How to Get People to Do What You Want

Did you know that in terms of your ability to be persuasive, people are more likely to buy your product or service if they understand what they stand to LOSE if they DON'T buy, rather than what they stand to GAIN if they DO.

Example:  In 2003 Oldsmobile blew the top off sales projections, despite the company reducing advertising and product development budgets. It seems that when they announced that they were discontinuing the car, people thought they would be "losing out" if they didn't get one before they went away. Interesting - especially when only a few people wanted one before the news.

So whether you are trying to persuade someone to buy your product, adopt your point of view or simply do what you want them to do, figure out how they will "lose out" if they DON'T do what you are suggesting - and present that to them.



How Persuasive ARE You?
I've been studying the work of influence and persuasion expert, Robert Cialdini, Ph.D.   His book, Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion is nothing short of BRILLIANT!  
He has developed a very informative, short online quiz that will help you determine exactly how persuasive YOU are. Take the test now by clicking here.



YIPPEE!!!!  CELEBRATION TIME!

My husband has been telling me for YEARS that we should have a online retail store that sold lots of cool stuff.

Well we finally have one! Yippee! Yay!  Hooray!  

Not only can you send very cool gifts, gift cards (Amex, Starbucks, Home Depot, Macy's and many others), gourmet foods, kids stuff and way more -  but you can also send fabulous greeting cards - either by themselves or with the gifts!

You have over 16,000 cards to choose from - and get this - if you want, you can actually UPLOAD YOUR OWN PHOTOS TO THE CARDS!  

So, for example, you could send a really amazing birthday card to your friend, with your and her photos on the front cover with a caption that you create!  Like, "Linda and Gwen Through Thick and Thin."  (I just made that up.)  Oh - and the best part - the cards cost $2.99!  And that includes the stamp!!!  

Go to www.socretail.com/lindalarsen and have fun!  



Words That Work: "I'm So Glad You Told Me That!"

When somebody tells you how something you did hurt, offended or frustrated them, how do you respond?  For MOST people the immediate response - ESPECIALLY when you think they are WRONG and you did not do, say or INTEND what they perceived - is defensiveness.

My friend Shivan Sarna (the GORGEOUS, talented, show host on HSN) has trained herself to have a different automatic response.  She says "I'm so glad you told me that!  I wouldn't have known otherwise!"

Wow.  Graduate level stuff.  That response preserves relationships, encourages dialogue and can instantly reduce the offended party's anger.  Thanks, Shivan!!!



More Words That Work: "I appreciate your apology"

I'm repeating this one because I needed to be reminded of it.

Have you ever heard yourself say, "no problem" when someone apologized to you for something that really WAS a problem for you?  I know we think we're being polite and kind and minimizing the situation by brushing it off.  But the result is that the person may actually BELIEVE you and repeat the offending behavior!

You can still be polite and kind - AND assertive, by simply replying, "I appreciate your apology."



Is Somebody Trying To Tell Me Something?

My husband "lovingly" reminds me when I have, yet again, left a dirty glass or dish in the sink.  Historically, I have not been good about always putting dishes in the dishwasher, although I like to console myself by saying that I'm better than I ever was.  So when I was CONSCIOUSLY reminding myself to put my empty coffee cup in the dishwasher today, I thought, "See!  See how good I am!  He doesn't notice when I DO put things away, he only notices when I don't."

Which made me start to think... How many things does HE do that are wonderful and thoughtful and CONSCIOUS (like folding a t-shirt before putting it away instead of wadding it up, or putting his dirty socks in the laundry instead of leaving them on the floor).  How many times do I fail to assume that he is doing all those wonderful things quite frequently and instead, only notice the annoying ones?

And THEN - as if that wasn't enough awareness, ten minutes later I went online and somehow stumbled upon the award winning, highly acclaimed book, Become What You Want To See in the World by Mary Claire O'Neal.    

Hmmmmm.  Is the Universe trying to tell me something!!!  

This is me. Buying that book - NOW!



And Speaking of the Weather Muffin!

Those of you that know me, know that my husband John is a television meteorologist for an ABC station here in Central Florida.  Not only is he the source of some of my funniest stories but, as evidenced above, is also one of my greatest teachers. Here's a photo of him on a recent trip that we took to our "Mother Land" (we are both Italian).  

By the way, this picture was taken at the START of our trip - before all the pasta and gelato took effect!
  


Short & Sweet
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