All the time invested in building the customer relationship and trust, to learn you just LOST THE SALE! WHY? One of the many things I have learned from John Maxwell in his book “Sometimes You Win. Sometimes You Learn.” is the difference between people who learn from their losses and the people who do not….
Silos can happen in any business, in all industries. So, what exactly is a “silo”? Growing up a farm kid, I would refer to this as a grain bin, which is a place to store the crop after harvest and keep it dry before selling the grain. From a business perspective, it has a different…
We all have things that we have done and we all have some things left undone. Ask yourself the question: Why have I started and completed certain goals, actions, or tasks in my life? Now ask the next question: Why have I not yet completed certain goals, actions, or tasks in my life? I remember…
Is your company going through major and necessary change? Or more importantly, are you in desperate need of challenging the status quo? Effective change management, cultural innovation and helping employees understand the change process is critical to building and maintaining growth and positive momentum in any organization. Those organizations that are quickly able to adapt…
Weekly Planning – Why it Matters What Next Week Looks Like Most companies will pay lip-service to the importance of planning ahead and staying on top of their game, but only the most successful companies make organization and time management habits a key focus of their company culture. The resulting increase in efficiency and productivity…
Drop a Pebble…Chase the Ripples I am at a stage in my life, at 82 years, where it is difficult to remember what was “original” with me, or something I picked up from someone else. I used the phrase, “drop a pebble” way back when I started in my business and sales activities. The words…
Unlike many terms in business jargon that seem to come and go with little lasting impact, business silos are a persistent problem faced by modern businesses for decades now. Many experienced managers and management specialists believe that silos are a natural development as a business grows beyond its unified roots into a more complex departmental…
There is nothing quite as frustrating and disheartening as operating a business during an economic downturn. Your customers are hesitant, your investors are nervous, your suppliers are under pressure, and everyone is uncertain what the future will bring. Trying to maintain business-driving sales in a downturn economy often feels like trying to empty the ocean…
When the team at X5 Management provides business consulting services to leaders and executives, we often get asked the same question – what is the secret of success? In truth, there is no magic wand to ensure success. Success is a long, winding road that others aren’t even aware of. Much like an iceberg, others only…
In business, entrepreneurs and salespeople are lauded for being busy, taking on a million different tasks at a time, and logging long hours in pursuit of their dreams. While it’s important to be ambitious and work hard on your business, it’s also important to take time off to recharge. Often individuals in sales spend so…