At Cydcor, we work hard. Sales is a difficult career that anyone can succeed at through determination and strong relationship building. That's why it's important as a team to have as much fun as we work! Check out the pictures from our Halloween party below:

Health and wellness are an important part of Cydcor company culture.  We value our team and want them to the be the best fleet of sales people in the business.  We also want Cydcor team members to feel like their best selves.

Confidence and good moods are key building successful sales relationships.  There are some good personal exercises to build confidence, but the best practice for mood boosting is to incorporate foods that will energize and provide balance.  We all know nutrition and exercise play a huge role in our overall health, but did you know that eating for good moods is possible as well?

Getting essential nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, antioxidants and omega fats are great for feeling good and getting out into the world.  While they may not provide super powers right away, some great foods to keep on hand might just give that competitive edge in the world of sales.

Avocados are high in fiber, vitamin K, and folic acid.  Fiber and the healthy fat in an avocado will make you feel invigorated and full.  Vitamin K keeps your skin fresh and bright, and folic acid is helpful for mood boosting.  These green fruits are ideal for bringing out your best self.

Hazelnuts are also rich in fiber and good fats, but their secret ingredient is their high magnesium level.  Magnesium helps to keep stress levels low by regulating blood pressure and helping with calcium absorption.  It can also help regulate heart beats.

Eggs are an excellent source of choline, protein and omega-3 fats.  Choline is a micronutrient that helps to regulate the brain.  They are also one of the few foods that contains vitamin D, which helps fight against depression and ward off disease.

What are your power up foods to get you ready for the sales floor?

At Cydcor, we believe strongly in personal and professional development.  We want our sales rock stars to move on to become management super stars.  Part of our effort to do that is to provide advice and resources for team members to build their communication and leadership skills. We like to collect our favorite books that have inspired us to be better leaders and share them with you on our Cydcor Reviews website.  Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite book reviews from Cydcor team members.

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg is a memoir by the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook.  Sandberg discusses the importance of women sticking up for themselves and advancing in the workplace.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne discusses the laws of attraction.  Many people believe that success lies in the realm of the mind, and that you can bring yourself to your goals through positive thinking.  The book has many stories and examples to help you get in the right mindset to achieve the things you want in life.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell is a deep look at that moment where a marketing campaign becomes a success. What does it take to make something viral on the web? According to Gladwell, it’s very much like how a disease becomes an epidemic. All it takes is one person, a small and targeted push, to make a campaign worthwhile.

Why We Buy by Paco Underhill is a variety of case studies that make up the mind and behavior of consumers.  Underhill tells us what customers really want and what you can do to get their attention.

What’s your favorite sales book? Who are the authors and business people that inspire you?

Want to join the team at Cydcor and be in a work environment that values your professional development?

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According to Oracle, sales people spent 78% of their time looking for leads.  That leaves very little time for actual selling, especially when relationship building is so crucial to making the sale. So how can one manage leads and spend more time selling? Here are some tips from Cydcor Sales Blog.

Start by organizing your leads into categories of likelihood. One for people who have bought from you before.  Two for people who have expressed interest.  Three for people you think would really benefit from your product or service. And four for completely cold leads.  Categories one and two should take up most of your time, building relationship.

Think of the 80/20, which says that eighty percent of sales come form twenty percent of our clients.  Many sales people and entrepreneurs alike are happier and more profitable when they make the most time for happy, enduring customers.  That is why it is crucial to structure and evolve your business in a way that will bring in streams of income from your best customers.  Whether that is a continued service, multiple services or new products, one must keep core clients happy and interested.

When generating new leads, stay within your network.  You may need to cold call sometimes, but be smarter about it. Instead of spending time making calls to a list of a thousand, do research on a hundred and know why they need your business before you call.  You will come off as more diligent, certain and provide your lead with information more relevant to them than a script.  It also gives you time to ask questions.

If you need new perspective on what your customers are looking for, take a few past customers or customers of your competition out to lunch. Ask them what they like about their experience as a customer.  Focus on the traits you hear in positive feedback and make them your main selling points.  Take the time to build strategy around who your customers are and what they really need.

Cydcor is the leading expert in outsourced sales. To learn more about Cydcor, click here.

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.

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.

And here's why: We have joined forces with 10n2 Technologies, the leading provider of software that prevents the use of mobile devices while driving. We're a provider of BizProtect™, a smartphone app that enables companies to enforce their mobile phone policies and protect their employees and businesses from the unnecessary costs and accident risk of distracted driving.

The App takes the temptation away to text, tweet, and surf the Internet while driving and is the proprietary technology that can stop businesses from losing millions of dollars per year on texting-related accidents. Cydcor is selling the service in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom and recently launched websites in the U.S. and U.K.