How to Master The Art of Persuasion

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

What’s possible if you become a master of persuasion?  As I ponder this question, I’m reminded of something that happened back when I was a shop manager in need of a new car.  

The shop was 45 minutes away from home, so I was looking for a reliable and dependable vehicle.

The plan was to get a car that I could drive until the wheels fell off!

How To Grow When They Say It's Slow

   

"Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?" - Robert Browning

     

“My tool guy says that everybody’s slow!” Said “Katie”, the service manager of a local repair shop.   She was averaging $12,000 per week in sales which was a 16% decrease when compared to the previous year. 

Katie went on to tell me: “It’s a tough economy, and we’re in the fall season,  but I’m sure things will pick up as we get closer to the holiday's.

My initial instinct was to believe her since she had a good reputation in her community and a track record of previous success. 

The Best Kept Secret To Increasing Your Car Count

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” – Bill Gates

Are you frustrated by the decrease in car count that came with your increase in Google AdWords?   Does it feel like you’re flushing money down the drain with each marketing campaign?

In his book titled, Sticky Church, Larry Osborne communicates a similar frustration. 

Osborne is a church pastor who struggled to grow his membership.   Back in 1980, he had a congregation consisting of 128 members.

How To Experience Victory In The Valley

“The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.”  Lou Holtz

The story is told of a traveler who was on a journey from one village to another.  As he was walking, he noticed a monk tilling the ground.  He asked the monk the following question:

“I’m traveling from the village in the mountains to the village in the valley and I was wondering if you knew what it was like in the valley?  “What was your experience in the mountains like?” asked the monk.

How To Charge An Upscale Price Without Upsetting Your Patrons

“Today’s consumers do not buy just products or services. Their purchase decisions revolve around buying into an idea and an experience.” Mckinsey

So there I was.  I had just arrived in Florida for a weekend getaway, and checked into my hotel.  The bad news was that it was getting late, and I was getting hungry. 

The good news was that my hotel had an in-house restaurant, and it was a premium steak house. I knew it was upscale because the waiters each had on white jackets, that resembled a lab coat, and the chef cooked the meal right in front of you.