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Asking Permission Now... Instead of Forgiveness Later

By Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Education & Training with Sell with Soul

November 08, 2007 07:34 PM

nar

The NAR Expo is next week. I'm an exhibitor there (#3847 near the food court). I've never even BEEN to a convention (of any kind), so this is going WAY outside my comfort zone. Please send me your good wishes. (Thanks, I feel them coming in already!)

I've dedicated the last six months of my life getting ready for this event. I've lost a lot of sleep and depleted a big chunk of my bank account. Why am I doing it? Because I love crowds and networking? Uh, no.

I'm exhibiting at the Las Vegas Expo because I have a message that I want to get out. You know what that message is.

Sell with Soul

Which means... Be Competent So You Can Be Confident. Play by the Golden Rule. Stop Pestering Strangers. Stop Pestering Your Friends. Be Yourself. Have Some Fun!

In order to get that message out, I've created some pretty cool products that I'm releasing at the convention. Some will only be available there; others will be offered to the public when I come back.

But here's where I'm asking for Permission. For those of you who won't make it to Las Vegas, I'm offering a Daily Soulful Special to my Beloved Active Rain friends. Yeah, I'm using my network here to flat-out sell stuff. I hope that's okay.

Each day of the Expo, I'll put one of my cool new products on special for 24-36 hours. Seriously "on special" - like $2 - $20 for products worth much more than that.

All I ask in return is your feedback and testimonials, if you are so inspired.

So, stay tuned. The Expo starts next Tuesday, November 13^th. I'll post the specials here on my blog each morning.

Wish me luck!

www.sellwithsoul.com

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Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL

Author of Sell with Soul

How about houseslippers? I'm a casual kinda gal...

Dan - thanks for the reminder - I need to make a Target run for a few barstools.

RuthMarie - thanks for the tips. I haven't ever done anything like this, so I will defer to your advice. And thanks for the well-wishes.

Thanks so much to EVERYONE who has sent good thoughts. I can't tell you how much your comments have revved me up. Is it Monday yet??

Nov 09, 2007 05:37 AM

Misty Lackie

Go Smart Solutions, LLC - San Luis Obispo, CA

Real Estate Advertising

Hi Jennifer - we will be there too at booth #1048. We will make sure and stop by your booth.

Nov 09, 2007 05:44 AM

Bill Gillhespy

16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL

Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Good luck with your exciting new ventures. I hope Vegas goes well for you. There really is a need for a well written book for newbies.

Nov 09, 2007 06:01 AM

Todd Hueffed

Champions Real Estate Services - Everett, WA

Picture everyone naked....its stupid but it really does help when talking in crowds. I can talk in a crowd no problem....I can sell anything...but ask me to sell something to a real estate agent and I freeze up......lol.......sometimes selling to your peers especially something that you have done personally would be hard....

Good luck on your endeavors and look forward to seeing your book and blogs...

That's my two cents......

Todd Hueffed

http://www.thathomezone.com/ in partnership with Keller Williams North Seattle

Nov 09, 2007 06:15 AM

Pam Graham

All Real Estate Options - Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville, Clay & St Johns Counties

How about Sponge Bob house slippers..that will break the ice for sure. Good luck Jennifer!!!

Nov 09, 2007 06:36 AM

Anonymous

Lisa Vocelka

Nice idea for products! Don't worry about a thing, this will be a fun and enjoyable experience. I am telling my biz partner about your post right now so he will visit you when he is there next week. Bill is the new president of the Sierra Nevada Association, so maybe this will be a good way to spread your idea!!

Nov 09, 2007 06:46 AM

#59

Zach Dahl

Ameritime Mortgage Company, LLC. - Charlottesville, VA

Virginia Home Loans

Best of luck to you Jennifer. You seem to be the kind that could handle any situation put before you!

Nov 09, 2007 07:15 AM

Art Blanchet

On the Outside Lookin' In - Sebastian, FL

Stranger in a Warm Land

Jennifer

Have a blast at the expo. I've enjoyed expos, and you and I are a great deal alike (so you should, too).

We're alike, except you're pretty and I'm...me. You're young and I'm...seasoned. You're effervescent and I'm...effervesced out.

Well, we're not much alike, but have a blast. I'll watch for your special deals...

Nov 09, 2007 07:43 AM

Steve G. Snarzyk

Trademark Real Estate, Inc. - Saint Peters, MO

Good luck with the event, I'm sure you'll do great.

Nov 09, 2007 08:13 AM

Monika McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH

Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

jennifer,

I'll be in Vegas and will stop by your booth to say hello.

Nov 09, 2007 08:22 AM

Tracy Santrock

Santrock Realty Group Inc. , - Cary, NC

Raleigh - Cary Broker

Jennifer,

I know you're really talented but I'm surprised that you've never been to a tradeshow!! Wow!! Wish I was there. I'd definitely stop by your booth.q

Nov 09, 2007 08:30 AM

Jerry Van Galder

ActiveRain Corp. - Seattle, WA

I'll be sure to stop by! You'll do fine. :)

Nov 09, 2007 08:35 AM

Karen Hurst

RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI

Rhode Island Waterfront!

Have fun Jennifer. I wish I was going. It would be great to meet you. You can do this:)

Nov 09, 2007 09:39 AM

Laura Monroe

Inman News - San Francisco, CA

Dir. of Industry Engagement & Social Media

You can do it Jennifer! But I can only imagine how you must feel:O I know you will be fine though, and I'll definitley stop by to wish you well! Looking forward to meeting you. I've heard soooo many wonderful things about you through Crystal and of course through your blogs~You Go Girl!

Nov 09, 2007 03:59 PM

Anonymous

Art

<A href="http://www.miamitattoo.my2gig.com">ink miami tattoo</A>

Nov 09, 2007 07:49 PM

#68

Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL

Author of Sell with Soul

Art - I'm not so young! And we'll have to see about the effervescent...

Be warned - per Todd's advice, I'm picturing all of you NAKED!

Nov 09, 2007 08:28 PM

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers - Jackson, CA

REALTOR, EcoBroker, GREEN Desingnee

Jennifer, Have fun at the show!

I wish that I was going, but I have some family things. In one of my past lives I set up trade shows, let me tell you across from the food is second only to being across from the restrooms. Everybody goes there and usually at least one person is left standing around (uncomfortably) with nothing to do...

My other hints, Don't hide behind a table or counter, be out in front with your new friends! if you must sit, get a counter stool, not a chair, be at eye level. And the biggie, as good as it is to wear comfy shoes, your new friends will have tired feet too, so splurge, talk to the service desk or the decorating contractor for the show, (do this as early as passable, they work under tight time constraints. and you might even save a few bucks if it is early enough) GET DOUBLE PADDING UNDER YOU CARPET! this is something that might not be on the regular order paperwork but they can probably do it. It will make people want to stay in your booth and it will let you smile a bit more.

Good luck, have fun, I will be watching you blog.

Nov 11, 2007 04:10 AM

Anonymous

Carolina Songbird

Foot tips from an experienced trade show worker:

Gel insoles will help a lot. At the end of the day, put your feet up as much as possible. Fill your bathtub with cold water and ice and plunge your feet into it for 10 minutes. I know -- it sounds awful -- but it will reduce swelling. Varying your heel heights is the most important. Try not to wear the same shoes two days in a row. (This actually applies everywhere, but we all fall into the favorite shoes rut.) If you are wearing socks or knee highs, you'd be amazed how much helps to change those midday.

And just relax and have fun. Many people walking the booths are nervous about speaking to *you*! It's great if you have something interactive going on -- can be simple as a map and ask each person to put a push pin in their hometown. If you say something like "Hi, I'm trying to see how many states I can meet someone from -- would you put a pushpin on your hometown?" with a big smile, it would be a real Sad Sack who would say no. Now you have a starting point for the conversation if you know anything about the area, and if not, there's always "What's the biggest challenge in your market right now? How are you overcoming it?"

We used to post a brain teaser type puzzle or riddle every half hour and give a small prize to the first person who solved it. People would stand there for 10 minutes trying to figure it out -- which attracted more traffic as others wanted to see what was going on -- and all kinds of helpful information came out in conversation. We also took a Polaroid of the winner and posted it -- people kept coming back to discover the answer and to see who won! Maybe they were shy about asking our offerings the first time -- but by the second time they were old friends and asked all sorts of things.

Nov 11, 2007 06:09 AM

#71

Natalie Langford

Realty Negotiations - Winchester, VA

Winchester, VA Real Estate

I'll be looking forward to the specials! Have fun!

Nov 12, 2007 12:09 AM

Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL

Author of Sell with Soul

Thanks so much to everyone for all the great advice! Feet hurt - yes, but Carolina Songbird was right - insoles help A LOT! And yep, Michael- I got good carpet and glad I did.

Overall, this is one of the hardest things I"ve ever done (physically, mentally and emotionally), but I'm so glad I pulled it off.

Today's special is a previously unreleased ebook version of SWS AND the Seriously Cool Bonus Toolkit for $17. Check it out here.

Nov 15, 2007 12:10 AM

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