Author Archives: Melissa D. Whitaker

Fear of Failure

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Do you ever feel like you are held back from the success you want in life due to the “Fear of Failure?”

You are not alone.  Most people in life experience the “Fear of Failure” at some point throughout their life and their career.  In fact, if you don’t experience this, you may NOT be Dreaming BIG enough!

Check out my quick video on how to push past the Fear, and go after your goals and dreams with gusto!

You deserve to have a life that you are passionate about and live life to the fullest!

Yours Truly,

Melissa D. Whitaker

Melissa Whitaker International (MWI) 2017 Training & Events Schedule

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February 6th – 7th                MWI Management & Leadership Academy (In Person-Chicago)

February 13th – 17th            MWI Elite Sales Academy Live Web Based Class

March 13th – 17th                 MWI Elite Sales Academy Live Web Based Class

April 18th                              Pipeliner CRM Power Breakfast – Melissa’s Speaking

                                              about “Successful Selling in Today’s Landscape”  

May 15th – 19th                    MWI Elite Sales Academy Live Web Based Class

May 25th                              BTA Building my Business webinar – Melissa’s Speaking

                                              about “Successful Selling in Today’s Landscape”  

May 31st                               Melissa’s Interview on Faith Marketplace Radio Program

June 8th                               BTA Mid-America Gateway to Success – Melissa’s

                                              Speaking about “8 Hacks of Sales Masters”

June 12th – 13th                   MWI Management & Leadership Academy (In Person-Chicago)

July 17th – 21st                    MWI Elite Sales Academy Live Web Based Class

August 24th                         SBA Coffee, Contacts & Content – Melissa’s the Speaker

September 18th – 22nd       MWI Elite Sales Academy Live Web Based Class

October 16th – 18th             MWI Management & Leadership Academy (In Person-Chicago 2 1/2 days)

November 13th – 17th         MWI Elite Sales Academy Live Web Based Class

December 11th – 15th         MWI Elite Sales Academy Live Web Based Class

To Register for a class either call Melissa Whitaker at 847.845.4922.

MWI Management & Leadership Training Class: call us for  NEW PRICING! 

*Also, if you have 6 or more sales people, you qualify for and can schedule, Melissa to come to your facility to do “on-site” training for your team.  90 day, 6 month and 9 month programs are also available.

** Call about our NEW Customer Service class and workshops as well.

***If you are interested in attending one of Melissa’s Speaking Engagements, please email us at info@melissawhitakerintl.com.

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What is Your Legacy as a Sales Manager and or Leader?

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“Leadership flows out of what we do and who we are.”  – Dan Flow, CEO & Chairman (Flow Companies, Inc.)

My question to you today is “Do you care?”  Do you truly care about:

  • Your People?
  • Your Customers?
  • Your Community?

As a Sales Manager and or Leader of your company, I want you to take a moment to ask yourself what kind of legacy are you leaving?  Are you showing up each and every day to just get by?  To just do a job?  I hope not.  As leaders, we impact every person we engage with (good or bad).

Do you want to be known as a person who truly cares about your people, your customers, and your community?  What are you intentionally doing to build up others and keep your promises.  One thing we have in life is OUR WORD.  Are you keeping your word?  Are you pulling the greatness out of your people?  Are you asking what you can do to help customers daily in the field?  Are you willing to give back?

Your People

Let’s start with discussing your people.  You have been put in your position to help your people create results.  This starts at the human element.  Your people are just that – PEOPLE.  They are not a number, they are human beings with all the complexities life brings at us.  Have you taken the time to notice what your people are doing right?  Have you given an ata boy or ata girl about that?  We are constantly told to point out what people AREN’T doing, however we are not reminded to look for and reinforce what people ARE doing well.  So take a moment today to intentionally look for what your people are doing RIGHT and thank them for doing a great job!  Ultimately your people want to know if you care about them and their lives.  When you show that you care, your people will care more about creating results for you!  “The essence of effective coaching is treating people the way they can be, not the way they are.”

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Do You Have G.R.I.T. in Sales?

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GRIT

As a sales professional do you have what it takes?  Do you have G.R.I.T.?  As I continue to travel the Globe, I realize we should be asking this question more often.

GUTS:  This means – personal courage and determination; toughness of character.  We have to be brave and courageous to attack each day with the right mindset and ability to be BOLD.  As I worked with another sales team last week filled with Major Account and Named Account reps, I am reminded once again that no matter what level we are at (new or tenured), we have to make this conscious choice every day.  We will continue to battle frustrations from within our own organization and frustrations with reaching the right decision makers and influencers.  We have to be creative and constantly evolve in changing times.  Just because it is uncomfortable, or “you have always done it another way,” doesn’t mean you don’t have it in you to stretch and see the magic outside of your comfort zone.  We ask our prospects and clients to make a change with us every day.  So why are we so unwilling to change and evolve ourselves?  So we have to ask, do we have the GUTS to strive on?  Do we have the determination to Be Bold in our approach?

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Illinois Excellence Award 2016

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MWI Illinois Excellence_Client Services_2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Melissa Whitaker receives 2016 Illinois Excellence Award 

September 4th 2016 –  Melissa Whitaker has been selected for the 2016 Illinois Excellence Award amongst all its peers and competitors by the American Economic Institute (AEI).

Each year the AEI conducts business surveys and industry research to identify companies that have achieved demonstrable success in their local business environment and industry category. They are recognized as having enhanced the commitment and contribution of small businesses through service to their customers and community. Companies of this caliber enhance the consumer driven stature that Illinois is renowned for.

Melissa Whitaker has consistently demonstrated a high regard for upholding business ethics and company values. This recognition by AEI marks a significant achievement as an emerging leader within various competitors and is setting benchmarks that the industry should follow.

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Gold Metal or Bust

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“With the Olympics underway, athletes should have their mind on gold–and only gold.

Although the concept of first or last may sound unfair and difficult to accept for some, in the real world, regardless of your business or career, first place is the only place that matters.

As the world watches the Olympics this week, remember that if you’re not first, you’re last. ” – Grant Cardone

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There is always the battle today between being Competitive and Collaborative in the business world.  I hear these terms being thrown around all the time.  The reality is, there is a time for “healthy competition” between sales people and sales teams etc., and there are times to encourage “collaboration” between companies, colleagues and strategic alliances.

When it comes to Sales Management and Management / Leadership overall, what are you doing to prepare your team for the Gold?

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Grand Slam BTA – Boston – September 15-16, 2016 – SPEAKING

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BTA Grand Slam Info

I am honored to be speaking at this event:

The Cultural Shift in Sales & Management

Melissa D. Whitaker, CEO & Founder, Melissa Whitaker International, LLC

(www.melissawhitakerintl.com )

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The Proven Social Selling Routine Used by 65,000+ Sales People

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As we all have seen, there is a BUZZ around Social Selling today.  It isn’t new, it’s just the focus in a heavy way today because just implementing traditional ways of prospecting is NOT working anymore.  One of the BIG things we talk about here at MWI is the importance of using a “Combination Approach.”

This is where we believe using this proven formula of Social Selling + Phone Prospecting (with a strategy) + In the field Prospecting (when applicable by industry) + Email Strategies + Voicemail Techniques = SUCCESS!!!

All of us who have been selling for a lifetime (it seems) and those that are just entering into this exciting career of consulting, know (or soon will) that Sales is not easy.  A career in Sales and to MASTER the Art, takes time, dedication, persistence and CONSTANT learning.  You see “Change” is inevitable.  It is the constant you can count on.  So as Consultants, we have to watch, listen and learn what is working today and what is not working today.  This ebbs and flows.

What that means is what worked for us even 6 months ago, may not work for us today.  What stopped working today may work again in 1 year.  You see, processes that become saturated usually become less effective (example phone calling).  However, as our profession starts to shift heavily into Social Selling since our phones are being screened at a much higher rate today . . .

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NEW MWI Customer Service Academy

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What are people saying about your company and products and/or services?

How is your customer service?

Is it gaining and retaining more business, or losing you business?

Happy Customers = SALES = Company Growth!

We can help!

 Did you know?

  • “Customer service is the act of taking care of the customer’s needs by providing and delivering professional, helpful, high quality service and assistance before, during, and after the customer’s requirements are met. Customer service is meeting the needs and desires of any customer. “- Paul Mckinney

 

  • “According to Performance Research Associates, 56% of all managers and 48% of front-line leaders believe that poor communication is the #1 customer service problem.“

 

  • “Customers referred by other customers have a 37% higher retention rate.” – Deloitte

Bring us to YOUR location for our BRAND NEW MWI CUSTOMER SERVICE ACADEMY!

MWI Customer Service Academy (2 Day Class)

We cover the following topics:

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Register Now – Management & Leadership Academy

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Do you have a proven Management & Leadership process in place?

Do your Managers effectively coach your people to greatness?

If not, then this is your answer:

Join us for the next (NEW) Management & Leadership Academy:

October 11th – 12th in the Chicago area (Schaumburg, IL):

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