New Orleans North Shore Presents Family Friendly Living

The North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain is filled with small communities and cities that offer the best of both worlds: easy access to big city amenities and the atmosphere of small town living. This is the draw that most people feel when it comes to purchasing real estate and making those important decisions about where you will live and work.

There are few decisions you will face in life that are more important than where you will raise your family. In other words, the place you will call home. The area known as the North Shore presents many beautiful options when it comes to establishing roots and growing families.

This is also an incredible place in which to enjoy the single lifestyle with its close proximity to New Orleans, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the many attractions and events that abound throughout the region.

Do not make the mistake, however, of allowing the allure of New Orleans and the big city lifestyle to overshadow the many benefits of Mandeville, Louisiana. Real estate is one of the first things you will want to consider. Real estate is much more affordable in St. Tammany Parish as you will get much more house for your money with your Mandeville La real estate buy.

Another important consideration when it comes to real estate in Covington, Louisiana and other surrounding areas is the education that can be had for the price of a longer commute in most cases.

When you look at the big picture, Covington, Louisiana real estate has a lot to offer growing families as well as those that are just starting out. Schools are only a small token of the many family benefits that abound on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain with the lake itself being one of those attractions that most families find an enjoyable part of living there.

Hammond Louisiana real estate is another worthy consideration for those seeking to escape the hectic pace of life in the immediate vicinity of New Orleans, Metairie, or Kenner. You will face a little bit longer of a drive time, but prices for real estate are much lower than in New Orleans.

There are plenty of attractions that are well suited for families in the area as well. One huge event to take place in the Hammond area is the Louisiana Renaissance Festival held each year in the fall.

Couple events such as this with easy access to New Orleans and other North Shore communities, and Hammond is yet another winner for those seeking not only a home for their families but also a sense of community that is often absent in larger cities.

When it comes to quality of life, Mandeville Louisiana real estate is truly one of the best available options for families in or around the Crescent City. Check out the local school systems, entertainment and cultural events, and take advantage of the close proximity to all of the conveniences that cities such as New Orleans have to offer consumers, businesses, and families alike.

There are few living arrangements that offer all of these benefits tied up in the pleasant package that St. Tammany Parish presents.

Improve Your Sales Presentation Skills by Going Beyond the Show and Tell

The sales presentation is your best opportunity to show and tell, but there’s more to it than just showing and telling. You also need to think strategically about the customers buying process and needs, your competitors’ offerings, and why your solution is best.

To plan and deliver winning sales presentations, try the following approach:

Find out in advance how much time you will have.
Have you ever had a key decision-maker leave in the middle of your presentation because he was out of time? You can’t hold someone’s attention when he’s looking at the clock. At the beginning of the meeting, ask how much time the prospect has set aside, then adjust your presentation to take no more than 60% of the allotted time. Why only 60%? Because your prospect’s decisions to act typically occur at the end of the meeting. Adjusting your presentation will allow enough time to resolve any remaining issues, and reach an agreement.

Check in.
Another good question to ask at the beginning of every sales presentation is, “since the last time we met, has anything changed?” If your competitor gave a presentation yesterday afternoon you may have a few new hurdles you need to overcome. The sooner you identify those hurdles, the more time you have to plan a response.

Take his temperature.
The next question you want to ask is, “Where are you in your decision process?” If he tells me he’s scheduled presentations with three suppliers and I’m the first presenter, I know the chances of this prospect agreeing to a decision at the end of my presentation are virtually nonexistent. For starters, it would take the prospect more time, energy and stress to cancel the appointments than to go ahead with them.

More importantly, the prospect wants to hear all three presentations, because from your customer’s perspective, comparison is necessary to recognize value. Never go for the close when you are the first presenter. You’re simply asking for something that you can’t get, and customers will think you’re pushy. Instead, come up with a legitimate reason to come back after the other presentations, when the prospect likely will be in a position to make a decision.

Try to be the last presenter.
The last presenter has a significant advantage, because he is closer to the customer’s point of decision. If I am the final supplier to present, and have shown why am I am the best choice, it’s only reasonable to ask for a commitment to buy. It also creates an opportunity to address any lingering concerns that may prevent a sale.

In one of the largest sales opportunities I ever worked on, I was the third of three presenters to a committee of seven decision-makers, the most senior of whom was the Executive Vice President, I’ll call him Mr. Burns.

Ten minutes before the conclusion of my presentation, the phone rang. Mr. Burns had a plane to catch, and his cab had arrived. As he stood up, I said, “Mr. Burns, before you leave, may I ask you one final question?”
I asked, “Now that you’ve evaluated all the options, is there any reason why my solution is not your best option?”

He paused, then said “Yep!” And out came his final concern about my solution. It was a concern I was ready for, but I never got a chance to respond because his comment triggered a firestorm of conversation around the conference table. Mr. Burns missed his cab, but several other decision makers drove him to the airport so they could continue their discussion.

A few weeks later, I learned that in the car on the way to the airport, a lower-level decision-maker had resolved Mr. Burns’s concern, and I won the sale.

This example shows that today, as much as 90% of the sale takes place without you being in the room. So it’s essential to make sure that the prospects championing your cause have the tools to sell other decision makers for you.

Start with a quick review of the customer’s goals and objectives. On a flipchart, list each of the customers buying criteria. This list is your outline for effective sales presentation. Next, show how your solution meets and exceeds each customer criterion.

Throughout your presentation, get a reaction from your prospect. For example, after demonstrating a capability you would ask, how would this be an improvement or how would this help. Interactive presentations keep prospects more involved and interested.

Communicate all your unique strengths.
Today’s customers want to know two things: can you do what we need done, and how can you do it better than the other options we are considering? It’s not enough to show that you can meet your customer’s needs. You must also have some reasons why your solution is the customer’s best choice. To ensure that my strengths are understood, I always prepare a flipchart titled “Why we are your best choice” which lists at least three reasons why I’m the customer’s best option. Often, I list seven or eight reasons.

The more reasons you have, and the more compelling those reasons are, the better your chances of winning the sale. In sports, when two teams are evenly matched, the winner is the team that makes the fewest mistakes, and executes its plays the best.

To deliver a winning sales presentation, you must do the same. When you implement these 10 tips in your sales presentations, you will win more sales

The Importance of Mastering the Chinese Negotiation Style

When your business grows to the point that you have the opportunity to expand into the overseas market or even if you hold a position in a company that involves business negotiation, it can be a very exciting time, especially if you get the chance to do business in China. In either situation, most people get all wide eyed at the idea of the profits that can be made but if you aren’t careful you can throw all of it away with one wrong move. You may thing you can answer the question “what is business etiquette” but when it comes to the business culture of China, there are a lot of unique rules that come into play.

The business culture of China is much more structured than in the west and adhering to their rules is of the utmost importance when entering into that market. In the United States, business etiquette doesn’t get discussed as much because most of the business negotiations styles are standard. We wear suits, exchange business cards, prepare, present and end with a hearty handshake. What is business etiquette in the U.S. involves guidelines but they’re very different in China and are based on nurturing the relationship, respect and cultural considerations. You’ll need to bow your head when you are introduced and be ready with a business card and your business cards must not be bent or worn in anyway. You’ll have to wait to be properly seated at meetings and make sure to speak clearly and not jump to conclusions or interrupt anyone. Showing respect is one of the most important factors that come into play when it comes to the business culture of China.

Chinese negotiation style is also unique and can take years to master, but there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind that will help, even if it is your first time at the table. First of all, bring plenty of business cards with you. You’ll be exchanging them a lot and you need to make sure yours are in perfect condition and have your information printed on the back in Chinese as well. Don’t flick the card at anyone either, hand it to them directly and when you receive one lay it out on the table after examining it, and make sure not to put it away until negotiations are finished. Secondly, learn the art of Guanxi which is very important when it comes to the Chinese negotiation style as well and this means you’ll need to have a hookup. You’ll need to have someone along with you that the group you’re negotiating with knows and trusts. Social status is very important in China, and other countries as well, so make sure that your group isn’t just made up of rookies; have someone there both groups can trust.

Chinese negotiation style is also built around a certain level of distrust, at least in the beginning. You’ll need to make sure that you have someone there who is Chinese to make the negotiations more comfortable. When you speak directly to whomever you are meeting with, use short and quick sentences that are to the point. This will help make you appear professional, legitimate and even save face when it comes to your business approach.

Americans and most of the west put their money on innovation and talent but in China loyalty, honor and respect are the most important aspects of any business partnership. Once you’ve met these aspects, the business relationship and profits will follow. Make sure to adhere to their structured Chinese negotiation style so that you can flourish in the foreign market. By understanding the business culture of China you’ll be much more likely to succeed.