Life can be a real kick in the pants. In her 1983 commencement speech at Vassar College, Meryl Streep expressed her genuine surprise when she figured out “Real life is just like high school. She very specifically explained, “In high school there’s generally one acceptable way to be, and it’s dictated by the exigencies of dating.” Andy Masters found these ideas to be so true and on point that he wrote a book about it. Women in business and women business owners can glean some great sales and service advice from his new release.
His new book, Kiss Your Customer: 77 Reasons Why Sales & Service Are Just Like Dating & Relationships, takes a fresh and creative look at the eerie similarities between business success and relationship success. Andy explores not just the irony–but what we can learn from relationships to apply to business, and what we can learn from business to apply to relationships. He uses fun and entertaining examples from each along the way. So, how are business and romance similar?
“It’s about the process: Find ‘em, and then keep ‘em happy!” masters says. “There is a great irony between the sales process and romantic courtship. There is also a great irony between keeping your customer happy, and keeping your significant other happy.”
He explains that the keys to success include being creative, recognizing that failing to risk is risking to fail, and most important, learning to face rejection. “What’s amazing is, we really can learn things from relationships which we can apply to business, and things from business which we can apply to relationships.” “Success in business and in life is about building relationships. And the keys to building those relationships really are the same. People can be successful if they relax, think a little and take the time to laugh along the way!”
Here’s just a sampling of his illustrations and advice:
USING HUMOR IN BUSINESS:
Southwest Airlines has long made a name for itself not only with low fares, but also with funny commercials and colorful flight attendants. I recall one flight attendant who described the restrooms as their “spacious and luxurious powder rooms,” and final instructions included the comment “this is a long flight, so if you’re travelling with children this evening..…we’re sorry.”
An Australian beauty salon came up with a clever company name to entice potential customers wanting to boost their appearance. It’s called: “Yesterday I Was Ugly!”
THE POWER OF NETWORKING
Networking isn’t about collecting business cards and asking for unearned referrals. The true benefits of networking come from spending time truly helping clients, friends, and colleagues in business and in life.
Open up your contact database and brainstorm how you could help just ONE contact per day for ten minutes. That’s an honest, focused, and creative ten minutes where you stared at the screen and truly asked yourself: “What could I possibly do within my power and imagination to help this person or their business?” Do this every day for sixty straight days, think you will see a return on your (cost-free) time investment? Absolutely.
TRUSTING FATE IN BUSINESS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Fate can be a wonderful thing in business and in life. However, we can’t fall into a trap of simply trusting fate in our lives. Sometimes fate needs a good kick in the butt. So, what can we learn about both business and relationships…..from turtles? No, not to take things slowly. A turtle is the only species that doesn’t get anywhere in life without sticking its neck out.
Monyka Berrocosa – our CCO/Founder reviewed the book, and this were her impressions.
This is a cute book, it just is – that doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable. Sometimes women business owners are daunted by the sales and service process. After all – we are all good at what we know. That’s why it is important to get different perspectives on common problems and concerns that plague all of women in business. I like Andy’s book – As someone who speaks and presents on sales, marketing and the like – I felt it contained a lot of often overlooked best practices and tips. There’s really good advice here – particularly because the reality about Sales and Service is – at the end of the day WE ARE ALL HUMAN. It is refreshingly presented and fun to read. As I see it – if you’re going to have to read for work, shouldn’t it make you chuckle and smile in the process because it’s pleasant to read? That’s a bonus. Business is essentially based on relationships, and successful ones. Not that remote from what happens when interact positively with people personally in your “off the clock” endeavors, including dating all the more reason why this book is a good one to take time to get to know.
I particularly enjoyed the sections that spoke to “Timing is Everything” (because in this day and age – it really is) as well as “Identify those Red Flags early”. I equate BAD business ventures and partnerships and toxic clients to dysfunctional marriages – so I felt Andy’s touching on the need to properly filter customers and sales leads effectively was invaluable advice.
Over all the book’s short and sweet format make it palatable and fun ‘grab quick” and read when you have time – without worrying that the concepts will be disjointed in doing so. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to get better at sales and dealing with people – from a practical and easily accessible point of view. We have an extra copy we’ll be raffling on our Facebook page. If you do not “like” us on Facebook – please take a moment to do so by clicking here.
If you would like to purchase the book – you can do so by clicking here.