Selling Lemonade for 10 Cents

In another life hot summer days provided an opportunity for a few enterprising young children to increase their allowance [aka, income]. As a child growing up in the New City Edenwald housing projects, I innately developed a knack for meeting people at their needs. When other kids sold their lemonade for 5 cents a glass, I sold more lemonade at 10 cents a glass. Mind you, Country Time Lemonade wasn't around. My mother funded my lemonade operation, which consisted of 2 choices; some inexpensive lemonade like packet and fresh lemons. I chose fresh lemons. The pulp in the pitcher was the sales clincher. What is your sales clincher?

So a passerby walked by my lemonade stand. I capture their attention with "how about cooling off with a little ice cold lemonade". They respond "how much is your lemonade"? My response was "have a taste first". I pour a little sample. They taste it. I watch their facial response. I say "a full glass is 10 cents". Sold and sometimes a request for second glass . . . next. It was usually a good $2 day when the competition made 60 cents.

When selling ideas or marketing your services, you must meet people at their needs. What you want is of little consequence to another person. People do not care what you want.

That's why asking questions during an interview is crucial. You're not just showing an interest in the job. You're gathering intelligence to see what is of interest to the interviewer. What motivates them? What are their "hot buttons"? What is going to make them buy into your skills?

Do your homework before an interview. Review the company web site and Google the person you are going to meet. Know about the person to interject how your skill offering is within what makes the interviewer tick. If you find nothing about the person, make sure your questions are pointed in a manner that gives you the information you need to sell yourself.

What are the company mission and vision statements? What is the company culture like? The web site will usually provide this information. Use Google to get recent news items about the company.

Do your homework before you step on the invisible interview red carpet. The goal is to make a personal connection with the person interviewing you. It makes all the difference with the next step, salary offer and what you want as an end result.

Copyright (c) 2004 - 2008 C. E. Reid, SAVVY INTRAPRENEUR