I met up with my buddy, Dr. Charles Shinaver, last week. Our conversation didn’t start on the path that it ended up on (does it ever?), but did indeed shift to the state of the economy and small business owners. However, as depressing as it was listening to him share with me the lastest ‘gossip’ on the economy (I call it gossip because I believe there is some control if we choose to take it), we both had similar conclusions in the end: Relationships (internal) will be the saving grace to many companies (big and small), if they so choose to cultivate them, rather than be ruled...

Happy Friday! I have been checking out Jim Muehlhausen’s book, The 51 Fatal Business Errors and How To Avoid Them, courtesy of Ann Clifford, and there was one error that just rang out loud and clear and even made me giggle a little. It is, according to Jim (his last name is way to long for me to use, so we’ll refer to him as Jim for this blog): Fatal Error #10: “We Suck” Selling Let me share what he says, which is so true. “When I survey businesses, margin pressure is always #1 on the complaint list. It seems that everyone is susceptible to lowering their price to...

So, this morning on my way to work, I already knew I was going to post about management today. I mean, I guess I should say I was going to pose the question to the SI community about what qualities you look for in someone that makes you say, “I love my boss,” or “I love the company I work for, everyone there is cool.” When we think about managers, or management styles, what type do you work most effectively with? This came to mind when one of our Slingshot candidates came to us yesterday and was a little frustrated over the way his manager was treating him. In this person’s...

Happy March everyone. I have been such a slacker on the blog scene lately. Not that that’s bad because Slingshot is growing in leaps and bounds, but I have to say I miss you all, and have committed to making sure I can do this more. That being said, graduation is just around the corner. I have met so many talented students getting ready to make their way out into our business community. It’s really exciting (since they are, afterall, the future of Indianapolis). But at the same time, it’s also really scary for our soon-to-be grads as unemployment rates have obviously grown. This...

As marketing director and intern coordinator of Slingshot, a company that provides sales-trained interns to small and large businesses, it is my job to root for our Indiana interns. I know I post on this topic alot, but there really is something to be said about bringing new, talented energy into an existing team…or even a non-existing one…(just ask my boss ). That being said, if you answer yes to any of the following questions, perhaps you should consider looking toward interns for YOUR company. 1. Do you want a cost-effective way to grow your business, especially in this economy? 2....

So, I am just going to do a little rant here. Last week, my posts were focused on the non-verbal communication of people who are leaders. Okay, so what about verbal communication? Or how about just communication PERIOD? As business people, isn’t there, or shouldn’t there be a standard for a time frame in which you get back with someone? I mean, if you’ve had a meeting, you follow-up, leave messages, and no one gets back with you….that’s just rude. I think, in my world, that you should attempt to call someone back, who leaves you a message, within 24 hours. 48 at the...

Okay, so this is the last post on the whole non-verbal thing I’ve had going for the last few blogs. I hope you got something out of it. If you didn’t, I hope you will at least check out the show, Lie To Me. I find it interesting that I wanted to start today out with appearance, and it just so happens that Deanna Sipe did a fabulous post on dressing for success earlier. You should check it out if you haven’t already. Okay, here we go. 1. Personal Appearance People pay more respect to those that are well dressed and neatly groomed. As superficial as it is, it’s a reality....

I hope many of you had the chance to catch my post last Friday about the importance of our non-verbal communication being on board with our verbal communication, and how this is especially important when it comes to leadership and sales. As promised, only a day off, I wanted to talk about gestures today, and how those gestures may read to others around us. As I said on Friday, certain gestures say that you are self-confident and a leader. We’ll talk about a few of them here. 1. Head, Face and Eye Movements If you’re moving your head, face, and eyes toward other person and giving them...

I hope many of you had the chance to catch my post last Friday about the importance of our non-verbal communication being on board with our verbal communication, and how this is especially important when it comes to leadership and sales. As promised, only a day off, I wanted to talk about gestures today, and how those gestures may read to others around us. As I said on Friday, certain gestures say that you are self-confident and a leader. We’ll talk about a few of them here. 1. Head, Face and Eye Movements If you’re moving your head, face, and eyes toward other person and giving them...

Okay, I FINALLY went to my first Rainmakers event this morning at Champs, and I have to say, it lived up to all the hype. Whoo hoo!! I actually got to meet some fellow SI-ers in person. (Which I should have done on Tuesday, and was planning to do on Tuesday, but then couldn’t), but hey, I swear, God-willing, I WILL BE at the next one-and I expect you all to hold me accountable. Anyway, by the way things are going, that will be what, like next month?! Pat, you rock! (and so does everyone else who is on here). Okay, back to Rainmakers. I had a good friend (you know who you are) ask me if I...