SelflessTee is a fashionable apparel company on a social movement. It is a place where a community of creative souls can band together and share their artistic talent for fame, profit, and most of all, meaningful change by taking action towards a better future. How it works: SelflessTee will hold design contests for their partners, non profits that you, the community, will choose. Winning designs get turned into apparel that SelflessTee sells on their site. You’ll see 1/4 of their profits from all purchases in action when you follow online or join them in creating a better world right alongside their countless partners. They want to be very clear. SelflessTee is not only about the delivery of any one idea (i.e. serve 30k breakfast meals to low income kids). Instead, they’ve created a company that will sustain itself to continuously attack social issues of a community’s choosing, YOUR choosing, across the globe. The company’s founder Danny B. (Danny Bocanegra) already took action on a single idea- we want more!

Nextvoice247 has been grateful to see this idea germinate and now would like to see it grow to its fullest potential. So take a minute and help an idea grow by voting for the SelflessTee at the Pepsi Refresh Project contest.

VOTE HERE:

http://pep.si/dBRSb9

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Our good friend speaker and author, Ty Bennett is hosting a great series next week. He has had great success as an entrepreneur, a speaker, and an author. According to Ty, “In all of my experience I have found that business is all about relationships.”

With that in mind – he has titled the week of Valentines Day – Relationship Week and has invited you to listen in as he interviews a leading expert every day on an area of relationship building. These experts include bestselling authors Stephen M. R. Covey, Bob Burg, Mike Robbins, and Kevin Hall. I will also interview social and new media leaders David Riklan and Gilbert Melott, radio talk show host Laura Kennedy and CEO Dave Blanchard.

So take advantage of the great opportunity to join me, Ty and all of the other participants next week. It should be enlightening and help us all get to the root of all business – relationships.

Check out the LINK BELOW to register:

https://leadershipinc.infusionsoft.com/go/Relationship/gilbertmelott/

and join…

Bob Burg

Bob Burg, coauthor (with John David Mann) of the Wall Street Journal and
BusinessWeek Bestseller, The Go-Giver and the just-about-to-be-released
“Go-Givers Sell More” will discuss how the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success
can accelerate your sales success.” Best-known for his business classic,
Endless Referrals, Bob will show you how five seemingly counterproductive
Laws are actually the keys to becoming the success you desire to be.

Kevin Hall

Kevin Hall is the author of the newly released book Aspire! Discovering Your Purpose
Through The Power of Words. Kevin is a highly sought after business consultant,
speaker and coach. He has been recognized for his groundbreaking
approach to uncovering the hidden, and often secret, meanings of words.
Kevin will share unique insights into the language of relationships.

Stephen M. R. Covey

Stephen M. R. Covey is co-founder and CEO of CoveyLink Worldwide.
He is the author of The SPEED of Trust, a groundbreaking and
paradigm-shifting book that challenges our age-old assumption
that trust is merely a soft, social virtue and instead demonstrates that
trust is a hard-edged, economic driver—a learnable and measurable
skill that makes organizations more profitable, people more promotable,
and relationships more energizing.

Dave Blanchard

Dave Blanchard is the Chairman and CEO of The Og Group. In the last three
years alone, Dave has debriefed well over one thousand, five hundred
6 Advisor Assessment Reports (3,000+ hours), coached over
five hundred clients (7,000+ hours) and delivered well over 200 speeches.
He has acquired through vast experience a wealth of information regarding
how people think and the impact this can have on an organization. Dave’s
seven principles to connect with people are life changing.

David Riklan

David Riklan is the founder of the largest website of it’s kind www.selfgrowth.com.
As a recognized authority on social media and internet marketing
David has successfully built an email distribution list of more than 1 Million people.
He is also the founder of www.selfgrowthmarketing.com where
David teaches social media and internet marketing.

Gilbert Melott

Gilbert Melott is the Founder and CEO of Nextvoice247. Nextvoice247
integrates social media to build business, create product and events,
and develop the talent of emerging leaders and entrepreneurs.

Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins is an expert in teamwork, communication, and
the power of appreciation and authenticity. Mike is the bestselling author of
Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken and Focus on The Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation. Mike’s lessons on authenticity are refreshing and
impact both business and personal relationships.

Laura Kennedy

Laura Kennedy has lived a life of adventure and trailblazing. She uses those experiences to motivate others to reach for and obtain the gold ring. As a highly sought after business coach and radio talk show host, Laura impacts individuals and organizations with her wit and wisdom. Laura’s networking tips will have you networking like a pro.

listen. learn. share. repeat. ™

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emerging leader interview: John Heaven, CEO of Yangaroo from John Exley on Vimeo.

May I have your attention, please! In a new emerging leader interview, I was given an opportunity I simply could not pass up: to interview the very experienced and successful entrepreneur John Heaven (thanks so much to Matt Caldecutt! Follow him http://twitter.com/mcaldecutt).  John is the President and CEO of Yangaroo, a technology company based in Canada that provides customers with its patented Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS).  Yangaroo has been making headlines recently as they were named to the Canadian Business Top 100 Tech Firms and landed a deal with The Grammy Awards!

John has quite the background too. He has started 3 successful companies and played an instrumental role in successfully taking two companies public; including the $10MM Telepanel Systems Inc. where he served as the CFO.

In the interview, John talks about the exciting evolution of Yangaroo and their awesome story, the geographic and core business expansion of his company, and the re-branding of a young start-up into an industry leading company with patented technology and The Grammy Awards as a client. I also asked John about the advantages of being involved in the Canadian start-up scene. At the end of the interview, John gives his best advice to aspiring leaders, young entrepreneurs, and Generation Y as a whole.

Many thanks to John Heaven and I hope you enjoy the interview!

John Heaven

AUDIO INTERVIEW with President and CEO of Yangaroo, John Heaven.

LISTEN HERE:

http://www.whistletree.com/public/play/4774UBZT6RTALFEV

View John’s bio here:

http://yangaroo.com/AboutUs/OurTeam/ExecutiveTeam.aspx

Company website:

http://yangaroo.com/Home.aspx

emerging leader interview with Danny Bocanegra from John Exley on Vimeo.

My first emerging leader interview ever! My good friend the young entrepreneur Danny Bocanegra is a former all-star Wide Receiver at the University of Albany who has founded the company Selfless Tees. Selfless Tees is a lifestyle brand and clothing company on a social mission. The company crowd-sources its designs and gives a percentage of profits to partners, which are charities and nonprofits. Danny is a grad student and he spent the summer volunteering in Africa, which accelerated his dream to launch his venture.

In my interview, Danny talks about his awesome experience in Africa and how he sold t-shirts to fund the trip and donate mosquito nets to people in need. Finally, Danny talks about the reward and advantages he sees from starting a company in college. The way he has grown from and applied his leadership experience in Africa and as a successful football player to his entrepreneurial pursuits has positioned him as an emerging leader.

Danny Bocanegra, Founder Selfless Tees (Galatomi) in Africa

Audio interview with founder of social entrepreneur Danny Bocangera.
http://www.whistletree.com/public/play/4774UBI8T14N8G8Q

Danny Bocanegra, Founder of Selfless Tees (formerly Galatomi).

Follow him: http://twitter.com/DannyBoc

Email him: dan.bocanegra@gmail.com

emerging leader, jeff berger & social recruiting interview from Gilbert Melott | Nextvoice247 on Vimeo.

Nextvoice247 Presents: An Emerging Leader Interview with Jeff Berger @GenYjobs, Co-founder and CEO of KODA @KODAus.

Q. According to a recent press release, you have partnered with a half dozen schools and anticipate having 25 more partners within the next 6 months. In addition, you have established relationships with over 400 employers. What have been your most effective methods for forming these partnerships?

A. Like all new products, we began with zero users and had to start somewhere. Our sales team ignited the initial spark and we have been able to build on that momentum through positive reviews and press in the recruiting industry. Once we demo the site for companies and schools, the odds that they will sign up are in our favor. The main challenge, though, is getting them to agree to the demo.

We continue to have more success getting new companies to sign up compared to universities because of the bureaucracy involved with higher education. However, we are pleased with the adoption from schools overall.

Q. Although you’ve received $3 million in funding and established numerous relationships with schools and employers, there is still some skepticism out there about KODA’s ability  to “make waves in this space.” What do you think will make your network stick as you look into the next 3 to 5 years?

A. Young professionals with 0-5 years of experience will always need jobs. KODA serves a very functional purpose and sometimes I think that gets overlooked because jobs aren’t “sexy” in the web 2.0 world. KODA isn’t a novelty product or a fad, its serves a very real purpose.

Traditionally, job sites focus on the employer because the employer is the one who pays. The entire product is designed for employers and the unemployed job seeker is thrown to the wolves. While employers are still the paying customer on KODA, our focus is on the job seeker. We believe its all about the candidate and we develop the product with the individual in mind.

Q. How will you define success with KODA and what obstacles will you have to overcome to get there?

Jeff Berger, CEO KODA

A. To be the top online recruiting website for people with 0-5 years of professional experience. When people are leaving college and thinking about how to get a job, we want them to think of KODA. In order to achieve that goal, we have the challenge of providing people with the relevant and interesting jobs that they are looking for.

Q. What has been the most thrilling experience thus far in the KODA start-up saga?

A. Truthfully, the whole experience has been an adventure, with some ups and some downs.

Proving concept enough to raise a significant amount of money would have to be one of the most fulfilling moments thus far. As a start-up, you only have so much runway (cash until you go broke) and that puts a lot of pressure on you to perform or your dreams and months/years of work are all over. To raise additional money and keep going was definitely a rewarding moment.

Q. You just graduated from Tulane University in 2008. How does it feel to be the CEO of a start-up company right out of college?
A. Its been an incredible experience. I have made a lot of mistakes but just try to learn from them and make better decisions at my next opportunity. I love the mental challenge and the constant grind. I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a dedicated group of people that share a common vision.

The funny thing is that I’m the youngest KODA employee.

Q. What are two lessons you’ve learned about business through your experiences with KODA that you did not learn in college?

A. It’s honestly just an entirely different ballgame. I’d have a tough time answering the question the other way around, “name two lessons that you learned in school that have helped you in business”. That’s not really a knock on Tulane either, I think it’s a great university, but I don’t think its possible for the classroom to prepare you for what happens once your start-up is ready to launch.

Q. Before working with KODA, you were the top leasing agent for a real estate company, a role that allowed you to build skills in sales, negotiations, and communication. How has this experience helped you in your efforts to make KODA successful?

A. My real estate experience prepared me more for what I am doing now than school ever did. It was a commission-based sales job, in a very competitive atmosphere. I started doing it when I was 20 and was competing on commission with people in my office who were twice my age. I worked seven days a week and was constantly doing everything possible to close deals and it paid off – I always ranked as the top producing agent.

This experience helped me develop a work ethic needed to succeed as well as the confidence needed to sell KODA. Meetings with vendors and negotiations can be overwhelming when you are fresh out of college but because of my job in real estate, I always felt very comfortable in these situations.

Q. On your KODA profile, your description of the typical entrepreneur is quite interesting. In your opinion, what are three qualities that make a successful entrepreneur?

A. 1. Dedication – sleepless nights are a way of life.

2. Vision – you better be able to explain it also.

3. Execution – this is where ideas hit the pavement. Execution is everything.

Q. What advice do you have for those aspiring to start their own business right out of college?

A. Find the advisors who know your industry in and out. Not only are they critical to raising money from outside investors but they also have the experience to help you avoid costly mistakes. Your university should be able to recommend a person or two.

Q. So if “sleepless nights are a way of life”, when DO you sleep?

A. It’s all about the routine. I try to grab five hours a night. But the five hours might be from 4AM-9AM.

This interview was conducted by John Fowler an ongoing contributor and program developer for Nextvoice247.

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fit for now & for the future-holiday health hints from Gennaro Ferra on Vimeo.

Gennaro Ferra, Fitness & Health Coach

NYC Celebrity Fitness Trainer Gennaro Ferra gives you some healthy fitness and nutrition tips to stay lean and in shape during the winter months and as Thanksgiving and Christmas approaches.

1. Drink two long glasses of water every morning before breakfast and keep drinking throughout the day. By morning our bodies are dehydrated so make sure you rehydrate before diving in to that cup of coffee or tea…

2. Eat a healthy and hearty breakfast every morning. This will kickstart your metabolism in to fat burning mode and make for a great start to the day.

3. Don’t eat too late or too much at night. Eat dinner before 7pm and stay away from starchy carbs and heavy meats.

4. Record all meals and exercise routines in a journal. This will keep you accountable and better able to assess your progress.

5. Don’t make excuses! We all have time for ourselves and spending it on our health and wellness should always come first.

For more on health, fitness and nutrition visit:
www.ferrafitness.com

Nextvoice247 is very happy to have Gennaro Ferra join us as a contributing blogger and contributor to the whole life balance we all seek. His approach and success is well-known – and he brings a fresh perspective on how simple it is to stay healthy and be a business person, parent or student. Gennaro is one of the world’s most symmetrical and defined natural physique stars. He is well known for his accomplishments as the trainer to the trainers having educated and coached many successful fitness trainers and coaches. He is a former NABBA Mr. Australia and Mr. Universe finalist. He was one of the first athletes to represent Australia as a World Natural Professional Bodybuilder.

• Bachelor of Education, Physical Education (Deakin University, Melbourne)
• Certified Fitness and Nutrition Coach
• Speed, Agility and Quickness Specialist(NESTA)
• Personal Fitness Chef (NESTA)
• CPR/AED & FIRST AID (American Red Cross)

Gennaro has appeared in and written for numerous health and fitness magazines throughout the world (see press) and has over 22 years of experience as a fitness, nutrition and lifestyle coach in Europe, Australia, and the United States. His clientele include business owners, celebrities, professional athletes, seniors, moms, dads, young adults and many others who have achieved greater personal and professional success as a result of his signature fitness programs. Gennaro is renowned for his mastery in exercise technique, intensity and variety and has developed a unique, balanced and efficient system of fitness training that guarantees you results safely and effectively.

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In the last 100 years, human civilization has rocketed through the Industrial Age, past the Information Age, and into the unknown digital mystery of the future. We now live in a constant state of change. Everyday computers get faster, smaller, and cheaper. Everyday we wake up and the Earth is a little bit warmer. The only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain.

History of Modern Man.

Modern Man is the latest iteration of humanity. Modern Man has been around for 150,000. That is 3,000 lifetimes. All of civilization has been created in the last 10,00 years or 200 lifetimes. The Industrial Age is 300 years old or 6 lifetimes, and the Information Age has lasted for 30 years or one lifetime. We are now entering the Shift Age.

Nextvoice247 is happy to bring to you David Houle. David writes and curates the highly regarded futurist blog, www.evolutionshift.com. He has been speaking about the future for a number of years and his first book The Shift Age has just been published.

David Houle has always been slightly ahead the curve. He spent more than 20 years in media and entertainment and was part of the senior executive team that launched MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and CNN Headline News. He is the recipient of two Emmys, the Heartland award, the prestigious George Foster Peabody award and has been nominated for an Oscar.

If you would like to get a copy of The Shift Age Trend Report with a special Nextvoice247 premium [ENTER TalentRev2 --- it is case sensitive --- so make the right 'key shifts...'] when you click order report NOW!

We know you will find it very insightful – so subscribe to the future – today. Make it a great one.

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russell simmons & hip-hop change the world from VoiceBox | Nextvoice247 on Vimeo.



Courtesy

Global Grind

Russell Simmons has long been a hero of mine for what he has  accomplished on multiple business fronts. As an entrepreneur, it has been about nailing the things that would make a business successful. We are glad to bring you this post from blogger Sarah van Schagen.

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons is the co-founder of Def Jam Records, a sometime reality star, and an entrepreneur who’s launched a number of successful ventures including clothing lines Phat Farm and Baby Phat. He’s also a yoga-practicing vegan who’s hoping to use his resources to make change in the world of hip-hop—and the world at large.

Describing himself as “hip-hop to the bone,” Simmons is quick to hail the power of that community in influencing politics, pointing to a recent change in drug policy in New York State. “That was because Jay-Z and Puffy and Rev Run and LL Cool J and many other people came out to rally,” he says. “A lot of politicians joined them, but the artists made the noise and created the energy and made the change.”

Simmons has high hopes for rallying that same energy in the fight against climate change—an issue, he admits, the community has yet to truly embrace. But he’s harnessing more than the power of lyrics and videos to get the message out. He’s recently given birth to a new-media company called Global Grind—a hip-hop HuffPo, if you will—featuring news stories, video clips, and celeb blog posts on topics ranging from music and entertainment to “politricks.”

Simmons has also taken on the role of spokesperson for the America’s Greenest Campus campaign, an effort to get college students (a key hip-hop demographic) to reduce their carbon footprint. The contest ran through October and offered prizes to the school with the most participants, the school with the largest percentage of carbon emissions reduced, and the creator of an online ad for sponsor SmartPower.

During a recent phone call—and between bites of a Gardenburger-topped salad garnished with both salad dressing and ketchup (a combination his staff poked fun at, he says)—Simmons talked about his commitment to reducing his own footprint, the brand power of hip-hop, and the importance of well-informed consumers.

Q. Tell me about the America’s Greenest Campus contest. Why have you signed on to help publicize this campaign?

A. The hip-hop community has not been as concerned about the environment as they could be, so if I can loan my voice and my resources … into growing it very quickly, then I believe that companies can create more awareness on this subject. It’s something that I’m very committed to, so I want to tie this educational vehicle, Global Grind, directly to this “America’s Greenest Campus” idea, and I want to see how I can help others to lighten their footprint.

Q. What role can young people play in helping change the way we think about climate change in this country?

A. [This campaign] is an educational tool and an empowerment vehicle. People don’t understand what it is to lighten their footprint, what steps to take. So if we give them the simple steps and we tell them exactly how much it affects the environment if they make certain changes—being a vegetarian, doing other things that make a dramatic difference in how much weight they carry in the world—people want to know that. When they realize that by changing simple things they can make a difference, it’s an empowerment vehicle.

Q. You’ve said that you used to live a life of overconsumption and abundance—how have your priorities changed over time?

A. One thing is that I’m an animal activist. I felt very disturbed about the way humanity treats its species on this planet. It was a spiritual matter, and it was not connected, at first, to the environment. And then when I found out that your footprint is so much heavier because you eat animals—that’s [a bigger] cause of global warming … than all forms of transportation put together—it became a part of my discussion when I was trying to get people to stop eating animals and abusing themselves by eating them. I didn’t realize how much they were abusing the planet as well.

Q. Hip-hop culture definitely trumpets a life of luxury and overconsumption, and that message is going straight to the youth, so it feels a little bit contradictory to say “hey, green your campus, lessen your footprint” but also be telling them “have the pimpest car and the blingiest bling”—

A. I’m going to interrupt you. First of all, the abuse comes from the top down. The president’s flying around in a private plane. Stop playin’! Everybody’s abusive and every channel’s abusing us … All the people pointing the finger at hip-hop need to point at themselves.

If hip-hop decides to buy something that’s popular in culture and talk about it, that certainly doesn’t make them more abusive. They’re more conscious, not less. They’re less homophobic, not more. They’re less violent, not more. They’re less racist, not more. But it’s wrong [to say that] in general, they’re less concerned.

I will say that it is a community that needs to be enlightened more. But that’s not the issue—their mission of getting ahead. That’s a mission America sends on every network, in every promotion, on every channel, and every commercial.

Because they sing about the things that people buy? I think that’s a reflection of us. They are reflections of us, and our dirt is coming right out of their mouths …

Q. Do you think the hip-hop community can lead the charge to help shepherd these changes?

A. You’ve gotta hope so, because the biz is depending on hip-hop to pick which color diamond is popular. The only way [the Maybach] beats Phantom Rolls Royce is to get rappers to choose it. Tommy Hilfiger’s praying that hip-hop discovers him again. So is Coca-Cola; [they’re] worried what hip-hop says versus Pepsi.

We need them; they’re the best brand-building community in the world. If we can get a large number of hip-hoppers to take this on, then they will have a greater impact in lots of forms of media.

Q. Are there any artists in particular who have taken on this cause?

A. I don’t have a rapper that I can point to the way I can point to Leonardo DiCaprio. But I’m going to work now as an individual, and I’m trying to find some leaders in the community who can make a huge difference.

Q. Have you done any work to move along environmental changes in the music industry—or have you seen any promising changes in the way the industry is run?

A. I don’t know that they’ve done a lot of work yet. The reason I signed on [to this campaign] is because I felt they were not serving this initiative. They work on many things that are social and political, but this has not been one. It’s not been on the forefront in their minds, and that’s why I’m trying to make a difference now by joining on. I’m not joining on because they have a lot of hip-hoppers involved in the environmental movement. I’m joining on because they don’t, and I think that we can put it in their face and they’re conscious people and a lot of them will join.

Q. What about your clothing lines? Have you made moves to ensure they have minimal impact on the earth?

A. Not as much as I should. It’s something we’ve talked about a lot. In fact, we had a discussion about making a lot of organic cotton for Wal-Mart yesterday.

Q. What’s holding you back on that front? What needs to happen so that it makes sense from a business point of view?

A. You have to get customers to value it. Some of these choices we want to make—in order for us to be competitive and still make a difference, we have to be profitable. There is a resistance on the part of some consumers that is making it more difficult. We have to promote the value of organic choices to the consumers … We’re working on it. It’s a marketing exercise.

Q. Do you feel it’s your role as a public figure to use your status to promote change?

A. I try to go to work every day and make sure my businesses have a light footprint in every area. I stopped my licensees a long time ago from making fur; my new companies are not making leather. I’m trying, you know? I try to every day do a little better, but that’s for me to sleep at night. If you live by example, if you speak in a way that people can digest it and see the value in it, then you can get people to join in. I know that as [people] learn to do better, they do better, they feel better, and they sleep better as a result of making a good choice.

This article is brought to you from the Seattle Editor of The Grist.

by Sarah van Schagen

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the power of asking intelligent questions from john exley | Nextvoice247 on Vimeo.

It’s 9:15 in the morning and I’m sitting in my Public Speaking class in pure disbelief. My attention has suddenly left my professor and concentrated solely on my laptop. I had just loaded my TweetDeck and there it was: Kat Cole [http://www.twitter.com/katcoleatl, http://www.linkedin.com/in/katcole], the Vice President of Training & Development for Hooters Restaurants USA

Kat Cole, emerging leader

(whom I had just started following on Twitter a few hours before amidst a near all-nighter) had replied to me on Twitter.

It’s the moment of truth: in the face of opportunity, what do I ask a person of such notable success?

Why Asking Intelligent Questions is Important

It’s simple. Have you ever dreamed of talking to your idol? Someone you really look up to, or someone whose level of success you desire to reach? If you had the chance to talk to her or him for just a few minutes, what question would you ask? Such a scenario demonstrates the importance of intelligent questions.

If I am to learn, how will I unless I ask intelligent questions?  Once you are able to develop some go-to questions to ask, simply caring and showing your genuine curiosity can be the foundation to building a relationship.

The Moment of Truth

What an inspiring background. At only 26, Ms. Cole was promoted to the corporate executive level for Hooters Restaurants. Additionally serving as a public speaker, consultant, President of the Georgia Restaurant Association, and MBA student, I was intrigued to know what advice she might have concerning my plans for after graduation.

In the face of opportunity, I responded to her message on Twitter. I asked her, “What’s your advice regarding gaining 3 years of experience after graduating vs. going right to grad school?”

That afternoon, she sent me her number and said that she would make time for me the very next day. I called her and we ended up chatting for 45 minutes, as she gave me some really thought–provoking, open–ended advice and told me gripping stories of building restaurant chains in Australia at 19 years old. I took four pages of notes. It was motivating.

Fine–Tune Your Skills

Study. Asking intelligent questions is an art, and you must master it. To master an art, you must become a student of the ‘game’. Make lists of insightful questions you come across or think of. If they turn into a disorganized laundry list, categorize them. Here are a couple of good resources that I have learned a great deal from; the founders of each ask terrific questions and host strong interviews:

Mixergy [http://www.mixergy.com], founded by Andrew Warner [http://www.twitter.com/andrewwarner]

Learn From My Life [http://www.learnfrommylife.com]
 founded by Moe Abdou [http://www.twitter.com/moeabdou]

Putting The Intelligent Question To Use

Have you ever met someone who gives you the impression that they are unzipping their head and dumping their brain on your lap? Unloading on you with their knowledge and continual onslaught of near-unsolicited information? Such behavior is the exact opposite of the characteristics you want to embody as a genuine ‘asker’ of intelligent questions. Further, such is the impression most have of the typical salesman. Contrast that with a person who asks thoughtful, intelligent questions. The latter is the sign of a person of good character who is interested in you.

The Sandler System of Sales [http://www.sandler.com/] is one of the most successful, worldwide sales systems and it builds its entire program on salesmen speaking 25% of the time and listening 75% of the time. When conversing, the only way you can achieve such a ratio is through the art of asking pointed, inquisitive questions.

If you are in the business of sales (even if you are simply selling yourself to recruiters), it is important to put the intelligent questions that you have developed to use. It will help you immensely to understand your customer and provide the perfect solution to their needs.

A Challenge for YOU

No matter what your age or level of success, I challenge you to interview someone whom you admire. First, do your best to research the person in–depth. Become highly knowledgeable of their area of expertise; whether it is an industry that they have excelled in, a sport, a specific course at school, or a particular niche in life that they are most interested in. The key is that you are genuinely interested in the person’s passions. Develop 5-10 intelligent questions that you are most curious about. Then, call or email the person and ask if they can spare twenty minutes for you to interview her/him.

Ideas? Use Skype [http://www.skype.com] to conduct the interview and (if it is okay with the person you interviewed) record it and post it on your blog, YouTube, or send it to the person. Don’t forget: always, always say thank you!

The Finale

What’s the purpose of asking a question if you don’t listen thoroughly to the answer?

Listen.

Practice listening. And listen some more. Whether you are meeting with a customer, talking to a potential mentor (or mentee), in an interview, or simply trying to build a relationship with someone you care about, asking intelligent questions can have a powerful impact. It can also go a long way in developing your personal and professional persona – but you must listen. The power of asking intelligent questions is that you can establish credibility and build a relationship with just about anyone; even your idol.

I encourage all of you to dedicate yourselves to helping others, especially those who have helped guide you along your journey in life. Return the favor! Listen always – look for opportunities to learn – share your experiences – and repeat.

listen. learn. share. repeat.™

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Many thanks to Ms. Kat Cole for her mentorship and for inspiring me to write this article.