Since I began working with my Friend and Co-Worker Craig Shipley at Summit Hospitality. I have learned two things Food, and Up-Sell.

Craig is probably one of the best salesmen so for me to learn from him that to win over the sale you have to win their stomachs. So in that case, whenever you’re working on an important sales lead there are two things you should remember. Feed them and Up-sell. They’re not very hard and once you’ve got them down they help you get the sale and keep it!

So here’s the process.

• Morning Meetings – Always set up the meetings in the morning. Attentiveness and productivity will be higher in the person. As long as it’s not literally the FIRST thing, you’ll be fine. Make sure you don’t schedule too early, if you do you’re going to have a grumpy croud that will not want to deal with meetings or anything at all for that matter.
• Feed The Masses – The likely hood that someone has eaten a big, solid hearty breakfast now-a-days is actually kind of rare. Bring some bagels, cream cheese, and some of that big to go coffeem like they have at Panera. Bring them something to munch on then direct their attention to you, and your sale.

On your next sales lead, try this, the psychology through someones stomach is unmistakeable and will usually help break the Ice, give conversation, and ultimately increase sales.

The fact that cooking at home to help you save money shouldn’t come as a surprise. But think about it, it’s not hard to learn how to cook, and it’s better than paying up to 50% more on your meal. So to help put the cooking into perspective lets break it down.

On average, a good meal at your everyday restaurant could cost you $15-$30 depending on what you order. But if you go to the grocery store, and get yourself the exact same ingredients that would be used at the restaurant in the end you’re saving money. For Example

• Steak $10-15 (for two (2) NY Strips)
• Salt and Pepper $2

Take those 3 ingredients, Salt and Pepper to taste, then either pan sear it or toss it on the grill until its ready to your desire. Now you just fed two people steak for about $17 which would have cost at least double at a restaurant. Throw in some Romaine lettuce and you have a side salad.

If you’re the type of person that tends to order your take-out, or dine-out often. Try finding recipes for the same thing online, and shop/cook instead of order. You’ll find there to be a lot of extra money in your wallet.

Try Open Source Food for TONS of recipes posted by others.