Are you the Star of your own movie?

Have you ever noticed that when people answer their cell phones in public, their voice suddenly raises several octaves?

Why do people feel the need to talk as though they are stuck in a wind tunnel and the only way to give the listener the most valuable of all information is to talk so loud as if their life depends on it?

This is something that has always confused me. It never fails, as soon as you walk into a store or a restaurant, someone will get a phone call and go from a normal inside talking voice to that of an obnoxious celebrity that needs to tell all their fans and paparazzi what is happening.

I think the public cell phone call makes the talker feel like they are starring in their own movie and all the people around them are just “extras” or “fans” getting a glimpse into your life.

Since you are the star of the movie, you have to “over” talk, make yourself sound WAY more important then you really are, or laugh louder than normal to entertain your audience.

It’s almost as if the cell phone gives people a feeling of importance and empowerment that otherwise doesn’t exist. The public phone call is your opportunity to “show off” your power, control, humor, stature, popularity, or any other role that is otherwise lacking in your normal daily life.

When the phone rings, your fifteen minutes of fame begins.

I’m going to burst your bubble just a little bit. It’s not fun to be an “extra” in someone else’s movie. It is actually really annoying and somewhat inconsiderate of others around you.

Now I have to admit, from time to time I have actually been entertained by the “I’m so important talker.” For some reason, I gain enjoyment from listening to people talk about how they are thinking about quitting their job and how their company will really miss their valuable input when they are gone, yada, yada, yada speak. Or my personal favorite is the “I’m gonna tell my boss off talker”.

This is always funny for me. I love the people that tell other people how they either told their boss off or that they are going to. I am willing to bet very few of those “telling your boss off” conversations ever really happen, so it always perks up my ears when I hear that kind of talk.

I realize that most of these conversations take place in more of a “blowing of steam” manner, but when they happen on the cell phone in public, they are always in the harsh factual power tone so their audience gets the impression they are a real force on their job. I think it is the ego boost that derives from other people hearing of your importance is the real reason for this kind of talk.

The thing about being the “loud cell phone talker guy” that impacts likeability is simple. You lose credibility when you talk “big” talk or you are obviously making yourself seem over important.

It really means that you may lack the internal confidence to not need this extra ego boost to always perform at a high level. Aside from that, you never know who is in your audience, perhaps it is someone that knows you or works with you. Maybe it is a manager at a company you would like to work for and you show up for an interview and they remember you as the annoying loud talker.

The best rule of thumb here is when your phone rings in a public setting, walk away from the majority of people and have your conversation somewhat privately. If you need to yell to have your listener hear you, get a new cell phone.

Likeability is the Key to Expanding your Sphere of Influence!

Which type of person are you?

The type that walks around with your eyes up when people pass you or the type that lowers your head and does not make eye contact when people walk by?

I used to be the type that would look away. Whether I was walking on the street, at school, or at work, I would always see people coming towards me and then dart my eyes away when it came time to pass them.

I have no idea why I would do that. As time has passed, I have completely changed my ways.

Now it's almost like a game to me. I can spot the "looker aways" from a mile away it seems. I like to make eye contact with them until right when they try to look away, and then I say that super scary word, "Hello!"

About twenty percent of the time I'll get a "hello" response back. About fifty percent of the time I get nothing more than an odd "I don't know you" look, and about thirty percent of the time I get nothing at all--not even an awkward half smile.

What is the deal?

Is it that people really don't like to talk to strangers? Perhaps people are so consumed in their own thoughts that they are not paying attention? Or is it simply that people are afraid to get out of their comfort zones to say hello to someone they don't know.

I believe it's simply the fear of the unknown. People fear meeting new people for the most part because it is not comfortable.

Life is funny. You never know who you are in the presence of. While you are waiting in line at a store, sitting at the airport, or simply just walking down the street, you have no idea who that "mystery" person is.

While Blogging on Activerain, a real estate networking blog site, I came across an intriguing article about your Sphere of Influence (SOI) written by Jennifer Allan.

We all have our own sphere of influence or people that we network with and are comfortable bouncing our thoughts off of. Think of how many people that you have the "potential" to interact with on a daily basis.

What better way to expand your SOI than meeting just a couple new people each day.

Have you ever had the thought, "I don't know anyone that does that?" By meeting new people each day by simply saying, "Hello," you can grow your SOI by leaps and bounds each week.

In one such instance for me, a professional speaker came to speak to the company that I was working for. Although, we regularly had people come to speak to us, this particular speaker struck a chord with me.

After a couple months, I decided I would like to thank him for his message and ask him a few questions. Little did I know, my simple little effort of contacting this guy would lead to such great rewards.

I really wanted to write a book that I knew could help people sell more homes, but didn't know where to start. After speaking with him, he not only encouraged me, he offered to help me at many stages of the publishing process.

After about a year, my first book was published, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income." I cannot think of a more self-less act than helping someone that you don't even really know.

This speaker's name is Bryan Dodge and he is an Excellent Professional speaker with a Great Message.

How big is your sphere of influence (SOI)?

Now That is WOW Service!!

If you would like the Magical Secret of Success, today is your lucky day. If you spend any amount of time racking your brain trying to figure out how to....

• Gain Referrals!
• Sell More of Anything....Including Yourself
• Get a Pay Raise
• Increase your prospect traffic
• Improve your Sales Conversion Rate
• Have More Friends
• Enjoy a Happy Marriage
• Make a Positive Impact on someone else's life

Guess what?

GIVE WOW SERVICE!

Not okay service or "satisfied" service. Not mediocre or "average" service. Provide WOW service!

The number one reason why most businesses don't turn a profit, real estate or any sales careers stall, relationships fail, is poor customer service.

In today's world, everyone has gotten so "me" oriented that customer service needs to be better than ever.

What was okay yesterday is not okay today. There are so many choices out there; you cannot afford to have your customers fire you! You have to be better.

A couple days ago, I was sort of in a time crunch, but needed to get a haircut. Typically, I just run up to any one of the local "quick" type haircut places around my house.

I have not really committed to any particular place to go for a "regular" cut because it is always the same no matter which place I decide to go.

I haven't really ever experienced any "stand-out" service. The conversation, if there is any, while I am getting the hair cut is usually awkward or very broad. The "Weather sure is crazy," conversation is a frequent player.

This particular day I decided to stop at a "Supercuts." The experience started off the same, walk in, sign your name, and wait for my turn. When it was my turn, I went over and sat down in the chair. The lady asked me what kind of "cut" I would like. As I was explaining my "typical" haircut, I could tell she was analyzing my hair.

She was kind of messing with it, analyzing what she was going to do next. As she started cutting, she was giving me "hair compliments." Never a bad thing...

Then it was time for the small talk, or so I thought. She started asking me about my family, hobbies, Holiday Plans.....before I knew what hit me, she knew where I grew up, what my favorite things to do are and what I was doing for Christmas.

She was amazing! She just kept asking questions about me, while also giving me "pointers" on how my hair would look best, and she was smiling the whole time. Who doesn't like to talk about themselves, right?

By the time my haircut was finished, I felt that I had my haircut by the best "haircutter" in the area. She gave me styling tips (and I am not usually interested in this at all),and I bought some new hair style stuff (again, not something I would ever do).

It goes without saying that I gave her a great tip, but I will now only go to that Supercuts and have my hair cut by Edith.

That was WOW service!

Do you think I have told anyone about my experience? Heck yah. I have told everyone about Edith, and if they want a great experience, to ask for her.

WOW service means that your customers will not only stay your customers, but they will be happy and refer as many people that they can without being asked. That is the key, Without Being Asked!

So, do you want more business, better relationships, and happier experiences?

What are you willing to do to provide WOW service?

Here are 5 ways to Provide WOW service:

1. 
   DON'T talk about you, DO ask questions about them.
2. 
   Provide Value FIRST, before asking for anything in return.
3. 
   DO something FOR them Above and Beyond the "normal" transaction...make this NEW your "normal" policy.
4. 
   Find out what makes them tick and talk about it more...this is a HOT BUTTON!
5. 
   DON'T think about what's in it for you; DO think about what you CAN DO for them.

Curt Fletcher aka The Likeability Guy
Author of "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income"