Build Your Badass Test Drive

“In many encounters you may only have a minute or two to set yourself apart and create the desired follow-up.”

By Tom Bloomer

Have you ever bought a new car? While some of you may dread the experience, like my wife does, I have always enjoyed it and looked forward to my next new car purchase. Being in sales only added to my enjoyment, as I loved watching the dance. If you have ever experienced it, I am sure you can probably guess the first step that car salesperson always wants to make. It’s getting you in a car. “Would you like to take a test drive?” Of course, you would, and of course, they want you to.

So, let’s talk about creating your own unique “test drive” experience. The one that includes the best version of yourself and your brand. One which promises good things to come to the prospects who choose to become your customers. What are you most passionate about? For many small business owners and entrepreneurs, it’s the service you provide. The ability for your company to solve problems your prospects may have. Unfortunately, you may not be as passionate about helping them find you, choose you, or begin using you. The habit I would like to see you begin developing during our upcoming Badass Business Summitt ’21, is to understand your unique traits and incorporate them into more of what you regularly do.

“You have the opportunity everyday to create a desire in others to take you for a TEST DRIVE”

What unique gifts have you been blessed with? These need to be a key part of each test drive you set up. Take a moment to think about your past successes. What comes to mind? Winning, earning, achieving, being recognized, or maybe simply being told you have done a great job at something. What elements of your business brand are you most passionate about? You need to have your gifts and passion on full display for every prospect.

Why is this test drive so important? It is your opportunity to make sure the prospect:

• Takes you seriously

• Pays better attention

• Actually considers your thoughts or proposal

• Gains a desire to see and speak with you more often.

These are the four outcomes you need to achieve in your dealings with most people. In many encounters you may only have a minute or two to set yourself apart and create the desired followup.Unfortunately, too often, it may only be a short DM or opening of an email. Showing how you are uniquely different from many of the other people they meet today, is critical.

Think about the ways you can best set yourself apart. Eye contact, listening skills, and an air of persistence are important and take no time to share. Enthusiasm and confidence should go without saying, but often result in failed attempts. if you are comfortable with polite humor, use it. If you have a strong intellect, bring it out. If you are knowledgeable about a relevant topic or product, show it. If you are creative, use your creativity to set yourself apart. These are some of your strengths, and they need to be a part of your brand and this important test drive. Using your strengths are how you develop the needed enthusiasm and confidence for the ultimate test drive experience for each prospect. You are a Badass Business owner, show it. Martial artist Bruce Lee once said:

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

If you want more clients, practice showing what will set your business apart from the rest. Use your gifts and your passions, create your own unique test drive and find prospects taking you more seriously and gaining in their desire to speak with you more often. Picture your last new car purchase. Did the test drive close the deal? Will you close your next deal? Author and sales coach Jeffrey Gitomer taught me many years ago in his Little Red Book of Selling.

“If you’re not on fire, you will lose to someone who is”

I look forward to help stoking your fire. To help you better sell and market your business. Say hello to me at the Summit and show me your “Badass Test Drive”

Do you believe that strong management can only be done by Leaders. There are many important characteristics of management like communication, positivity, motivation, creativity, trustworthiness, commitment, and more. There are plenty of necessary skills such as delegating, evaluating, planning, goal setting, and more. Proven results only happen when those characteristics and skills are delivered by a well-trained Leader. A leader using their strengths and in tune with the strengths of their team. A Gallop research study recently showed this approach leads to:

10% - 19% increased sales

14% - 29% increased profit

3% - 7% higher customer engagement

9% - 15% increase in engaged employees

There simply is a strong connection between strengths and engagement that is fundamental to the employee experience. You have all heard the saying that most people leave a job because of dissatisfaction with their manager, but unfortunately, most SMB’s are not positioned to do anything about it. Teddy Roosevelt once said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing”. Your goal should involve a plan to do something. So, what can make you a Great Leader? Let’s get started....

“If you want more clients, practice showing what will set your business apart from the rest.”