That fear of being excluded gets you into the conversation.

This great opening line worked wonders for retailers
Michael Gerber wrote the phenomenal book, The E-Myth Revisited. The “E” stands for entrepreneur, by the way. He talked about opening lines that sales clerks use.

When you walk into a store, if you’re greeted by a clerk, what do they say?

“May I help you?”

How do you respond? Perhaps something like …

“No, thanks … I’m just looking.”

Gerber advised his retail clients to change the question to:

“Have you visited our store before?”

That’s still a simple “yes” or “no”. However, if the customer said, “Yes”, the sales associate would respond:

“Let me show you our specials for regular customers.”

If the customer said, “No”, the clerk replied:

“Let me show you our specials for first-time customers.”

Doesn’t seem like much of a change, does it? The results were anything but small …

Sales increased 16 percent, on average!

What’s your opening line? What works for you? Leave your suggestions in our comment’s section.

Our Bigg Quote was made over 2,500 years ago by Pythagoras, the mathematician and philosopher.

“Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.”

A great opening line will open doors for you. Next time, we’ll discuss how to tap into your hidden potential. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

Related Post:

44 Timeless Principles: W.Clement Stone’s Success System]

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Should You Count On Your Counter-Offer

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Bigg Challenge:  We received an e-mail from Patrick, who was approached about a job. He met with the prospective employer and accepted their offer. Then he got an unsolicited counter offer when he told his current employer that he was resigning. He wants to know if he should accept it.

Bigg Advice: Congratulations, Patrick! Isn’t it nice to be wanted? It sounds wonderful, but the reality is that it can be quite stressful. We feel the need to preface our comments – we can give you general advice, but only you can decide which offer you should accept.

  • Why did you accept the offer from your prospective new employer?

    • It’s unclear from the e-mail why you wanted to leave. There are many possible reasons why you may have been drawn to your prospective employer’s offer. Was it money? Maybe you were unhappy at your current job – you just hadn’t started actively searching yet. Perhaps the new job seemed like a better opportunity. We’ll assume that if was a combination of these factors.

  • Why did your current employer counter?

    • We can think of two possible explanations for your employer’s counter offer. First, they may be buying time. Perhaps they’re not prepared to do a search now. The timing is bad because of current business volume. There could be any number of reasons for them to buy time. Just be aware of this. Second, they may truly value you. They really don’t want you to go. They’ve invested in you – you’re part of their future plans. It’s hard to judge intentions. Assume the best, but keep the worst in the back of your mind.

  • Get it in writing.

    • Negotiate your counter offer as if it was a brand new job. If you’ve been promised more money, it will be easy to judge whether they come through. It’s more difficult with other factors. You may want to travel less. Maybe you want more flexibility. Or you need more time off. Perhaps it’s growth opportunities that you seek. These factors are harder to deliver. So ask your current employer to put their offer in writing. Tell them that you appreciate their counter. You want to fully evaluate it. You prefer to stay with them, but you want to know that you’re making the right decision. Seeing it in writing will help you do that.

  • Maintain your relationships.

    • We don’t believe you should let your prospective employer know about the counter offer. They probably expect that anyway. However, you should make your final decision very quickly. Somebody will have a position to fill. Lingering only makes that a bigger problem. Whatever you decide, don’t burn bridges with the affected party.

Thanks for sharing your bigg challenge with us, Patrick. We hope our bigg advice helps you!

Do you have a bigg challenge? We’d love to help. E-mail it to bigginfo@biggsuccess.com

Our Bigg Quote today is by Karl Albrecht.

“Start out with an ideal and end up with a deal.”

You’ve been dealt a good hand. Play your cards well. Maintain your poker face. Draw from within and then place your bet.

Next time, we ask you, “What’s your pickup line?” We’ll discuss how to grab someone’s attention with a great opening line. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

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Getting The Credit You Deserve

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We’re not talking about credit cards here! We’ll discuss a somewhat common problem – what to do when you’re doing most of the work, but getting very little credit.      

Vicki e-mailed us with a bigg challenge – she recently worked on a major project at work. It was a bigg success – okay, she didn’t say that, but we couldn’t resist! Management is thrilled. Her problem – her supervisor is taking all the credit. Vicki wants to know what to do to get the recognition she deserves.

Here’s what we recommend to Vicki:
Put it in perspective
Don’t forget the old saying: It’s amazing how much gets accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit. The fact is you know that you worked on this project and that it was very successful. Enjoy it! You helped your company … you contributed.

Ask yourself if you’re inflating your role? Sometimes we give ourselves more credit than we deserve, especially on successful projects. Make sure that’s not the case. However, from reading Vicki’s e-mail, it doesn’t appear that’s the situation here.

We live in a highly competitive world. You’re a hard worker. You’ve been a part of a successful campaign. Strive to get the credit you deserve. That helps your standing in your company. It 129 makes your job more secure.]

If you don’t promote yourself, no one else will.
We’re not talking about walking around telling everyone how great you are. Don’t undermine your boss. Just understand that you need to make sure you’re recognized for your contributions.

Document, document, document.
As you’re working on projects in the future, keep written notes as things progress. Give credit where credit is due for ideas, participation, and implementation. Follow up – after meetings, face-to-face conversations, and phone calls – with a written record of “your understanding” of the conversation. Get agreement on the facts from your supervisor and/or co-workers.

For the project you just completed, consider writing out your role in the project. Ask your supervisor to review it. Tell him that you recorded the details while they were fresh in your mind. You’re going to put it in your file for your next review.

Don’t just write down what you did – include what you learned. Your company provides you with opportunities for growth. Pat your company on the back for that!

One more thought on documentation – don’t forget to add this project to your resume!

Address the situation at the proper time in the proper way.
The proper time is AFTER you have documentation on your role in a project. Then, if your manager fails to give you the credit you deserve, you’re ready to address it in the proper way.

That means having a conversation, not a confrontation. You won’t accomplish anything by attacking him. Report on the situation with as little emotion as you can possibly muster. Keep this two-point outline in mind –

(1) This is what happened      (2) Here’s how it makes me feel.

You may start with a discussion of the project, what you’re most proud of, and what you learned for next time. Then, you might say something like:

“In our meeting yesterday, when this project was discussed, I don’t feel I was given the credit I deserve. It makes me feel unappreciated.”

You’re not putting your boss on the defensive by saying that. You’re simply, and properly, trying to resolve an issue.

Good luck, Vicki! Thanks for sharing your bigg challenge with us.

What’s your biggest challenge right now? E-mail it to us at bigginfo@biggsuccess.com

Do you have a suggestion for Vicki? Share it with us in the Comments below.

Our Bigg Quote today is more of a riddle …

Why is Christmas just like a day at the office? 
Because you do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit!

You may be an elf now, but if you remember to elf-promote, you’ll be elf-satisfied!

Come back tomorrow to find out if your knowledge is a blessing or a curse. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

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Don’t Shy Away From Networking

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You’re probably familiar with the old quote: It’s not what you know; it’s who you know. We think it’s what you know AND who you know. But the point is still valid – it pays to know people. So meeting new people is essential to building your career.

Lyndsey Pollak, a blogger for The Huffington Post, recently wrote about this subject in her post, Why Shy People Make Great Networkers. There’s a negative connotation associated with shyness.

Yet, according to Marti Laney, in her book, The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World, 60 percent of the people that are considered “intellectually gifted” are shy. People like Albert Einstein and Bill Gates. Pretty good company, huh?

So being shy can work to your advantage, even in networking. Here’s how:

Ask for referrals from people you know.
It’s more comfortable reaching out to someone when you have a common connection. It’s much easier because you can open with a mention of your shared friend. Plus you can develop relationships faster because you build upon the bond the two of you already have with your mutual acquaintance.

Ask more questions.
By their very nature, shy people talk less, and listen more. And they listen intently. That’s an advantage in following up. You’re able to bring up something you learned in your last conversation to launch your next one.

Most people love to talk about themselves. Shy people play into this natural tendency. That makes them more likeable. Which makes them more memorable!

Bring a friend.
If you’d feel more comfortable with someone by your side, then bring them along! You’ll be more at ease, so you’ll be more likely to reach out to strangers.

Networking experts usually advise against this, with good reason. They fear that you’ll be “wallflowers.” Resist that tendency with all your being!

Pollak suggests that you bring the most extroverted friend you know. Let him or her reach out to people. Of course, you’ll chime in once the conversation has started.

If I’m shy, you must not be …
Pollak cites studies that show that 40 to 50 percent of all people describe themselves as “shy.” Remember this the next time you want to reach out to someone.

If you’re shy, chances are they’re not. Just get the conversation started and they’ll run with it! If you’re not shy, chances are they are. They’ll welcome you initiating a conversation.

Our bigg quote today is by Rachel Naomi Remen, the educator and author.

“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person
is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever
give each other is our attention. A loving silence often has far more
power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.”

So don’t be shy about listening … to people you know, to people you just met. Paying attention pays off!

Make it a goal this year to meet new people. Speaking of that, we’ve developed The Bigg Goal-Setting Workbook, which you can download free when you subscribe to our free weekly newsletter. Check it out today!

Next time, we’ll ask the question, “Does it pay to be smart?” We’ll talk about what your IQ says about how rich you’ll be. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

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Don't Shy Away From Networking

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Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More

You’re probably familiar with the old quote: It’s not what you know; it’s who you know. We think it’s what you know AND who you know. But the point is still valid – it pays to know people. So meeting new people is essential to building your career.

Lyndsey Pollak, a blogger for The Huffington Post, recently wrote about this subject in her post, Why Shy People Make Great Networkers. There’s a negative connotation associated with shyness.

Yet, according to Marti Laney, in her book, The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World, 60 percent of the people that are considered “intellectually gifted” are shy. People like Albert Einstein and Bill Gates. Pretty good company, huh?

So being shy can work to your advantage, even in networking. Here’s how:

Ask for referrals from people you know.
It’s more comfortable reaching out to someone when you have a common connection. It’s much easier because you can open with a mention of your shared friend. Plus you can develop relationships faster because you build upon the bond the two of you already have with your mutual acquaintance.

Ask more questions.
By their very nature, shy people talk less, and listen more. And they listen intently. That’s an advantage in following up. You’re able to bring up something you learned in your last conversation to launch your next one.

Most people love to talk about themselves. Shy people play into this natural tendency. That makes them more likeable. Which makes them more memorable!

Bring a friend.
If you’d feel more comfortable with someone by your side, then bring them along! You’ll be more at ease, so you’ll be more likely to reach out to strangers.

Networking experts usually advise against this, with good reason. They fear that you’ll be “wallflowers.” Resist that tendency with all your being!

Pollak suggests that you bring the most extroverted friend you know. Let him or her reach out to people. Of course, you’ll chime in once the conversation has started.

If I’m shy, you must not be …
Pollak cites studies that show that 40 to 50 percent of all people describe themselves as “shy.” Remember this the next time you want to reach out to someone.

If you’re shy, chances are they’re not. Just get the conversation started and they’ll run with it! If you’re not shy, chances are they are. They’ll welcome you initiating a conversation.

Our bigg quote today is by Rachel Naomi Remen, the educator and author.

“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person
is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever
give each other is our attention. A loving silence often has far more
power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.”

So don’t be shy about listening … to people you know, to people you just met. Paying attention pays off!

Make it a goal this year to meet new people. Speaking of that, we’ve developed The Bigg Goal-Setting Workbook, which you can download free when you subscribe to our free weekly newsletter. Check it out today!

Next time, we’ll ask the question, “Does it pay to be smart?” We’ll talk about what your IQ says about how rich you’ll be. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!