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I have been with Cydcor for seventeen years. In 2010, we launched our partnership with Operation Smile. The work we do to raise money for this cause has added an extra level of meaning to the work we do at Cydcor and our community. We were already giving employees volunteer hours and donated to charities, but we especially appreciate our special relationship with Operation Smile. I was able to participate in the mission last year, and I got to see first hand how we have the power to change lives for good.
Last year, we were able to raise enough money to fund a mission to provide cleft palate surgeries to children in need. Cleft palates often cause complications for feeding and breathing in infants, and many of them don’t survive. The surgeries we were able to fund have been able to change the lives of these children and their families. The trip was able to pay for nearly 620 surgeries for patients in Brazil.
The success of Cydcor is based on our distinctive culture, which is one that is passionate about giving back to communities around the world. We have already been able to fund one more medical mission this year, and our goal is fund another. That is why we decided to launch the Day of Smiles Campaign. This weekend will unite participating teams from our network of more than 200 independent sales companies to raise money and hit our total goal of $400,000 for the year.
Our office has been developing programs throughout the year to raise money for our cause. We believe this weekend alone will fund a $150,000 mission. We ask for your support in restoring smiles to children around the world. Please visit Cydcor’s Operation Smile Team page to donate now. If two dozen people donate just ten dollars, we can fund a surgery.
Also, please follow Cydcor on Twitter and our Cydcor Operation Smile Facebook page to keep up with all the activity. If you are participating in the fundraiser, be sure to tell your friends online about it with the hashtag #dayofsmiles.
Cydcor and its network of independently owned sales offices will be working together to raise funds for Operation Smile from October 4th - 6th . The goal is to fund another medical mission over the next week. Cydcor and its network have already funded one mission over the summer, and the new goal for the year is set at $400,000. Fundraisers will be independently organized by each sales company and everyone is encouraged to implement their own creative ideas to raise money for such a great cause.
Operation Smile is celebrating its thirtieth year running, and employees will wear commemorative t-shirts during the fundraiser to help raise awareness and drive donations. Here's a picture of Jennifer at Cydcor packing up the boxes of t-shirts to be shipped out to the independent sales offices.
In 2012, the Cydcor community raised enough money to fund a mission to Rio de Janiero, where a team of surgeons and medical professionals were able to provide 95 surgeries for children who were not able to live a full life due a cleft palate.
“We believe that our success is based on our distinctive culture; there is a passion we all have to give back to our communities,” said Vera Quinn, chief operating officer at Cydcor. “I personally have been on a medical mission and have seen the new smiles on the faces of these children. We have all been developing programs throughout the year to raise money. Our ‘Day of Smiles’ program will unite more than 200 independent sales companies on the same weekend to help hit our $400,000 goal.”
To help support this campaign, please visit Cydcor's Operation Smile Team Page. To follow our efforts this week, follow and use the hashtag #dayofsmiles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity, has announced that Cydcor, the global leader in outsourced sales, is launching the first-ever “Day of Smiles” beginning October 4th and running through October 6th to help children around the world who are born with facial deformities. All proceeds will benefit Operation Smile.
Cydcor and its network of independently-owned sales offices across North America will be working together on the same day to raise funds for Operation Smile. All participants will wear tee-shirts emblazoned with Operation Smile’s 30th anniversary campaign theme, change ™, designed to make a lasting impact for children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
Last year, Cydcor and its independent sales offices raised more than $150,000 to support a medical mission. This year, Cydcor and its network of independently-owned sales offices met another goal of $150,000, which will enable them to sponsor another medical mission.
Cydcor has set an overall goal of raising $400,000 to help Operation Smile provide free surgeries for children around the world born with cleft lips and cleft palates. Together, Cydcor and Operation Smile are giving smiles and transforming children’s lives worldwide.
Last year, during Cydcor’s medical mission to Rio De Janeiro, Operation Smile provided more than 95 free surgeries and more than 162 healthcare evaluations for children who were suffering from cleft lips and cleft palates.
Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft. One in 10 will die before their first birthday. For 30 years, Operation Smile and its network of more than 5,400 medical volunteers from around the world have provided more than 3.8 million healthcare evaluations and performed more than 200,000 free surgeries for children in need. However, many children are still waiting – children who often can’t eat or speak properly. Operation Smile can help give them a healthy, productive life filled with hope.
“It is such a pleasure to partner with Cydcor and its independent sales office teams, because they are incredibly motivated and dedicated to helping give smiles to these children around the world,” said Dr. Bill Magee, CEO and Co-Founder of Operation Smile. “Their teams truly understand how incredible it is to change the life of a child forever – a child who was been born into the world with no hope. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the support of companies like Cydcor.”
“We believe that our success is based on our distinctive culture; there is a passion we all have to give back to our communities,” said Vera Quinn, chief operating officer at Cydcor. “I personally have been on a medical mission and have seen the new smiles on the faces of these children. We have all been developing programs throughout the year to raise money. Our ‘Day of Smiles’ program will unite more than 200 offices on the same weekend to help hit our $400,000 goal.”
To help support Cydcor’s fundraising efforts, visit www.operationsmile.org/cydcor. For more information on Operation Smile’s global efforts, visit www.operationsmile.org, follow @operationsmile on Twitter, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/operationsmile.
About Operation Smile
Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is an international children’s medical charity with a presence in more than 60 countries, whose network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from over 80 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 3.5 million healthcare evaluations and conducted over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities, as well as patients suffering from burns. To build long-term self-sufficiency in developing countries, Operation Smile trains doctors and local medical professionals in its partner countries so they are empowered to treat their own local communities, donates medical equipment and supplies, provides year-round medical treatment through Comprehensive Care Centers.
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, retail, 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 more than 300 independently-owned corporate licensee (ICL) Cydcor sales offices, providing clients access to more than 3,300 sales professionals. The privately-held company is based in Westlake Village, California. For more information about Cydcor, log on to www.cydcor.com.
Operation Smile
Sabrina Zimring, 757-321-3207
Director of Public Relations
sabrina.zimring@operationsmile.org
The Heavy Hitter Sales Blog recently reported on the seven types of sales managers. We wanted to review the types and then ask you what type you may fall under and which manager you prefer to have. So here they are!
For more detail, read Steve W. Martin's post on the seven types of sales managers over at the Heavy Hitters blog.
Cydcor worked together with the network of independent sales companies to create fundraising events to raise enough money to fund a medical mission for Operation Smile. The trip, at a total of $150,000, will fund a team of surgeons to help correct cleft palates in poor countries.
Independent sales companies sold brown bag lunches, threw parties, held events and sales, and many more creative ideas from coast to coast. Check out our video of all of our fantastic, engaged team members.
Operation Smile has been a big part of Cydcor for the last few years, and we are working on raising even more money to help restore smiles all over the world. Cydcor wants to say THANK YOU to volunteers and donors for their support of this great cause.
We appreciate all the hard work and dedication. We are continuing to partner with this organization and have some very fun events coming up in the near future! Stay tuned for more news and events. You can also donate to our team page at Adopt-a-smile right now.
Garage Sale Funds Two More Surgeries!
A big thank-you to our team members who volunteered to come out last Saturday for our MEGA Garage sale to raise money for Operation Smile. We raised over $600, which is enough to help two children have a better life by restoring their smile.
The sale took place on Saturday, September 7th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Earth Elementary School’s basketball courts. Gently used items were donated by Cydcor team members just days before the sale.
Team members that donated items were also eligible for raffle tickets to win a lunch with our CEO, Gary Polson. Volunteers who helped us set up and take down the sale got five tickets! Congratulations to our winner, Miriam Caballero, who also received recognition this week from our Joy Germ Club for spreading the most smiles around the office.
The Cydcor home office has now reached our overall goal of raising $30,000 for Operation Smile. In addition to the sale, we organized a snack bar, wine tasting, movie nights, a karaoke event and more. The $30,000 is part of an overall company goal to fund a $150,000 medical trip overseas. This is the second year in a row that Cydcor has been able to raise over $150,000 for Operation Smile.
Why Cydcor is A Best Place to Work
By Vera Quinn, Chief Operating Officer
What makes a great company? We can answer that - according to the recent Best Places to Work assessment sponsored by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Cydcor ranked in the top 100 companies to work for in Los Angeles County – coming in 38th best of mid-sized companies. There are thousands of companies of our size in Los Angeles County and many of them participated in this year’s competition. As you can imagine, the LA list is quite popular. The list is in its seventh year and has grown significantly, attracting employers from all over Los Angeles County. We are proud to have been named once again!
We are doing even more with the following in the works:
· Resource staffing plans – working with departments to properly resource for success
· Performance management – a new performance appraisal process
· Compensation study – researching pay by position and responsibilities to ensure we align with the market
· Program for our people – including development of consistent onboarding, training and development programs
So, while we never rest on our accomplishments – there is a lot to make our families proud, our friends jealous, and us feel great!
Everyone can do his or her part on how to make the office a great place. Keeping a positive attitude, creating professional development goals and keeping communication lines open.
As the dominant market leader in outsourced face-to-face sales, Cydcor’s capabilities and approach to doing business are like our team members: truly unique! As someone who started with Cydcor over 17 years ago, I am honored to be part of a company that is getting recognition to be a great place to work. We are proud of our team members, and I know that we will only continue to grow stronger with all the great people we have here.
To learn more about Vera Quinn, take a look at our executive team biographies.
In this edition of Cydcor Reviews, our VP of Marketing endorses a key guide to sales. Anyone interested in direct sales can benefit from studying the habits of shoppers. Enjoy!
Title: Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping
Author: Paco Underhill
Review by: Gail Michalak, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Cydcor
Description of this book: Paco Underhill is a market researcher who has spent his life collecting comprehensive data on our shopping habits. He is the founder and CEO of Envirosell, INC and has done consumer research for Microsoft, McDonald’s and Estee Lauder. Along with his team of trackers, Underhill records everything from how many times products are touched and for how long to how many signs are read. He divides the book by sales techniques and demographics, discussing simple ideas that are often taken for granted (ie: you only have two hands to carry merchandise with). If you think you know your shopping habits, this book will blow your mind!
Why read this?: This book is an essential for anyone in business, especially anyone selling directly to consumers. While most helpful to retailers, Paco can also offer insights on the changing demographic: how busy women are creating a growing market for male consumers, how the aging population should shape marketing and merchandising, and how positioning of your message affects shoppers. As a salesperson, this book will help you think about what customers are looking for (men, women and seniors respectively) and how to build comfortable relationships with your demographic.
My favorite part: My favorite part about this book was all the stories about overheard conversations or observations during Underhill’s work. The first chapter talks about watching an old couple shopping for underwear. The wife mentions wearing her husband’s boxers at one point, providing insight that it is difficult to find comfortable underwear for older women. It is amusing and insightful at the same time!
About the reviewer:
Gail Michalak is the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Cydcor. She is the leading officer for marketing, corporate communications, public relations, and events for Cydcor and its network of nearly 300 independent sales companies. To learn more about Gail and her team, head over to Cydcor's corporate website.
Title: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Author: Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler
Review by: Gary Polson, CEO
Description of the book: How do you approach a touchy, but important, subject with someone at home or at work without damaging the relationship?
This has always been a challenge for me, and for most people I know. Because we are afraid the conversation will damage the relationship we tend to avoid it or dance around the issue, which in the long-term is more damaging.
Why should you read this? People need to learn how to communicate efficiently and productively. An effective conversation starts with first understanding what you are trying to accomplish with the conversation. Do you want to show who is boss? Win an argument? Shame them? Defend yourself? Dump your uncertainty, anxiety on them?
My favorite part: The objectives of crucial conversations are to:
(1) Get facts
(2) Learn
(3) Build the relationship
(4) Get a productive result
If I focus on this and not on any emotions, anxieties, etc., it will go well. I try to avoid these conversations when I am upset or have strong emotions. It makes it about me rather than the four objectives. Is it a good time for them? I try not to be the coach to yell at the kids in the outfield to “keep your eye on the ball” right after they drop it. They are too embarrassed and self-shaming to listen to coaching at that time.
Timing is important.
The basic outline that often works is a 3-step approach.
1.Give the facts (no one can dispute real facts)
2.I wonder… (express your concern)
3.“How do you see it” (get their perspective)
I start with the belief that I do not know. I just have a hunch. Also, I try not to be accusatory and have a calm tone. “Why would an intelligent, reasonable person do this” is a good mindset.
“Joe, I observed when you were talking to Cindy that you interrupted her three times in the conversation; I noticed you interrupted Juan twice when he gave his side of the story. I am wondering if interrupting people is a reason you are struggling building your team. What is your perspective?”
Then LISTEN.
Categor(y)(ies): Development, Corporate Culture
Title: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Author: Stephen R. Covey
Review by: Vera Quinn, COO
Description of the book: These “Seven Habits” express a simple yet compelling idea: To be effective, we must adopt a principle-centered, character-based approach. We must work from the “inside-out,” guided by the habits that correspond with each stage along the “Maturity Continuum.”
Why should you read this? My copy of Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is signed by the author and constantly referenced. Most noticeable is that it is dog-eared, and well worn,—a sign not of neglect, but rather of its indispensability and enduring appeal over the years. I find its ideas as relevant and meaningful today, as when they were first introduced over 20 years ago.
At whatever stage along the path to maturity we may be, the “Seven Habits” offer us a powerful framework to solve problems, maximize opportunities, enrich relationships and continually learn and grow. For over two decades, the “Seven Habits” have given us the tools to create the lives, livelihoods and relationships we most desire—effective, productive and purposeful.
My favorite part: One passage in particular always strikes a chord:
“…[I]f you want to have a happy marriage, be the kind of person who generates positive energy and sidesteps negative energy rather than empowering it. If you want to have a more pleasant, cooperative teenager, be a more understanding, empathic, consistent, loving parent. If you want to have more freedom, more latitude in your job, be a more responsible, a more helpful, a more contributing employee. If you want to be trusted, be trustworthy. If you want the secondary greatness of recognized talent, focus first on primary greatness of character.”
What resonates is the premise that we must look within to find the change we seek and to become our best selves. We must first earn self-mastery and develop great character—what Covey calls achieving the “private victories.” Only then, can we achieve the “public victories” of teamwork, cooperation, communication, social recognition and influence. And to sustain this success, we must internalize “Seven Habits” that embody fundamental principles at the foundation of true effectiveness, such as fairness, integrity, honesty, dignity, service, quality, potential and growth.
Categor(y)(ies): Development, Entrepreneurship, Business Management