business

Selling

Nowhere in any dictionary is selling defined as: “The act of brow-beating a person or persons over the head until they see things your way.”

Nor does it involve exasperated outbursts or theatrical arm-throwing when ‘they just don’t get it.’

Selling is a relationship; simple and clean.  You give; you get.

Every time they don’t get it, ask yourself if you’re doing everything in your power to make sure they will.

And if they still don’t get it, maybe it’s time to find the audience and tribe who will.

Editing and Closets

Editing a book––or conquering any big, complex project––is a bit like organizing a closet that hasn’t been cleaned in years.

The first time you look inside and realize the scope and magnitude of what you’re dealing with, you want to RUN FOR THE HILLS.  So much stuff.  So many memories.  You feel attached to all of it.

When you finally muster the courage to take that closet on, you begin by dividing things into segments.  What you haven’t worn; what is torn and tattered; the things that no longer fit.  After awhile, patterns begin to emerge––you see that you have 400 black dresses, a single white t-shirt and only a few things with a smattering of color.  Tells you a little something about balance.

After that first pass––while you’ve gotten rid of the obvious––you still have more than you need.  You’re still having a hard time letting go because you can’t get past what it cost you to acquire those 400 black dresses; the long hours of work you had to put in to pay for them.

With each pass, you get a little more discerning; things get easier.  You’re able to say, “Even though it cost me, it doesn’t look good on me; it no longer fits.”

You keep the cycle going until you are down to the essentials––the base and foundation.  And then it becomes glaringly obvious where the holes are.  And you fill those in.  And when you’re done, you can start tweaking; adding a belt here, a shoe there––a polish and a rub.

Editing––like any big project––does not have to be overwhelming.  You just have to stand back and think before you begin.  Organize, break things down in small bites, detach from ‘what is’ and envision ‘what can be.’  And when you’re ready, you’ll know exactly where and how to begin.

The Mircromanager In Your Midst

You know the one.

The boss that hovers and second guesses; who answers for you in meetings.  The one who blames you when things go wrong, and takes the credit when everything goes right.

When it comes to the people we work for, there’s not a lot we can do to change their bad behavior––especially when they fancy themselves just as they are.

But what we can do––what we have a duty to do––is to make sure that we don’t let the people around us––especially the ones above us––turn us into someone we have no desire to be.  You may not be able to change them, but you most certainly have the power to make a claim for yourself; to choose who, and how, you will be.

And who knows?  Maybe over time, a little bit of your goodness will manage to swim itself upstream.

 Scroll to top