Blog 10: Senior Project: The Holiday

1. It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school. What did you over the break with your senior project?

I did about 20 hours of mentorship during my break. Most of my mentorship took place at a company that my mentor works for. I did a lot of computer work as well as answer phone calls. I took many orders and made invoices for the companys records.


2. What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why? What was the source of what you learned?

The most important thing I learned was how important it is to multitask. For example I had to answer calls and do computer work at the same time. It was difficult to manage both because most of the calls that were coming in were clients that were asking for orders. Putting orders in the the system QuickBooks isn't as simple as I thought it would be.

3. If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

I woud talk to my mentor because he has really given me a variety of answers that personally I think are very helpful already. He is making my senior project a bit easier because of the work he has me do during my mentorship. He is also very easy to understand and provides me with examples of scenarios to give me a better idea of the things that he encounters.

Price List

My mentor gave me the oportunity to actually  make a price list for the foam he sells to different mattress companies. He always says that a sales representatives job is to do whatever needs to be done to satisfy a client. A client of his that I was introduced to said he was very impressed with the way my mentor introduced his product. His way of doing that is by being very organized and convincing. I asked if it was okay with him if he showed me the proper way to do a price list and he agreed. He did tell me it was different with every company. What he does with most of his price lists is he compares the prices of other foam companies to his to show that his company will provide a good product for a good price. Although my mentor said that price lists are very important, convincing a client is just as important.

Women Make the Best Sale Representatives

I've done a lot of research online and a lot of what my mentor has been telling me is all stuff that I kind of already know. The book Women Make the Best Salesmen by Marion Luna Brem has really been an eye opener for me. I've read an other book How to Turn the Pressure on Without Turning Your Customer Off by Robert L. Shook and this book gave me a lot of information that is helpful but most of it is what I found online in articles. Women Make the Best Salesmen is a really inspiring book because it's about a woman who is 32 and is a mother of two. She has terminal cancer and her doctor gave her a death sentence. She is in the dealership business and has now opened many dealerships and businesses. Best of all she beat her cancer too. This book is really helpful because she gives tips that are helpful for all sorts of sales job not just dealerships. Other than it being a good book it is a real eye opener.

Blog 9: EQ

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.
a. What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?

• This doesn't meet the rule of 3 criteria because it's not formatted specific enough. If it was specific about who exactly the questions refers to it would change the depth of research.

b. What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

• This EQ does have a stance because it can have different view and information to it. To provide better frame work I would be specific on the kind of crime.

c. What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?

• The EQ doesn't follow the rule of 3because it doesn't have good frame work. It isn't specific on the gender or age of the customer.

d. How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

• This EQ does follow the rule of 3 because it does provide frame work that can easily have a lot of information too. It's also specific on the kind of pain that a person is feeling.

3. What qualities best define a successful independent sales representative?

First sale!

On tuesday my mentor gave me the opportunity to help him make a sale and it went great! When he asked me if I was up for the challenge to show a client the price list and product I wasn't so sure if I was ready so I responded with "I don't think i'm ready yet." Considering that my mentor is my dad, I didn't really have a choice but to do it. We arrived at the company and right away my mentor said absolutely nothing. I then knew he expected me to say something so I introduced ourselves and told the client what company we were representing and after that it all flowed smoothly. My mentor did help me explain the price list because i'm still not familiar with it. After we shared the price list the client agreed to try out the product and after that we would know if he would be a loyal customer. It was so exciting to actually experience that sale considering the fact that I don't really know my mentors product very well.

Research and Working EQ

1. What is your working EQ?

What best defines a successful independent sales representative?

2. EQ: What best defines a successful independent sales representative?

• The ability to listen more than speaking.
• Understanding the customers needs.
• Investing time on people that positevly affect sales than to those who won't return.
• A persuasive person with good communication skills as well as problem solving skills.

3. The most important source other than my mentor is a book called "Hard Ball Selling". It helped me narrow down the qualiaties that a sales person must adapt to in order to be succesful.

4. My mentor is Manuel Martin he is a sales representative and working with him relates to my working EQ because when I see him work with clients and companies it shows me the kind of traits and abilities a sales representative has to have in order to be succesful.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
 

• I plan on doing my 30 hours with my mentor because my topic is a little difficult to do. My mentor offered me to do ride alongs with him. I would basically be going with him to visit his clients and to his meetings with his bosses. I'm still working on trying to find a leadership or communications class but I am having a hard time finding one.

2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

• To show evidence of completing the 30 hours I will try taking pictures. If I am able to take a class I will get a confirmation from the teacher that proves I completed it. 

3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

• By going with my mentor to his meetings and conferences I will get a better undertanding of how a sales representative comprehends the product he is selling. If I take a leadership or communications class it will help me understand how a sales reps traits and ability to work with people establish over time.