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Business Member Spotlight: Mantis Shrimp Consulting helps businesses grow with bold, creative strategy.

If you could have a training for your team or group that was interactive, engaging, and fun, even on topics that may be tedious or detail-oriented and even boring, would you?  If you could add programming to your business or event schedule that individuals would be talking about for months or years later, would that be interesting to you?

Mantis Shrimp Consulting is available to work with you on the design and delivery of memorable, exciting programming.  They have conducted trainings engaging groups of all sizes in specialized learning opportunities and are excited to work with you, as well.  Day-long programs, multiple-session progressive programs over the course of weeks or months, 1-hour team-building programs, interactive symposia and conference presentations – they’ve done all of these and more on topics like:

  • Creative Collaboration,
  • Negotiation,
  • Stress Relief,
  • Communication Skills,
  • Customer Service,
  • Career Development,
  • Applied Improv, and more.

Additionally, Mantis Shrimp Consulting offers meeting facilitation services, helping teams gain a different perspective with a sense of humor and positivity.  Working with you to determine your needs and concerns in advance and craft a meeting agenda that can tackle the issues you would like to discuss, Mantis Shrimp Consulting helps keep the conversations productive but positive and collaborative.

In situations where you may find yourself as an individual leader needing some help navigating the management landscape, some assistance polishing up professional communication skills, determining the best way to lead a team through change, or understanding how to move up in a confusing work environment, Mantis Shrimp Consulting is here to listen and help you track out your individualized action plan with leadership consulting.  Leadership isn’t something just learned with “experience,” nor do many individuals have an opportunity to learn this skill set outside of work before they find themselves tasked with learning-on-the-go.  Mantis Shrimp Consulting is available to come in and work with an individual or individuals on their unique and specific leadership development goals through real-time business challenges.  Put your career on a growth fast-track while making your teams, those below you and above you, excited about working with you.

Additionally, Mantis Shrimp Consulting is available as a business coach and COO-on-demand.  They will work with you to help identify some of the larger or more complex problems that are holding your business back and talk you through identifying the component pieces of those problems, giving you specific and manageable tasks for you to tackle.  Depending on your needs, they can also help you identify a timeline for these actionable tasks and act as your accountability partner in the process.

Bringing to the table over a decade of experience navigating complex business problem solving, thousands of contracts worked from idea through negotiation and completion; 7 years as a national trainer; and extensive experience in specialized program development and delivery and individual career coaching, owner Jennifer McGinnis is a keynote speaker and stand-up and improv comedian known for her engaging presentation style and ability to break complex issues down into easy-to-understand tidbits.  Mantis Shrimp Consulting focuses on finding the positive ways to move people, processes, and companies forward.

Learn how to boost your sales skills from the HBC’s Wake Up Entrepreneur Series session.

The Hispanic Business Council presents a regular series of educational seminars titled “Wake Up Entrepreneur!”  This breakfast series covers all manner of topics helpful to those who do business in the area.  The latest installment of this series, hosted at the Amway Center by the Orlando Magic, was titled “Closing Sales in a Competitive Market.”  The following topics were tackled at this breakfast on October 3rd:

  • The Selling Process
  • Networking Effectively
  • Prospecting
  • Creating Relationships
  • What are you selling? (Going through the steps to a “yes”)
  • Doing business with the Orlando Magic

The Selling Process

A selling process is a sequence of stages each including repeatable steps, a conversion of a potential customer into a paying customer, and a roadmap to keep you on pace to a close.  Here are some tips to creating a sales process for yourself or your sales team:

  • Observe your sales reps and their competition.
  • Map your observations to a generic example.
  • Identify why the prospect advances to the next stage.
  • Adapt a generic sales procdss and make it your own.
  • Continually monitor and fine-tune your process based on market changes.

Networking Effectively

In the words of Carlos Velez, Senior Account Executive with the Orlando Magic, “Stop treating your schmoozing like a business card collection contest.  Start over with a new goal:  quality over quantity.”  Here are Carlos’  8 tips to network effectively:

Prospecting

Prospecting can mean “to search for gold.”  Here are some tips to strike gold in your search for a sale:

  • Prospect every day
  • Turn off distractions
  • Use every method available
  • Write scripts
  • Focus on the outcome – to open a new relationship
  • Get GREAT at cold calling
  • Nurture relationships over time

Creating Relationships

Jerry Maguire said “The key to this business is personal relationships,” and this advice can be applied to the sales industry in real life just as in the film.  Here are 11 pro tips from Carlos Velez:

  • Listen to your customer
  • Seek feedback from your customer
  • Use social media to learn about your customer
  • Respond promptly to the customer
  • Add value
  • Set an example for your reps
  • Have conversations, not pitches
  • Be genuine
  • Make the customer’s life easier
  • Be patient
  • Maintain your relationships

What are you selling?

You should start by selling a meeting, because the more chances you have of a face-to-face meeting, the better the odds of closing the sale.  It can take several yeses to get to the final “yes,” so find your way there through the conversations you have with your clients.

Michael Forde, the Magic’s Chief Sales Officer for Corporate Partnerships joined the event to speak a bit about the Magic and doing business with the Magic.  The breakfast was sponsored by Wyndham Destinations.  Be on the lookout for the HBC’s next Wake Up Entrepreneur! event.

Business Member Spotlight: Southeast Wiring Solutions protects homes with custom smart solutions.

The foundation that has helped shape our company into one of Central Florida's #1 security company for the past 20 years consist of our core values: Dependability, Reliability, Commitment, Accountability, Honesty, Quality, Teamwork, Professionalism and Superb Communication.

Founded in 2002, Southeast Wiring Solutions (SWS) is a fast growing home automation, security system provider and installer in Central Florida. In addition to Security Alarm Systems, Southeast Wiring Solutions(SWS) provides our clients with innovative solutions in both Security, Home Theater and Home Automation catered to Property Management. We take pride in customizing equipment and services that fit both your security and safety needs while keeping you connected even when you're away from your home.

Their vision is and has always been to be the best provider in the industry. They understand how important it is to keep the ones you love safe. Their company provides the best service to their customers. They are dedicated to providing the best quality, value and service to meet their customers needs.

  • Home Automation for Family’s and Property Management
  • Home Security / Commercial Security
  • Fire Alarm Systems
  • Video Surveillance
  • Networking
  • Audio/Video
  • Home Theaters
  • Wiring
  • Service
  • 24/7 Monitoring
  • Signage/Vehicle Wraps/Custom Prints/Shirts
  • WIFI Systems
  • And much more!​