Five Selling Smarter Lessons (From My Mom) to Boost Your Business

4. Better to be kind than clever. My mother was a very smart woman who never flaunted her intelligence. Instead, the focus in our house was kindness. I grew up in a house filled with friends and relatives. People dropped by at all times just to say hello. There was always plenty of food and an extra place, or two or three, at the dinner table for anyone who arrived. But it was more than the way we shared meals. My mother always had a kind word and a genuine compliment for everyone she met. People loved to be with her, because she always made them feel good. In business you can apply this by taking a genuine interest in your customers. A phone call just to check in and not sell something, a sincere compliment, taking a genuine interest in their business can make a big impact on the success of your business. When people know how much you care, the sale becomes so much easier.

5. Have fun. My mother was a big believer in having fun. She always encouraged her family to go out, have fun and do what we enjoyed most. On New Year's Day, two of her closest friends came to see her and they spent the day laughing and remembering good times. It was truly "the best medicine." Outside of work, what are you doing for fun? Schedule time every week to focus on activities that you enjoy. When you take time for yourself and to have fun, you come back to work with more energy, more focus and ultimately, more sales.

Mom, thanks for being the wonderful mother you were. You will always be in my heart and my thoughts. These and many other valuable lessons will guide me for the rest of my life.