What did you do today that matters? Did you spend time listening? Maybe offer up a complimentary comment to a stranger? Did you remind someone how much you appreciate them? Love them? Did you take a deep breath and feel your lungs inflate, then allow your shoulders to relax as you exhaled? What did you do? If you didn’t do anything yet, there’s still time. … Continue reading Your Story
This year I drove to The Running Event (TRE) in Austin, Texas. Amounted to just over 2500 total round trip miles from my home in central North Carolina. Part of the route followed the same stretch I walked earlier this year. And though that was a nostalgic highlight, it’s not what I came here to write about. TRE, per usual, was a giant reunion. I … Continue reading Trust and Authenticity
Last week at The Running Event, the keynote speaker uttered words every single business owner needs to hear—He said, “Love and business…there’s plenty of room to cultivate both.” Love and business. Two terms that typically don’t get much playing time. Not together, anyhow. But this guy insisted that any business’s future relevance depends on both working as one. The speaker was Walter Robb, former CEO … Continue reading Love and Business
6 Attributes of the Best Salespeople Folks who work in specialty tend to eschew the moniker of salesperson. Many managers even re-title the staff to hide the truth. They call themselves specialists or experts, professionals or associates. Apple’s no stranger to such retail smoke and mirrors—their employees are deemed geniuses. Sheesh. Sort of pretentious, but pretty genius, too. Gulp. But make no mistake, every last one … Continue reading Doing it Right
Your attention will always manifest your reality. Continue reading Think it to Become it
The 7 Steps of Quality Retail Training Before I worked in specialty retail, I was a classroom educator. Straight out of the military I took a job as a non-credentialed physical education teacher. I lined kids up like they were in basic training and had them shout a call-and-response while I guided them through stretches and calisthenics. They loved it, I loved it, but the … Continue reading Train Like a Classroom Teacher
Stop looking for the credit—we’re supposed to take care of each other. -Prince Sometimes I get so caught up in my day-to-day that I miss the small things most responsible for my happiness. Right now is one of those times. Early summer is a busy time in retail. And in my world as a consultant/trainer, it marks the beginning of my “season” — the span … Continue reading 5 Minutes of Gratitude
If retail’s your thing, like engineering’s an engineer’s thing or fixing cars is a mechanic’s thing, then most days your nine-to-five is pretty easy. There may be aspects of your job that make people see what you do as tricky or adventurous, but to you, for the most part, it’s a cake walk. Various reasons make you the right person for the job. To try … Continue reading YOU Are the Action Plan
14 Ways to Sell More Today (Let Feeling Be Your Guide) You probably think products or services are what you sell. Bikes, shoes, software, tents, beer, americanos, refurbished axes, therapy sessions, or whatever. Sure, all day long you trade these things for pieces of green paper, but these goods are not the most important thing in your inventory. Your fastest turner is not what carries the weight … Continue reading 14 Ways to Sell More Today
Tom Griffen 