Articles

With the launch of The Tinderbox Tapes Club, Brian is no longer blogging. Instead, he's writing a variety of articles that can be accessed fully by club members. Some are specific to salespeople; Others are for all of us who are tending their flame for creating a new world for themselves & their families. Read excerpts below.

Why do salespeople have that reputation? You know... “that” reputation. Honestly, it seems like a rhetorical question. We all know why they do. They’re so pushy, right?

But I’ve been a professional one and worked with literally tens of thousands of other professional ones for 20 years, and I can assure you that not all of them deserve that reputation. In fact, most of them don’t.

Still, the question remains, why do they have it?

Over the years, plenty of research has been done regarding the psychology of the sale. Books have been written, training programs have been developed and millions of dollars have been spent to teach salespeople how to use that psychology to get you to spend your money with them.

In my 20 years I’ve learned through my own experience and the experiences of others that it all comes down to this: It ain’t that complicated!

There are 3 simple steps to the process:

1. See lots of people every day
2. Be nice
3. Ask them to buy.

We outsmart ourselves every day. We make things more complicated than they are. It just isn’t that mystical.

Notice that each of our 3 steps above are centered squarely on you. YOU must see lots of people each day. YOU must be nice. YOU must ask them to buy. It all comes down to you.

In essence, there are 5 simple questions that you must answer for your prospect if you want to earn that sale... Read the entire article when you join The Tinderbox Tapes™

  Lessons from The Funky Bunch - Part 1

I recently had the privilege of going to a back-to-school camp with my oldest son, who is 12 years old. This camp is designed to allow the students (5th - 12th grade) to do some bonding. The seniors learn some servant leadership and the younger kids learn from the seniors. Sounds like a plan!
Upon arrival, I learned that I would be the lone chaperone in the 5th - 8th grade boys cabin. That's right...

15 boys ages 10 - 13.

In a cabin.

In the woods.

With me.

Needless to say, when I coined the phrase "The Funky Bunch" to describe our cabin, it wasn't because we're George Clinton fans. My eyes are still burning, and I'm not sure my nose hairs will ever grow back; but that's a different story.

When you spend a week in the woods with a bunch of teenagers you learn some things. Sure, some things are more "iPod" and "LOL" in nature, but some lessons are a little deeper.

  Are You Ready?

"Are you ready?"

 It's a simple question, really.


Are you ready? 
Requires a simple answer: Yes or no.



Simple questions and simple answers. That's what life comes down to, isn't it?



Will you marry me? Should I take the job? Do you love me? Can we get a dog? Will you move to California with me? Are you ready to be a daddy? 

You remember playing hide and seek as a kid? Whoever was "it" would count to 50 or 100 or something. Then they'd yell that phrase every kid seems to intuitively know to shout as they begin their search, "Ready or not, here I come!" 

Have you noticed that life works the same way? Opportunities and changes are coming, whether we're ready or not.

It’s the young woman standing at the back of the church on her father’s arm when he asks, “Are you ready?” It’s the child standing backstage as the curtain goes up, his teacher inquiring, “Are you ready?” And it's you and me as we take that first step in the direction of our dreams.

Are you ready? Probably not. Not REALLY ready, anyway. And why do we put so much stock in that?

I think we often fail to take that step toward our hopes & dreams because... Read the entire article when you join The Tinderbox Tapes™