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<channel>
	<title>Performance Controller &#187; Selling</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/category/selling/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog</link>
	<description>Performance Management matters!</description>
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			<item>
		<title>Selling Snow to the Eskimos</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/02/selling-snow-to-the-eskimos/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/02/selling-snow-to-the-eskimos/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:24:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=4867</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some years ago as I walk around my supermarket and local stores in Melbourne, Australia I notice bottled water had become a very high seller. I wonder about that as it is widely known that Melbourne has one the purest and drinkable water supplies in the world. 

Like selling snow to Eskimos this paradox defies logic, but marketing guys who figured it out had cleaned up. 

To create this new category, rather than focus on changing buying habits of the natural competitor was done by selling the value of water as a health solution with a fashion image built around drinking bottled water. This also leveraged the trends in Asia and parts of Europe where water is sold in bottles, as the natural tap variety is not so good. In The winner was a brand new industry who got people to part with their money for something that was still basically free and just as good from the tap. 

That got me to thinking how people change their habits when experts say it cannot be done. Like in clever saying about habit goes something like this:

To change a habit always leaves “a bit:, And then when you try again there is still one more bit, and so it continues. 

But before I jumped to conclusion about habits I have figured may be several  types….. 

]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/02/selling-snow-to-the-eskimos/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Managing change to make it stick.</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/01/managing-change-to-make-it-stick/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/01/managing-change-to-make-it-stick/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Change Managment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[change management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=5044</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Getting people to do new work and change needs great skill. In business and especially large enterprises change takes more than skill. It also needs good teaming with binding cross functional management dialog processes.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/01/managing-change-to-make-it-stick/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Are international language barriers gone?</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/01/are-international-language-barriers-gone/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/01/are-international-language-barriers-gone/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:47:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[CapabilityManagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Communicating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Translation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=4950</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Readers of our Performance Controller blog come from many non English speaking counties where I am quite sure they already know well about translation tools. 

But for the English based readers I would venture to say it would be rare they see the value of subscribing to and translating to say a Russian website.

I do and  I am often pleasantly surprised by some of the high quality and leadership information I get. Give it a try and perhaps see if you can find new opportunities to link up and grow.

Another example  is I am reading a new book called World Class IT now. that I would recommend. Here is a précis of a book review I was sent recently that in turn I sent on to a Thai colleague in Thai.

The practical implications of this are that language in business is no longer a barrier as we can communicate with literally anyone. It is just that simple.
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2010/01/are-international-language-barriers-gone/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Winning deals from information requests</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/12/winning-deals-from-information-requests/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/12/winning-deals-from-information-requests/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tendering to Win]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RFI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tendering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=4785</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As part of our business at Sherwood Group Consulting, as Performance Management specialist consultants, we are often drawn in the tender process when it comes to working with large companies.

As a team we sometimes surprise ourselves when we win on our own.  But of course we never do it alone as we join large vendors like Infor, Microsoft and other big guys and with large consulting firms like Deloitte, who all bring with them their brand weight that can make us attractive.

To lead too it often makes sense, as software is now less important in terms of risk than the ground advisors who actually make it happen.  Many operators like us with corporate commercial experience on board with  business and vendor tools knowledge can make the difference. Now unlike days gone we no longer sell software but we still stand together with our vendors of choice and lead on deals for the consulting component. That way as we assess a prospect or client needs and then recommend a vendor, we are now often sought out as clincher for their sale. Taking the lead also allows us to leverage better value for our client  or prospect, which most often also gives greater value for everyone.

But enterprise projects these days are no place for the faint hearted  Clients are ruthless and commercially oriented in the mature business software vendor market. On knowledge and paying for such things procurements processes often don’t bother to invest properly in understanding what they need and the risks. Instead they rely on the market to cover them as they push all the risk to vendors.  So no matter how much you tell them they must do their homework, your contract will hang you out to dry if you don't make it clear in the words and then fight for it as over and over again as you proceed.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/12/winning-deals-from-information-requests/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Letter from India: Following that dream</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/11/letter-from-india-following-that-dream/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/11/letter-from-india-following-that-dream/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:21:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supply Chain]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=4688</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is part of a letter from India sent home to family and friends by Kate Wood. it was dated on April 26 2006. Since then Kate has gone on building her original design fashion house.  In the face adversity of  reduced consumer spending. she went against the odds to start her business The Dancing Feather.

Based around the unique of flavor of India, with its emerging high end “India” fashion tastes now highly sought after, her success to date is all to do with her determination to define and get in touch with her chosen market. In this crowded space she has sought a way for people to express themselves with quality distinctive fashion that is also very affordable.

Here is her letter around the time she was getting it all started....]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/11/letter-from-india-following-that-dream/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tiny Business Lessons to Learn</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/08/tiny-business-lessons-to-learn/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/08/tiny-business-lessons-to-learn/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:45:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Initiatives]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=4358</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I prefer not to copy others for 3 reasons, 1. Original thinking is more fun plus it forces me to improve my game, 2. Readers and search engines will mark me down for good reason and of course abandon me for the original.  3.  I want to build my own credibility by doing the work and being  judged for that on its own merits.

In this case I make an exception, if only to share the work of a  master I follow and admire  myself, as do so many, He is one that cannot be ignored.

So  just in case you missed Seth Godin's post today here it is. It speaks for itself as he hits the spot with the human essence of all business.  If you prefer just go straight to his blog, which I would hope by now is on your email subscription or RSS feed anyway. then you get his daily updates like me.

If you read my cut and paste version below and make any comment, the trackbacks on this post are set to go to Seth anyway. , Enjoy!

Lessons from very tiny businesses  
(by Seth Godin)]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/08/tiny-business-lessons-to-learn/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Power Talk International</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/08/power-talk-international/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/08/power-talk-international/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:39:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[CapabilityManagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Communicating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance Effectiveness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/08/power-talk-international/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With my wife Margaret, in June this  year, we visited the Bangkok chapter of Power Talk International . If you have never heard of Power Talk International you may be forgiven. To put it in context in 1970 the Apollo 13-astronauts took with them three of its formerly named and long time established Toastmistresss Club seals to leave on the moon.

Power Talk like so many others clubs of its kind recommend public speaking, as a must  for anyone in business or who has anything to do with communication and influencing people. But even if you are no so inclined, being able to face the fear of speaking in public is the one of the best personal confidence and performance enhancing skills you ever can have.

As a past member from Australia, Margaret had been warmly invited to visit and give a talk. The regular 6.00 - 8.00pm. 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month meeting was at Goethe Institute , Bangkok.

In her talk she spoke about her experience growing up in the grape growing districts of Mildura in Australia during the 1950's. This region was an area that had been settled by a soldier settlement scheme.Her father, Bill Broes was a WW2 veteran, who will be 90 on 24th this August 2009, had bought up a quota. This was also at a time when Australia was still a developing nation, so it was an interesting time to look back now.

Here are some photos we took of the club and some speakers that I have set to some music in a video as a memento.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/08/power-talk-international/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Lighthouse Approach for Advisors</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/07/new-lighthouse-approach-for-business-advisors/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/07/new-lighthouse-approach-for-business-advisors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:07:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Understanding Consumner Behaviour]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=4073</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One way to survive is to milk the value till is done. Another is when we have something of value is to just give it away.

In keeping with this new free theme emerging as everyone is trying to get attention, these days why would you pay for a consultant to tell you the time when you already have or can easily buy a perfectly good watch. You know how that goes….]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/07/new-lighthouse-approach-for-business-advisors/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Big Business Social Network Scams</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/big-business-social-network-scams/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/big-business-social-network-scams/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:22:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ralph Eastman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Effective Communication]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/big-business-social-network-scams/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[According to this news article, Twitter users have caused an uproar by impersonating celebrities on the popular micro-blogging service. Businesses, too, are targets of fake Twitter profiles -- sometimes from competitors.


Exxon Mobil Corp. has found at least two unauthorized Twitter accounts under variations of its name.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/big-business-social-network-scams/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Success is not only being smart.</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/success-is-not-only-being-smart/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/success-is-not-only-being-smart/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:51:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ralph Eastman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Effective Communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Relationship Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robert Sternberg]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=3780</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do's and don'ts of business are copied around the web by many whole share their finds. Here is one such interesting and useful resource,  Why Intelligent People Fail by psychologist, Robert Sternberg It says a whole lot on more on softer sides of success and failure.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/success-is-not-only-being-smart/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is Using Body Language Redundant?</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/is-using-body-language-redundant/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/is-using-body-language-redundant/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Communicating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance Effectiveness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Comunication styles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/is-using-body-language-redundant/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[



Image via Wikipedia



With communication in web mode much more, is body language changing or becoming less important?
Body language as we know it, forms the major part of all effective communication. A test is, we rarely close a significant deal or change something complex as a team without at least one or two face to face [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/is-using-body-language-redundant/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Getting a Guru On The  Team</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/getting-a-guru-on-the-team/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/getting-a-guru-on-the-team/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:20:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Communicating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Guru on the Team]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance Effectiveness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/getting-a-guru-on-the-team/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This man is pure brilliance and an asset to any organization at the highest level. 

In my company, as consulting advisors to business charging a fee, understanding our market and those of our customers is vital. 

To help keep us on track Seth Godin, who we have some time, is now playing an active role as our mentor and coach. He is also one of our most trusted advisers who we defer to.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/06/getting-a-guru-on-the-team/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cutting out the Middle Man</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/05/cutting-out-the-middle-man/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/05/cutting-out-the-middle-man/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2009 18:19:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Product Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategy Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Understanding Consumner Behaviour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Airline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Australia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[British Airways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flight Centre]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jetstar Airways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Qantas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel agency]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=3696</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As large companies continue to consolidate and look at ways to rationalize they inevitably focus to cut out the middle man. The falling out of Singapore International Airlines with one of their major agents, Flight Centre in Australia, tells the story of this type of change.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/05/cutting-out-the-middle-man/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Taking the tailor made approach.</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/02/taking-the-tailored-made-approach/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/02/taking-the-tailored-made-approach/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/?p=2383</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Late last week when I came to Bangkok I went to see my tailor whi  I have known him for many years.  He told me, with business down,, he was trying new ways to keep people well dressed. “And it’s not just about cutting the cloth for a better fit either”, he laughed in self-amusement. adding more seriously  “Staying in the race is the first step, and then we have to be even more creative and innovative to remain there.”]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2009/02/taking-the-tailored-made-approach/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Can you overcome resistance to buy?</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2008/12/resisting-the-buy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2008/12/resisting-the-buy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gordon Wood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales model]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.shernox.net/blog/?p=686</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Need is the mother of invention. And selling is second best job in the world. Like bringing up children it is never simple or easy. But the rewards are great when your skill works to get a good result for a customer. This article discusses some practical selling steps brings it all together.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2008/12/resisting-the-buy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Key Points for Software Sales</title>
		<link>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2008/11/key-points-for-software-sales/</link>
		<comments>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2008/11/key-points-for-software-sales/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:22:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nada Mills</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.shernox.net/blog/?p=314</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When developing your sales process there are some basic questions of approach you must have well planned. Her are some good points to use as a boiler plate for expanding.

Who is your Market?
You are not selling to those who already have the solutions but rather to those who need the solutions and who might be [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.performancecontroller.com/blog/2008/11/key-points-for-software-sales/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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