The Golden 15

“You can withstand any social situation for two hours”….

That is the wisdom and sage advice handed down to me from my mother, who received it from the mother of her dear friend.  Time and time again, I think back to that advice when faced with demands on my family's already busy schedules. 

In my career as Corporate Outreach Specialist for Redwood Living, I find that the same concept holds true across relationship building with major national partnerships.  I refer to this as “The Golden 15”, or the 15 minute meeting “ask” you make when approaching a new client or professional relationship. Asking for 15 minutes of any busy executive’s time and not a minute more takes your business relationship from the coldest of calls to warm greetings in little time.

The most daunting task when approaching new business is sometimes the very first step, when that phone is pressed to your ear and you FINALLY have your target on the line…how do you convert the call into a meeting?  The approach is shockingly simple: ask for the first 15 minutes of your new contacts day.  For many this might be 7:30am, some earlier, some later.

Let’s be honest….what does anyone do in their first fifteen minutes in the office each day that cannot be set aside, delayed, or flat out cancelled….even on short notice?  If you ask for the first 15 minutes of a new client’s day, arrive EARLY and excuse yourself at exactly 15 minutes. Your reputation will skyrocket in the mind of your client, and your chance of getting a coveted lunch or hour meeting in the near future will be greatly enhanced.

It may take some practice and timing to get your message across in just 15 minutes, but consider the amount of information that is conveyed in each brilliant “TED Talk” (www.ted.com), many of which are timed to last exactly 15 minutes or less. 

Utilizing technology such as smart phones and tablets to keep your message concise and your schedule on time will be appreciated by your new client and will strengthen your reputation as a trusted new contact.  

The final and most promising part of “The Golden 15” is the unexpected.  I once asked for 15 minutes with Don Washkewicz, former President of Parker Hannifin.  Though I attempted to excuse myself out of respect for his time after 15 minutes, he insisted I stay and accompany him to several meetings.  That 15 minutes turned into years of a professional relationship that is more valuable to me than gold.

Keep in mind that “The Golden 15” works both ways.  When you are approached with a new idea that needs some brainstorming while you are in the middle of a busy project or asked to meet with a hopeful new vendor, find 15 minutes at the top of your day and invite them in.

Just as my mother reassured me that I could survive any social soiree for two hours, I am confident that you will be granted the first 15 minutes of your biggest targets busy day.  Plan, prepare, make your ask, and then turn those minutes into gold.

Written by Amy Litten, Corporate Outreach Specialist for Redwood Living

9 Weird and Hilarious Superstitions

I’m the first to admit that I watch and read way too much in the Fantasy genre. I have a very rich fantasy life and these books, movies and TV shows only serve to make me a tiny bit nutty when it comes to the supernatural – but, let’s be clear, this list is nothing but entertaining. 

1.       Carrying or seeing someone carrying an empty bucket is bad luck (Russia)

The entertainment value of this superstition is based in the fact that someone has to carry an empty bucket at some point. How exactly are you supposed to fetch water or rocks or dirt or whatever you put in a bucket, if your bucket full. Yes, I’ve thought way to much about this bucket situation, but seriously, what kind of crazy bad luck superstition puts anyone with a bucket at risk?!

2.       Eating goat meat causes facial hair, but only in women (Rwanda)

So, it’s not that eating goat meat is a problem, it’s only a problem if you’re a woman? What if you already have facial hair (as many women do), will you get more? Does this apply to goat milk? I don’t eat meat, but I’m not giving up goat cheese, so I guess I’ll take the risk on the facial hair.

3.       Anyone you “cheer” with water, you’re wishing death to (Germany)

Wait a minute, if you do wish death on someone, all you have to do is cheers them with water? This is too easy. Does this only work in Germany? Does this effect a whole dinner party or just the people you clink glasses with?

4.       Walking backward will bring you bad luck (Portugal)

This one is just silly and darn obvious. Of course it’s bad luck to walk backward…especially for any extended period of time. You’re just increasing the odds that you’ll fall and bruise your bum – or break your wrist, like really, turn around, walk forward.

5.       Running a fan in a closed room will kill you! (S. Korea)

I’m just guessing this isn’t true because some oddly large percentage of Americans would be resting in peace under their ceiling fans. I can just see the M Night shyamalan version of this…people sitting in living rooms across the country, they appear to be sleeping, but they’re really all DEAD!

6.       Sitting your wallet or purse on the floor will bring you to poverty (Brazil & my mother)

Okay, so my mother has been brow beating me on this one since I started carrying a purse. She bought me my first purse (great gift) then followed it with a lecture on how it was never to touch the floor. Well, I thought it was about germs, but now I’m starting to second guess her motivations…and her country of origin.

7.       Leaving a pair of scissors open will make evil spirits angry (Egypt)

I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to make evil spirits mad…they’re already evil, what’s a little scissor anger gonna do? Plus, what sort of crazy person leaves scissors open, that’s just plain old dangerous.

8.       It’s good luck to have birds poop on you (International)

Having experienced this first hand, I can say it’s likely a load of poop. But, I was in Puerto Rico, so…maybe I’d already had my good luck?

9.       If you sing at the table you’re serenading the devil (The Netherlands)

Again, this must be a regional superstition because Americans sing at the table constantly! Hell, we’d have to change all restaurant birthday celebrations. But, now that I think about it…good lord, we’ve been serenading the devil?!?

Superstitions via Diply: http://diply.com/strange-superstitions-from-around-the-world

*Written by Lindsay S., Redwood resident.