From Retirement To Career Change

Listening Pays

I'm convinced the world wants people who listen. Why else would we pay therapists $200 an hour because we want their undivided attention and the answers to our problems?

It seems to me, however, that our world is full of talkers. We even pay for talkers. Successful motivational speakers charge $100 thousand to speak at a conference. Specialists in sales teach week-end courses to 1000 people at $2000 each. Talking is also lucrative but only so when it solves the listeners' problems. All of which means these talking speakers had to be listening before they talked.

People need to feel appreciated and important. Listening is how we know someone cares. When people know you care about them and their dreams, instead of only selling to them, you are more likely to get what you want because you've helped them get what they want.

The question is when you are talking to a prospective client or attending a networking event are you actually listening or are you waiting for your turn to talk? Do you take the time to see the world through their eyes or are you looking for someone to hear your story?

Listening is not easy. No matter how good a talker you are, how much experience you have had in sales, you cannot motivate someone to something they don't want to do. If they felt pressured when they spoke to you and purchased your product, changes are fairly good that that will be his last purchase with you. Motivation comes from within. People tend to move away from the things that bother them and move toward things that feel good. When you find out what those things are you have the key to what motivates them. You can only do this when you stop talking and listen.

Listening is not half listening because you don't know how to get away without offending someone. Listening is not pretending you are interested when you are not. Nor is listening looking for weak points in an argument so you can be right. And listening is not the same as hearing but it is a mental and emotional process.

You may not need to perspire to listen well, but to apply listening skills, you will need to work at it and practice it.

Again, if you have tips for good listening, I'd love to learn them and share them with our readers. Post your tip on Comments.

To your career success.

Ruthan Brodsky

Listening Builds Relationships

Have you ever had someone interrupt you before you finished your sentence? Or talk too much? or respond too quickly? Of course you have, we all have.

When that happens to me it sometimes feels like a slap in the face. Other times it feels as if my contribution to the conversation has been cut off at the knees. But most of the time I get the impression that this person isn't at all interested in what I have to say so I don't continue my end of the conversation. My goal then is to find someone else to talk with whom I can have a real conversation and not listen to a monologue.

The point is if you want to build a relationship with a customer or a prospective client, you need to listen to what they're saying and try your best to understand who they are. Some of what they say may be irrelevant, incorrect or even misguided but some may give you the key to what motivates and inspires them to action.

No matter how successful you've been in your previous career, when you're branching out or taking a slightly different approach to your business or profession or starting completely over, you build your business one person at a time. To do that you need to make personal connections with people, a connection that is strong enough that it overcomes their natural resistance to change, to try something new, to leave their comfort zone and to do business with you or become one of your clients.

Chances are you already have some fairly decent listening skills working in your profession or business for the past 35 years. The trick is to apply those skills to your new career or your variation of a previous career. To do that requires that you pay attention to a skill that may have been on automatic. Your best option is to figure out what you already know about listening skills and apply them to your current career path.

Success in your retirement and in your retirement business requires good listening skills. Poor listening leads to poor relationships and poor results. The fact is the most successful and influential people in all walks of life tend to be the best listeners.

Here's my secret. Most businesses and even professions require a type of selling: your product, service, or your expertise. Yet people with little or no selling experience are often very successful. They succeed because they know that sales is about helping people solve their problems and adding quality to their life. You can only do that if you listen and find out what are their problems and their dreams.

I welcome your tips for ways to be good listener. Scroll down to comments and type them in the blank window so we can share them with our readers.

To your success in life and business,

Ruthan brodsky

More About Talk Therapy In Mid Life

Aging brings a slew of physical changes and challenges and it is not unusual to benefit from professional help in adjusting to them.

Eating issues, such as anorexia and bulimia, are becoming a larger concern either because more women and men are experiencing these disorders, or the health community is better able to diagnose these disorders than previously. Women are more likely to either experience renewed problems with anorexia or develop the problem for the first time. The eating issue is similar to what takes place in adolescence as a result of rapid body changes. Midlife women develop eating disorders responding to changing bodies and life circumstances.

Others may experience reduced sexual desire or more discomfort during intercourse in midlife. Although some sexual issues may be physical, most are the result of relationship issues or psychological issues. Again, an experienced psychotherapist is helpful when it comes to exploring these issues and figuring out how to deal with them.

Alcohol and drug use is another possibility in mid life particularly for those who are depressed, dealing with losses, or unable to adjust to the physical and social changes that take place in midlife. It may be that the psychotherapist first challenges the underlying problem or it just may be that alcohol and drugs are the problem.

Dealing with illness and disability is tough at any time of our lives but it is especially challenging in midlife. Psychotherapy and support groups are helpful dealing with the emotional issues involved. It is well known, for example, that depressed people with arthritis improve their ability to function and deal with arthritis pain following psychotherapy and support.

It is likely that you cannot count on your health insurance plan to cover the costs of psychotherapy. Most private insurance, Medicare and some managed-care plans give some coverage but it's limited. They may a percentage of the cost of a therapy session but co-pay is usually higher than for non-=mental health office visits.

If lack of finances holds you back there may be some avenues of support that you can try although they probably won't be as effective. One is your local hospital may have classes or offer support groups with facilitators. There may be some fees involved. Another is to check with your religious organization and inquire about what they have to offer.

Talking with friends and family can help and are good sources for providing a sounding board for some of your issues. However, over the years, repeated conversations about the same emotional or health issue can be draining for family and friends. Besides, they won't be able to recognize whether your challenges are getting worse or better and that you may need more or less help.

In most cases, however, as independent as you may be, there should be no remorse if you can't solve a problem on your own or with the help of family and friends. You're not the expert in these matters, remember? When challenges such as depression, panic disorder and anxiety disorders are serious, then professional help is needed.

I sincerely hope this information has been helpful.

To your success in life and business.

Ruthan Brodsky

Psychotherapy at Midlife?

By the time we reach 45 and 50, most of us see ourselves as a certain kind of person – outgoing or shy, easy going or tense, and optimistic or negative. We are used to the roles we have with the different people we know both professionally and socially as well as with family.

For some, reaching mid life is also a time to come to terms with dissatisfaction about your life or what you're doing in particular in your career. For most it probably seems too late to question those perceptions or try and change what you're doing.

However, people at or approaching midlife today realize that they can expect another 20 to 30 years of quality life. Rather than thinking of retirement, many of are thinking about starting a new job or planning for an extended work life. Prior to the economy descending steeply, older women were less likely to stick with a troubled marriage or more likely to initiate divorce.

Indeed, midlife is an important stage of development that has its own unique challenges. Mental health professionals are likely to encourage people to realize that it's not too late for people in midlife to have greater satisfaction for the rest of their lives.

One vehicle for change is talk therapy. At any time of life, successful psychotherapy can help us become more insightful about our behavior and feelings. Mid life is a good time to enter therapy without the goal of fixing a specific psychological problem, but instead obtain help for those challenging situations in midlife or as guidance for creating a more fulfilling life.

Sometimes it's obvious when you need help. It may be certain symptoms that indicate there's a serious psychological disorder and requires professional evaluation. These may include extreme periods of high and low moods or long periods of despair. More commonly, people seek therapy for help dealing with life events such as divorce, or death of a spouse, or loss of a child. Actually it's enough to feel lost or stuck to be concerned enough for psychotherapy.

And contrary to conventional wisdom, menopause doesn't make all women in midlife suddenly more vulnerable to depression. Granted, menopause can complicate life but it can also be a very positive experience.

What are your thoughts on psychotherapy. I'm going to post again on psychotherapy but it would be great if I could include some of your comments.   Thanks

To your success in life and business

Ruthan Brodsky

The Benefits of Testimonials For Your Business

Internet Marketing Specialists, such as Connie Ragen Green , are constantly reminding us to use testimonials in our sales letters and promotional material. This is even truer for those of you new to promoting your services or products on the Internet. Testimonials can put skeptical and wary prospective clients and customers at ease.

First, testimonials establish credibility.

Credibility is the respect you receive when people perceive you as being transparent, above board. Your credibility can be based on the information you present or the past experiences of your clients and customers.

When prospective clients hear about you for the first time, they aren't even sure what product you're promoting. And since you are the salesperson they aren't likely to open you with open arms. Testimonials can help start your relationship with prospective clients. You begin establishing this relationship when you send marketing materials, sample products, and when they visit your website.

The faster you establish credibility, the better. If you don't, they are going to question everything you do and won't really be listening to you when you're presenting. The testimonials reinforce your presentation because they give results and examples to establish confidence. One testimonial isn't going to do it. You need several because there is power in numbers. You want to find the testimonials that will reflect the needs and wants of your prospective clients.

Testimonials also provide third party validation.

That's an important part of promoting yourself because it makes you more believable and improves your status to others. Another person is referring you for the business. That is a highly persuasive tool that you should use as often as you can.

Testimonials Do Influence Prospects

Without testimonials, your ability to influence people when they get to your website is diminished. You can be the greatest copywriter ever but prospects will still have their doubts and not sign up for your class without testimonials. Even when you explain how successful you've been, prospects aren't going to take you seriously without testimonials. You will influence prospects, however, by presenting testimonials that are specific to them.

If you use testimonials on your website or sales page for a product, share your experience with us. 

Testimonials Give You Credibility

Testimonials on your website from your clients or customers or colleagues will go a long way to give you the credibility you need even to perfect strangers.

Testimonials on a sales letter site, which is a descriptive presentation of a particular program, product, workshop or e-book, are not only more meaningful, they are absolutely necessary. These help readers decide whether to purchase the specific product because they specifically address the consumer's questions about whether the product addresses their needs and does the product work the way it should.

Even if you're not thinking about producing a product or workshop in the immediate future, it is still a very good idea to start collecting testimonials from your clients, customers and colleagues. One of the best ways to nudge prospective customers into purchasing your workshop is to make them feel confident that they are going to get good value for their money. Quotes from people who purchased your programs provide that confidence.

We are all fairly sophisticated when it comes to advertising. We realize when a website page is trying to sell us something. We know that they're going to say how wonderful their product is and how long it lasts and how it will solve all their problems. One of the major incentives to take out our credit card is when we read or listen to people, just like us, explain that their problems (just like ours) were solved with this product that's for sale. We want to recognize ourselves in the people who are talking about the products and services that interest us. Then we'll purchase the product.

Testimonials work for me. They made a significant difference in the number of people who signed up for a teleseminar. More on testimonials on my next post.

To your success in life and business regardless of age.

Ruthan Brodsky

Facing Changes In Your Business Strategy

I have finely broken down and decided to use Word Press for a blog and for a web site. I honestly thought I could use the blogging platform TypePad to do all that but it doesn't work well enough for my business goals.

Actually, it's not that it doesn't work. The reason is more like I am not techy enough to make it work.

To use Typepad and achieve the kind of Internet presence I'm looking for I would also need to set up a Website using html code, templates plus software for publishing and designing. As long as a learning curve was involved I finally succumbed to using Word Press vs an html website. This is not a new suggestion. Word Press was recommended to me by a guy who sells hardware and software almost 2 years ago. I'm just hoping this 6 foot 4, 230 pound computer guru doesn't point a fingure at me and say "I told you so!" Brian is located in Michigan and you can find him at Tener Tech.

I am using a Virtual Assistant to help me who also spent 2 hours convincing me to use Word Press, and yes I paid her for that time!

Talk about being reluctant to change!

I am used to most things coming easy to me (except for golf). Type Pad was easy and I didn't need outside help. I didn't want to dig in and learn something new and rely on outside services to work with me. I wanted to be in control.

I now realize that if I want to create the kind of internet presence that will work in my business and bring in an acceptable income, my strategies have to change and so do I.

It's a good think I'm a firm believer in it's never too late...to change...to learn.

I would very much like to hear from those of you who have had similar stories and what happened at the end of your tale. I'm still creating mine and am open to your advice.

To your success regardless your age.

Ruthan Brodsky

Listening Helps You Build Relationships

People don't listen. They hear but they aren't really listening to what you have to say. A good cue is to watch their eyes. Are they looking at you? Are they looking at your face, at your eyes?

If you listen to someone and do your best to understand who they are, and what they have to say, they will eventually give you all that information. Some of what they say may be irrelevant, incorrect, or what you think is misguided. No matter. Some of it may give you the key to what motivates and inspires them to take action.

When you are seeking new customers or clients or want to establish better relationships with the people you have, you need to become a good listener.

For instance, let's say you are listening to someone who shares their dream of wanting to start a business in their home. Most entrepreneurs would launch into telling the person all about their great opportunity or their coaching skills, or their technical skills they can use to get started.

A better response is to ask that person "What is it about working from home that attracted you?" Now you can listen to the answer and discover more about this person. Maybe what you have to offer is the opposite direction of what this person seeks. Maybe what you have to offer is right on target.

In either case, keep asking questions and listen. Listening and talking isn't selling and people are too sophisticated today to jump at your coaching program or sales letter product. It is better to ask and talk then to sell. Find out their dreams, their goals, where is their pain.

If you're the one doing most of the talking you'll never find out how you can help them because you won't know where it hurts.

No matter how successful you become you end up building your business one person at a time, even if they're in groups. To do that you must make a personal connection with people, a connection that's powerful enough to overcome natural resistance to change, to try new business or life approaches, and to get out of their comfort zone.

One of the best ways to do this is by listening.

Please share any tips you may have about listening. Scroll down to comments and type them in the box.

To your success in life and business,

Ruthan Brodsky

Baby Boomers Changing Careers

 

My dad worked for one company his entire life. He worked close to 40 years for the company and had only two bosses: the founder of the company and then his son. He retired when he had a stroke at age 60.

 

Today is very different. Young adults expect to hold a series of jobs, change employers several times, learn new skills and trades, and take part in alternative working arrangements such as working from home – or from a coffee shop.

 

The baby boomers, now numbering 77 million people, are part of this trend. Millions of workers are reaching age 50 and most of them don't think they will retire at age 65. This group is healthier than previous generations, and they want to stay active and work longer for financial reasons as well as for staying in the workforce.

 

Many of them are looking for jobs because they've officially retire from the company they work for but they want to keep working. For many, this means joining the ranks of the job hunters.

 

Job hunting is never easy.  It can be a daunting work out especially if you're competing with men and women in their 20s and 30s who may be more updated than you in technological areas.  Even so, writing a good resume, promoting yourself on social networks such as Linked In, Facebook and Tweeting about yourself can help you with self promotion. Having a good interview can help you make the first round of Job eliminations.  

 

Congratulations and good luck with your efforts.

 

To a successful journey,

 

 

Ruthan Brodsky

 

P.S. I know someone who is a marketing guru and she and one of her colleagues are starting a course for those who are beginners at starting an internet marketing business.  Send me an email if you are interested in getting more information about this course. Right now all I know is that it's being taught on line and it starts mid-July.