FREEMAN-SPICER FINANCIAL SERVICES
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316 South Eddy Street South Bend, IN 46617
574.234.0069 (V) • 574.234.6414 (F) • surekey@aol.com
Vol. 23, No. 6 • June, 2005
Now you can find this newsletter on the web, at Freeman-Spicer.com
Buyers’ Opinions of Sellers
Once you understand some of the low opinions many buyers have of sellers, you’ll be in a better position to sell:
• Buyers believe their time is more valuable than your time.
• Buyers believe that it’s OK not to answer your unsolicited phone call.
• Buyers believe it’s OK to mislead you.
• Buyers believe most salespeople are trained to manipulate.
• Buyers expect to feel pressured.
• Buyers feel that strong resistance is their only defense.
• Buyers feel that giving in too early is losing the game.
• Buyers believe it’s OK to get free consulting from you.
• Buyers believe that stalling and delaying are right and necessary. (Close the Deal)
Making Mistakes
Some people have the hardest time admitting their mistakes. They fail to realize that making a mistake and admitting it - owning up to it - are two totally separate acts. It is not the mistake itself but how a mistake is handled that forms the lasting impression. These people would be so much better off, and would look so much better to management if they could admit their mistakes instead of wasting time rationalizing, covering up, or blaming. An ability to say “I was wrong” is essential to success because it’s cathartic. It allows these successful execs to “get on with it,” to put their mistakes behind them, and to move on to other things that may contribute to their next big success. (What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School)
CASH!
The beauty of cash. Not the beauty of money. I said cash. Some people who earn a lot of money haven’t seen $1,000 in actual cash in a long time. Well, some companies have the cash waiting. They pay cash to their salespeople for new accounts. At sales meeting, right there on the spot - they pay - count it out. The place gets very hushed. It’s quiet as a church when they pull out those brand new $100 bills. They count them off, one at a time, “one, two, three . . . “ they get very proficient at making a nice snapping sound. The people are mesmerized. If you haven’t tried cold, hard cash as a reward, it may be time. (Swim With the Sharks)
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away! (George Carlin)
Everyday Briefs
What’s your favorite ....................... way to start the day? If you’re like many kids, it’s with a bowl of cereal. Here are the top-selling brands in 2004, by number of packages sold:
Cheerios: 100.4 million / Frosted Flakes: 89.8 million / Honey Bunches of Oats: 82.2 million / Honey Nut Cheerios: 76.6 million / Froot Loops: 57.3 million (Information Resources Inc.)
School Answering Machine................... (This is funny, but it’s no wonder that some people were offended!) This is the message that the Pacific Palisades High School (California) Staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine. This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children’s absences and missing homework. The school and teachers were being sued by parents who wanted their children’s failing grades changed to passing grades even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough school work to pass their classes. This is the actual answering machine message from the school:
“Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting the right staff member, please listen to all your options before making a selection:
• To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
• To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2
• To complain about what we do - Press 3
• To swear at staff members - Press 4
• To ask why you didn’t get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5
• If you want us to raise your child - Press 6
• If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7
• To request another teacher for the third time this year - Press 8
• To complain about bus transportation - Press 9
• To complain about school lunches - Press 0
• If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework, and that it’s not the teachers’ fault for your child’s lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!” (O’Hara)
Kiddie Code ........................ Nearly one parent out of two monitors their kids’ Internet activity, but many don’t know chat-room shorthand. Here’s what they’re missing.”
Percentage of Parents who didn’t recognize the term:
57% - LOL = Laughing out loud / 92% - A/S/L = Age/Sex/Location / 95% - P911 = Parent alert / 95% - POS = Parent over shoulder. (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)
E-Mail: We Can’t Live Without It ............................. Well, isn’t this just grand? A new survey confirms it: We’re a nation addicted - to E-mail. America Online says 40 percent of 4,012 respondents said they can’t make it through the night without checking their e-mail; 41 percent check E-mail first thing in the morning, 18 percent right after dinner, and 14 percent right before they go to bed. More than 1 in 4 people (26 percent) said they can’t go more than two or three days without scanning their e-boxes. And which cities, pray tell, have the greatest concentration of E-mail freaks? Miami-Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New York. (U.S. News & World Report)
Computer Stuff:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page - This is a free on-line encyclopedia that covers subjects like Culture - Geography - History - Life - Mathematics - Science - Society & Technology. The nice thing about this encyclopedia - if you have something to add - you can - just submit your addition to the articles or the definitions. Yes, they review every submission for - oh, you know what. But it does have some very practical answers to some very tough questions.
www.ripleys.com/games/iq.html - An IQ game that can be addictive. You must jump the marbles until only one is left.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx &
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us - The mother lode of Microsoft Templates and Clip Art - ALL FOR FREE!
A Minister Decided............................. that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon. Four worms were placed into four separate jars. The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke. The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup. The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil. At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following results: The first worm in alcohol - Dead. The second worm in cigarette smoke - Dead. Third worm in chocolate syrup - Dead. Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive. So the Minister asked the congregation - "What can you learn from this demonstration?" A little old woman in the back quickly raised her hand and said, "As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!" (LaFree)
Personnel Information........................ In this age of easily forged documents, always verify a job applicant’s licensure, employment history, and education - especially since the employer is typically liable for damages incurred by an employee hired on the basis of forged credentials. In addition, any application form should clearly state that falsifying info will result in termination. If any significant piece of info is untrue, fire them immediately - no matter how much you think you need their skills. When people lie about their credentials, they will likely cause you more serious problems in the future. Cut your losses early and find someone else. (Goldilocks on Management)
Cellular Telephone Complaints In 2004:
Number per million customers -
U.S. Cellular ........................................... 39.4 Sincerely,
Verizon Wireless .................................... 75.5
Alltel ....................................................... 76.2
Nextel ..................................................... 102.5
Sprint PCS .............................................. 167.5
T-Mobile ................................................. 185.3 Edward C. Levy
Cellular One ........................................... 264.3 President
AT&t / Cingular ..................................... 288.9
(HearUsNow.org) Know someone needing a Lease or some
Financing? Please tell them about me!