WHY SHOULD I DO BUSINESS WITH YOU?
Having worked with large internationally reputed firms most of my life, establishing credentials was never a problem. Life changed dramatically when I decided to quit my fancy job to be self employed. Suddenly the business card with the well known company logo and fancy designation was gone and with it the eagerness with which people wanted to buy services I marketed. I wanted to be a consultant to large, successful companies, similar to the ones I had worked in. The problem was that these companies wanted to associate with other large successful companies or individuals who were established ‘brands’. It took me some time to come up with a sales pitch that worked and to understand that I had to vary my pitch depending on the person I was meeting.
Reading this article by Dr. Ivan Misner brought back memories of those days 🙂
“Give Me One Good Reason I Should Do Business With You?”
What the “Shark Tank” can teach us about knowing your audience.
By Dr. Ivan Misner
A few months ago, I started watching the “Shark Tank,” and I was hooked! There are some serious business lessons that can be gleaned by viewing the show, and I saw one of them last week while watching a rerun from a previous season. (It’s sad. I’m completely hooked now and checking out past episodes.)
There was an entrepreneur on the show by the name of Raven Thomas. Raven started a food business called The Painted Pretzel (pretzels covered with chocolate and other confectionaries).
She had a pretty good business model and, according to the panelists (the “Sharks”), a product that was delicious. After a fair amount of discussion, Lori Greiner (one of the Sharks) asked, “Why should we invest in you?” I realized at that moment that this was the big question and I knew Raven’s answer could make or break the deal.
Raven replied to Lori,“The main reason is that I have two little kids and… blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” I immediately paused the show, looked to my wife (Beth), and practically screamed “She just blew it. She totally gave a relational answer to a bunch of transactional SHARKS! They don’t care about blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, they want something closer to ‘show me the money’ than I love what I do!”
That’s when Beth said, “You have to know your audience when you are talking about your business.” Beth was spot on. Before I started up the episode again, Beth and I talked about how it was so important for Raven to speak the language that the Sharks speak – a language that focuses on opportunity, growth, ROI, and cold hard cash! Instead, Raven talked about how she felt about the business and how it related to her children – not how the Sharks would relate to the business as investors.
I unpaused the episode to watch the train wreck that was about to ensue. To my astonishment, Robert Herjavec gave Raven a “do-over” (I really like this Shark. If I ever have the chance to be a panelist on a business show, I’d like to think my style would be similar to his). Robert looked at Raven and said, “Let’s do that again,” and gave her a chance to give a better answer. She took a moment and said, “A good reason to invest in me is that I had to walk away from a $2 million deal because I did not have the capital to fill the order. . . and that door is still open.”
That answer was a show stopper and totally got the Sharks’ attention. Within a few moments, Mark Cuban (Shark and owner of the Dallas Mavericks) offered her $100,000 cash as well as distribution of the product at his stadium and movie theater chain he also owns! She of course, said yes. As a result, she now expects that sales will exceed $1.2 million dollars this year!
The lesson that can be learned here is to know your audience and gear your comments to the people you are talking to. This is an important lesson in networking and particularly in BNI. It is one of the reasons why I recommend that when you meet people you ask them questions before you start talking about yourself. The more you know about the people you’re talking to the better you’re able to craft your message to them.
The fact that Raven loved her business and thought it was a great role model for her kids is fantastic. I get that. However, that’s not what her audience wanted or needed to hear at that moment. She almost lost the biggest opportunity that she ever had because she didn’t address her audience in the way “they” needed. Luckily, when she got a “do-over” she knocked it out of the park. The problem is – we don’t always get “do-overs.”
Called the “father of modern networking” by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author. He is the Founder and Chairman of BNI (www.BNI.com), the world’s largest business networking organization. His book, Networking Like a Pro, can be viewed at www.IvanMisner.com. Dr. Misner is also the Sr. Partner for the Referral Institute, an international referral training company.
On the eve of Holi, a few tips to play safe and have fun….
– Use non toxic colours. They cost a bit more than the usual ones but will keep you and others safe.
– Ensure you apply lots of oil on your hair and skin before playing, coconut oil works fine as do others. This helps in taking the colours off later.
– Cover your head with a cap or scarf as much as possible.
– Protect your eyes as much as possible.
– Apply a thick coat of paint on your nails before you play to protect them from ugly stains that stay for weeks. Gents can use a natural polish that does not show.
– Keep an eye on small children and older people.
– Be sensitive to people who may not wish to play but just watch.
– Do not drive if you’ve had bhaang or alcohol.
And last but not least….conserve water this Holi. Play with gulal and dry colours.
Chrysaalis wishes everyone a happy and colourful HOLI.
==================================================================================
Halloween or Hallowe’en also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is an annual celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows (or All Saints). Halloween costumes are traditionally modeled after supernatural figures such as monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. Over time, the costume selection extended to include popular characters from fiction, celebrities, and generic archetypes such as ninjas and princesses. Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, “Trick or treat?” The word “trick” refers to a (mostly idle!!) threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given.
Over the years, Halloween has gained popularity in India and a lot of urban dwellers have Halloween parties where guests are supposed to come in appropriate costume and make up. While it is great fun to dress up and use make up which will scare the lives out of others (refer to the attached photo if you are running out of ideas!), do remember the standard skincare rules before painting your face. Try to use natural colours as far as possible since strong chemicals can damage your skin. And of course, cleanse the make up as soon as you get home.
Happy a happy Halloween 🙂
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Basic-Wardrobe-(for-Girls)
I found this article on the Image Consulting Business Institute’s page on Facebook. Like all the articles there, this is extremely informative and covers a great range of items that can be used for formal and casual wear. However being essentially western, it does not address the average Indian girl’s entire requirement for clothes or the items required to survive the weather. Here is my take on the wardrobe essentials for the young Indian woman living in a city. This is for those in college or in the first years of their career.
CLOTHES
SHOES
ACCESSORIES
Note: All images are for reference purposes only.
Fabric and metal, pearls and fur, beads and glass, jungle prints and solids, these scarf necklaces make a unique style statement. And Fall/Winter is the best season to sport these.
Guess what Ladies, you can make this from an existing scarf and a necklace that is broken!
My favourite is the multicoloured one, what about you?
The trouble with following celebrity hair style trends is that the average woman has neither a bevy of hairstylists pampering her every day nor unending finances that can keep her at the salon forever. Moreover, light blonde shades, very bright and fluorescent colours do not suit the average Indian skin tone. The colours in the image would be a no no for most of us in the country, whereas shades of red and brown can highlight a face beautifully.
Style tip – Remember, your face should be the focus of attention. Select a hair colour that suits your skin and complements it rather one that detracts from it.
GEOMETRIC is in………………..
While geometric patterns on garments have been trending in and out for a while, they have now come into accessories with a vengeance. Bags, shoes, belts, watches, jewellery….you name it and geometric is there. Most suited to western wear, use these non conformist items to add a dash of pizzazz to your work, party or casual outfits. For those more adventurous, try a fusion with some ethnic outfits and see the difference! The great thing about these items is that they are available in all budgets right from the swanky designer stores to the lanes of Colaba. So get going with geometric today!
Who would have known I would observe a crash course in image metamorphosis while watching ‘Crazy Stupid Love’? See the film to witness Cal Weaver (Steve Carrell) change from a bumbling, badly dressed (ohhh white sneakers with baggy denims, baggy t shirt, suits that did not fit…he had them all!) to a confident and stylish man. Not to mention Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) who is undoubtedly the most stylish ‘change maker’ one can imagine!
As we enter the last quarter of the year, here’s a look at the Fall 2011 fashion trends for women. A sleeker and more sophisticated version of the 70’s look has been making waves internationally in 2011 and will continue in 2012. There are loads of options to choose from.
By day it’s all about clean yet voluminous silhouettes, and earthy ’70s colour palettes. Look for:
By night the ’70s sophisticate turns into the ultimate socialite, with look-at-me shimmering fabrics and cuts that either tightly hug or sensually drape over the body.
For those of us who have loads of weddings to attend:
Fall 2011 Colors: Crimson, Burgundy, Black, Antique Gold, Ink Blue, Mustard, Beige/Nude, Gray….
I fell in love with her voice the first time she performed ‘Saving All My Love For You’ at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards and later took home Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song. Her incredible voice, gorgeous smile and inimitable style made her into a superstar and the highly selling female performer in the world.
RIP Whitney Houston – the best of the best in the world of music…….
![](/blog/page/2/"http_/sitewalla_com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/facebook-icon_png/"/indeximg.jpg){kind=icon}
![](/blog/page/2/"http_/sitewalla_com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/twitter-icon_png/"/indeximg.jpg){kind=icon}
![](/blog/page/2/"http_/sitewalla_com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/linkedin-icon_png/"/indeximg.jpg){kind=icon}
![](/blog/page/2/"http_/sitewalla_com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Pinterest_icon_1_png/"/indeximg.jpg){kind=icon}