Attract The Right Job Or Clientele:

Today’s blog title, ‘What Do You Want To Achieve Ultimately?’ relates to business and includes the infamous ‘bucket list.’ In our youth and beginning phase of adulthood, we do not realize that life is fragile. As we mature, we come to recognize that our life can turn upside down in an instant. It is the reason why so many people create a unique bucket list of activities to complete while they still can.

We all saw the perfect example of life uncertainties via the Covid19 virus. Traffic accidents, tornadoes, and other unexpected tragedies make the idea of maintaining a bucket list even more meaningful. Whenever possible, it is fulfilling to check off something on the list as we pat ourselves on the back, knowing we did it!

My Story

My goal was to be in business in my younger day, although the societal expectation was to get married and stay home. A business career was for the men; accordingly, the sales profession was an absurd thought on my part. And then, after a successful sales career, the commentary went downhill upon my announcing I was a sales trainer. In person, I did my best to maintain a smile while at home; I sometimes punched a pillow to let the steam out. 

But even when things appear to be quickly going downhill, I always keep in mind what I want to achieve ultimately. Motivation, perseverance, and using negativity as my motivating force to continue are my differentiators for moving past. Long ago, the song ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’ was released, and I immediately felt a deep connection with the title.

A good companion for what we want to achieve ultimately is in maintaining a bucket list. The term refers to, ‘when I have the time and-or the money I will do.’ Sadly, most people tuck their ideas away, unable to find the time or money to do what will matter to them. It is with delight that BizCatalyst 360 is inviting the public to join their Bucket List event. They have a diverse lineup of speakers ready to provide their insights and inspiring thought. You may click this link to register free of charge.

For me, the bucket list topic is almost always about travel to countries I have not yet visited. But as I mentioned above, life is fragile. Due to a near-death experience, my goal became helping communities however I may. Service began by teaching job seekers to interview well by using successful sales and communication strategies. The service continues to expand through speaking, writing, and sharing insights on social platforms. I always attempt to add motivation for continuing despite circumstances around us and include tactical strategies for a better outcome.  

Today, a commitment is in place for helping two organizations improve diversity and inclusion globally. The effort stems from prior experiences that go unappreciated. My combination of perseverance and striving to help others move past barriers gained recognition this past week. To my surprise and delight, CIO Views Magazine includes my story in the article entitled, ‘One Of The 10 Most Inspiring Business Leaders Making A Difference.’  

The article’s title says it all for what I want to achieve ultimately ~ that is to help inspire others to achieve their ultimate goals.

For More Insights: Visit Elinor’s Amazon Author Page

Click This Link to See All Four Smooth Sale Courses and Workbooks:

1. Create the Smooth Sale (returning and referring)
2. Inspired Quotes for Business and Life
3. The Smooth Sale Get HIRED! Course and Workbook
4. The Smooth Sale Course for Entrepreneurs and Salespeople

Related Blog Stories:

1. Do You Have A Personal To-Do List?
2. Are You Concerned About Achieving Success?
3. To Be Fully Motivated Work To Inspire Others

Your Story:  What Do You Want To Achieve Ultimately?

You may hear that your goals are too lofty and unrealistic. But does anyone truly know all of your capabilities today and through time?

Remind yourself to pay more attention to what holds importance to you than to the misspoken claims of those in your circles. Become your motivational coach with the daily routine of giving yourself a pep talk. Then, on the days that the critique is too much to bear, consider hiring a coach who will motivate, inspire, and provide new ideas for advancement.  

Include in your activities:

• A continuing bucket list to achieve and cross off as complete
• Continual goal setting for what you want to achieve ultimately
• Remaining abreast of new development that may affect your desire
• Flexibility for achieving the ‘best for last.’

Should you be uncertain about a far-stretching goal, keep it to yourself and only share with those you completely trust. The last thing you want is to have someone talk you out of achieving what holds importance. One of the worst feelings is to live life with regret. 

If you have ever known someone who gave up on their dreams, you will not want to do the same.

Similar to anything we attempt in life, brace yourself for the ‘trial and error’ experience. The errors become our guides for how to improve the effort to find success. Flexibility is a requirement for almost everything new we attempt. Most of all, when we want something badly enough, we will find a way. Adopt the philosophy to find your way and enjoy life with a smile on your face knowing you could achieve the seemingly impossible.

Sales Tips:  What Do You Want To Achieve Ultimately?

1. Envision the last day of your career, and you see it as your best achievement.
2. Find quiet time to reflect on what you already have achieved.
3. Recall the obstacles you moved past to get to where you are today.
4. Admit to your conscience what you want to achieve ultimately.
5. Meanwhile, develop a bucket list of activities to complete that will bring a smile.
6. Confer with trusted friends to see if they may add useful ideas to move forward.
7. Ask people who have experience for help as need be.
8. Feel the proud moments of accomplishing pieces of the larger vision.
9. Motivate yourself to persevere to be able to say proudly, ‘I did it!’
10. Celebrate Success!

Today’s insights are provided to help you achieve the Smooth Sale!

RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL AND BUSINESS GROWTH: 

LinktoEXPERT  “It is not who you know – it is who knows you and what your expertise can do for them plus understands the value of hiring you.” 

Kred  Connect with top rated influencers to learn from and grow your networks.

Women’s Information Network (WIN) An education-and-event-based Global Community of Women Helping Women Worldwide Live Their Best Lives through Celebration, Self-Improvement, and Service.

Inclusion Allies Coalition   “Everyone is welcome here.” Learn more to train teams, and join the advocacy program.

Advisorpedia  Publishes information to help advisors build their practice, and those having interest in the markets choose investments, and find inspiration.

BizCatalyst360  Presents a life, culture, and biz new media digest serving as a hub of creative expression and personal growth

Vengreso Provides easy-to-follow on-demand sales training for LinkedIn.

WebTalk is the one-stop platform Build your marketplace and grow social connections. 

Vunela  Provides a unique opportunity to view Videos and read articles by World Leaders.

SalesPop!   Purveyors of Prosperity; how to compete against yourself to excel in your career.

For Book Lovers Only   For Book Lovers Only introduces you, the book lover, to new and exciting authors and works of fiction and non-fiction.   

CatCat Build your future one skill at a time.

GetCiara  Make remote your unfair advantage.~

The post What Do You Want to Achieve Ultimately? appeared first on SmoothSale™.

Note:   Atreyee Chowdhury provides today’s guest post, 5 Tips To Choose The Best POS System For Your Business.  She works full-time as a Learning Experience Designer and a part-time writer. She has helped many small and medium-scale businesses achieve their content marketing goals with her carefully crafted content that is both informative and engaging.

Atreyee Chowdhury

Atreyee lives in Bangalore, India with her husband. In her free time, she loves to read, experiment with different cuisines, travel, and explore the latest content marketing and L&D trends. You can reach her on Linkedin or write to her at atreyee.c@gmail.com to discuss your content marketing plans and requirements.
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Restaurants Exemplify Point of Sale

Source: Squareup.com

Whether you are setting up a retail business for the first time or you have been in the industry for a while, you know that choosing the right Point-of-Sale (POS) system is critical to the success of your business.

According to a report by Statista, “In 2018, the POS software market in the U.S. was worth 7.73 billion U.S. dollars and was set to reach 9.54 billion U.S. dollars by 2025.”

A POS is more than just a means for your customers to pay for the products or services they have availed from you. It is the central component of your business.

Small businesses do not really have the luxury of allocating varied tasks to different departments. The owner is usually the one who handles it all and they find it particularly difficult to deal with different vendors for different support contracts. Hence a quality POS system helps them immensely in managing everything at one go. Again, there is no “one size that fits all” kind of POS solution available.

Any quality POS system will come with the basic functionalities, such as accounting, inventory management, customer management, sales reporting, employee management, and more but how will you figure out which POS system is the best for your business.

Whether you’re looking at purchasing a new POS or considering an upgrade to a new or the latest one, here are a few tips that will act as a blueprint in helping you choose the right POS system for your business

1. Set-up costs

The recurring costs of a POS system are not that high, but the initial cost to set up a POS might be more than what you had imagined. You have to invest in the software system and spend a considerable amount to make sure that your system is compatible with other software or hardware you are already using in your business. If it’s not compatible, you might need to shell out some extra bucks for purchasing barcode scanners, cash drawers, and more.

That brings us to the next question – what kind of budget you should start with when looking out for purchasing a stable POS solution.

Merchant Maverick claims that “businesses with a single register can expect to shell out an initial investment of around $1,250, and then pay about $1,000 per year to use the POS.”

But there are a variety of other factors that determine the pricing of a POS system. Let’s take a look:

A.            Legacy versus SaaS – While a legacy system can cost you anywhere between $5000 and $7000 only for the hardware, a modern cloud POS solution will be available between $1000 and $1500.

B.          Separate hardware and software costs – The software costs are not included in the hardware purchase even though the same enterprise could be selling both the POS software and hardware. Usually, the software costs can vary anywhere between $60 and $100 per month.

C.         Additional services – Add-on services are usually the extra or additional features available in a POS system, and you can avail of these services by paying an extra cost.

D.         Monthly contracts versus annual contracts– At times, you can save up quite a bit if you pay an annual upfront fee for the POS software costs rather than a monthly price, usually on the higher side.

E.          Multiple handheld devices or registers– Most of the POS solutions charge by the number of registers or handheld devices. Though additional registers or devices cost less than the first one, it still adds up to the cost. For example, a company could charge $79 for the first device and $49 for every additional device after that.

2.  Features and Usability

You can use POS systems for various businesses – restaurants, cafes, salons, gyms, and more. As a retailer, your needs might be very different from some other merchants that might require a POS. Hence it is recommended that you first make a list of what you need from your future POS and then decide on one based on your actual requirements.

Also, an increasing number of enterprises are switching to cloud-based POS systems. Cloud-based POS systems eliminate any dependency as you can now store and access your data anywhere and anytime with the help of a stable internet connection.

People who opt for cloud-based software systems may worry about security. But there is no such need as your data is encrypted and secured on the cloud. The responsibility lies with the service provider to invest in the best of security systems and make sure the customer data is safe by all means.

It is essential to consider while purchasing a POS system or considering a unique one is its usability. Choosing a system that is simple to use and maintain is preferred by all businesses. No one likes to work daily with something complex to navigate your way through the system. And this becomes a very crucial factor when it comes to fast-paced environments such as retail stores that already have a very high turnover of goods.

3.  Integration with Different Platforms

Although any good POS should offer you plenty of valuable features and functionalities, it is also crucial to note how it integrates with other third-party platforms, which will further streamline your business operations.

Integrate POS

Third-party integrations are important because they help in saving up a lot of efforts – sometimes even double or triple the entries. Take, for instance, if your POS can integrate with your marketing automation software, you should be able to extract the customer data from the primary system easily and then use that data to send offers and emails to your customers. Your POS could also possibly have the capacity to integrate with your eCommerce store and help in centralizing all your stock figures and orders.

Many of these third-party platform integrations can help you simplify many of your day-to-day activities. When you purchase the POS, carefully check what integrations are actually feasible and then make an informed decision.

4.  Easy Customization

It is not enough if your POS is simple to use. You should be able to maintain and customize it as per your business needs efficiently. You had already taken a big step when you adopted a POS, a standard Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) deployment model, but let’s accept that some businesses need a little more than just the standard features.

Well-developed POS should come with the ability to add or remove functions depending on your requirements and that too without taking the help of a sales or customer support representative every time something needs to be added, tweaked, or removed altogether. Again enabling customization in a POS doesn’t mean that it should compromise security and customer privacy.

5. Customer support

It is not enough if your POS is simple to use. You should be able to maintain and customize it as per your business needs efficiently. You had already taken a big step when you adopted a POS, a standard Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) deployment model, but let’s accept that some businesses need a little more than just the standard features.

Well-developed POS should come with the ability to add or remove functions depending on your requirements and that too without taking the help of a sales or customer support representative every time something needs to be added, tweaked, or removed altogether. Again enabling customization in a POS doesn’t mean that you should compromise the security and customer privacy at any point.

For More Insights: Visit Elinor’s Amazon Author Page

Click This Link to See All Four Smooth Sale Courses and Workbooks:

1. Create the Smooth Sale (returning and referring)
2. Inspired Quotes for Business and Life
3. The Smooth Sale Get HIRED! Course and Workbook
4. The Smooth Sale Course for Entrepreneurs and Salespeople 

Related Blog Stories:

1. Are You Ready To Change Habits?
2. Are You Financially Prepared To Start A Business?
3. Do You Use the 7 Staff Management Best Practices?

Today’s insights are provided to help you achieve the Smooth Sale!

RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL AND BUSINESS GROWTH: 

LinktoEXPERT  “It is not who you know – it is who knows you and what your expertise can do for them plus understands the value of hiring you.” 

Kred  Connect with top rated influencers to learn from and grow your networks.

Women’s Information Network (WIN) An education-and-event-based Global Community of Women Helping Women Worldwide Live Their Best Lives through Celebration, Self-Improvement, and Service.

Inclusion Allies Coalition   “Everyone is welcome here.” Learn more to train teams, and join the advocacy program.

Advisorpedia  Publishes information to help advisors build their practice, and those having interest in the markets choose investments, and find inspiration.

BizCatalyst360  Presents a life, culture, and biz new media digest serving as a hub of creative expression and personal growth

Vengreso Provides Easy-to-follow on-demand sales training for LinkedIn.  

WebTalk is the one-stop platform Build your marketplace and grow social connections. 

Vunela  Provides a unique opportunity to view Videos and read articles by World Leaders.

SalesPop!   Purveyors of Prosperity; how to compete against yourself to excel in your career.

For Book Lovers Only   For Book Lovers Only introduces you, the book lover, to new and exciting authors and works of fiction and non-fiction.   

CatCat Build your future one skill at a time.

GetCiara  Make remote your unfair advantage.~

The post 5 Tips To Choose The Best POS System For Your Business appeared first on SmoothSale™.

Many people focus on the seriousness of life and do not see humor as part of everyday conversation. As one who routinely does the opposite of most, when the conversation becomes somber, and it is appropriate to do so, I will inject humor.

Laughter will lighten the load that we carry. It also is a point to reflect on what just happened. Why did laughter occur? It becomes the time to consider whether we are taking ourselves or the situation too seriously. The perfect time to reframe the conversation is the moment laughter takes over and then subsides. By redirecting the question, one can potentially advance the sale.

My Story

A small group and I were making small talk, and then the conversation took on a somber tone about financial matters. Next, one person asked another how she would make a payment. I interjected, ‘most likely with Bitcoin!’  Everyone burst into laughter.

Two days before the conversation, a friend and I visited a restaurant. To my surprise, I saw the sign posted on their register, ‘bitcoin accepted here.’ It was the first time I saw the announcement at an establishment, so I asked permission to take the picture. The experience came to mind as my friends were considering types of payment.

We then moved the conversation forward to being helpful versus judgmental as judging was about to lift off among the group of retirees.  Often, both business and personal conversations reach the point of judging; sadly, the outcome is rarely desirable. By making humor a part of the everyday conversation where appropriate, the talks will deepen, and further possibilities enter the picture. It’s about grooming the sale.  

What Does Grooming the Sale Mean?

A typical sale focuses on one service, one product, and potentially a combination of the two. By using a touch of humor, all parties tend to relax and are more likely to consider complementary ideas. By asking questions concerning possibilities of potential interest, the other party is more likely to give them serious consideration.  

From experience, I know that people are more welcoming of a lighter-hearted conversation versus the hard-core sales effort. Working in this manner distinguishes our unique brand from the other representatives of similar offerings. It is the laid-back manner that grooms and encourages a first sale, complementary services, and a loyal clientele.

For More Insights: Visit Elinor’s Amazon Author Page

Click This Link to See All Four Smooth Sale Courses and Workbooks:

1. Create the Smooth Sale (returning and referring)
2. Inspired Quotes for Business and Life
3. The Smooth Sale Get HIRED! Course and Workbook
4. The Smooth Sale Course for Entrepreneurs and Salespeople

Related Blog Stories:

1. Do You Intrigue Audiences?
2. Do You Communicate To Increase Interest?
3. Do You Have A Personal To-Do List?

Your Story:  Is Humor Part of Everyday Conversation?

Not everyone is comfortable with injecting humor into everyday conversation.  However, it is essential to be aware of your habits and admit to what isn’t working well.  Consider if you are:

• Too focused on getting any sale
• Aggressively attempting to sell
• Using a serious tone in every conversation
• Repeatedly dropping the price instead of selling value
• Avoiding talking about anything else besides what you sell

If you are one who is not comfortable with using humor, the next best step is to relax each conversation.  The same applies to either a job interview or a sales appointment.

Why do you want to relax the conversation?

Most representatives and job applicants are too focused on either getting the sale or the job.

There is little friendliness in their tone of voice or creativity in their thought process.  The worst situation is when one becomes judgmental or upset and then answers in an unfriendly manner.  Unfortunately, the scenario occurs far too often and kills any possibility for advancement.

The ability to converse comfortably with anyone is a sign that you are easy to work with, and a better candidate up for selection.  Flexibility also indicates that you can be a team player and will be more likely to take care of issues as they may arise. 

Even better is to demonstrate that you are solution-driven, always seeking a robust outcome.  Doing so gives further indication that you will work to the best of your ability on the person’ or company’s behalf.

As you gain ground on becoming the candidate of choice for either the job or the sale, the following sales step comes into play.  The motto is to seek out 3-5 buy-ins or agreements within the conversations.   Ask for confirmation from the other person or parties that they agree with what you have to say.  The inquiries are acceptable when the conversation is somewhat relaxed and humor a part of everyday conversation. One word of caution is to avoid being pushy.  Spread out the questions regarding the other person’s assessment of what you say to encourage coming to a final agreement.  

Should you be unsure whether to test using humor in your next business appointment, try it out first with friends.  If they give you a strange look, practice is in the forecast.  However, if your friends suddenly laugh, you will know that you are onto something good. The only caution is to keep the humor related to business and career.

Sales Tips:  Is Humor Part of Everyday Conversation?

1. The moment a meeting begins, thank the other person for their time.
2. Ask the person why they agreed to take the time to meet with you.
3. Wear a smile and maintain it in your voice.
4. Relate memorable experiences to the conversation and check for responses.
5. Upon seeing a quizzical look on a person’s face, ask if they have questions.
6. As laughter occurs, explain why you said what you did.
7. Follow the crumbs of interest to create a more in-depth discussion.
8. Together create a robust plan.
9. Come to a firm agreement and commitment.
10. Celebrate Success!

Today’s insights are provided to help you achieve the Smooth Sale!

RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL AND BUSINESS GROWTH: 

LinktoEXPERT  “It is not who you know – it is who knows you and what your expertise can do for them plus understands the value of hiring you.” 

Kred  Connect with top rated influencers to learn from and grow your networks.

Women’s Information Network (WIN) An education-and-event-based Global Community of Women Helping Women Worldwide Live Their Best Lives through Celebration, Self-Improvement, and Service.

Inclusion Allies Coalition   “Everyone is welcome here.” Learn more to train teams, and join the advocacy program.

Advisorpedia  Publishes information to help advisors build their practice, and those having interest in the markets choose investments, and find inspiration.

BizCatalyst360  Presents a life, culture, and biz new media digest serving as a hub of creative expression and personal growth

Vengreso Provides easy-to-follow on-demand sales training for LinkedIn.

WebTalk is the one-stop platform Build your marketplace and grow social connections. 

Vunela  Provides a unique opportunity to view Videos and read articles by World Leaders.

SalesPop!   Purveyors of Prosperity; how to compete against yourself to excel in your career.

For Book Lovers Only   For Book Lovers Only introduces you, the book lover, to new and exciting authors and works of fiction and non-fiction.   

CatCat Build your future one skill at a time.

GetCiara  Make remote your unfair advantage.~

The post Is Humor A Part of Everyday Conversation? appeared first on SmoothSale™.