Assuming you are reading this on the day this blog is published, I am out of the country with my family on vacation. It’s a vacation that has been planned for over eight months and one that I’ve alternately been excited for and dreading. Excited because it’s been well over a year since our last vacation which is far too long. Dreading it because I’m doing something I swore I would never, ever do.
I am on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean.
Why would I dread being on a cruise ship for 7 nights and 8 days? That’s a fair question and I’ll do my best to answer. Much of it has to do with my personality and what it can bring to the table in certain situations. It’s well documented that I have severe time issues and abhor being late. However, if we are late getting back to the ship after frolicking around Curacao, I doubt the boat will wait for the Petrie’s. I fear that if the boat is scheduled to depart at 5:00 PM, I’ll be checking my watch around 12:30 PM and urging my crew to start getting back lest we get left behind. Honestly, that’s not stress I want to induce in others.
Another reason I am a bit nervous about being on a cruise ship for so long is the food. Yes, I know there are a ton of options on a cruise ship, but this particular ship (the Carnival Horizon) has “teamed up” with Food Network personality Guy Fieri to brand many of the eating establishments. While I’m sure Mr. Fieri is a nice man and a good cook, I’m not sure I’ll survive eight days in, “Flavortown.” Also, will the people serving me food have bleached blonde spiked hair and wear bowling shirts with flames on them? I hope not as that would be unsettling.
Joking aside – and I am joking…sort of – this is a much-needed vacation for my family. During the planning of this trip, I ended up learning a lot about planning a cruise (a bit more complex than it appears), myself, and how those lessons can help in sales:
- Ask for Help – As an experienced traveler, I thought I could handle booking a cruise on my own. Because our high-school-aged boys are joining us, I had a very specific week where we could travel (fall break) which narrowed the choices to the specific cruise we are on. After that, things got complicated in a hurry: trying to book two separate cabins close to each other, planning excursions, understanding dining options, finding the best deal, and a host of other options. Frankly, it was overwhelming as I started and stopped seven different times before finally asking for help. The assistance came from a friend who’s family had recently been on a cruise. She took pity on me and connected me with a person that specializes in planning cruises and within an hour of initial contact, we were booked exactly how we wanted. If I hadn’t asked for help when I needed it, I might still be planning this cruise. It was a bit embarrassing to ask, but I’m glad that I did because it made for a far better experience for all.
- The Devil is in the Details – The options aboard the ship are overwhelming as there are options for food, drink packages, internet plans, photo packages, room gifts, onboard activities, and cruise cash. If you don’t pay attention you can end up paying for things you don’t need to as the cruise lines have plenty of opportunity to nickel and dime you to death. However, if you pay attention and read the fine print, a cruise can be an excellent value for the money and you don’t end up paying for things that you don’t need. For example, each adult is allowed to bring an unopened bottle of wine on the ship – something that’s not advertised. By knowing this in advance, we can bring said bottles of wine to our stateroom (which sounds a lot more elegant than it is) and enjoy on our balcony.
- Slow Down – As the months and days ticked down to the cruise date, it became time to plan offshore excursions. For this cruise, there are four stops: Turks & Caicos, La Romana (Dominican Republic), Curacao, and Aruba. When we looked at the excursions it became quickly apparent that we wanted to do so much that we might need a vacation from our vacation: ziplining, riding ATV’s on the beach, snorkeling, horseback riding, and scuba just to name a few. After numerous starts and stops, we settled on doing one activity per day off the boat when it was docked – and nothing more than a few hours. By doing this, we are preserving the most important part of the vacation: the relaxation. If we hadn’t slowed down we would have fallen into the trap of trying to cram a lifetime of experiences in a week – something that exhausts me just thinking about it. Because we scaled back, I’m confident we will have the right mix of exciting excursions and relaxation.
Those same lessons that applied to planning a cruise – asking for help, the devil is in the details, and slow down – are also wonderful reminders when it comes to sales. Whether it’s simple pride, fear of looking foolish, or something else, we don’t ask for help enough. I’m a big believer that the four most powerful words in the English language are, “I need your help.” When you need help, be direct and ask for it as you’ll be surprised how eager people are to provide assistance.
Being detail-oriented is just as important. Far too often sales are lost because the presentation lacked attention to detail. For example, when pricing is listed and sometimes there is a comma between the thousands and the hundreds while other times there isn’t, the prospect/client will rightly assume that you won’t pay attention to the details of their particular challenge. Look at all the seemingly tiny details and ensure they are correct as they make a huge difference.
Burnout is a real thing and when we continue to push, run, pressure, and take the express lane of life, that is the destination. We all move too fast – and I’m just as guilty as the next person. When we move too fast we don’t appreciate the little things in life that make living so incredible. I have promised myself to make sure that I take time on the boat to enjoy the salt air, watch for dolphins playing in the wake of the ship, and to have at least one day of reading, napping, and cocktail sipping (this activity may be repeated more than once). The same goes for sales – slow down and enjoy the victories; they are too hard to come by to simply acknowledge them and move on to the next conquest. Savor, relish, and appreciate life.
As for me, I’ll be stepping off this boat in about six days and I hope that I’m rested and ready for the remainder of the year. As a full-blooded Scotsman, I don’t tan. Rather, I burn, peel, and somehow get a little whiter so being tanned is just not in the cards. I know that when I come back to the office on October 14th, I’ll be thankful for an incredible team that allowed me 10 days to fully unplug.
Bill is president of PromoCorner, a digital marketing, media, and advertising agency, and has over 19 years working in executive leadership positions at leading promotional products distributorships. A featured speaker at numerous industry events, a serial creator of content marketing, president of the Regional Association Council (RAC) board, and PromoKitchen chef, Bill has extensive experience coaching sales teams, creating successful marketing campaigns, and developing branding that resonates with a target audience. He can be reached at bill@promocorner.com.