What People Say About Honorée:
“Honorée
has been my professional coach for the past five years – as a
result, my practice grew more in the first year than the ten prior
years combined – and the exponential growth has continued!!!
Honorée gave me the clarity of setting specific goals, motivated me
to pursue my vision, and, most importantly, held me accountable for
attaining greater success in both my personal and business life. I
could not recommend a better person to help others to take action to
recognize and achieve their dreams!!!”
S. Craig Stone II,
Esq.,
Partner, Fox Rothschild
Las Vegas, Nevada
“One
of the Best Professional Business Coaches in the country. Honorée
has not only proven herself based on the testimonials of some of her
clients, but she continues pushing her clients in helping them to
adjust to changing markets. Honorée is the "Safe Bet" when
it comes to picking a partner that’s right for you and your
organization..”
Tracy Albert
Managing Director, Houlihan
Lokey Howard & Zukin
Los Angeles, California
“I
wouldn’t have been able to consistently exceed our business goals
by 100% without Honorée’s help. She was the piece of the puzzle I
was missing in my life to be inspired and motivated in my potential
as a professional. She has transformed my life and allowed me to
dream of goals while holding me accountable the entire time. She
consistently makes connections for me and goes above and beyond as a
business coach. She rocks!!!!!”
Dennis Berlien, P.E.
Partner,
Wright Engineers
Las Vegas, Nevada
“Honorée's
unique combination of intellect, insight, passion, and drive, coupled
with her heartfelt sincere desire to see her clients create
phenomenal results makes her the most effective coach I have ever
seen. She has helped me to clarify my vision, focus my ability, and
attain measurable results beyond my expectations. Let this also be
your fair warning: Be careful what you wish for. With Honorée
Corpron (Corder) as your coach, YOU WILL ACHIEVE IT! See you at the
top!”
Jason M. Mickey
Managing Partner, New England
Financial
Las Vegas, Nevada
“I
came into contact about a year ago with Honorée through a mutual
friend in Las Vegas. We began our coaching sessions immediately and
the results have been fantastic! Honorée has taught me how to
organize my personal life to be in balance with my professional life.
The results have been more time with my family and a dramatic
increase in profits. One of the keys to my success has been to
position myself to have my customers chase me and not chasing the
business. The outcome has been nothing short of phenomenal. She's a
wonderful coach as well as a great person and I would recommend her
to everyone. Thanks Honorée!”
Darren Copeland
Branch
Office Owner, Meridias Capital
Kansas City, Missouri
“Before
working with Honorée, I was stuck in my comfort zone for three
years: stagnant and nowhere nearly productive as I have been since
starting our work together. Anyone who wants to take their business
to the next level should be so lucky to have someone who can both
expand their vision and hand out practical tools to make those dreams
come true. Thanks Honorée!”
Matt Donaldson
Northwestern
Mutual
New York, New York
~~~~***~~~~
Honorée
Corder's
Mini E-book of Creating Credibility
Honorée Corpron Corder
Published by Leading Edge Publishing, LLC at Smashwords.
Copyright 2011 ©Leading Edge Publishing, LLC & Honorée Corpron Corder
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
ISBN: Pending
Discover other titles by Honorée Corpron Corder at http://www.Smashwords.com
~~~~***~~~~
Table of Contents
What Do People Need to Know About You?
Constantly Increase Your Network
~~~~***~~~~
This section will be brief: Either you adopt an “I’m-on-fire-and-the-best-person-you’ll-meet-today” attitude or you are sure to fail.
Coach’s Note: Nothing I (ever) say means anything if you don’t have the right attitude. If you want a great attitude, you must:
Choose to have a great attitude.
Find out what helps you get and keep a great attitude.
Study those with great attitudes.
Surround yourself with those who have great attitudes.
Eliminate (or minimize contact with) anyone in your life that doesn’t have a great attitude.
~~~~***~~~~
Credibility is established, enhanced, and maintained when the general public, your colleagues, clients, potential clients and strategic partners all know who you are, what you stand for, and what you offer.
When you look at the brands above, don’t you know what those companies offer and the key words you would use to describe them? They made it easy for us to know what to expect from them.
You must do the same!
Here are four keys to determining and communicating your brand:
Differentiation is what sets you apart from your competitors. While two similar individuals or entities may seem to have the exact same target, further investigation reveals what their USP (unique selling position) is, as well as their true sweet spot and ideal client targets.
While two litigation attorneys may desire to represent companies going through “business divorces,” what you will find by asking more questions is what matters to each individual, among others: the size of the company, annual revenue, leadership demographics, and budget.
The same holds true with you: if you are a realtor, you don’t just want to sell any property. You want to find clients that offer you what is in alignment with your values. Do you desire to help first-time homebuyers? Wealthy buyers in search of their dream home? Newly divorced single moms intent on home ownership? Are you looking to be the “condo queen” or the “wealthy widow realtor.” You must differentiate to dominate in a particular industry, for particular individuals or companies.
Emotion is what causes someone to buy from you. Logic is what they use to justify their purchase (but that’s another e-book). Your emotional intensity (read: passion) combined with your likeability and product knowledge will compel someone to buy from you, or walk away and find another professional. Re-discover the emotional reasons you chose your profession in the first place, and be willing and able to communicate them to your prospects.
You must be full of conviction if you want the full faith and truth of your clients. If you don’t believe in you, they won’t believe in you.
Authenticity is crucial to your success. Prospects aren’t just prospects, they are people. You are a person. Being able to relate to other people is not just helpful, it’s necessary! You may be paid once or over and over again, either way, your clients are left with their experience, your product or service and it’s long-term impact.
Don’t you want it to be positive, powerful and provide you with what you want: great referrals and recommendations?
You must be transparent, honest and ethical in all of your deals. The Golden Rule states: “Do unto others are you would have them do unto you.” I say, “I will engage in no transaction that does not benefit all whom it affects in a positive manner.” That leaves out any question of my intent or how I behave in any situation. For me, it must be win-win or I don’t do it, and I’m understanding in situations where I could be frustrated and lay down the hammer.
Finally, are you relevant? Your services, products and brand must be relevant to what is happening in your client’s lives or businesses right now.
There’s truth in the statement:
“Timing is everything.”
If you can be innovative while solving a problem, your relevancy levels go up and your business is sure to succeed. Think outside the box so that you can innovate and own a whole lot of market share!
~~~~***~~~~
Show Up, Show Up Professionally, Keep Showing Up
Show up. When you first become intent on creating credibility, you must go everywhere and meet as many people as possible. You’ll probably have to kiss many frogs before you find your prince, meaning, you’ll meet a ton of people who won’t be helpful to you, you won’t be helpful to them, and they won’t become your new BFF.
But, at first, show up everywhere. Show up at the Chamber of Commerce, industry-specific association meetings and every single networking event you hear about, get invited to or stumble upon. Every single one.
After about two months of burning off your shoe leather, you’ll know where you will find the people best suited for what you’re attempting to accomplish.
You’ll have a strong sense of where you need to go from then on, and without question from then on you must do everything you do with intention.
Show Up Professionally. Always dress your best, look your best and be at your best. If you can’t or won’t, don’t leave home. You never know who you’re going to run into and if you’re not at your best, you will miss an opportunity (or screw one up).
I know, it's cliché: dress for success. Yet I'm convinced there's an underlying truth, and making sure it's paid apt attention provides success insurance. What do I mean? The world forms its first and most lasting impressions of a person by the clothes he or she wears.
An appearance of prosperity attracts attention always, with no exceptions! Moreover, a look of prosperity attracts favorable attention, because the one dominating desire in every human heart is to be prosperous. What you wear doesn't need to be expensive, it needs to be neat, clean and a reflection of your aspirations ... in other words, dress for where you want to go, who you want to be.
It's all too easy to slip into "business casual" or pull something together that really doesn't look put together. I say, you never know who you're going to run into! When you look your best, you are well on your way to feeling your best, presenting your best and attracting what's best.
I'm not an expert on fashion - far from it! But I know what I like, I know when I meet someone whether I'm impressed with how they show up or not. I know for sure if I show up at a client's office and I'm not dressed for success, they won't be my client for long. There are many books on style and how to dress. Do your career, your self-image and your bank account a favor and pick up a few to dive into.
The most important thought I believe I can share with you today is this: Don't dress for the impression it will make on other people, dress mostly for the impression it will have on you.
Keep Showing Up. Now that you’ve determined where you need to go, and how you need to look when you get there, you need to go, and keep going ... until. Until you retire, sell your business or somehow become independently wealthy.
Consistently is extremely high on the list of the factors people use when determining whether they consider you credible or not. It is in the same category of doing what you say you’re going to do.
“98% of success is showing up.” ~Woody Allen
~~~~***~~~~
What does your word mean? When you give your word, do the people you give it to have confidence in you and what you’re promising?
This one seems simple enough, yet people so often break their word I find myself waiting to see what happens before I judge.
For example, when someone says, “I’ll take this call and I’ll call you right back in two minutes.” Do they call again in two minutes? Or am I still waiting three days later?
When I’m promised something will get done today or this week, am I pleasantly surprised that it gets done by Noon, or Wednesday, or do I have to call next week to remind them of their promise?
The management company for my rental house is constantly breaking their word. The management makes promises and doesn’t follow through. The maintenance man makes promises and then doesn’t show up. I’ve stopped waiting around, but it has cost me time and money and elevated my stress and frustration levels.
Can I refer them to others who have a need? Umm, no. No freakin’ way.
My advice is simple, straightforward and nothing you haven’t heard before:
Do what you say you’re going to do.
Do it prior to the deadline you agreed to.
Do it better than you promised.
And if by chance something comes up and you can’t, renegotiate your agreement to the satisfaction of all parties. What this mean is that if you’re going to be even two minutes late to meet someone for coffee, call or text and let them know. If being late isn’t all right, come up with what does.
~~~~***~~~~
What Do People Need to Know About You?
Credibility is established and maintained through loyalty transfer. Your past experience, satisfied clients and education all count toward your credibility. When people can see, in black and white, that you’re fabulous, then most likely you’re hired.
Prospective clients and your contacts and colleagues want to know:
Who have you worked with? I want to hire you, but I want to know that you’ve worked with someone just like me and they are better for it. Get testimonials in writing or even on video because that endorsement carries weight.
How long have you been in business? Did you just start yesterday? In some cases, that’s okay. Mostly, however, those around you will relax with the knowledge that this isn’t your first rodeo. They don’t want to pay you to learn your job.
Where are your clients? Do you work with people everywhere or just in your own town? Where have you worked with your clients? How will this benefit your future clients?
What are you credentials, qualifications and experience? The number one thing your prospects and colleagues (read: possible strategic partners) want to know is: what makes you able to do your job, do it better than anyone else, and will make them look good for hiring you?
Be your best client. If you sell Mercedes, you’d better drive a Mercedes! If you’re a financial planner or wealth manager, be prepared to show your balance sheet. We all need to practice what they preach, so make sure your house is clean and in order. Much like a poor financial planner is a hard sell, a fat personal trainer would be also.
I suggest using LinkedIn as your curriculum vitae or a resume. You can lay out everything someone needs to know about you in one place, and make sure they are connected with you so they can see it.
~~~~***~~~~
A quick note on client and customers and how many you’ve worked with ... how many you’ve worked with and how many of them are/were satisfied is critical to your credibility.
Think McDonalds: “1 billion served.” We don’t wonder if we eat their food what we’re going to get or not get. We know because of the number of people they’ve served.
I only work with about 20 people at a time, one-on-one, so I don’t have billions served. Combined with the seminars I facilitate, however, I do have thousands. That seems to be enough. Until I could claim that, I just collected one testimonial at a time and kept a tally until I could.
~~~~***~~~~
Your credibility is increased as your name and face recognition increase. In lieu of taking out a full-page ad on the front page of your local newspaper, there are two other key actions you can take to raise your visibility.
Speak. My first suggestion is that you find opportunities to speak. The person with the most credibility in the room is the person in charge of the room. No matter what your profession, you can and should be able to give a 20-30 minute presentation on a topic that showcases your knowledge and expertise.
The great news is that organizations are constantly looking for speakers. Rotary, Kiwanis, the Lions, just to name a few, are organized groups that meet regularly and they always need fresh speakers. I’ve been a Rotarian for 15 years and every week we have a speaker (good, bad or indifferent). Sometimes, those speakers knock our socks off and then I am a fan (and yes, they have credibility with me). Does this make sense to you?
Write. One other really important thing for you to do as soon as possible is writing and getting published. Start with a short article that you publish in your company newsletter. Eventually you will feel comfortable enough to start your own blog, have a regular column in a highly respected industry publication, or even write a book. Authors have tremendous credibility, just as speakers do. It’s an opportunity you would do well to take advantage of starting right away.
Just by looking for places to speak and publish your writings, you’ll increase your credibility by increasing your visibility. Remember: it only takes one connection to change the course of your career, and you never know when you’ll be in front of that person.
~~~~***~~~~
Constantly Increase Your Network
Always be grippin’ and grinnin’.
Yes, I’m serious. You must constantly be out and about, meeting new people. Now, I know I just said (in an earlier chapter) to figure out where you need to go and just go there. That is true, but you must also always be looking for ways to expand your circle, your connections and contacts. So go to events you’re invited to, while still going to your tried-and-true association and group meetings.
I’m a huge believer in long-term relationships. The more I know, like and trust you, the more likely I am to hire you and refer you. Yet there’s no way you’ll ever know everyone, and there are lots of great people out there you need to know, and they need to know you.
Be sure that a fair percentage of your networking includes going to new events, so that you can meet those new people.
~~~~***~~~~
It’s a great idea to get people talking … in a good way! I just gave you two ways to create a buzz (speaking and writing). Other ways include:
Land a new client,
Invent something,
Have or sponsor an event that people want to attend, or
Contribute to the greater good,
Use social media consistently and wisely, and/or
Do any of the above, do a press release about it!
The word on the street about you has got to be great! There are always going to be the haters, and you can’t do much about them, other than have a small army of people who have great things to say about you.
~~~~***~~~~
Want to Create Credibility?
Get a great attitude.
Define your brand.
Show up!
Give and keep your word
Tell people what they need to know about your.
Raise your visibility
Constantly increase your network.
Create a good buzz.
~~~~***~~~~
Honorée is a mega-successful leader of leaders, player-coach, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and mentor to professionals around the world, helping them grow their businesses and live amazing lives. She empowers others to dream big and go for what they truly want.
Author. Honorée is the author of The Successful Single Mom book series, Tall Order!, Master Strategies for Explosive Business Growth, and the upcoming Game On!
Personal Transformation Expert. She specializes in helping individuals and professionals achieve their maximum potential.
Turns Service Professionals into Rainmakers. Honorée gives seminars and conducts training programs on generating business, creating strategic partnerships and practicing exceptional business courtesy for service professionals. Her certified coaches teach her popular coaching class, The STMA (Short Term Massive Action) 100-Day Coaching Class for Professional Women and Young Professionals.
Inspires the Masses. Honorée is a source of inspiration, motivation and transformation through her books, radio shows, monthly informational telecoaching, seminars, blogs, success interviews, television appearances, and online inspirational courses. She presents immediately applicable and practical procedures for focusing vision, goals and actions on the attainment of the life desired.
Honorée
Enterprises,
Inc.
Honoree@CoachHonoree.com
http://www.CoachHonoree.com
http://www.SuccessfulSingleMomBook.com
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My
blog: http://Honoree.blogspot.com
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