Planning is a key to success in anything you do in sales. Know who you're calling. Write a thumbnail sketch of the people you're calling. What I mean is get specific about the group of prospects in your target market. How old are they, what kind of work do they do, where do they live, and what kind of challenges do they have. The better picture you get of who you're calling the better you'll understand and relate to them.
The second part of this cold calling tip is know what the big picture is for you. Why are you in sales and what benefit does your product or service bring to your target market? Decide what your objective is for the call, get the appointment, name, etc.
Plan out what you're going to say. Have a written script that tells you exactly what you'll say. Know what objections may arise during the conversation and how to handle each one. Understand how and when to close.
It's not just picking up the phone and hoping for the best. Put your plan on paper so you can see it and internalize it and your cold calling success rate will increase.
Cold Calling Tip #2: What's With Your Attitude?
Improve your attitude and you'll improve your results. I've seen a dramatic difference in my phone success based on my attitude. When my attitude is bad, people are less receptive and my success rate goes down. When I'm feeling good, my success on the phone goes up. I guess it's not that everyone else is having a bad day.
Work on your attitude everyday. Make a decision to have a good attitude. If you have a bad attitude don't pick up the phone. Stop watching the news and start reading positive books. Have fun on the phone, make someone smile.
Cold Calling Tip #3: Don't Take It Personal.
Remember, not everyone you call will be interested in what you have to offer. So be prepared for rejection and understand they aren't rejecting you they're only rejecting the offer you're making them. Thank them and move on to the next.
Cold calling is time consuming and nerve racking for many sales people. If you expect and prepare for the best, you'll have a better chance of the best happening.
OK, so you've stuck with your karate training for a couple of months already. You enjoy learning all of the punches, kicks and blocks, you've learned your first form and you also know some basic partner work drills. It's time to try for your next belt and for some reason it feels like a wave of fear has suddenly come over you that is threatening your future in the martial arts.
You know you have to take a belt test (also called promotion test or grading) to get the next belt and you want to be successful, but suddenly your previous fear of public speaking seems insignificant compared to the prospect of demonstrating your karate prowess in front of your instructor and fellow club members. Can you do it? Will you pass? How do you get past your fears and take the first step to success and progress up the belt ladder?
If this sounds like something you've been through before or something that you are experiencing now then keep reading.
The fear of taking a karate test is a real one, but don't make the mistake of blowing the test out of proportion. Remember this is just a test and whether you pass or fail, it does not have to be the beginning or end of your karate practice. Let me give you some simple tips for dealing with the pressure and anxiety of your first belt test.
Tip #1: Put things into perspective
If you look at your progression from white to black belt in karate as a journey, then your individual belt tests are simply checkpoints or layovers. These checkpoints give you a chance to see how far you've come, how far you still have to go and to allow yourself the chance to enjoy the fact that you've gotten this far. It's really that simple. Don't make your belt test more than it is. Nobody will ask you how you did on your yellow belt test once you are a black belt!
Tip #2: Find out what you will be tested on
This is crucial. You must know what you will be tested on. This again is like the old analogy of ?if you don't know where you're going then how will you know how to get there?? Knowing what the required content is for the next belt is like buying a map and planning your route from one destination to the next.
Tip #3: Start preparing for your test in advance
This should go without saying, but many people leave everything to the last minute when it comes to testing. Give yourself the best chance possible by writing your test date on your calendar, finding out the requirements of the test (see #2) and then practicing the things that you need to practice.
Tip #4: Get a good night's sleep before your test and do something relaxing on test day
Again, this is a no-brainer and is the same advice given to any student studying for any test. Karate is no different. So get a good night's sleep and then read a book, go for a walk, listen to some music, meditate. Do whatever it is that calms you down and helps you to focus your mind. If you know in advance that you will have to work all day or do something else that might be stressful on the day of your test, then plan for that in advance and set aside 10 minutes after you finish work to sit quietly and regroup before you go home and put on your karate uniform. Even 10 minutes of calm is better than none when it comes to preparation.
Tip #5: Don't take yourself too seriously
You are taking your yellow belt test (or your orange or your green?, or your black belt.) Whatever belt you are taking, I'm sure it means a lot to you and you want to pass. If you didn't want to pass your belt then you would have no reason to take the test in the first place. What's more, your instructor usually will have recommended that you are ready for testing. This means that if you do your best and do what you do in class, with the extra intensity that comes with adrenaline, then you will more than likely pass your test.
Don't create any more unnecessary obstacles for yourself. You fulfilled the minimum time requirement, you know the material to be tested, you have prepared in advance, you got a good night's sleep, and your instructor thinks you have the ability to pass. So don't take yourself too seriously. Get your uniform on, tie your soon-to-be-old belt and get to your karate school!
Good luck on your belt test. Believe it and you will achieve it!
If you need more help with this or any other karate subject, please be sure to download my FREE Report ?Beginners Guide to Karate?. You will find out how to download it at http://www.freekarateinformation.com
Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate.
Both Jim Klein & Paul A. Walker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jim Klein has sinced written about articles on various topics from Small Business, Sales and Negotiation and Prospects. Jim Klein provides salepeople with effective strategies that attract new clients, build customer relationships, and increase sales, GUARANTEED.. Jim Klein's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Paul A. Walker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Time Management Skills, Entertainment Guide and Fitness. Paul A. Walker, is a 4th degree black belt karate instructor with over 25 years experience in the martial arts. In 2003 he attained his 4th degree black belt, after studying with the legendary Karate Master, Hirokazu Kanazawa in Tokyo for three years. Get. Paul A. Walker's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.