Investing In Chamber Membership
A Wise Decision
“The Paramount Chamber of Commerce is here to serve,” according to Chamber President Kevin Lindsay. “The main goal of the chamber is to promote economic stability in the community. The best way to achieve that is to help businesses grow,” said Lindsay.
Executive Director for the Paramount Chamber, Peggy Lemons says, “Every business can benefit from belonging to the Paramount Chamber. Whether they take advantage of the wide variety of products and services we offer to promote their business, or they want to be part of the most ef-
fective networking and informational organization in town.”
Bill Winters Vice President of Human Resources for Paramount Petroleum had this to say, “Joining the Chamber of Commerce is a small investment with a big return. Chamber membership is a good way to promote your business, your products and to establish your business as a lasting part of the greater community. Attending Chamber events allows business owners the opportunity to network with others and to meet potential consumers for their products. Newly established businesses can take advantage of the Chamber’s counseling and advisory services or seek advice from other members.
Today’s business owner faces numerous challenges to growing their business. The Chamber works as a voice for business and its members and affords important access to community leaders and government officials. I highly recommend you join the hundreds of other local businesses who have discovered the “good value” of becoming a Chamber Member.”
In strong agreement with Winters is Café Corleone owner Alicia Costa, “I believe joining the Chamber is a necessity not a choice. Even though we are experiencing some tough economic times the Paramount Chamber has been there for us. If you’re serious and want your business to succeed
then you should join the Paramount Chamber, no ifs, ands or buts about it!
“It never ceases to amaze me when a business doesn’t want to join the Chamber, or when they cancel because they’re cutting back. I can’t imagine that any business could hire a full-time public relations firm for the cost of membership. That is essentially what we do. Our job is to help businesses grow, find answers for them, keep them informed, promote them, this is what we do, all day, everyday” said Lemons.
Not everyone who belongs to the Paramount Chamber of Commerce has a business in Paramount. One example is Arcadia AFLAC agent, Antawong Thompson, “Being part of the Paramount Chamber has given me the opportunity to meet and network with individuals that I would never have had the opportunity to work with. My experience with the Paramount Chamber has been a great one. From the individual members to those who work at the chamber office, they have been there to support my business and to put AFLAC on the map for the city of Paramount. I would say to all those who are contemplating whether or not they should join the Paramount Chamber of Commerce to do so and to see how it will expand their business and open doors that may have otherwise been closed,” said Thompson.
Bill Kalpakoff of Cal-Met Services, a member for more than 40 years had this to say “In our business, by networking and attending Chamber functions, I am able to establish a personal relationship with business owners/managers operating in the city. This enables me to better understand their needs in waste and recycling which in turn improves our services and company.
In the city of Paramount, the cohesive and productive relationship between the city and the chamber continually promotes positive growth for all factions. Lasting friendships with and strong respect for all members involved is a particularly wonderful byline!
And lastly, if I were not a member of this prestigious Chamber, I would never have been honored with the “Award of Excellence”. Give me more awards!
Businesses that join the Chamber have nothing to loose and everything to gain. The Paramount Chamber is so confident that you will agree they guarantee your satisfaction. That’s right; if you’re not happy they will refund your money. Details for membership can be found on the Paramount Chamber website at paramountchamber.com or by visiting the Chamber office, 15357 Paramount Blvd. or call 562.64.3980 for more information.
Kevin Lindsay Chamber President
Bill Winters Paramount Petroleum
Alicia Costa Cafe Corleone
Antawong Thompson AFLAC Agent
Bill Kalpakoff Cal-Met Services
Mayor, Gene Daniels
Paramount Cited For Excellent Risk Management
The City has again won an impressive award from the California Joint Powers Insurance Agency, which is the entity that provides insurance coverage for municipalities.
Paramount received the 2008 Risk Management Award for Best Overall Performance, General Liability Program.
Recycling Figures Continue to Explode
Since we began our residential curbside automated trash/recycling program last November, the amount of refuse that has been diverted from local landfills continues to be dramatic. Over these last nine months, 1,185 tons of recyclables have been taken out of the waste stream and a mighty 1,787 tons of green waste have been culled for re-use as mulch and other environmentally correct things.
This tremendous success is due, of course, to the great efforts of our residents who have been taking the time to separate what they throw out into the proper receptacles. A big thank you is due for your help.
Just as a reminder, here’s a breakdown on what stuff goes in which barrel. In the black container, put
What that means is we have a very low average cost of claims for general liability; in other words, there are very few injuries that occur in our public spaces such as streets, sidewalks and facilities that might end up as claims or lawsuits against the City. Safety, after all, is Paramount here in town.
trash items such as food waste, soiled toiletry/food containers, cigarette butts, diapers, sponges, Styrofoam, waxed paper, palm fronds, cactus, ice plant and yucca.
In your blue recycling barrel, place plastic milk jugs, soda/juice/ water bottles, soap/toiletry bottles, clear/brown/green glass, phonebooks, food jars, aluminum cans, metal cans, coat hangers, foil, empty aerosol containers, newspapers, junk mail, tissue boxes, cardboard egg cartons, paper shopping bags and nonmetallic wrapping paper. (If you would like to receive an additional blue barrel for your recycling needs, please call CalMet at 562/6345420.)
In your green waste barrel, put grass clippings, weeds, leaves, branches under four feet long and four inches in diameter, and brush/ hedge trimmings. Please no bags, rocks, palm fronds, cactus, ice plant or yucca.
Thanks again for all your efforts in helping the City getting closer to its trash diversion goals.
City to Take Part in “National Night Out”
The 25th Annual National Night Out, a crime and drug prevention event begun by the National As -
sociation of Town Watch, will be observed in Paramount on Monday, August 4.
National Night Out helps to heighten crime and drug awareness. It generates support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs. It strengthens neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. And it sends a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
In Paramount, the Public Safety Department celebrates National Night Out by hosting a dinner for Neighborhood Watch captains and their families along with residents who volunteer at the Paramount Sheriff’s Station. This serves as a thank you for taking time to work with the City on improving neighborhood quality of life.
The participants, as well as everyone else in town, are then encouraged to continue the event on the following night, Tuesday, Aug. 5. Residents can take part that evening by leaving outdoor and front porch lights on all night. They can also meet with their neighbors to discuss issues that affect their neighborhoods.
National Night Out has proven to be an effective, inexpensive program with benefits that most certainly extend well beyond the one night.
Truancy and Curfew –Rules And Consequences
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department periodically conducts both daytime truancy and nighttime curfew enforcement in Paramount. It is very important for parents and guardians to know about the potential legal consequences for any minor who is found to be truant from school or out past curfew.
Daytime enforcement focuses on curtailing the activities of minors who are not in school during regular school hours. According to Paramount’s Municipal Code, regular school hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Nighttime curfew enforcement deals with those minors who are out without adult supervision from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Minors who are cited for truancy or curfew violation may face the following consequences:
* A fine of up to $495.
* Community service hours.
* Suspension from school.
In addition to the these penalties, the parents/guardians of the cited minor may be required to accompany the minor to court and may be required to successfully complete parenting classes.
For more information, please call (562) 220-2002.
Paramount Sheriff’s Station Offers Variety of Services
The Paramount Public Safety Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have a strong partnership that brings the finest law enforcement services to the residents of Paramount. The Paramount Sheriff’s Station, located at 15001 Paramount Blvd., is a prime example of the relationship.
The facility offers a number of services for the public. Among those are: filing crime reports; reporting suspicious activities and talking to deputies; paying parking violations and vehicle impound release fees; and responding to or making code enforcement complaints. Deputies are also available at the Station to interview victims and criminal suspects.
Individuals who need to be fingerprinted (perhaps for a new job or any other reason) can have it done at the Station. Costs are $5 for Paramount residents, $10 for non-residents.
The Paramount Sheriff’s Station houses 70 employees – 42 sworn (Sheriff personnel) and 28 non-sworn (City Public Safety Dept.) Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 7 days a week; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on holidays.
The phone number for the Station is (562) 220-2002.
Back to School Preparation for All Ages
BY LAURIE HURLEY
If you have children, August and early September represents more than summer ending. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. Here are some tips to make the transition easier.
Kindergarten – 5th Grade
1. About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It’s difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late.
2. If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website), buy the supplies early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school.
3. If you have a kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new classroom for five or ten minutes the day before school starts. Many principals will let the kindergarteners come to the campus prior to school starting.
Middle School
1. Just as in elementary school, it is important, if not more so in middle school, to have all the school supplies ready, especially an organizer. Get in the habit from day one of checking it and being sure homework assignments are recorded. Visit the school website and see if homework and grades will be posted on the site. This is an excellent way to stay involved
with your child’s progress throughout the year.
2. If your student struggles with the basics like math or language arts, consider using a tutor for review before and during the first semester. Also, it is common in middle school for students who are excelling to be moved to honors classes during the year. Being in an accelerated class is a good way to prepare a student for Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school, which count as college credit.
High School
1. Find out when the PSAT and SAT exams will take place. As colleges become more and more competitive, test scores make a difference. One can take the exam more than once if they are not happy with the score, so plan ahead and register early.
2. Stay tuned in to your student’s school and social schedule. Even the most academically gifted students can be distracted by all of the things that are associated with the teenage years. Establish a curfew for school nights and limit the amount of time that is spent at a part-time job or involved in sports.
3. If your son or daughter is college-bound, start doing your research and be sure to attend the college nights that many high schools sponsor. Know what is expected on college applications. Test scores, a formal essay, volunteer hours, and class selection in high school are all important factors in getting into college.
Regardless of the age and grade of your children, stay involved. Volunteering on any level is important to know what is happening at school. With so many parents working, Parent/Teacher Associations often have their meetings in the evening so more parents can attend.
These tips can help your children get back to school the right way and prepare them for a year of learning and fun.
(Laurie Hurley is an educational consultant.)
Success Requires You to Take Your Weaknesses Seriously
BY ROSALIND HENDERSON LIFE KEYS, INC
Do you get depressed when you meet an obstacle, and toss in the towel? Are your goals unrealistic, making them impossible to reach? Or do you start projects, but don’t finish them? These weaknesses oftentimes derail your goals.
Dr. Cloud, a noted Christian psychologist, explains on his CD, “Quarantine Your Weaknesses”: He states, “We are meant to be successful in life. In order to do that, our personal weaknesses need to be isolated from our strengths as we head towards our goals.”
However, the most common reaction to our shortcomings is to try harder. Let’s say, for instance, it’s difficult for you to finish what you start. Oftentimes, we delude ourselves by saying, “I know the boss complains about my late reports, but if I try harder this time, I know I can finish, and turn it in on time.” But patterns always rear their ugly head, and block our most sincere desires. Once more our report is late, and we suffer the consequences.
Willpower alone will not solve shortcomings.
How many goals have been aborted because we failed to address the gravity of our weaknesses? How many dreams have been postponed due to our patterns of failure?
In Dr. Cloud’s “Quarantine Your Weakness”, he suggests something quite contrary to most success programs out there.
Here are three tools you can use to protect your goals from your flaws:
1. Successful People Take Their Weaknesses Seriously
Request objectivity from friends, co-workers, and others. What pattern of behaviors do they observe which in turn affect your performance goals? Observe yourself. What habits do you think get in the way of your success? Keep digging and the answers will surface.
Count the cost. What have you lost due these weaknesses? A promotion? Money? Have you sabotaged a relationship or friendship? There is a high price to pay when we let our faults control our lives.
Successful people identify their weaknesses and take them very seriously. You need to see just how certain patterns of behaviors undermine your efforts of reaching your goals.
A client of mine, Jackie, shared her “aha” moment. “Lately, I noticed when setbacks come; my first reaction is to feel helpless. For a while, it seems like there are no alternatives to solve the situation, and I hear a small voice in my head whisper, “This is too overwhelming!” Now that I know this is my Achilles heel, what can I do? The next step answers that question.
2. Have a Strategy in Place
Ingrained patterns of behavior die a very slow death. So expect self-limiting habits to pop up from time to time while
you’re paving the road to success. Have a strategy ready. There are so many ways to “quarantine your weaknesses” as you work towards your goals.
For example, Jackie can join a weekly support group to help her view problems more objectively, and help her brainstorm possible solutions. The group can also help her process her feelings. As she internalizes these experiences, Jackie will feel less helpless when obstacles come. Having a plan in place shows wisdom, as we work on our weaknesses.
3. Find a Mentor
I really believe in mentorship. Many of us need exposure to new ways of doing things to solve old issues. Moreover, we may need to be held accountable for doing the right things long enough for the desired outcome. A mentor can do that.
Sharon shared her example. “Theresa became my partner teacher two years ago. In order to be an effective teacher, there has to be some organization. Well, this was no my strong suit as a teacher, and it caused me a lot of frustration. Since Theresa taught in the morning I was able to observe her teaching style. It became apparent she had an organizational gift.”
For example, she had an effective classroom management plan. The students knew what was expected of them, and how Theresa would award desired behavior. Her students quickly learned the daily routine. They knew where to sit, what to do after an assignment, and how to communicate their needs without disrupting the class.
Her lessons were well planned. All materials she needed for her lesson was
at hand. She didn’t waste time fumbling for materials like I did while teaching.
Luckily, Theresa was very generous to me. She shared her filing system, and critiqued my teaching when I asked her to. She was my partner for two years, and I intentionally devoured her organized teaching style. As a result, I became a more effective and creative teacher because I learned how to develop my teaching system through her.
Be open to mentorship. It is an important way to learn new sills, attitudes and strategies for success.
We are designed to use our strengths in service to others. By putting limits on our weaknesses, we are maturely taking measures to protect our dreams and goals. As we continue to do this, our success is assured.
Give these tips an earnest try!
Paramount Chamber of Commerce Free & Fee Based
Paramount Chamber of Commerce
Business Resource Center 15357 Paramount Blvd., Paramount
Upcoming Business Workshops
Reservations are required. * Workshops are from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. All workshops are in English unless specified
Starting a Small Business
Tuesday August 5, 2008 Workshop Fee: $35
This seminar will get you on the right path to starting a small business. Topics to be discussed include: Researching your business idea, Business Plan outline, Start-u[ expenses & financing, Legal aspects, General Management issues.
Smart Marketing and Promotional Tactics
Tuesday September 30, 2008 Workshop Fee: $40
In this session we explore marketing ideas for the small business. Topics to be discussed include: Analyze who customer is, How to reach the customer, Develop a marketing budget, Marketing effectiveness analysis, Marketing strategies. (This workshop will also be offered on Wednesday, November 19, 2008)
Reservations are required. Workshops are from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. For more information call 562-634-3980 x10 or email mvillasenor@paramountchamber.co m
Workshops Presented by the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Please make check payable to SBDC
**Free One-on-One Business Counseling Also Available** ($25 deposit required, to be returned after appointment ends)
Administration 220-2027
Building & Safety 220-2036
Business Licenses 220-2013
City Council/Commissioners 220-2223
City Manager/City Clerk 220-2225
Community Development 220-2036 (planning & zoning)
Dog Licensing 220-2018
Finance 220-2200
Community Services & Recreation 220-2121 (parks & recreation)
Paramount resident William Benson Jr. was recently awarded a $2,000 Brothers’ Scholarship from the Heritage Group Scholarship fund. The scholarship is renewable for three years, and is available for the children of employee’s of Heritage Group. William will be attending Cypress College in the fall.
HELP WANTED
AUTO MECHANIC WITH TOOL EXPERIENCE. Trouble-shooting. TOP DOLLAR for TOP MECHANIC. Apply at Herald’s Garage, 8124 E. Alondra Blvd, Paramount. 562-633-2136, Ask for Joe.
Charles G. Hardy, Inc., Distributor of Building Material DRIVERS AND WAREHOUSEMEN wanted.15723 Vermont Ave., Paramount, Ask for Mark (562) 634-6560
SECURITY and PATROL OFFICERS NEEDED - Vernon Security currently has openings for Unarmed Guards and Patrol Officers to work all shifts in Paramount and surrounding cities. Must have a current guard card and a clean DMV for Patrol. Call Charles at 562-790-8993 Ext.102 or apply in person at 15317 Paramount Blvd Suite 201, Paramount, CA. Must bring your guard card when applying.
International Freight Forwarding Co. Hiring OPERATIONS, ACCOUNTING, CUSTOMER SERVICE & SALES REPS for its Paramount Ca. Houston Tx., & NYC offices. Experience not required. Proficiency in Chinese a plus. H/Ins. 401K provided. EM to laofc@zencon.com or fax 562-663-6899
AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING SERVICE TECHICIANS NEEDED.
3 – 5 years minimum experience required. Must have a good DMV record. Bring a current DMV report when applying. Must be EPA certified. Must have own tools. Immediate employment for the right person. Benefits. Apply @ W.R. Smith, Inc. 14908 Gwenchris Court, Paramount. (562) 408-6400. Ask for Bill or Debbie.
We are proud to be part of an All-American City and want to thank the local businesses, residences, schools and
Paramount Chamber of Commerce Presidents Award, 2004
Paramount Education Partnership Platinum Sponsor
A part of the City of Paramount for over 70 years, did you know that:
Paramount Petroleum is one of the largest suppliers of asphalt in the United States; Paramount Petroleum is in the top 15% of all U.S. refineries for Pollution Prevention performance according to the Environmental Defense Fund
Paramount Petroleum, YOUR good neighbor!
14700 Downey Avenue Paramount, CA 90723
Phone: (562) 531 – 2060 Fax: (562) 633 – 8211
Marukan Turns 35
Our Lady of the Rosary School Now Accepting Applications
Our Lady of the Rosary School is accepting applications for the 2008-2009 school year for Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Our Lady of the Rosary School is a fully accredited school educating young minds and hearts for more than 50 years. There are daily Religion lessons and the opportunity for daily Mass. The curriculum is integrated with Catholic values and high academic standards. There is a computer lab with internet access, a Science lab and sports program. After school care is available for students until 5:00 p.m. Please call, 562.633.6360 for further information.
Scholarships Awarded by Paramount/Tepic Sister City Club
Recently the Paramount/Tepic Sister City Club awarded scholarships to five high school graduates at a pot-luck dinner held at the home of club member Cira Garces. Four of the students are from Paramount High. Recipients from left Luis Fernando Guzman, Dustin Salazar, Carlos Camarena, and Aaron Norman. Not available for the photo, Maria Haro.
Toyota Moves Forward With Pathways Charity Golf Torunament
Once again Toyota takes the Title Sponsorship for the 14th Annual Pathways Volunteer Hospice Charity Golf Tournament to be held August 18, 2008, El Dorado Golf Course in Long Beach. This year’s theme titled “Golf at the Beach” has tournament co-chairs Leigh Clausen, of Gateway Business Bank, and Elizabeth Gadbois, Publisher Emeritus of the Los Cerritos Community News, promising a great day of golf and plenty of fun. “We are so thrilled to have OutBack Steak House returning again as one of our course sponsors, commented Leigh Clausen. Luis Torres, the owner of OutBack, has been a long time supporter of Pathways and we always appreciate him leading the way.” Adds Elizabeth Gadbois, “don’t forget about the Victory motorcycle for our hole in one that is being donated by the Cerritos based Cycle Dragon!” Proceeds from this event provide
much needed services for Pathways’ Hospice, Elder Care and Bereavement programs.
Also supporting Pathways in their efforts are Major Sponsors Los Angeles County Supervisor, Don Knabe, CARE Ambulance and Lakewood Regional Medical Center and Course Sponsors Paramount Petroleum, CalMet Services, Matt Knabe of Englander & Associates, Watson Land Company, The Gas Company and Bob and Marianne Hughlett.
The tournament begins with a 12:30 p.m. shot gun start and features complimentary food and beverages on the course, plenty of raffle and auction prizes and an opportunity to golf at the home of the Long Beach Open.
For reservations or more information on the Pathways 14th Annual Charity Golf Tournament, please contact Pathways at (562) 531-3031.
When Selling - Avoid These Five Fatal Errors
BY IAN LAMONT LB SBDC DIRECTOR
Selling or the Art of Sales has changed dramatically over the last decade, thanks to the millennial age we live in. Today’s sales survivors need to realign their actions to the new assumptions of the Internet age. Failure to do so will have devastating effects.
I have listed below five fatal sales assumptions that if you are hearing this from your sales team or your business sales are off because of these reasons, then you are stuck in the past. But there is hope, read on.
People don’t want to buy
Baloney! Salespeople who make the assumption that people don’t want to buy, end up “winging it” and come back to the office with excuses like, the competition is cheaper or better, and we are over-priced. Current research shows that people are quite willing to buy if they understand the value of the purchase and if it makes sense for their situation.
So a more accurate statement would be that people don’t want to be sold, they want to be informed. Salespeople who do their homework, who take time to prepare their presentations, ask what challenges their prospects are facing, and explain precisely how their product or service improves or eliminates the situation, will find that there are plenty of sales to be made.
Are you talking to the decisionmaker
The charismatic approach to sales -- the salesperson “bonds” with the purchasing agent and acts as the trusted advisor -- has been replaced.
Purchasing agents in large corporations are often trained in purchasing and negotiations, and only learn the products and services on the job. Their main purpose is to get the best price in the shortest amount of time.
In smaller companies, the buyer may not be the person in charge of the budget, or the person who needs the product/service. Again, they may be charged with finding sources for the product but not know much else about it. For example, a manager in a mid-size company experiences difficulty with their network system. They ask their administrator to find a company that does onsite repairs. The administrator tracks down a couple of companies, asks a few targeted questions, and might even explain the situation.
The salesperson who assumes the administrator is also the buyer is in for a rude awakening. This salesperson typically talks about their product’s features in too much detail, talking much longer than the administrator is willing and wasting everybody’s time.
The salesperson who assumes there is more than one person involved in the buying decision will ask questions that reveal how to prepare their sales approach. They ask who is experiencing the problem, who is responsible for the money that will be spent, who else has been approached for a solution. Salespeople that assume each purchase is the result of many people’s input are effective and efficient because they only provide as much information as is necessary to the appropriate people in
the buying chain. Their questions allow them to position their sales approach for maximum success.
I don’t have to buy the product/service in order to sell it
In smaller companies this assumption can be the kiss of death. Whether or not we like it, if salespeople have questions about what they’re offering, those are the objections that will stop them cold. For example, do they have concerns that your price is too high or quality is too low or service is not right? Or maybe there are substitutes coming into the market that could replace your product/service?
Closely examine where you question the authenticity of your message. Go through your own doubts about your product or service before asking anyone to go in front of a prospect. If you are not able to silence these questions or at least develop ways to overcome your own objections, don’t expect your salespeople or prospects to have an easier time.
Here are the eight most common objections: Price, application, competition, delivery, experience, service, quality, reputation. Look through each one and examine your offering against the list for potential soft spots. Once you overcome all of the objections and arm your salespeople, your own sales will take off.
“No” means the sale won’t happen
In addition to having to communicate a different value proposition to the different people involved in the buying chain, each of these people usually have the ability to say yes or no. Most people in prospective companies today have the power to cast a no vote. Although they don’t have the power to accept your offer and close the deal, they can reject the offer or even withhold their no decision.
The salesperson who believes this assumption spends an inordinate amount of time with prospects who can only cast a no vote. Here’s where many of us make our mistake: we try hard to get those with veto power to like us and withhold their no. By concentrating energy and time on people who can never say yes, sales cycles go on endlessly and a sale is always “just around the corner.”
The truth is, however, people with the veto power are prospective adversaries, NOT prospective customers. Salespeople who know this spend their time wading through the decision makers, not asking for a buying decision until they find the person with the ability to say yes. It is on that person that successful salespeople focus their strategy.
Everyone can sell
This is the most common misconception. Although it may be true when there’s a basic product without any competition, such as in the case of the first paper clip or post-it notes, those are situations rarely encountered today.
This assumption leads the others in causing costly disasters. Companies have misspent millions on training individuals and sales forces that do not have the natural propensity to succeed. When motivational training and sales method trainings peak at the four-to six-month mark and begin their inevitable slide back to original numbers, managers turn to technology.
Companies that hold this assumption usually purchase Customer Relation-
ship Management (CRM) systems or modified versions of a CRM system after training fails to make a lasting difference. However, 85% of CRM systems fail, because they are built for managers who believe anyone can sell, not for salespeople with specialized skills and operating methods.
A valid assumption is that selling is a discipline, a skill and an art, and not easily mastered without the will and the willingness to be successful. So while it is true that everyone has the potential to sell because there aren’t any specific personality types who are most likely to succeed at sales, it is not true that everyone will succeed unless they are inclined to succeed and truly love their work.
So now you know five fatal sales flaws. Reduce them, or better yet eliminate them and your sales will grow.
Ian Lamont is the Director of the Small
Business Development Center (SBDC), located in North Long Beach. This is Ian’s last column as he leaves his SBDC job on August 1. The SBDC provides “no-cost ever” 1-on-1 business counseling and mentoring. Your Paramount Chamber has partnered with the SBDC to provide this free business counseling at the Chamber office for any business. The SBDC has nine experienced business counselors, including, an Accountant, Attorney, Banker, Webmaster/Technologist, Sales & Marketing Executive, along with experienced counselors in starting and running your own successful business. There is never a charge to meet with any of these counselors 1-on-1. The SBDC is hosted by Long Beach City College. To set up your appointment, call the Chamber or call the LB SBDC office at 562-570-4571. For more information, go to http://lbsbdc.lbcc.edu
San Manuel Casino August 19, 2008 (Registration July 14, 2008) $6 per person
Theater August 6, 2008 $20 per person (Registrtion July 7, 2008)
