For our inaugural year, we’re blogging excerpts from 25 Tips Your Mother Taught You

by Ty Bello, RCC.  Each segment will appear on selected Thursday’s for you to enjoy.

Introduction (by Kristen Bissontz)

Mothers.  We all have one.  Sometimes we like them, sometimes we don’t.  But we always love them.  Mothers are full of advice.  From early childhood, they fill our heads with the unique mom-ism’s that only our siblings could appreciate.  It’s funny, but some of those things Mom repeated over and over and over weren’t meant just for our formative growing years.  Much of her counsel is timeless.  As professional individuals, we can glean some of the wisdom and insight that God gives just to Mothers.

As a mom, I have some of my own “mom-ism’s” that my children will laugh about when they are adults.  One of their least favorite comes when they’ve sustained a minor bump or bruise and come screaming as if in extreme pain.  “You’re not bleeding or on fire…I guess you’ll live.”  This apparent lack of compassion is used in our home to help distinguish between the need for EMS and a simple hug.  I’ve yet to encounter a hemorrhaging child engulfed in flames.

We hope you enjoy this work for what it is:  a humorous memoir of the guidance heaped upon our heads as children translated into timeless advice for all.

#1: Stand tall and sit up straight  (By Ty Bello, RCC)

With two little boys in our home, it took on a little different flavor: “Scoot your buns up and sit up straight.” This was what my wife, Barb, said when the boys were getting their haircuts at home.

As sales people, we need to exude professionalism.  This applies to our appearance, our manner of dress, our diction and vocabulary, and our posture.  First impressions can be lasting.  When a potential customer sees a sales representative hunched over or slouching, it gives the impression that the sales rep simply doesn’t care that much about what they are doing.  The representative is labeled “unfocused” or “unprofessional”.    A sale is not simply made from exchanged words and needs.  Perception is reality and a wrong impression can influence the quality of interactions between salesperson and referral source.  Poor interactions lead to poor sales.

As sales professionals, we are trained to interpret body language.  We understand what constitutes an open or closed position and we can usually cater our conversations based on this knowledge.  Referral sources and customers can be pretty adept at “people reading” as well.  Body language can scream either “I’m a Professional” or “I’m a Slouch.”  Which are you?

“Scoot your buns up and sit up straight!” (B. Bello, mom)

Mom’s Tips

  • Stand tall, slouching conveys disinterest or disrespect
  • Refrain from crossing your arms, this promotes a closed or defensive position
  • Maintain eye contact.
  • Use hand gestures to keep interest. Moderate your gestures and don’t over-do it, balance is good.