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Body language and marketing go hand in hand - just ask your customers
Mar 20, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
I met with a friend of mine who is an absolute genius. You know the type, a kindof Bill Gates clone that has peculiar habits but is as smart as they come. What struck me as surprising is that he is an avid reader of cold reading books. Surprising because I would have thought that he would think body language books are a bit beneath his 'genius'. Obviously not.
Actually, he reads cold reading and body language books in the dozens. The other week, he bought a whole host of new body language books and has no doubt already read them from start to finish. Sitting with him for a chat is extraordinary because he is so bright, but also because he is absolutely fascinating with his passion for knowing more about why people do what they do. He likes the idea that he can read people which no doubt has made him a lot of money over time. Important if you are in the business of dealing with people and you need to know what they are thinking to make better decisions yourself.
Actually, he reads cold reading and body language books in the dozens. The other week, he bought a whole host of new body language books and has no doubt already read them from start to finish. Sitting with him for a chat is extraordinary because he is so bright, but also because he is absolutely fascinating with his passion for knowing more about why people do what they do. He likes the idea that he can read people which no doubt has made him a lot of money over time. Important if you are in the business of dealing with people and you need to know what they are thinking to make better decisions yourself.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Sportsmen And Entrepreneurs Are The Same - they want to be the best
Mar 19, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
"It's a lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself." Muhammed Ali
When you look at a top sportsmen or women, they have two things that resonate with entrepreneurs; the first is the desire to be the best, and the second is that they believe in themselves enough to win.
When you look at a top sportsmen or women, they have two things that resonate with entrepreneurs; the first is the desire to be the best, and the second is that they believe in themselves enough to win.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Smirking to myself, I typed onto twitter a response to a girlfriends tweet about whether or not I would be going on extended travel after a business conference in Instanbul, Turkey.
In no time, I responded. "Depends on whether I am married and have other plans" or something to this effect.
In no time, I responded. "Depends on whether I am married and have other plans" or something to this effect.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Never Eat Alone - Why having a friend to lunch can make you money
Mar 19, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
Have you read the book "Never Eat Alone"? It's a great read and I remember picking it up at a Vegas Airport Bookstore and not putting it down until I got to the last page.
Today, I had lunch with a girlfriend. She is super smart, entrepeneurial, full of life and just a wonderful person.
I met her in Houston at a business conference and got to know her over a week because she was good friends with a friend of mine. Actually, our mutual friend insisted that we meet and catch up. Which we did and have never looked back.
Her name is Michelle Carden and many people may remember her when she gained profile and respect for building a very big company in Australia and selling it off for millions.
She sent me a text this morning to see if I was available for lunch. I hate doing lunch during the work week because it takes me away from my beloved computer, but she said she had some feedback on my IM for me, so it really was in my best interests to go.
5 Minutes with Michelle is worth a fortune. If you don't become so inspired that you are literally jumping up and down on your chair, you are certainly getting insight into her brilliance as a business woman and as a human being.
She is dynamite. Her energy is completely contagious and she has so many business ideas up her sleeve, that I am surprised how she can possibly walk around.
What I learnt today was simple; A lunch date with someone can change your outcomes.
She gave me some advice that superceded that of everyone who has been speaking to me about my Information Memorandum to date. Now, I have taken that advice, raced back to the office and I am straight back to work.
Thanks Michelle. You rock!
Today, I had lunch with a girlfriend. She is super smart, entrepeneurial, full of life and just a wonderful person.
I met her in Houston at a business conference and got to know her over a week because she was good friends with a friend of mine. Actually, our mutual friend insisted that we meet and catch up. Which we did and have never looked back.
Her name is Michelle Carden and many people may remember her when she gained profile and respect for building a very big company in Australia and selling it off for millions.
She sent me a text this morning to see if I was available for lunch. I hate doing lunch during the work week because it takes me away from my beloved computer, but she said she had some feedback on my IM for me, so it really was in my best interests to go.
5 Minutes with Michelle is worth a fortune. If you don't become so inspired that you are literally jumping up and down on your chair, you are certainly getting insight into her brilliance as a business woman and as a human being.
She is dynamite. Her energy is completely contagious and she has so many business ideas up her sleeve, that I am surprised how she can possibly walk around.
What I learnt today was simple; A lunch date with someone can change your outcomes.
She gave me some advice that superceded that of everyone who has been speaking to me about my Information Memorandum to date. Now, I have taken that advice, raced back to the office and I am straight back to work.
Thanks Michelle. You rock!
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Negative feedback is sometimes the best thing you could ever receive
Mar 14, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
Putting it out there again!
This blog is getting more and more personal, but through sharing real life experiences, entrepreneurs and business leaders are hopefully able to gain some insight into what makes an entrepreneur tick, mistakes that some of us make and some real life business goings-on that affect us in so many ways.
Last week, I sent my Information Memorandum out to a number of my friends. When I say friends, they are business leaders, and some of them are in the most successful 50 business people in Australia. The first lot of feedback was awesome. Immediately I was put on a high with positive comments and encouragement.
Yesterday, I received from 3 different parties some constructive feedback; Information Memorandum is too long, you need to have the financials in the IM, covering letter needs to say what the financial upside is and where's the Gantt Chart?
While the financial projections have been done for 5 years, I was told by a couple of parties that you only send this in the second contact after the person/company has read the IM. So, I have held off on this. I was also notified that I only need 3 years, but I am a bit confused because it is a 5 year plan. Not sure who to listen to here.
The Gantt Chart and manuals are all complete, but as with the financials, I was told not to send this through in the first instance.
There are so many differing opinions that it is hard to work out which direction to take. Perhaps a bit of everything is worthwhile taking into consideration afterall, these people do this everyday. Like most things, it is subjective to the person looking at the IM.
In any case, it was my first piece of constructive criticism which set me back momentarily and had me second guessing as to whether I should have sent it out without taking it to someone and going through it page by page.
Overall, I am happy with the result, but feedback should always be considered and if you put yourself out there, then you have to expect sometimes you won't like what you hear.
This blog is getting more and more personal, but through sharing real life experiences, entrepreneurs and business leaders are hopefully able to gain some insight into what makes an entrepreneur tick, mistakes that some of us make and some real life business goings-on that affect us in so many ways.
Last week, I sent my Information Memorandum out to a number of my friends. When I say friends, they are business leaders, and some of them are in the most successful 50 business people in Australia. The first lot of feedback was awesome. Immediately I was put on a high with positive comments and encouragement.
Yesterday, I received from 3 different parties some constructive feedback; Information Memorandum is too long, you need to have the financials in the IM, covering letter needs to say what the financial upside is and where's the Gantt Chart?
While the financial projections have been done for 5 years, I was told by a couple of parties that you only send this in the second contact after the person/company has read the IM. So, I have held off on this. I was also notified that I only need 3 years, but I am a bit confused because it is a 5 year plan. Not sure who to listen to here.
The Gantt Chart and manuals are all complete, but as with the financials, I was told not to send this through in the first instance.
There are so many differing opinions that it is hard to work out which direction to take. Perhaps a bit of everything is worthwhile taking into consideration afterall, these people do this everyday. Like most things, it is subjective to the person looking at the IM.
In any case, it was my first piece of constructive criticism which set me back momentarily and had me second guessing as to whether I should have sent it out without taking it to someone and going through it page by page.
Overall, I am happy with the result, but feedback should always be considered and if you put yourself out there, then you have to expect sometimes you won't like what you hear.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
13 years as an entrepreneur has ensured that I have seen many things; the highs of business, the lows of business, the joy of winning a big account, the butterflies in your stomach when something goes wrong, staff come and go, lessons learnt and some that kept on repeating themselves until finally I woke up or didn't, business associations that excelled through a mutual sharing of trust, respect and benefits, business relationships that sour, bad debts, innovation, dreams that fall apart, pinching myself because I felt so lucky to have the life that I live, fatigue from working too hard, eye off the ball moments and so on.
We have all been through it in one way or another.
We have all been through it in one way or another.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Needy is probably the wrong word. It's more like, are you an employer who knows how much you need your employees?
I am. My employees rock. They are the heart and soul of our business. They work darn hard and as a former employee and now editor of a top business magazine once said to me, "if you work for Marketing Eye, you really work".
It's certainly no holiday. Clients are everything. This is drilled into every single person who works for Marketing Eye over and over again.
I am. My employees rock. They are the heart and soul of our business. They work darn hard and as a former employee and now editor of a top business magazine once said to me, "if you work for Marketing Eye, you really work".
It's certainly no holiday. Clients are everything. This is drilled into every single person who works for Marketing Eye over and over again.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Crapola. Something isn't working. Not sure what it is, but I have a fair idea. Bit busy to fix it though.
Sound familiar?
Sound familiar?
Published in
Small Business Marketing
For months, I have sat in fear that my Information Memorandum to raise money for expansion into the US market would not be well received.
In fact, I have been incredibly reluctant to show anybody. I have held onto it tightly and when people have asked, I have said "I will get it over to you" and then it has taken weeks to attach it to an email and press "send".
In fact, I have been incredibly reluctant to show anybody. I have held onto it tightly and when people have asked, I have said "I will get it over to you" and then it has taken weeks to attach it to an email and press "send".
Published in
Small Business Marketing
Life is to be treasured. Every moment that we live and are surrounded by wonderful people who love and care about us, we should take time out to appreciate it.
My cousin's husband, a father of 3 beautiful children, decided to unexpectantly end his life today. As you can imagine, his family is devastated. We all are. He was such a wonderful man, who loved his family dearly and was full of spirit. Now, he is gone and only his memories remain.
Mental health is a real issue in our community. I started to think about the number of people, who I know who have chosen to take their own lives. Unfortunately, I can't count them on my hands as there have been too many. Yet, for some reason, we still are not doing enough. We should all do more to help those around us deal with depression.
If you have a family member or a friend who is down, be there for them. Support them even though you may feel there are other things you would prefer to do. Encourage them to seek help and give them an ear when they want it.
Life is precious, and suicide can happen to anyone.
My cousin's husband, a father of 3 beautiful children, decided to unexpectantly end his life today. As you can imagine, his family is devastated. We all are. He was such a wonderful man, who loved his family dearly and was full of spirit. Now, he is gone and only his memories remain.
Mental health is a real issue in our community. I started to think about the number of people, who I know who have chosen to take their own lives. Unfortunately, I can't count them on my hands as there have been too many. Yet, for some reason, we still are not doing enough. We should all do more to help those around us deal with depression.
If you have a family member or a friend who is down, be there for them. Support them even though you may feel there are other things you would prefer to do. Encourage them to seek help and give them an ear when they want it.
Life is precious, and suicide can happen to anyone.
Published in
Small Business Marketing
If Bill Gates Dropped Out Of College To Start Microsoft, Surely I Can Move To The US?
Mar 08, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
Bill Gates dropped out of college to start Microsoft.
Jeff Bezos quit his lucrative job on Wall Street to drive to the other side of America to start Amazon.
Donald Trump faced personal bankrupcy at one stage taking risks.
So, is moving to the US and starting Marketing Eye, such a risk afterall?
Jeff Bezos quit his lucrative job on Wall Street to drive to the other side of America to start Amazon.
Donald Trump faced personal bankrupcy at one stage taking risks.
So, is moving to the US and starting Marketing Eye, such a risk afterall?
Published in
Small Business Marketing
We are all sexual beings. True.
And, advertising executives the world over will tell us that "sex does sell". They have a long history of showcasing scantily clad men and women in advertising with great success.
But, does it still work?
And, advertising executives the world over will tell us that "sex does sell". They have a long history of showcasing scantily clad men and women in advertising with great success.
But, does it still work?
Published in
Small Business Marketing
What keeps you awake at night?
Some say a sales manager never sleeps. Constant questions seem to plague their minds - will I make that budget? How will I close this sale? Have I got the right team for the right job?
What if there was a way to help answer these questions? Some miracle program whereby sales managers no longer have to stress about the duties and targets of their entire sales team, but just focus on their own task at hand. A program which can change those plaguing questions from “Will I make that budget?” to “we will make that budget”
I received an email from the Sales Coach Academy, who provides a powerful and proven sales coaching program for sales managers. I was asked what are my biggest sales frustrations? What traits my ideal sales team would posses? And pretty much what keeps me awake at night?
The aim of the short survey is obviously to work out the needs of Sales Managers, what frustrates them and what concerns them most about their sales team. It provides questions that more or less allow you to vent your sales frustrations, so that the Sales Coach Academy can base their coaching programs around the areas of high interest to sales managers.
I strongly suggest you take the survey if you have been involved in the sales industry throughout your career – which most of us have! Perhaps we can finally get some answers to those questions that keep us awake at night!
Alison Lovatt, Marketing Eye.
Published in
Management
One of the things that no-one tells you when you are thinking about expanding your business is just how busy you will be.
It is remarkable how much you can fit into a day, let alone a week.
I am travelling to the US on 22nd March to meet with some people over there; potential investors, key influencers, government and industry leaders. Organising my schedule and fitting everything in is near impossible. 10 days just isn't enough. But for this trip, it will have to do!
It is remarkable how much you can fit into a day, let alone a week.
I am travelling to the US on 22nd March to meet with some people over there; potential investors, key influencers, government and industry leaders. Organising my schedule and fitting everything in is near impossible. 10 days just isn't enough. But for this trip, it will have to do!
Published in
Small Business Marketing
A reason, a season, a lifetime - why are people in your life?
Mar 07, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
About 10 years ago, I was in New York for a holiday and by chance, I happened to be in town when there was an entrepreneurs event with Jack Welch.
I sat down with my friends who were also in business and watched Jack Welch talk about his story of how he changed GE and his philosophies on business.
I sat down with my friends who were also in business and watched Jack Welch talk about his story of how he changed GE and his philosophies on business.
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Mellissah Smith
