CMI Blog

Chris Bashinelli describes the importance of tying our purpose into a purpose that is greater than ourselves.

It's not about working harder. It's about working smarter. I'm going to propose an idea: take five focused minutes at the beginning of each day. Sit down at your computer before you start working. Sit down and breathe. Close your eyes if possible, and see what ideas come to you. Rather than going with that initial urge to check email, to respond to text messages, allow some space and ask yourself, “What is the most important thing I have to do today?”. Or perhaps don't ask yourself anything, just allow the space to be there. That space will translate in the next few minutes to the most important task that you have to complete that day. Or maybe it will arise in the form of a new idea.

This is called mindfulness and it can be incredibly beneficial during our work lives. According to an article in Mindful.org, “at times of excessive pressure at work, practicing a short mindfulness exercise can be a savior.” Most find the slow-down a struggle but it can lead to incredible results in our day-to-day lives. The more you do, the easier it will be. 

Slow down, be mindful for new ideas 

It's easy to keep yourself busy. It's easy to work 10 or 12 hours a day. It's easy, but perhaps it's not the wisest thing to do. What's wiser is to give yourself some space in your life where you can allow new ideas to come, where you can allow your creative expression to come through. Some of the greatest ideas I've had, some of the greatest exercises, some of the greatest stories haven't come when I'm sitting down at my desk writing and responding to emails. They've actually come after I finish eating breakfast or when I'm out for a hike allowing what I've been focusing on and thinking about, to bubble to the surface with a new idea. 

If we're always busying ourselves we will never actually be aware of that bubble when it pops to the surface. To be aware of that idea and aware of that bubble, we have to create mindful space in our work-life, where we can allow those ideas to surface. It can lead to greater results than you thought possible.

Did you know that every conscious decision that has ever been made has been made at least twice?

As humans - the first thing we do, before choosing to take an action, is to visualize ourselves completing that action. We take the time for a hypothetical run through  in our minds eye. And only once we can see ourselves doing something, do we then actually choose to move forward with that action.

This means that if you want more people to take action, then your ability to have them see themselves taking that action, prior to you inviting them to take that action, will enhance their choosing to respond positively to the ask.

We are talking about allowing others to paint pictures in their own minds and insert these images into their memory. This is content creation for the human mind.

Watch Phil discuss this idea at a recent event:

Influence in making easier decisions

Content creation holds huge value in the world of marketing, yet the most powerful tool for content creation is in the minds of the people you are looking to influence. The human brain is an incredibly powerful "search engine" and by feeding it with quality content - the more likely this content will be recalled when decisions need to be made.

Leaders, sales professionals and entrepreneurs are all in the business of influencing others and an often overlooked area of influence is our ability to support others in their decision making process. Taking the time to allow others to see themselves in situations that are the result of their action or inaction is a fabulous tool to encourage them to choose that very action.

There are really only three types of situations that you should look to have someone see themselves in that will assist them to do as you are asking:

1. Moving towards something that will make them more comfortable
2. Moving away from something that makes them uncomfortable
3. Achieving something that makes their heart sing

Your tool for creating these images in the minds of others are your conversations and quite often it's the quality, and not the quantity of these conversations that has the greatest impact on your results.

Put simply - the difference between you winning and losing could be knowing Exactly What to Say, when to say it and how to make it count.

When you can reach for the right words, at the right time you are far more likely to achieve the right result.

Changing your words can very easily change your world.

Keynote Speaker Phil M Jones describes how using the magic words from his bestselling book, Exactly What to Say, can help you sell more and help you lead your clients to better decisions. Phil speaks on topics such as Leadership, Customer Service, Sales and Marketing, Business Growth, Engagement and Performance.

This time of year, many organizations are planning their 2020 sales kickoff events! Hiring a great sales keynote speaker can help you maximize the impact of your event and motivate your sales team to create breakthroughs and bottom line results.

What are some common denominators of the world’s best Sales Keynote Speakers?  Let’s take a look…

1. High Energy: Sales audiences include lightning-fast thinkers and a slow-moving keynote just won’t cut it. Look for speakers who can energize an audience with quick wit, a command of the stage, and action-packed content.
2. All About the Audience: I’ve seen a LOT of speakers in my time, the ones that truly light up the sales stage are the ones that are way less worried about slides or even microphones. They’re all about ensuring that they are connecting with every member of their audience in profound ways. They get participants on their feet and totally engaged – and it is pure magic to watch!
3. They Understand Sales: While I don’t believe a great sales keynote speaker necessarily has to have an all sales background, they do have to understand what sales professionals need in terms of mindsets and skill sets to succeed in today’s changing world. Look for a speaker who digs deep into what specific challenges your sales team is facing so they can offer timely and effective solutions.
4. They Entertain. Sales audiences want to laugh while they learn. They want solid content with a side of humor and heart. The best sales keynote speakers I’ve ever seen have the ability to have their audiences laughing out loud while creating those light-bulb moments of clarity.
5. They’re Easy to Work With. I think the days of “diva speakers” is behind us. Our clients tell us that our speakers are some of the easiest going, most adaptable, eager to do whatever it takes speakers in the business. That makes us incredibly proud. When you work with high-integrity, down-to-earth, passionate people – you expect nothing less!

Helping organizations develop and utilize the best-in-business practices and innovative strategies is what you can trust from cmi speaker management’s sales and marketing keynote speakers. With expert ideas, savvy solutions, and top-tier tools – these speakers deliver exactly what audiences need to drive sales production and craft next-level marketing for their companies.

If you’re planning a sales kickoff event in 2020, give us call. We’ve got a shortlist of keynote speakers who would be perfect to both wow your crowd and send your sales through the room – all while making your job and life easier! How’s that for a trifecta? Let us help you have your best conference ever!