Transform your Business Life: Dress for Success

dressing for success

 

As a business person we should always remember that we never get a second chance to make a first impression so we must always, dress for success. How to, dress for success, we have all heard the saying don’t dress for the position you have now; but the position you want to get. 

Since I was a little girl I could pick out the women who had money. They would be dressed in suits or what I believed to be expensive clothing, with their hair and make up perfectly done. When they passed me, they smelled like heaven. But looking back, I realized that to, dress for success, did not mean that you had to be wealthy and have a closet full of expensive clothing. For all I knew these women that I admired, could have had only one suit in their closet or one, dress for success, frock.  It is not the quantity of your wardrobe, but the quality. 

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In my personal experience as well as reading business books and looking at movies like 50 Shades of Grey and the Proposal with Sandra Bullock,

Here is the formula for dressing for success Men   

 

Men if you have not seen 50 Shades of Grey, you should rent in on Netflix. Not only does it show you how to pleasure your woman; but at the beginning of the movie, it shows you what the closet of a  rich successful business man looks like.  Dozens of dark color suits, dozens of white shirts and dozens of ties. Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Google have all tried to change the dress code to tea shirt and jeans; but take a look at the Senate or President Trump or Wall Street. The business suit is still the, dress of success, 

I have always seen movies with the men being fitted for a suit; but I have always bought my man a suit from off the rack! Apparently that is bad! 

 

A carefully fitted suit is worth it’s weight in gold.

Even if it is off the rack it shouldn’t fit like a sack!

Get it altered to fit. It does not matter how much the suit cost; but it must fit!

That is the secret to looking successful. That is the way to, dress for success, 

 

The consensus is that a, business suit, should be single breasted and either dark blue or dark grey.   

Heading back to Christian Grey in, 50 shades of Grey. Notice that all his shirts were white. I have never seen President Barack Obama, in nothing other than a white shirt. Your white shirt should be one hundred percent cotton with button down collars and always long sleeves. Short sleeves are out! Complete the look with a pair of black loafers, well shined and with a new looking heel. If your heal wears down to one side, get it replaced at the shoe maker. 

 

Here is the formula for dressing for success Women

 

As from my intro I have been trying to copy Sandra Bullock’s look in “The Proposal” for some time now.  That is my, dress for success, look. If you haven’t seen the movie, she rocked the black pencil skirt with a white shirt and pumps with elegant heels.  

Find a look that flatters your figure. As women we come in all sizes. I don’t have time to get into the best look if you are busty, hippy or made to wear clothes like a super model. The formula to, dressing for success women, is to invest in a few classic, simple suits in dark colors. 

The same as the men, grey or blue. I still have the suit jacket I purchased from my first big pay check as a salesperson, 20 years ago. It was a grey wool blend double breasted skirt suit. I paid $700 for it from my $30,000 pay check. I felt successful so I went out and started, dressing for success,

 

Nice simple fitted dresses also work wonders, especially if paired with a blazer and some fashionable jewelry. The great thing is that you can loose the blazer for the after work parties and still be, dressed for success,. 

As women we like to flaunt our sexually, but avoid wearing bright colors, tight pants, mini skirts, plunging necklines or blue jeans. It may get you in the door short term; but it be paid for with long term loss, because men will hit on you, since they will feel that is what you are selling. Then a whole can of worms is opened up that doesn’t end well. 

Dressing for success shoes,

Shoes. I love the look of the thin healed pumps. It makes any foot look elegant. Not everyone can wear those including me. I just purchased a pair from the Ivanka Trump line. Don’t judge me they were on sale! And of course we have the Sex in the city reruns with the iconic Carrie Bradshaw for inspiration on how to, dress for success, with shoes.  

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So there you have it. Some ideas how to look the part before you get the part. As you lean your ladder against the wall of success, my wish for you in 2019 is that you get to the top of the ladder or at least make progress up the rungs. 

Additional Resources

https://www.royalfashionist.com/dress-successful-man-every-occasion/

https://www.pinterest.com/gwcareercenter/dress-for-success-women/?lp=true

 

5 Ways To Improve Your Bait

Your bait in sales

In sales, you are the, Bait! Everything you heard is true! People buy from people they like, people they feel a connection to or with people who are like them!

I recently watched the movie “A River runs through it”. I should confess that anything with Brad Pitt I watch with a big smile on my face! Anyway, in the movie Brad and his brother were fishing in this river. Brad’s brother was catching a whole lot of fish and Brad had not caught one. After some time of being a spectator in this fishing expedition, he shouted to his brother, “What are they biting on?” His brother shouted back, “Pimento Bugs”. Strangest bait I ever saw, these bugs had wings! But sure enough, when Brad changed his bait he caught the biggest fish ever! Know your, bait. 

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Here are 5 Ways you can Improve your, Bait:

1: Use Your Attire as your, Bait, What to wear to an interview. 

I will start with an Old Cliché “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” If you are going for an interview or meeting with a customer for the first time; look the part, and that is your best, use the first impression as your, bait.

I went for an interview once at Apple retail Store and I was very confused. Apple, Google and Facebook CEO’s have all made famous the tea shirt and running shoes mode of dress. So I was not sure how to dress; but I decided on a suit. No tee-shirt and runners for me! Better to be overdressed than not get a job because you showed up in tea shirt and tennis shoes.

In the movie “the Pursuit of Happyness“, Will Smith was sleeping in bathrooms and homeless; but he made sure he had one suit that always looked good. That is all you need, one good outfit. What to wear to an interview, It is suggested that for the man the color should be blue, black or grey for a suit. For the ladies a pant suit or an A-line dress works wonders. Looking good is always, bait, to the looker.

2: Your Profile picture is also your, bait

Your profile picture is what everyone sees. Just a picture of your head and face, and they from that they form a judgement, whether consciously or not from your, appearance,  In a recent LinkedIn training class, the presenter told a story about how he was about to hire someone for a service, then he noticed that their picture was dark and blurred. He said he decided not do business with them. He formed a judgement that if they could not spend $50 to get a good profile picture, then they could not be successful. You might say that he was too judgmental; but you never know what is costing you business. It is best to button it up and use your, bait.

I personally would never connect with anyone who didn’t have a profile picture, because I made the judgement that they were either not active or not serious. Now I connect because I can offer my consulting services because they need Help! Spend the money to get a professional profile picture and it will pay dividends. Whoever you are trying to attract, your picture is one, bait.

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3: The entire package or, appearance, is your, bait. 

I could never understand the “shoe shine” concept. Why did men favor going to get their shoes professionally shined until it became a mirror and they could see their faces in their shoes?
Now I understand, those men understood the value of “the entire package”. You can’t show up in an expensive suit, and your shoes are not shined! You can’t show up in an expensive suit and your hair looks like a hippie; you can’t show up in an expensive suit and your car looks like you bought it from the scrapyard. People form the wrong impression and then you have to work doubly hard for them to hear what is “coming out of your mouth”. Your entire package is your, bait.

For men, pay attention to the suit, shirt, tie, hair style, shoes.

For women, pay attention to your dress, your hair, your shoes and your pocket book! Yes, people now pay attention to what handbag you are putting your lipstick into!

4: Your Business card, your Website, and your Printed Materials is also your, Bait. 

If you want to convey success, then you have to dress for success.

Has anyone ever handed you a business card that was printed at home on cheap paper? What was your reaction? Did you want to run out and purchase their product? I am sure you didn’t. Or you ask someone who has a service you are interested in for a business card, and they tell you they don’t have one. Not having a business card is one way to be sure that the prospect is not going to bite on your, bait.

I should even add a pin to this scenario. In the movie “the Pursuit of Happyness”, there is a scene in which a salesperson bent over backwards to get a contract with Will Smith to produce his story. He called him several times, he made him an irresistible offer, he tracked him down at the airport and when Will was about to sign the contract and he asked him for a pen, he did not have one! Will cancelled the deal. He felt that a salesperson should always have a business card and a pen if he is worth anything!

Google Podcast Transform Your Mind
Google Podcast Transform Your Mind

5: Your Speech – how you speak is also, bait 

I don’t know if you have noticed, but most of the leading roles for movies and television commercials are going to actors who sound English! It is like a “cool breeze” to listen to someone with a pleasant voice. You don’t have to have an English accent; but your volume should be right and your pace should be right. As a Toastmaster, when we are speaking, we are gonged when we add fillers to our speech. Fillers are so, umm, ahh, etc. if you are doing a presentation, erase self doubt by not having too many fillers, your audience won’t regard you as a subject matter expert.

Your, Bait is you! Once you make a good impression and the fish are biting; then you can get on with the business that you came to do, and that is to sell your product or service.

You want to catch some fish!

https://www.myhelps.us/contact-us-1.html

Additional Resources:

4 Life Hacks that will Motivate your Teams

https://blog.myhelps.us/the-world-of-the-entrepreneur/

Dressing For Success And The Achievement Of Your Dreams

 

How to Own the Sales Process from Prospect to Client

real estate sales process

How to Own the Sales Process from Prospect to Client. i.e How to meet a prospect and walk out with a client!

In this episode, Coach Myrna Young interviews Elizabeth Gifford Maffei. Elizabeth was a multi-million dollar sales producer as a Real Estate agent, she is now a health and spiritual advocate and business coach.

Show notes Sales Process 

* What is a Challenge that entrepreneurs and business owners experience when trying to close a sale?

6 tips to close a sale quickly and effectively
  1. Identify the decision-maker and start a conversation. …
  2. Accurately qualify your prospects. …
  3. Pitch your solution (not just the product)
  4. Create a sense of urgency. …
  5. Overcome their objections. …
  6. Ask for the sale.

* What is the difference between making a sale and creating a loyal client?
* What is the first step in having a successful meeting with a prospect?

How to Prepare for a Sales Meeting As a Real Estate Agent

To be fully prepared for a successful customer meeting, you need to answer these questions:

  • Who are you meeting with?
  • Why are the two parties meeting?
  • What is the objective of the meeting?
  • When and where will it take place?
  • What is the agenda for the meeting (How)?

* How should you prepare before meeting with your prospect?
* How should a successful meeting be conducted?

Using Body Language during the Sales Process

How does the use of, body language, help, close a sale?

While it’s important to know what you should do in meetings and negotiations, knowing what you shouldn’t do is often just as important – and it begins with bad, body language.

The best sales managers know that while you may have a polished sales presentation, tasteful attire, and a product that practically sells itself, you can still miss out on, closing a sale, if your, body language, is out of sync with your words. While it’s true that first impressions make a lasting impact, cumulative, body language, is important. If you are in the habit of demonstrating any of the following, body language, in the, sales process, it could be enough to hurt your sales performance, turning a potential yes into definite no.

* What is the most important step that many business owners leave out?
* An example of a successful prospect meeting that resulted in a closed sale.

The four Stages of the Sale:

1: Qualify – Your, prospects, must have the money, the time, the need and the want to contract your services.

2: Build Rapport – People buy from people they like!
When you meet a, prospect, for the first time, it is important to find common ground. Look for similar interests or experiences and chat about them before getting into your, sales pitch.

3: Tell a story – Showcase how your product or service helped another client. It could also be a personal story of your journey to your current vocation.

4: Closing the Sale, – If you followed the first 3 stages then you don’t even need to close, just ask them to sign!
If you get to the end and you get objections, then you missed the qualify or selling the benefits.

Additional Resources

How to Build Wealth with Turnkey Real Estate Investing

Real Estate Investing with No Money