Peer Groups Are An Answer

They may not be an answer for everything, but they are an answer for some of the questions out there.  I have seen business leaders seek help with financial questions, sales questions, service delivery questions and much more, all to be helped by peer groups.  Sitting around a table of your peers who understand what is going on in your world (or at least pretty close) to listen, give advice, and not let you lie to yourself can mean a world of difference.

Last week I watched a lot of business owners and leaders come together to help each other succeed in business and life.  It is incredible to watch a new member watch the help that is given with no expectations in return.  It does make you remember that in the end, we can only win as a team.

Will it work for everyone - no.  Can it make a difference - yes.  If you haven't tried one yet find one that can offer what you need and give it a try (or check out HTG Peer Groups if you would like).

What's Happening Now

So guess it is time for an update.  It has been busy here since my last post.  Biggest item is I have changed 

jobs.  After 20 years at OXEN (HTS and SCCI included) I have made the jump, kind of.  I went back to my

 roots (the guy who originally hired me, Arlin Sorensen) and went to his peer group organization, HTG.  I

 made this move about 3 weeks ago and it has been pretty bitter sweet.  I love my new job and everyone I

 get to work with (check it out here http://www.htgpeergroups.com/) but I miss the old crew too (no I'm 

not making a crack about their age).  There comes a time in everyone's life that a change is needed.  I 

wasn't waking up any more with the fire needed to be a good salesperson.  We all know that you go 

through phases in sales where things aren't going well.  You need to break the cycle and take a day or two

 off.  After that you come back with new energy and ready to face it all again.  BUT sometimes that doesn't

 work, and that is where I was at in my life.  I will be talking more about what HTG does, but it is an 

awesome feeling to be excited about what I do again.  Change is needed and you need to be strong

 enough to do it - even if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

School Technology Administrators - How Do You Do It?

How do you stay on top of it all?  There is the one-to-one environment (managing, configuring, fixing and keeping it all working) but also the network, the wireless, servers and let's not forget everything else that is in your domain (connected to your network - phones, cameras and everything else).  There are only so many hours in the day with more complexity all the time.

OXEN can help in many different ways.  From managed services, support and services offerings and also consulting to help find solutions to your problems.  We have the staff with the knowledge to help your district.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed (OK to get overwhelmed because it is more than a feeling).  With many, many years of experience (I don't want to say how many because it makes us feel old) we can honestly say we have been there and done that no matter what the situation is you experience.

If you need help or even someone to bounce ideas off, give us a call to talk.  We have helped multiple districts and we can help you also.

Happy summer!

How to Improve at Sales

Do you want to get better at sales, building relationships and have a happier life?  I have a simple tip.  Slow down and talk more.  It amazes me how fast we try to live our lives.  It isn't a race, it's a journey so enjoy the ride.
Now I'm not saying anything that I can't learn from also.  We are all so busy running from appointment to appointment (I'm including family events also - basketball, dance and soccer to just name a few) that we forget to have fun along the way.  Technology has eroded our ability to just take time and talk (and of course LISTEN) to people.  When was the last time you spoke to someone and had a great conversation?
So what tips can I give you?  Try these:
 1. Shut all technology down.  If that's not possible at least minimize it.  I have gone to turning my phone alerts off and placing it face down.
 2. Look the other person in the eyes when talking to them.  Don't get creepy here, but by looking in their eyes it focuses you on them.
 3. Don't hear them to just come up with a reply to what they are saying, or telling a better story (OK very guilty here).  Really listen to what they are saying.  It is OK not to have a great response when they are done. 
Do you have tips?  If so I would love to hear from you.

2017

Are you ready?  It really doesn't matter - it is coming and there is nothing we can do about it.

Instead of dreading a new year, and all that means, approach it more like a new page.  In college I always felt like if I could do anything for a semester and then my schedule would reset.  I have that same feeling for each year.  It is time for a reset.  That doesn't mean dropping everything and having a clean slate but time to clear your head, evaluate everything and refocus.  It is a great time!  Let's grab this time and use it.  Take time to sit down and evaluate 2016 and continue what you love and what is working, stop what you don't and start new items.

It is exciting to see what 2017 brings!

Holiday Season

Well the Holiday Season is here.  How did it get here so fast?  I know I sound like my parents, but dang time flies any more.

That being said, it is still that time of year.  Here is my wish to a great end to 2016 and to an awesome (and fun 2017).  To fun times, great health, and of course lots of sales (I am a salesperson).

Whatever holiday you celebrate - remember the importance of it and enjoy it with family and friends.

School Technology Philosophy Statements

How prepared is your district?  How organized?  Are you ready for the future?
I have been reading a lot of information being sent out from ISTE and realized how important the school tech statement is for a district.  Do you have one?  How often do you review and update it?  If you don't - how do you know where you are going, and if you will ever get there, and what you need to do today and tomorrow to get there?
I know lots of people think planning like this is a waste - just do the work.  But it is hard to make sure you are doing the correct work, if you don't have a plan.
So do you feel overwhelmed now?  Start with something and somewhere.  Take baby steps.  Do something - right or wrong.  It is easier to keep moving, once you have momentum behind you.
If you and your district need help, give me a call.  I don't have all of the answers, but can help ask questions that might help get a basic plan  in place.

We're Secure (yeah right)

Is your school or organization's network secure?  Can anything ever be truly secure?  How do you even know, or where can you go to find help?

OXEN is offering security assessments to help give you an overview of what is going on.  Where you might want to focus your energy.

Be aware that thinking you can ever be 100% secure is a goal that can't be reached in today's world, but at least knowing where you might have an issue is a valuable thing to know.

rIf you are interested in knowing more, reach out to me and let's see if we can help at OXEN.

School Technology Philosophy Statements

How prepared is your district?  How organized?  Are you ready for the future?
I have been reading a lot of information being sent out from ISTE and realized how important the school tech statement is for a district.  Do you have one?  How often do you review and update it?  If you don't - how do you know where you are going, and if you will ever get there, and what you need to do today and tomorrow to get there?
I know lots of people think planning like this is a waste - just do the work.  But it is hard to make sure you are doing the correct work, if you don't have a plan.
So do you feel overwhelmed now?  Start with something and somewhere.  Take baby steps.  Do something - right or wrong.  It is easier to keep moving, once you have momentum behind you.
If you and your district need help, give me a call.  I don't have all of the answers, but can help ask questions that might help get a basic plan  in place.

ITEC Rocks

Another great ITEC conference!  For those not in education in Iowa - ITEC is the Iowa Technology & Education Connection group and they are rockstars (especially the board members who work their tails off to get this event planned.  I am always amazed at the quality of attendees - both school staff and the vendors to the event.  If you don't learn at least three things (usually my minimum for an event) you must be missing something.
If you don't attend ITEC (or other conferences in your area or in your field) you are truly missing out.  How do you stay up to date, and create relationships with people in your field that can help you out?  Again I highly recommend the experience!
#ITEC2016

Help (Ask for and Give)

Sitting in an airport right now on my way home.  Had a great couple of days with some incredible people at a technology event (Ingram Micro's Trust X Heartland Chapter meeting - highly recommend).  I always come home with a couple of great ideas (and very tired but full of energy if that makes sense).  I go to these events to hear what others are doing and to SWIPE (steal with integrity and pride).  Why reinvent the wheel when someone (usually much smarter than me) has done it already.  I try to live by Henry Ford's thought of surrounding yourself with people smarter than you.  Let them do their job and get out of their way (and take great notes to learn).  Do you allow yourself to do this?  Do you feel like you have to tackle it all by yourself?  DON'T.  I am always calling friends for help (and they do the same with me).  Be vulnerable and be honest.  This is huge in sales (and in life - especially with kids)!  You are not alone and you don't have to know everything.  Have fun and ask for help and see how things go for you.

Education and Technology

Education in technology is becoming not just a great tool, but an integral part of the day for most students.  Those of us not in education think technology is important - but consider a teacher looking at 25 students while they are all trying to work on their system (usually a chromebook) and it not working.  You think you have had a bad day...  Every day I am amazed at what these people get accomplished, all while staying relatively sane.

Do something nice for these people (actually anyone who is tasked with education is a saint).  I love my kids, but do like the nice break from them during the day.  These people never get those breaks.

I am going to try to change my blogs, and most of my social interaction, to be more about how I, with the support of my awesome OXEN team, support these people and can help.

Check back and I look forward to this new journey.

Education and Technology

There are so many changes happening today there is no way to keep up with it all.  Now add on top of that the idea of working with today's youth that are full of knowledge and questions and you have a job that puts me in awe.  Director's of Technology, Network Administrators or just Tech Support, whatever the title is, it is a job of nonstop learning and support.  I don't tell them enough how much I respect and are in awe of what they do.  I have a hard enough time with two kids in my house testing my knowledge (and Googling power) let alone having hundreds to support.  Keep up the great work!

Communication TOday

While we have some many ways to communicate today, why is it so easy to not do it anymore?  Maybe I am old fashion but face to face and talking on the telephone are still my choice.  There is so much more being communicated than just words (I do love to read people's body language).  I guess you could use an emoticon on an email, text or twitter post, but it just doesn't seem to be the same.  I am hopeful that people will figure this out in the future (or maybe I will figure out how to integrate all of these technologies).  Now I have to go check Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snap Chat, Instagram, my text messages and my email to see if people have responded...

Secret Sauce

The secret sauce to any good salesperson is really the questions that one asks.  Before you go in to a meeting do you have them in your mind?  Did you do your homework?  I used to try to do it on the fly, but that just doesn't work any more.  Clients are as smart as me any more (no comments please :)).  There needs to be a game plan in place.  You can use some standard questions, but it also needs some personalization for each client.  That takes time and effort.  How much work do you do before your meetings?  What do you use (LinkedIn and the like)?

Tired of Negative

As a salesperson I am very concerned about my attitude.  I am an emotionally based person (aren't most salespeople) and outside sources have an affect on me.  Why does all news have to lead with negative?  There is enough crap out there to make you depressed all the time.  There is A LOT of positive and happy news - why can't we lead with that information?  Come on people - let's stop this cycle.  For me - I'm shutting off as much as I can that is negative, so I might miss some big news and great Facebook post, but I doubt it...

Balancing Act

Maybe it's just me, but the busier I get, the more productive I get (and better mood I am in).  The problem I have is finding the balancing point where I am running at maximum levels but not to a burn out level.  Seems like I often lose sight of where I am at (and what is coming down the road) and  fall on one side or the other.  This situation then creates a boredom to burn out and back again.  Oh well, who ever said salespeople were easy to understand...

Question

Why?  It's a question that my kids ask me and drives me crazy, but it's a great question.  Why do  we do what we do?  Why are we selling this way?  Why are you wanting to buy?  I guessed it's one of those things my kids can teach me - never be satisfied with the answer but keep asking why.

Rocket Science It's Not

Sales isn't rocket science.  Oh there are formulas, processes and best practices but it always comes down to the same things.  Do the work and get paid for it.  So what is the work?  Get in front of clients and prospects and then listen.  Really that's it.  Nothing more.  OK you should take notes so you remember things, but that's it.  So many books are written about sales - maybe I should write one.  It would have one page and it would say LISTEN.

Sales is so easy...

Just a side note - if sales is so damn easy was isn't everyone in it and making a crap load of money???
Oh that's because it isn't that easy.  There are parts that are, and parts that aren't, but overall it is a skill that most people don't have and don't want (just like I can't program in Java, and never will).
Saying that - I wouldn't do anything else in the world.  To me sales is awesome and fun and it allows me to wake up every day and be excited to attack.
OK getting off my soap box now.
Enjoy the rest of the day and remember to have fun!
#salesfun