Discover practical advice, inspiration, and insights to help you succeed in business and grow both personally and professionally.
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The concept of networking can make some people apprehensive, as many feel awkward or uncomfortable with getting to know others, and putting themselves and their businesses out there. Networking is certainly a skill that takes time to build and hone, and comes much easier to some than others. However, networking is a vital step towards taking you and your business to the next level.
A crucial first step is to clearly define what your goals are. Are you looking to find potential new clients? Or perhaps a mentor in a field related to yours? Or maybe you are looking for training and education opportunities? What is it you hope to gain out of such a relationship? Identifying exactly what your ideal networking outcome would be will help make the process feel more focused.
Some people find the occasions to speak about themselves and their business intimidating, while others revel in the chance to tell others what it is they do. Practice a short, 60-second presentation about yourself. This is commonly referred to as an “elevator speech,” which is a quick overview of what it is you are trying to sell—which in this case would be yourself. Identify what your best skills are, your knowledge, your unique experience, and what it is you offer. It’s important to be considerate of other people’s time, so be as concise with your speech as possible.
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Identifying your market is just as important as expressing what you do. When starting out in a new industry, some feel they don’t know anyone, and have a tough time defining their network. Start small, with friends and family and through social spheres of influence. Attend meetings of organizations in your field of interest or a hobby you hold, and get involved. A network should come from a place of sincerity. Don’t join a group or look to connect with a community where you don’t hold genuine interest.
Be proactive in your schedule and stay organized by tracking your networking. The business cards and contact information you acquire should go into a simple spreadsheet or online contact organizer. It’s always good to start this kind of tracking early, as you might begin to feel overwhelmed as you receive more and more cards and contact information.
Networking is an ongoing dedication. Even after you’ve exchanged contact information with a potential client it’s vital to conduct occasional check-ins to keep yourself on their radar. This will also show that you are willing to stay in touch over an extended period of time, not just when you need or want something from them.
One of the best pieces of advice about networking is that successfully creating lasting connections comes from being true to oneself. Many introverts feel they need to pretend to act like an extrovert in a networking situation. The same goes for extroverts who feel they need to be an enhanced version of themselves. While everyone needs to make an effort to be more outgoing than normal during professional networking opportunities, don’t be artificial. Be your authentic self, and the people you truly connect with will follow.
Pipeline management has become a major focus to organizations and salespeople throughout the years. This renewed focus has quickly highlighted problems that might have been hidden during ‘boom’ markets a few years ago, such as accuracy and a streamlined system. Cydcor is committed to examining these problems and finding solutions.
When polled, 44% of senior sales professionals found that a major cause of frustration at their workplace stemmed from stalled opportunities. So what part or parts of a sales pipeline can create a problem for you when trying to close a sale?
Some think of a pipeline as a bunch of steps put together in order to create a progress toward the end goal of achieving a sale. In fact, a truly efficient ‘pipeline’ should be more of a series of strategies that are redefined, modified and tailored to each individual client.
There are three critical factors when establishing your pipeline: Identifying an account’s budget, the length of the sales cycle, and who the key-decision makers are. If you or your team does not manage to establish these three pieces of information, you might find yourself writing proposals for leads that aren’t qualified, or being overtly optimistic about a closing date or budget available.
Coach yourself and your team on the language you use when speaking to clients. Collecting the information is key, however how you ask for it can sound professional or pushy, depending on your language.
Asking someone “Are you a decision maker?” can lead to an alienated customer. Instead, try a softer approach, such as “We understand that a purchase such as this can go through an executive team for a decision. The process will go smoother for everyone if we can gather some information.”
Additionally, prospective clients can often be reluctant on giving a firm number when asked for their budget. Offer a range of prices, such as, “Typically an account often falls between $X and $X amount. Where are you most comfortable?”
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A sales number metric that often gets over looked, is how often it takes you or your team to respond to a customer. Data indicates that leads receiving a call-back within two minutes or less were four times as likely to convert. Start measuring response times for your new leads, as sales representatives often prioritize follow-ups over any new leads.
If you can begin to combine all these factors then not only will have you have shown yourself or your team members the problems, you will be able to come up with solutions and give yourself the competitive advantage.
A quote by Carl Zuckmayer says, “One-half is luck; the other half is discipline—and that’s the most important half, for without discipline you wouldn’t know what to do with luck.”
Luck doesn’t just happen, and it’s Cydcor is a firm believer that it's entirely possible to create your own. There are many events that happen over the course of an individual’s life that they have nothing to do with—both negative and positive occurrences.
The concept of ‘luck’ is truly about being at the right time and the right place. But how can you be sure you are?
Those who are successful project an appearance of being positive. When someone is positive, others want to be around him or her. What does ‘be positive’ really mean? Radiate appreciativeness and share your knowledge and friendship with others. Everyone has insecurities, and spending time with those who are negative only exacerbates them.
The more effort you put into creating a positive, professional relationship, the more opportunities will be presented to you. Others will see you have a ‘can-do’ attitude and will turn to you for help. People want to work with those who provide solutions and aren’t bogged down by negative frustrations.
Things are also not as black and white as they appear. Try to keep an open mind and make sure your vision isn’t narrow when it comes to what you feel is possible or impossible. You can miss out on opportunities if you have tunnel vision.
Create your own luck by setting yourself up for opportunities!
Check our the Cydcor CareerBuilder page to learn about our current open positions.
Delegation: Learning to trust your colleagues in helping you complete work is an ability that some struggle with. However, everyone will need help every once in a while; be it covering for you while you are on vacation, handling an emergency situation, or taking on a task simply too large to handle alone.
Communication is important. Be sure to tell your team member or co-worker the key goals of your project or work being handled with a client. Also be sure to give them all the resources available, along with relevant contact information and documents.
Lists: Despite our best intentions, many to-do items can get lost in the fray of our everyday lives. Writing things down and creating lists is a great way to manage and check-off tasks that have been completed.
For larger tasks, break them down into multiple, smaller tasks. For example, writing a ten-page document can be pared down to creating two pages a day up to its deadline.
One of the most satisfying aspects of creating a to-do list is crossing off things when they are done. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and gives you a visualization of progress for tasks both large and small.
For our latest job openings, be sure to check out Cydcor on CareerBuilder.
Breaks: Studies have shown that spending more than eight hours a day at a desk without moving around much is detrimental to one’s energy level and focus. Productivity is not measured by the number of hours sitting at your desk, but by how much work you get done.
Many recommend getting up every hour for a ten-minute break to walk, stretch and drink some water and socialize with your co-workers.
Goals: Set ambitious, yet realistic goals. Create goals both in your professional and personal lives. One of biggest reasons why people don’t succeed with their goals is because they didn’t set a deadline. Goals should be specific, measurable, and they should be written down. It is also good to get feedback about the goals in order to refine them.
An important trait to instill in yourself is this:
Don’t think in terms of sales but rather in terms of building a business.
Great salespeople are building a business, not just trying to make a sale. When you think beyond a sale, you’re going to get other people’s attention much more easily. They’re going to be interested in what you have to say. You want something that’s going to live and go beyond a single sale.
Successful people are persistent. Cydcor knows that selling or running a business requires a tremendous amount of persistence. Obstacles loom on a regular basis, but it’s what you do when faced with these barriers that will determine your level of success. The most successful people in any industry have learned to face the obstacles that get in their way.
Don’t just make a sale. Build relationships. Build your business by building relationships one customer at a time. The last sale you make should always open the door to a new relationship and more customers..
Invest in networking, community and relationships. Invest in your community and you will see great returns emotionally and for your professional and personal lives. Be involved as much as you can.
Head over to Cydcor's YouTube Channel to catch a glimpse into what it's like to work for a reputable sales company.
Invest in yourself. Successful salespeople invest in their education and know which tools of the trade works best for them. Always continue to invest to help get you to the next level.
Thriving salespeople surround themselves with overachievers. These people are sometimes viewed as being uninterested in others, but the truth is that they’re just not interested in low production. Don’t waste your time with people who don’t get anything done, or aren’t striving towards success.
On Tuesday, June 2nd Cydcor held our first intern kick off party. Held at Triunfo Park, our six amazing interns got together for the summer of 2014 meet up to start the summer off right.
With fantastic food and company, we welcomed them with games such as football, Frisbee, corn-hole, and ladder ball. Camaraderie, teamwork, and building relationships towards success are a big part of our culture.
Team building and activities such as the ones we hold open communications and create leadership opportunities. Our interns and team members are able to express ideas and opinions, becoming more motivated to take on new challenges, all while having fun and developing friendships and productive work relationships.
Overall, our event was a success in those regards, enabling better communication, better relationships and encouragement to engage and express creativity. Take a look at some of the best photos of the 2014 meet up:
For more information about Cydcor, check out our CrunchBase profile.
Networking events can be a bit overwhelming, and if you don’t know what you're doing, they can feel like a waste of time. Follow these 5 tips in order to get the best return on investment at a networking event.
Be Prepared
Look over the list of attendees if possible. If a name strikes your eye, Cydcor recommends checking out their LinkedIn profile, or other social media or website and find out a little more about him or her. It’s easier to strike up a conversation with someone you’ve never met if you come prepared and can ask them specific questions about their time working at Apple or if they enjoy being a sales manager.
Make sure you have several business cards on you to hand out when you meet people that you’d like to chat with again. You can even go higher-tech and use apps like Bump to share contact information. Also remember to bring pens and a small notebook or tablet; they can be helpful if you need to take notes or jot down a piece of advice.
Come Prepared with Goals
What are you hoping to get out of the event and learn from the people you meet? Whatever it is, make sure you figure this out before you attend the event – that way you’ll know what to bring up and the type of people to talk to. Since some networking events cost money, only attend the ones that will help you reach your goal.
Show Up On Time
Unless the event is a “come as you please” event, don’t be the one that shows up late. Chances are that if you are going to an event at a place you have never been before, it is going to take longer than Google Maps estimates. Look at the route beforehand, and give yourself an extra 10-15 minutes to find the place—and parking.
Check out our job openings on Cydcor's LinkedIn for more information on joining our company.
Don’t Throw Yourself at Everyone
No one likes the person who talks with everyone in the room for two minutes, gives them their contact information, and heads to the next person. Networking is about making real connections; it’s not a contest to see who can pass out the most business cards. If you don’t think someone will be a good connection, you don’t have to give him or her your card. On the other hand, take your time talking and getting to know people that could become valuable connections. You don’t need to spend a half hour chatting with someone, but learn a little more about the people you talk to than just his or her job title.
Follow Up
This is by far the most important tip for networking. Who cares if you dressed well and came prepared – if you don’t follow up, that relationship means nothing. Connect on LinkedIn or send a quick coffee invite. Relationships take time to cultivate so make the most out of what you started.
Motivation, despite our best intentions, is never a constant state. Everyone wants to achieve something in their life, but sometimes one can struggle with the desire to stay committed or to make the changes they know they need. Cydcor is a firm believer that getting your motivation back is key to achieving any goal. Here are five tips to help you whenever you feel stuck:
Inspiration. Find the source of your drive. Figure out what gets you fired up and in tune with yourself. It can be family, friends, music, exercise or even inspiring stories of others who have achieved a similar goal. Once you identify your source of inspiration, you can be assured in times of doubt that you know what can get you going again.
Realistic goals. One of the biggest reasons people find themselves setting up goals and not achieving them is that they set the bar too high. Don’t sabotage yourself by not being realistic. Set your major objective and have smaller steps along the way that can help you get there. Breaking it down into smaller, more manageable goals will help motivate you. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being able check off a goal from your list and track the progress you’ve made.
Anticipate. When setting your objective, anticipate potential pitfalls that might occur and create solutions before the problem arises. A study done in 2009 regarding goals found that those who were taught to foresee obstacles were able to quickly find workarounds by having a back up plan already in place. By knowing in advance of potential hurdles, those who anticipated were then mentally committed to following their backup plan instead of becoming discouraged and giving up.
Step Back. While you move forward with your goal, sometimes stepping back can help you. You can gain clarity by stopping to re-evaluating your goals and remembering why you set them. This can help motivate you to move forward, and you’ll make better progress.
Find encouragement. Make a commitment to those around you by letting them in on what you’re trying to achieve. Telling others can get them excited for you and keep you accountable. Friends and family are excellent sources of motivation because they generate enthusiasm for your project. Most people are better at keeping promises and commitments to others than they are to themselves. Committing to others can make it more likely that you will reach your goals even when faced with challenges along the way.
Cydcor was started in 1994 in Canada and has since grown into a leading source for outsourced sales teams. For twenty years now, Cydcor has offered solutions to high level, Fortune 500 Companies looking for new ways to increase their revenue. Our friendly, driven and highly trained team deploys sales superstars into the regions our clients need Cydcor the most and produce results.
Here are some of the milestones we have accomplished in the last twenty years:
Here is what our core executive team had to say for all of Cydcor's accomplishments:
"We offer a unique expertise within our sales channels. Our clients know we deliver above and beyond our goals; the salespeople in the field are experts who understand the sales that the client needs. The offices band together as teams, working to help one another reach personal development goals that will catapult them to success." – President Jim Majeski
"We deliver proven results that make us the leaders in outsourced sales. This couldn't have happened without vision, tenacity, and commitment to achieving the best results for our clients possible." – CEO Gary Polson
"Our reputation as a leader in outsourced sales solutions stems from the fact that we are experts in our industry with the ability to be flexible for our clients. The ability we have to deliver outstanding results has catapulted us into a growing, successful company with an abundance of opportunity." – Chief Operating Officer Vera Quinn
Want to know more about what it's like to work for Cydcor? Check out our testimonial page!
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., May 16, 2014 -- Cydcor, the leading provider of professional in-person sales teams, announced the company will be moving to a new location to continue serving its thriving network of independently-owned sales offices and significant internal growth.
Cydcor's new 40,000 square foot headquarters will be located in Agoura Hills, California, and be double the size of their current location in Westlake Village. The new building will have a Silicon Valley look and many outdoor spaces exclusive to the company. It will host a collaborative and open landscape that accents Cydcor's corporate culture of collaboration, teamwork, and innovation.
"Cydcor was able to double the size of their footprint while maintaining the ability to remain on one floor," said Bryan Lewitt, Senior Vice President for brokerage firm CBRE. "Additionally, the new location's amenities include free covered parking, balconies, an atrium, and building top signage."
The new headquarters is also conveniently located near the U.S. 101 freeway, providing easy access to clients, sales office visits, and new hires from Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The new expansion and space will help support Cydcor's clients and tremendous network of independently-owned sales offices across the country.
"We have doubled in size since we moved to our current location five years ago – demonstrating how we consistently fulfill a unique niche for our clients and provide service to our field offices," said CEO Gary Polson. "Cydcor's growth is consistent, strategic and deliberate, and our business is resilient to the varying economic climates."
This is Cydcor's third move in just more than ten years. Cydcor started with about 2,900 square feet in 2001. In 2005, Cydcor started knocking down walls to gain and additional 6,800 square feet, and then again by adding a separate suite for another 2,000 square feet in 2007. In early 2009, they moved to the current location in Westlake Park Place, a 27-acre campus style office development, where they occupy the entire fourth floor with 19,000 square feet.
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About Cydcor
Cydcor is the leading provider of outsourced, face-to-face Cydcor sales teams to a diverse client base of companies in a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, office products, home entertainment, energy, and financial services. Serving Fortune 500 and emerging market clients in the business-to-business, residential, and retail channels through in-store marketing initiatives, Cydcor works with a network of over 300 independently-owned corporate licensee (ICL) Cydcor sales offices, providing clients access to more than 4,100 sales professionals. The privately-held company is based in Westlake Village, California. For more information about Cydcor, go to www.cydcor.com.
While Cydcor knows there isn’t one way to achieve goals and become successful, there are certain truths about a successful career that remain. Especial for those choosing a career in sales, these ten laws will guide you through to generating a good income for your clients, your company, and yourself. These laws are based on classic clichés you are tired of hearing, but there is still value behind them.
What are your laws of success? Let Cydcor know on Facebook or Twitter!