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Showing posts from January, 2025

Less than a minute lesson -2645 Positivity

  Less than a minute lesson -2645 Positivity It doesn't matter how dark a place is; a single candle is enough to illuminate it so a person can walk in and out. Similarly, it doesn't matter how much negative discussion happens among a group. When we start focusing on the positive aspects of life, the conversation gradually shifts towards positivity. Over time, this can energize the atmosphere with positivity. M.L. Narendra Kumar Director

Reduce expectations and increase acceptance.

  Reduce expectations and increase acceptance. We want others to tell the truth, but we often conceal the truth ourselves.   We desire trust from others, yet we are quick to doubt them.   We hope others will come forward, but we tend to take a back seat.   We want others to change while we remain the same.   We expect people to listen to us, but we don’t take the time to listen to them.   We want punctuality from others, yet we blame traffic when we are late.   We seek appreciation from others, but we fail to acknowledge what they have done.   We want to be liked, yet we often overlook the good in others.   We yearn for forgiveness but struggle to accept the mistakes of those around us.   We desire love, though we sometimes live with hate.   Each of us expects others to be right, but we often forget that they have similar expectations of us. Much of life is spent on expectations rather than accepting people for...

The Beauty and the Beast

  The Beauty and the Beast The Beauty in us admires the Beauty of others we like, whereas the beast in us mocks others we don't like, though they are beautiful. The Beauty in us appreciates the person whom we like, whereas the beast finds faults with others whom we don't like The Beauty in us is blind to the mistakes of those we like, and the beast is critical of those whom we don't like The Beauty in us starts paying attention to those whom we like, but the beast in us never bothers to pay attention to those whom we don't like The Beauty in us starts extending a helping hand to those we like, and the beast avoids those whom we don't like The Beauty in us is gentle on those whom we like, but the beast is harsh on those whom we don't like The Beauty in us longs to meet those whom we like, but the beast runs away from those whom we don't like The Beauty in us is willing to change ourselves based on the needs of those whom we like, but the beast...

Mushrooming Competition

  Mushrooming Competition Salespeople often complain about increasing mushrooming competition when they don’t meet their targets. I urge readers to approach the rest of this article with an open mind. First, let's understand how competition proliferates. Many salespeople work within their comfort zones, neglecting uncovered markets. We may sometimes lose existing customers due to issues like quality, service delivery, or intense competition from similar players in the industry. In such instances, we may attempt to penetrate untapped markets, only to be surprised by the number of new companies that have emerged. I am sure many of us have faced or are currently facing such situations. The important lesson is that deep market penetration and developing products for price-sensitive markets are crucial for business success. In the 1980s, electronic watches were all the rage, with Casio being a leading player. They effectively penetrated markets worldwide, catering to various demog...

Cartel, Oligarchs, Politicians and Poor Citizens

  Cartel, Oligarchs, Politicians and Poor Citizens Earlier, the word "cartel" was associated with illegal businesses, but today, it has become a common occurrence in so-called legal businesses. In these cases, oligarchs join forces to fix prices and exploit customers. When corporate entities fund political parties, politicians become puppets, pledging allegiance to these organizations in their quest for power. As citizens, we often feel helpless when paying for services. We are witnessing a cartel-like situation in sectors such as telecommunications and airlines, and we may soon see similar situations in many other industries where large entities buy out smaller competitors to eliminate competition. One effective way to combat these situations in the future is to focus on supporting small businesses instead of large corporations. By doing so, we can help strengthen smaller players and prevent cash inflows to larger entities. If large corporations experience reduced reve...

A Meaningful Auto Ride

  A Meaningful Auto Ride A young manager was waiting for a cab to the airport when he received a cancellation message, causing him to feel tense. He decided to walk down the lane to hire an auto rickshaw, and fortunately, he was able to get one. The auto rickshaw driver inquired about the drop-off location and quoted a fare that left the young manager disappointed as he climbed into the vehicle. While traveling, the young manager commented, "Your charges are high." The auto rickshaw driver smiled and replied, "I know that, but let me ask you some questions. Was your trip well planned or was it a last-minute plan?" The young manager replied, "It was planned at the last minute." The auto rickshaw driver continued, "Is there a difference between a last-minute booking and an early booking?" The young manager said, "Yes, there is a difference; in fact, the fare is higher." The driver then asked, "Have you ever booked a cab...

Transactional Call Vs Transformational Call

  Transactional Call Vs Transformational Call A sales call can often be a simple transaction where we discuss our products and wait for the customer to decide if they need them. This type of sales call is known as a transactional call. In contrast, when we focus on developing rapport, building trust, and engaging in discussions about the prospect's pain points and challenges, we can propose solutions that truly match their needs. This approach is referred to as a transformational call. Every transformation typically leads to a fruitful transaction, which can evolve into repeat business and a testament to transforming many prospects into loyal customers. Consider whether your approach is transactional or transformational. If it is transactional, you may find yourself running from pillar to post to acquire business, but if it is transformational, new opportunities will open up for you. M.L. Narendra Kumar                ...

Command Respect and Demand Price

  Command Respect and Demand Price A salesperson can earn respect by approaching each interaction with the mindset of genuinely helping the customer make a purchase rather than simply trying to meet sales targets. By effectively demonstrating the value of their product or service, the salesperson can justify a better price, addressing the customer's tangible and intangible needs. To succeed, assess your product knowledge and ability to identify and address these needs. You can command respect and negotiate prices effectively if you feel confident in these areas. If not, it may be time to return to training and improve your understanding of what you are selling and how to sell it. M.L. Narendra Kumar              

Five-Course Meal and Sales

  Five-Course Meal and Sales A five-course meal is a structured dining experience commonly found in formal or fine dining settings, where each course is served in a specific order. Each course complements the others, creating a comprehensive culinary journey from start to finish. Here’s what a typical five-course meal includes: ·       Appetizer (Starter): The meal begins with a small, flavorful dish to stimulate the appetite. This course sets the tone for the meal and is usually light and elegantly presented. ·       An appetiser in Sales : A good sales call begins with small talk designed to spark interest in the conversation. This initial interaction sets the tone for further discussion and is characterised by mutual understanding. ·       Soup: The second course usually consists of a warm, comforting soup. This course serves as a transition, cleansing the palate and preparing diners for the hea...

Handling Sales Pressure

  Handling Sales Pressure Pressure is a commonly used term in the workplace, especially in sales-driven organisations, often called month-end sales pressure. For those in sales, this phrase is frequently invoked at the end of the month, when many wish to spend more time with family and friends. Let’s take an unbiased approach to understanding sales pressure. Generally, two main factors contribute to this pressure: uncontrollable and controllable factors. We'll explore both briefly before identifying methods to handle pressure effectively. Uncontrollable Factors As we know, markets are dynamic, and customers each have their approach when dealing with salespeople. This means that certain factors are beyond our control. For example, a sudden trip by a decision-maker, a company's deferral of a purchase due to financial considerations, competitive offers, or a reduction in product demand can all impact sales. Sometimes, we fail to consider such situations and continue to expec...

Holy War??

  Holy War?? War is brutal, and I often wonder why people refer to it as a holy war. There seems to be something fundamentally wrong, either with the concept of war itself or with the notion of holiness. Innocent people have been victims of such conflicts. To end these wars, we need to cultivate a sense of humanity, a commitment to peace, and the ability to question the authorities that claim superiority through the institutions they uphold. Unless we take these steps, this cycle of violence will continue, resulting in more graveyards and bloodshed. There is nothing holy about a war and nothing called holiness in a war. M.L. Narendra Kumar  

Vision -Peaceful Death

  Vision -Peaceful Death Death is the war we should strive to win. You might ask, "Does this mean there should be no death in the world?" That's not the point. The goal is to conquer death by departing peacefully, without suffering or becoming a burden to others. Just as war brings an end to conflict and restores peace among nations, a peaceful death allows those left behind to feel a sense of relief, knowing that their loved one has departed this earth in tranquillity. However, achieving victory in the larger war of peaceful death remains unlikely without winning our battles. Throughout our lives, we encounter various battles, such as addictions, obsessions, doubts, fear, greed, hate, guilt, regret, worries, jealousy, and many more. The prospect of achieving a peaceful death becomes remote unless we conquer these battles. As many of us understand, our minds significantly influence our physical well-being. Unless we declare our minds a no-war zone, we cannot live pe...

What is your Run rate?

  What is your Run rate? A good salesman begins the day by asking how many more sales he needs to achieve, like a batsman chasing runs in a cricket match. By asking this question, he can determine how quickly he needs to push his efforts and the target run rate. Similarly, a salesman should steer conversations toward sales opportunities when approaching the market. Just as a batsman looks for gaps in the field to score quick runs, a salesman should seek out potential customers who have not yet been reached to secure quick sales. Furthermore, just as a batsman aims to turn a single run into two, a good salesman should look for ways to increase the quantity of their sales. A batsman knows that as the overs decrease, they must ramp up their efforts to hit fours and sixes. In the same way, a salesperson realises that as the month comes to an end, they should focus on accounts where significant sales can be made. As we approach the end of the last quarter, let us draw inspiratio...

Natural Intelligence and AI

  Natural Intelligence and AI As the demand for AI increases, the demand for natural intelligence will also grow significantly. By the time AI becomes integrated into every aspect of life, natural intelligence will become a rarity, and those who possess it will be in higher demand. While people may initially admire AI-generated images, they still long for hand-drawn art. Similarly, AI can create tunes, but many will still prefer a solo violinist playing from the heart. AI may provide answers, but there will always be a preference for someone who can engage in genuine, unconditional conversation. AI will certainly permeate various industries and reduce the need for human intervention in unsafe or monotonous tasks. Given the rapid advancement of AI, it's crucial for us to proactively identify where AI can enhance our lives and where we can carve out a niche for our unique natural intelligence. Let us leverage our intelligence to understand AI so that we can use it to our advantag...

Deferred Knowledge Syndrome

  Deferred Knowledge Syndrome We often store many images, videos, and files to view them in the future. However, as time passes and we continue to download more content, we tend to forget about the items we already have. This phenomenon, which can be described as "deferred knowledge syndrome," occurs in the digital age; since the data is readily available, we think we can access it whenever we want. Unfortunately, this mindset often leads to procrastination and underutilisation of the information we possess. To overcome this issue, we should first ask ourselves whether it is necessary to download a video now for later viewing or if it's more important to watch it immediately. Instead of deferring our engagement with knowledge, we should prioritise and utilise it as needed. Take the time to go through your devices and check for unused files, images, and videos. Act on this now, or you may face a situation where your devices run low on memory and experience reduced sp...