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Laurie Delk

Breathless Riviera Cancun

Here are just a few pictures and notes from our week in #Cancun at Breathless Riviera Cancun!

What we LOVED:

The resort is just beautiful! 15-20 min from the airport

We had our room upgraded to a “SwimOut” right off our balcony, with ocean views (and we ended up with the best one as some of the others had beach chairs in front of theirs, ours was extremely private, which was amazing and we truly took advantage of 🙂 (rooms 7101-7106)

Almost everyone of the workers were super nice, friendly, always greeting you as you even just walked by (as always there were a couple not as friendly) but mostly were great – one in particular was Cesar who was our waiter for breakfast each morning in the cafeteria, he filled out cups w ice and water for us, made us yummy iced coffee each morning and checked on us often (so much so we did not go to our “upgraded breakfast we could have with the “club”) — he took great care of us and the fresh made omelets each morning were amazing.

Everything was very clean & kept up nice – even scenery just beautiful.

They had 2 pools – one HUGE one (which is the one we loved) infinity overlooking ocean, had swim up bars at both, music from 10am-4/5pm activities at the bigger one each day with volleyball, aerobics, painting and more….had a good size jacuzzi attached to this one. When we wanted to be “in the public areas” we loved this pool and still the serenity of it overlooking the ocean, “Kevin” part of the entertainment team was great and came by and greeted us daily and even played a little game with us guessing his age, and my husband, Kevin won a little holder for your phone case that said breathless to remind us of this great trip lol

HUGE jacuzzi pool next to the smaller pool, that would be super nice in the cooler weather.

If you upgrade to “club status” (we had a free upgrade of this ;)) there is a check in/out in A/C room (nice although we did not use this) but in that room was a private bartender, with almost no wait ever, and some horderves in that room usually approx 11am-8pm if you ever wanted to grab a quick bite.

We LOVED the Asian restaurant – we had the hibachi one night, show was great, service was impeccable, food was delightful!

We went back for our last night to the regular part of the asian restaurant and got the spring rolls, fried rice w chicken and shrimp, and california rolls – all of which were incredible.

The Italian restaurant – all the staff were wonderful, we had the fettucine which was wonderful and the lasagna was good.

Double sinks in bathroom with LOTS of counter space, nice brands lotion, shampoo, conditioner etc in room, HUGE shower with nice rain shower head AND a seperate hand wand shower! (LOVE) (one thing I normally miss when we travel is that hand shower, LOVE they put this in) separate toilet w door if you wanted to close and still access to everything else.

Bed was super comfortable, with nightstands and outlets on each side. Great black out curtains. Nice comfy chair in the room and lots of floor space to walk around. Very aesthetic

Nice spot by door, little nook you put any dishes you had in and housekeeping grabs each day without having to come into your room, if you like to be more private.

Saw MANY iguanas, tiny, medium and very large! lol and even saw a raccoon peak his head out twice at me but disappeared quickly lol

very few things we did “not love” –

The music at the pool closest to us was just “not our style” — several songs played with words we preferred to not hear (which also got some people to dance in ways we did not prefer) 🙂 if that is your style – that pool is for you. lol

The restaurant by the pool, we tried the salmon and ribeye one night, was not really a fan – but we had lunch at this one and got the shrimp tacos were amazing!

We got room service one night as we had the private pool attached to our room (which again was SO nice!) the food was “okay” so we did not order that way again (service was great!)

the toilet in the room had that button on the top of the toilet (not a fan, those are always hard to push and if you have nails, have to use your knuckles lol

bottoms of the pools were kinda hard on your feet, lol there were “spots” that were “less prickly” which I tried to stay on more lol

When we booked, we were using points for 2 days and credit card for 3 days – the system would not let us do it all at once so we had to do 2 different reservations (which made us miss the “free promotion” of ride from airport to hotel)(not a big deal as we wanted a private ride anyway) but at check in, we said to the guy several times we did not want to check in and out for our stay, since we booked the same, to stay in the same room the full time, at 930pm they called our room asking us to check out and back in as our “upgraded room” we were given for the first part was not the same as we had booked online….(we had added the “club upgrade” which we had free in our acct – on both stays) and the check in guy assured us we would NOT have to do that (and why they waited till 930pm (and we were already in bed) to call us and then ask us to pack everything up and change rooms was quite ridiculous….we got it worked out, we paid some extra for the upgrade (even though we added it thru our acct online already, so I don’t think we needed to) we just didn’t want to deal w it that late at night and were already in bed, didn’t want to argue, and we did LOVE our room….they wanted us to come up front that late to pay for it even though we put our card in online, they said they had to physically run it, my husband got them to allow us to take care of it in the morning since it was so late, so it all worked out in the end, but that was kinda frustrating.

#breathless#hyatt#HyattInclusiveCollection#breathlessrivieracancun#resortreviews#hotelreview#hotelreviewer#vacationreview#travelblogger

The Psychology of Selling n Influence Techniques

Focus on Needs, Not Features: People buy to solve problems and achieve desires. You want to  understand your  customer’s psychology. Learn to ask insightful questions to uncover their specific needs and challenges. Then, position your product or service as the solution, not just a list of features.

Become a Master Listener: Selling is a conversation, not a monologue. Train yourself to truly listen and understand what your prospect is saying (and not saying). Pay attention to verbal and nonverbal cues. Effective listening builds rapport and allows you to tailor your approach to their specific situation.

Embrace the Power of Storytelling: Stories are memorable and impactful. Learn to craft compelling narratives that showcase the benefits of your product or service. Stories can illustrate how your offering has helped others and how it can solve the prospect’s problems.

Practice Ethical Influence Techniques: Influence is a powerful tool, but it should be used ethically. Learn about persuasion techniques like reciprocity, social proof, and framing, but emphasize using them to build trust and demonstrate value, not manipulate.

Role-Playing and Active Learning: Sales is a skill that improves with practice. Incorporate role-playing exercises into your training program. This allows you to practice your communication skills, handle objections, and refine your influencing techniques in a safe environment.

5 tips Ethical Practices & Building Trust in Direct Sales

Laurie’s Lessons –

Focus on Customer Needs: In direct sales, prioritize understanding your customer’s specific needs and challenges. Your goal should be to genuinely help them find the best solution, even if it means recommending a different product or service. This builds trust by showing you value their situation over a quick sale.

Transparency Reigns Supreme: Be upfront and honest in all your interactions. Clearly explain product features, pricing, and any potential drawbacks. Don’t pressure customers or make misleading statements. Transparency fosters trust and reduces the chances of buyer’s remorse.

Become a Long-Term Partner: Direct sales isn’t just about the initial transaction. Strive to build a long-term relationship with your customers. Provide excellent customer service, answer their questions thoroughly, and follow up after the sale to ensure their satisfaction. This builds loyalty and encourages repeat business.

Embrace the Power of Knowledge: Become an expert on the products or services you sell. Be prepared to answer customer inquiries in detail and demonstrate a genuine understanding of how your offerings can benefit them. This showcases your credibility and builds trust in your recommendations.

Underpromise and Overdeliver: Set realistic expectations with your customers. Don’t make exaggerated claims or guarantees you can’t keep. Instead, focus on delivering even greater value than you initially promised. This builds trust and leaves a positive lasting impression. By following these tips, you can establish yourself as a trustworthy and ethical direct sales representative, leading to long-term success and customer loyalty.

Laurie’s Lessons – Effective Team Building Strategies for Direct Sales

Effective Team Building Strategies for Direct Sales

Recruit for Alignment, Not Just Numbers: In direct sales or network marketing, your team is your biggest asset. Look for individuals who share your vision, values, and work ethic. Building a team based on a common purpose creates a stronger foundation for collaboration and motivation.

Cultivate Open Communication: Direct sales success relies on clear communication. Establish regular team meetings (in-person or virtual) to share updates, address challenges, and celebrate wins. Encourage open dialogue and feedback – a team that feels heard is a team that’s more engaged.

Invest in Ongoing Training & Development: Direct sales is a dynamic field. Provide your team with ongoing training on product knowledge, sales techniques, and industry trends. This empowers them to stay relevant, confident, and effective in their outreach.

Foster a Culture of Recognition & Reward: People crave recognition for their achievements. Celebrate individual and team milestones to keep motivation high. Consider implementing a reward system based on performance to incentivize results.

Embrace Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Direct sales isn’t a solo act. Encourage team members to collaborate on strategies, share successful approaches, and learn from each other’s experiences. This fosters a sense of community and helps everyone grow within the team.

Capital Grille, Charlotte NC

Time for a super yummy dinner 🥰
#lobstercrabcake #lobstermacncheese
SO good! and spectacular service!

#thecapitalgrille #nashvillefoodie #nashvillefoodies

Active Listening & Identifying Customer Needs

  1.     Engage the Senses: Face the customer or prospect, maintain appropriate eye contact, and use open body language. Nod and smile to show you are engaged.  This not only demonstrates attentiveness but also helps the you to pick up on nonverbal cues that can reveal underlying needs.
  2. Ask Powerful Questions: Don’t settle for yes or no answers. Crafting open-ended questions that delve deeper into the customer’s situation. Use prompts like “Can you tell me more about that?” or “What are you hoping to achieve?” By asking the right questions, you’ll uncover the true motivations and desires behind the person’s initial request.
  3.     Embrace the Pause: Silence isn’t awkward; it’s an opportunity for the customer to elaborate. Give them space to fully express themselves and avoid interrupting. This allows them to clarify their thoughts and potentially reveal unspoken needs.
  4.     Practice Reflection & Summarization: Paraphrase what you’ve heard to confirm understanding. Phrases like “So what you’re saying is…” or “It sounds like you’re concerned about…”  clarifies any confusion and demonstrates that you’re truly listening.
  5.     Identify Needs vs. Wants: Distinguish between a person’s stated desires and their underlying needs. For example, a customer who wants a new phone might actually need a better camera to capture memories. By identifying the root cause, you can offer solutions that go beyond the surface level.