Time To Fill The Buckets!

I love spending one on one time with my grandsons! But I still believe it's just as important to have that special one on one time with each of my children too. They are all grown up, but I love spending time with them because they are (pardon my brag) fun to be around and we make each other laugh! For Christmas this year my youngest daughter gave me a silver bracelet with this simply written- "Mother's hold their children's hands for a short while...but their hearts forever"
What a great reminder of our privilege to speak into their lives. Our ability to make a forever impression on them can seem like such a daunting thing. Maybe it comes down to the little choices we make everyday. Maybe it means holding them closer or choosing just to listen instead of giving my 2 cents or a life lesson.

I know for me I enjoyed having my mother's undivided attention (yes...I was the baby). Some of my best memories of my mom are really all about the great conversations we would have. I remember once after my mom shared some personal struggles she was going through I thought… "I'm not a good listener...I'm a grown up now...it's not all about me anymore...it's time to learn to listen and give back to my mom– It's time to put some of her good relationship lessons to work and be a better giver to her." I'm only sad that it took me so long to start—

I only had that opportunity for a few more years before cancer took it from us. Today I cherish every conversation. (The good ones and even some of the bad ones) I try to remember everything we said. (So I won't forget) I did have the privilege of sitting by her bedside – counting every precious moment – every single blink meant she knew I was still there – every breath. I had my last opportunity to fill her bucket in anyway that I could. Holding her hand, comforting her with songs, prayers and reading to her. She loved a good arm and foot massage with her favorite lotion. I think she enjoyed the smell more than anything- she said "it was luxurious". I loved that she enjoyed it so much! It's still painful today thinking about our last times together – but I wouldn't trade being there for her for all the world. I have always thought I was there filling her bucket for the last time – but now as I re-tell and remember she is still somehow filling mine – probably smiling saying "I filled yours last!"
The lessons she poured into and lived out in front of me—her graciousness, her gentleness, her kindness, her caring is still there...waiting for me to draw on… waiting on me to pass on to my children—my family and friends... completing another circle. God filled her bucket so she could fill mine… so I could fill hers. Funny how she is still filling my bucket today!
For every time there is a season…
make every season and every moment count!

Lisa Creed
Business Coach/Trainer
www.Creedteam.com

LEARNING TO ASK WITHOUT ASKING

You work hard, you pull off one of the best transactions of your career! Your clients, the Smith's, are thrilled with you ! They couldn't be more pleased with your professionalism, your personal service– your attention to detail! You were simply MAUVELOUS!

However, just a few months down the road you see the Smiths and they tell you " Our friends the Jones' are buying a home in our neighborhood too! - Isn't that great?" GREAT? WHAT HAPPENED?

Sometimes you don't get the referral business you deserve because you simply didn't ASK for it!

Sometimes we don't ASK because we feel we are being pushy or imposing. Let's take a look at the task of asking. But first, we really need to accept the fact that we are in two kinds of business. The business of Real Estate, Mortgage, Title, Insurance...etc. But we are also in another business— The business of LEAD GENERATING. That's just a fact! The sooner we accept it the sooner we will move forward in improving our results! Every business needs leads of some kind to survive. How we generate those leads is ultimately in our hands. We have to decide if we are going to let business find us or if we will find business. One is passive and one is pro-active. Sometimes we are passive because we haven't realized our role in generating leads or we haven't given time to improving our lead generation efforts. Now more than ever is the time to sharpen our lead generating skills.

So let's take a look at a few ways to master the task of asking for referrals.

You can break down the ASKING formula into three categories:
BEFORE—DURING—AFTER

You should have a strategy for each of these areas so that you know you are making the most of every opportunity that comes your way.

For complete details on creating your BEFORE, DURING and AFTER the sale strategy —contact me I'll send you the complete article!

Here's a sample of dialog and a few ideas for using BEFORE the sale:

1.Something for Something Referrals: Offering to make referrals is an especially good strategy to open a conversation with a small-business owner, salesperson or pretty much anyone who has clients. "Sally, you sound like you do pretty good work for your clients. Tell me, if I ran into a good prospect for your business, how would I know it and how would you like me to introduce them to you?" Listen to what they say- "Great, and here's what a great lead for me looks like…" You can do this with your prospects, clients, friends, people you meet at a social functions, even neighbors you meet at your kids' soccer games. When you demonstrate a genuine willingness to give referrals, many people will reciprocate. This can be a great start to a productive Center of Influence relationship.

2.Earn the right: Early in the relationship, tell clients something like this: "One of the ways I know I'm doing a good job for my clients is when they tell others about me. And I know the only way that happens is by providing first-class advice and first-class service. I hope that at some point, you will trust me and the work I do well enough to tell others. Fair enough?"
This kind of conversation will add to the layering effect of Asking without Asking.

Of course keeping the topic of referral business fresh in your clients mind without being overbearing or obnoxious is exactly the goal! Good luck and Happy Asking!

Lisa Creed
Business Coach/Trainer
Creedteam.com

Get More When You GIVE More!

You may ask 'how can you ask me to give more in today's economy?'

My answer is how can you not?

People all around us are needy. Our clients, our friends, our co-workers even our employers. We are all in this together! We have two choices — we can either push through it with a "why me" attitude or push through it with a "why not me" attitude. Either way—we're going through it!

Then the question becomes- What can you give? I'm so glad you asked!

Personally speaking...
You can give…

 a care.

 your time.

 an encouraging word.

 good news for a change!

 a note to your neighbor whose car you notice is in the driveway more because they've lost their job.

 blood.

 your time to read a book for kids at the library or local school.

 your old closet items to the women's shelter.

 your child's teacher a thank you card.

 your smile away to the man or woman in the elevator.

 a call to your local food bank and ask how to organize a food drive.

 an ear to a friend who needs to talk.

Business-wise…

You can give :

 30 minutes a week to work specifically on your referral business.

 knowledge or training to others.

 more personal attention to your clients by asking them how you could improve your service in just one way in 2009.

 your ideas through joining a networking group or industry specific board or committee.

 All you got to start everyday with a powerful and positive thought!

Just don't GIVE up!
Lisa Creed
Business Coach/Trainer
Creedteam.com