Understanding What Motivates People to Take Action
Understanding What Motivates People to Take Action
So I wanted to buy a car. It was a tough choice but I decided that my next new car would be a Volvo. So I drove down to a local dealer and told him I wanted to take a look at a few Volvos and could he help. "Of course" he replied.After viewing a few of the cars I decided to test drive one of them. As I drove around the salesman went on about how great this car is and how customers don't complain about the car and how they love their Volvos. I then asked him to be more specific about what customers like about their Volvo. He seemed to hesitate. It quickly became obvious no one had ever asked him to be specific. He said, "Well you know, people like the way it drives and how it looks." He rambled on but never got into specifics.After a few test drives and more "oohs, ahs" about how great it would be to own a Volvo I thanked him and left without buying a car. I just wasn't sure and wanted to think about some more.About a week or so later I decided to go back and test-drive some Volvos again. This time I went to a different dealership hoping to get another flavor before making up my mind.The salesman that greeted me was a polite and unassuming individual. We'll call him Jack. Jack asked me simple questions about what I was looking for in a car. I also told him that I had test driven a few Volvos but was unsure of whether to buy or not.Jack listened and nodded his head and said, "Alright. Let's begin with the model you like the most." I said, "Sure."We got into the car and I was ready to start the car when Jack asked me to wait a minute. Jack then went on to explain the features of the car. By the time he was done I understood what every button on the panels, dashboard and doors could do. Then Jack explained how many of these features would make my drive more comfortable. It became quickly apparent that Jack understood how to sell benefits, not features.When we finally started driving, Jack began to go into the history of the Volvo; origin, model transitions and improvements and on and on. It was like listening to a Volvo documentary?with me in it!When we finished driving, Jack stepped me around the car to explain some of the hidden safety features. Volvo is known for being one of the safest cars in the world. And after Jack's mini-tour around the vehicle I understood why. Needless to say, within an hour I was sitting down in his office finalizing the paperwork to purchase my first Volvo.I gleaned a couple lessons from this experience that I want to share with you.First, Jack wasn't a 'slick' salesman. He was an average guy with a very modest demeanor. Most people have it in their heads that to be a great salesperson you have to be a fast and smooth talker. Wrong. Who would you trust more? A fast talking salesperson like the first with slick answers and no depth or someone like Jack who answers all your questions with details and facts?Second, people don't want to be sold, they want to be convinced. Jack understood that giving me a lot of information would go a long way in helping me decide as to whether I wanted to buy or not. Having enough information allowed me, or better yet, convinced me to make a decision.I didn't buy from the first dealership because I didn't have enough information to make an informed decision. All I had were the opinions of other people who had driven the car from a salesman I didn't personally know. Testimonials are great, but unless I know the person behind the testimonials it mean very little to me.More often then not, people reject proposals or making a buying decision because somewhere in the sales process their concerns weren't addressed. They still have lingering doubts about whether it is the right choice for them.Jack's approach reminded me of an adage I keep in mind when trying to understand the link between motivation and action:"An uninformed mind is a confused mind. And a confused mind will NEVER make a decision."In a hyper-capitalist society where we are inundated and bombard with new technology and features, our minds often times can't keep up. The job of a salesperson is to explain the new advances, but more importantly how they benefit the buyer. Whether selling or just trying to convince others, what motivates people into action is 1) knowledge and 2) that it is in their best interest.Think about it for a second. When you know 'how to' do something, you rarely hesitate in getting it done. When you know that it will benefit you personally, you will act!A final note: If you're in management, keep this is mind when someone doesn't buy into your approach, strategy or way of thinking. Maybe the reason they don't has less to do with your ideas, and more to do with them not having enough information to make an informed decision OR how it will benefit them in the long run.p.s., Update: five years later my Volvo is still going strong!Victor Gonzalez, top Hispanic motivational speaker and author of "The LOGIC of Success". For more info go to: www.thelogicofsuccess.comwww.thelogicofsuccess.com or by email victor@thelogicofsuccess.com
Cut The Take Out-Tips
Cut The Take Out
A long hard day at work. You get home and need dinner. Nothing in the fridge, nothing in the cupboard. Take-out again. The wallet just won't comply much longer.Re-wind.A long hard day at work (sorry can't help with that one). You get home and mmmm, what is that aroma? Dinner! Smells delicious, your mouth is watering.And no you didn't go to the wrong home and no you are not dreaming. You arranged all this, in a few minutes this morning.What I won the lotto and hired a personal chef?Well no, not exactly ? you got a Crock Pot. A Crock Pot? Yep, it's a cooker that cooks your food over a slow heat. Put it on in the morning and dinner is ready at night.Don't think you've got time in the morning. Well you will be pleasantly surprised how quick it can be. Chuck in some veggies (frozen or pre-cut if really short on time), throw some meat on top, pour in a sauce, put on the lid and turn it on low. That's it.It truly is that easy. And the aroma of dinner when you walk in the door at night, it is sensational ? better than any take out.Happy Crock Cooking
Lisa ? "The Crock Cook"Lisa "The Crock Cook" shares her wealth of practical Crock Pot Cooking knowledge and her Easy Crock Pot Recipes with you at http://www.a-crock-cook.com.
This is not just a collection of recipes. All the recipes are cooked by Lisa and husband Neil, and if they don't work or don't taste great they don't get printed.Web Master: Please feel free to use this article (unmodified) on your website or in your ezine. Just ensure that my details and the live static link to www.a-crock-cook.com are maintained. Regards Lisa
Could Your Thoughts Sabotage Your Happiness? Take This Quiz And Find Out
Could Your Thoughts Sabotage Your Happiness? Take This Quiz And Find Out
Women are conditioned to be people pleasers. Women are taught to be "nice" even if that's means comprising their happiness, and often times that is exactly what happens. We have a tendency to do, and say things just so the other person's feelings don't get hurt. How many times have you wanted to say something, but thought, you can't say that, they might think you're too harsh, or unpleasant. Times have changed, and now women are accepting their authenticity with grace and happiness. How did they do it? They changed their internal thoughts to reprogram their conditioning. Are you still playing "old tapes" that are in your head?Take this quiz to find out if your thoughts are sabotaging your happiness.You are at a dinner party, and you accidentally spill red wine on your dress and on the carpet, do you:Feel like a fool and hide out in the bathroom.Immediately get club soda to soak up the stain.Apologize profusely saying you are such a klutz.You just lost a job promotion, do you:Feel frustrated! You are never going to get what you want, it seems like the whole world is against you.You feel nothing; you never expected to get it in the first place.Feel a little disappointed, but know something better will come your way soon.When you buy an expensive item do you:Feel awkward and selfish.Feel like you deserve it.Guilty, because you bought it to fill a void.When someone gives you a gift you hate, do you:Take it back, it's no big deal.Keep it, just in case they came over and ask to see it.Call up a friend, and complain that you can't believe they gave you such a horrible gift.When you make a mistake, does the voice inside your head say:I could have made a better choice, oh well, I will do better the next time.I can't believe I am so stupid, I am so mad at myself for doing that.Again, I keep making the same mistake over and over.When a friend has overstepped your boundaries, do you:Get irate and really rip into them demanding that they never do that again.Simply call them on it, and explain that is not acceptable to you.Say nothing because you really don't want to start an argument.When someone gives you a compliment, do you:Graciously say thank you, and feel good about yourself.Awkwardly say thanks, and change the subject.Say no, and talk about how that statement isn't true.Results:Your thoughts are telling you that your sense of self is easily threatened, and you need to start working on your self-esteem. You run away from problems instead of dealing with them.You are a great problem solver, and your thoughts will assist you in getting what you want.Apologizing is a nice way to say that it was an accident, however profusely apologizing is an indication that you take on more responsible than necessary. Your thoughts are giving you more guilt than needed.You must change your thought process now! When your thoughts are negative, and you feel like you don't have a good support system your thoughts will create that. Keep your thoughts positive!Your thoughts are keeping you safe. However staying in a safe mode, and not taking risks will leave you in a rut. Start thinking about a little risk taking.Your thoughts are right on target. It's normal to feel a little disappointed, and it is healthy to get ready for the next opportunity.Thoughts that make you feel like you don't deserve will keep you in a guilty mode. Start changing those thoughts to deserving ones.You thoughts are saying that you deserve to have nice things. Appropriately staying in your budget, and rewarding yourself now and again is healthy, and keeps you control.There is good news and bad news. The bad news is that having thoughts of guilt, and filling yourself up because you "need" something can be very damaging and destructive. The good news is that you now know this and, you can start to do something about it immediately. Change your thoughts to those that bring you a sense of self-worth, and start to see how you can fulfill your needs in the appropriate manner.Doing what you feel, and acting appropriate is healthy and smart. Why make a mountain out of a mole hill? Take care of the issue, and move forward.Your thoughts are keeping you in fearful state of mind. What if they should come by and ask to see their gift? The what ifs in life are very limiting. Release fearful thoughts, and do what is best for you.Your thoughts are keeping you in a victim position. Complaining and gossiping are sure ways to remain unhappy, and you can be certain you will get more of the same?negativity. Break that cycle now!Knowing that you have made a mistake and not "beating" yourself up over it is great! We all make mistakes, and when we learn from them and intend to do better the next time we will actually get wiser and more experienced. Your thoughts are in the right place.If you thoughts are punishing you, you will have a hard time learning, and you won't try something new again for fear of failure. Release those kinds of thoughts and start working on self-confidence.Your thoughts are keeping you from learning from past mistakes, and you can be sentenced to a very long time of unhappiness. Observe and learn, it makes life a lot easier.You have thoughts of rage and anger. This is not necessarily the best way to handle problems. You need to figure out why you are so angry and resolve those feelings.Thoughts that help you problem-solve and communicate in a calm and mature way is the best bet. You can save friendships, and enforce your boundaries that will assure you happiness, and you will gain the respect of others too.Your thoughts are keeping you from facing the real issue. You don't like confrontation, and hope the problem just goes away. Unless you start thinking about problem solving methods, the problem won't go away, it will only get bigger.Accepting a compliment graciously means your thoughts are giving you a balanced sense self-esteem, humility, and ego. Way to go!Your thoughts need a little improvement. Your thoughts are saying thank you which means you believe the compliment; however changing the subject is telling you that you are uncomfortable with the attention.You are a willing victim. Your thoughts are keeping you in a martyr state of mind. This is not a recipe for happiness. Change that pattern pronto!About The AuthorMarla Sloane Ph.D. is a successful author and speaker. Her Daily Positive Affirmations subscribers have reached world-wide proportions, and her book, "The Masks We Wear and How to Live Without Them" is at the heart of her teleclasses; Live Your Best Life. Marla has also produced, Trilogy of Meditations, for your Mind, Body, and Spirit, which is distributed nationwide, and in Europe. You can visit her web site at: www.marlasloane.com.marla@marlasloane.com