News – Page 5 – Susan Ascher

A Wonderful Evening at Culinary Connections!

What a wonderful evening!

Last week’s Culinary Connections on December 4th was superb and I am so grateful to all who attended. Firstly, Carlos Rodriguez. Thank you for sharing your very compelling story and how The Community Foodbank of NJ is feeding 51 million meals to the 900,000 in our state who are not as lucky as we are!

Thank you to The Park Avenue Club and Marisa Carcione for creating such a lovely event for us!

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors: Paula Ferreira, Tifphani White-King and Kelly Killea, MAZARS USA, Vince Egan, Benjamin Edwards, Stuart Vorcheimer and Peter Cirignano, Peapack Gladstone Bank, Karolina Dehnhard and David Tawil, Norris McLaughlin, Josh Weiner, Coughlin Duffy, Marta Chodur, Marta Chodur Photography, and Wendy Taffet, Enjou Chocolat. You all make these events possible and I am very grateful for all of you!

PHOTOS FROM CULINARY CONNECTIONS

(Click Photos to Enlarge)

SAVE THE DATE

Our next Culinary Connections event will be held in February. Although we have a speaker in mind, I am always looking for dynamic, interesting leaders who can share a great story.

SPONSOR WANTED

Finally, I am always looking for additional sponsors. Please email me if you want to explore how to become one!

THANK YOU AGAIN!

Susan Ascher

HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT CULINARY CONNECTIONS:

Great taste truly meets great people at Susan Ascher’s Culinary Connections events. This evening, we were captivated by the work, service and voice of hunger, Carlos M. Rodriguez, President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Mazars is a proud supporter / sponsor of both! — Tifphani White-King, US National Tax Practice Leader at Mazars USA LLP

“Thank you Susan. It was an engaging room with friends we knew and some new ones, we hope. I am so glad to have participated and do hope to see you at future events.” — Carlos Rodriguez, CEO, The Community FoodBank of New Jersey

“Great event last night Susan. I hope to stay involved with additional events.” — Josh Weiner, Partner, Coughlin Duffy

“Clearly, you have built a fabulous network of people who want to continue to learn and grow through the opportunities you provide. “ — Renee Helfenstein, Director of Special Events, CFBNJ

Culinary Connections was a fantastic opportunity to network with a variety of professionals and learn about the exciting work done by The Community Food Bank of New Jersey. We’re already brainstorming opportunities to work together in 2020! — Tom Maroulakos, CEO, Skopos Hospitality Group

OUR CULINARY CONNECTIONS SPONSORS:

Career advancement Career coaching

Your Go-To Guide for Setting Business Goals

how to set business goals

Business goal setting is a necessity for growth. A recent study from Harvard Business School found that only 14% of the population actively set goals – and those 14% were 10 times more successful than those who did not set any. Based on this data, we can see that setting written business goals is essential for getting (or remaining) ahead of the competition. Like so many other things, approaching your business goals smartly can help set you up for success.

Make Your Goals SMART

We didn’t use the term “smartly” by coincidence. All goals – whether personal or business – should be “SMART” – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-phased. In other words, all goals should be quantifiable and realistically accomplished within a certain time frame. Consider the two following examples:

“We want to leverage new technology to drive business success in 2020.”

Versus:

“We want to use our three social media channels to create campaigns that increase conversions by 30% by the second quarter of 2020.”

See the difference? The first goal doesn’t reference anything specific and provides little direction. The second one lays the groundwork for a viable business goal – the company wants to bring in new customers and plans to do that by funneling more money into social media campaigns in hopes of increasing conversions. This goal lends itself to the creation of objectives that will ultimately increase the likelihood of successfully accomplishing the goal.

Commit to Your Goals

Once you set a goal, make sure to commit! This looks a little different for every company – some put their plan in motion by holding weekly stakeholder meeting to assess progress, while other collaborate over virtual means like Slack. No matter which method you choose, it is important to begin promptly on the execution of the goals you choose. As you move along, you may find that your business goals or objectives need to be adjusted based on certain realities of the business landscape. If you find your original goals seem likely to fail on budgetary constraints or business demand, adjusting them should not be considered a failure.

Be Public About Your Goals

Another surefire way to maximize the success of your business goals is to make them public. Make the goal-setting process collaborative and invite several different team members from different departments to brainstorming and business-mapping sessions. Once you agree on goals together, disseminate information to the rest of the organization. This creates a level of accountability that can be motivating for managing, while increasing buy-in from multiple levels of your organization. The exact role others in your organization will play is up to you, but take steps to make sure that your organization’s goals are public.

Goal setting is an essential part of advancing your organizational mission. It is important, however, to exercise deliberation when creating goals as an organization. Use SMART goal -setting strategies in the creation and execution of your goals, and remember to get multiple levels of your organization involved. By following these tips, your business goals have a better chance of success.

Additional Resources:

News

Susan Ascher’s Passage to Profit Interview Now Available on YouTube

Susan Ascher was recently the featured guest on the Passage to Profit Radio Show and Podcast. The episode, which was featured live on Sunday, September 22nd on broadcast radio WOR 710 AM – New York, is now available as a YouTube video.

WATCH SUSAN’S PASSAGE TO PROFIT INTERVIEW

About Susan:

Susan P. Ascher is President and CEO of The Ascher Group, an award winning national consulting firm and the Founder of The Sphere of Excellence in Communication and Course Connections. Susan’s training and coaching programs have helped Fortune 50 companies, emerging growth companies, organizations and universities raise the bar in communication, leadership development, teamwork and client relations.

About the Passage to Profit Podcast:

CO-HOSTED BY RICHARD AND ELIZABETH GEARHART
Each week Passage to Profit provides important information about how to take your idea or invention to the next level! From innovation and ideas, to invention hang-ups, The Passage To Profit team, along with entrepreneur influencers share insight and expertise on the latest ideas, resources and inventions. Passage to Profit takes on the latest ideas, inventions and technology headlines, while bringing a unique perspective and innovative voice to the iHEART Media show line-up.

Culinary Connections

New Season of Culinary Connections Starts December 4th

FINE DINING AND EXCLUSIVE NETWORKING AT THE PARK AVENUE CLUB!

Join us on December 4th, from 6-9pm, at The Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, New Jersey for the start of the 2019 season of Culinary Connections, the hit networking series brought to you by award-winning Business and Executive Coach Susan Ascher. Culinary Connections was designed for professionals from all walks of business. Our community of master networkers are passionate about making the right connections while enjoying great wine and food.

SPECIAL POWER GUEST:

Carlos M. Rodriguez, President and CEO, Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ)

Carlos M. Rodriguez is a recognized voice against hunger and addressing the needs of the working poor. Twenty-two years of executive leadership experience have focused on improving policies and delivering services to reach all neighbors in need.

Understanding the complex ecosystem affecting hunger, he has expanded efforts across multiple organizations to feed and shorten the food lines simultaneously. Born and raised in the South Bronx, he has an in-depth understanding of poverty and a profound appreciation of the impact of human service. Carlos earned his MS in Urban Policy and Not-for-Profit Management from Milano Graduate School, New School University; a BA in Sociology from the College of the Holy Cross and a Not-for-Profit accounting certificate from New York University. He previously served as the Executive Director of Fulfill (formerly the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties) and has also held high-level positions at the Food Bank For New York City, as well as the Children’s Defense Fund of New York and the Community Food Resource Center.

FOOD DRIVE FOR CFBNJ

In the spirit of the holidays, we will have a food drive for CFBNJ. Please bring canned, dried, or non-perishables for those less fortunate so that they may enjoy an abundant holiday season! CFBNJ will provide collection boxes.

EVENT DETAILS:

Enjoy networking, wine, and Chef Arnold’s hors d’oeuvres, dinner buffet, and dessert and coffee to follow!

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 2019 • 6:00-9:00PM
WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932 | www.parkavenueclub.com | (973) 301-8233
COST: $150.00

Due to the nature of this very special event, attendance will be capped at 40 attendees.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:

Another fantastic evening with Susan Ascher, Vince Egan and Karolina Dehnhard, Esq. and their supporters and friends at Culinary Connections. I’ve met so many interesting and inspiring people at these elegant events which combine amazing food with excellent conversation! Thank you Susan! An evening well spent with new connections and long-time friends!
– Lori Chapin, Attorney, Tanenbaum Keale

Susan, I am so happy and grateful to be a part of your world. The environment you created last night is uniquely powerful in that you provided an atmosphere in which strangers showed themselves and showed up to serve. This is unusual! Do you realize how special last night’s event was? And, you do this over and over. It was a fun, expansive evening, full of amazing individuals who are contributing in significant ways. Kudos!!! I felt like I was part of a think tank, making great things happen. Thank YOU, Susan!
– Cynthia Murphy

It was a fabulous night, as always, when you host an event. I am very grateful to you for including me! It was lovely to meet everyone and I look forward to seeing you all again.
– Susan M. Rochelle, A.I.A., Architect

Communication Conflicts Workplace

Best Methods for Resolving Workplace Conflicts

Conflict resolution should be a be a skill in every workplace manager’s arsenal. With more than half of American workers reporting feeling dissatisfied with their work situations, managers must recognize the role conflict plays in employee retention and turnover rates as well as overall productivity. Workplace conflicts can breed resentments among coworkers and deteriorate the culture of any company, but they can also become opportunities for growth when leveraged appropriately.

Encourage Internal Resolutions

As a manager confronted with a conflict between two or more employees who report to you, one of the best steps to take to solve a workplace conflict as quickly and effectively as possible is to encourage an honest and productive discussion between the parties involved. Perhaps two of your direct reports disagree about a particular workflow or some uncertainty exists concerning job responsibilities for a particular project. Encourage the employees who report conflicts to sit down for a civil, mediated, and productive conversation. Passive aggressiveness and unwillingness to start open dialogue are some of the most common driving forces behind ongoing workplace conflicts.

Practice Active Listening and Encourage Others to Do the Same

Many people struggle with honest communication and conflict resolution because of an unwillingness to listen actively to others’ points of view. Too many people simply wait for their turns to speak instead of actively listening to the other side of the dialogue. When you initiate conflict resolution with your team, make sure the participants are actually listening to one another and absorbing each other’s points of view. Encourage them to ask for clarification when necessary or to paraphrase each other’s statements back to each other before replying to ensure nothing is lost in translation.

Identify Unworkable Problems

When a conflict arises from a disagreement over a work process, that is a workable problem with many potential solutions. However, if you encounter any type of conflict that is unworkable, such as an abusive employee or an employee who has actively harassed others or engaged in willfully malicious conduct against others, there is no other option other than to investigate the issue extensively and take appropriate action to rectify the issue.

Brainstorm Solutions

As a manager, your goal with any conflict resolution should not be to issue a decree as too how all parties involved will proceed, but rather to help those parties develop a cohesive and mutually agreeable solution together. As you engage in discussions about the conflict, help your employees recognize potential solutions and develop a list of potential outcomes. This can provide much-needed perspective and help reach the best possible solution.

Ensure Agreement on the Solution and Respect Going Forward

When you conclude a conflict resolution discussion with your team, ensure everyone is on the same page moving forward and encourage those involved in the conflict to shake hands and thank one another for resolving the conflict professionally. Ensuring your team is satisfied with the result of your discussion and ready to move on is the crucial final step for conflict resolution in any workplace.

Conflicts at work are an undeniable and unavoidable reality; when people work together for a long time, they will inevitably encounter disagreements. Speedy and decisive conflict resolution helps preserve a healthy working environment for everyone and minimizes lost productivity from ongoing internal conflicts. Keep these tips in mind the next time you notice any type of workplace conflict among your team members.

Additional Resources:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/303617
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/02/22/5-keys-to-dealing-with-workplace-conflict/#b8cdc091e95c
https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-handle-conflict-in-the-workplace
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidsturt/2018/03/08/10-shocking-workplace-stats-you-need-to-know/#5ab46ab3f3af

Mastermind

The Mastermind for Masterminds Series

Are You Ready to Take Your Business to a Whole New Level? Then We Have the Perfect Opportunity!

Join The Mastermind for Masterminds, a premiere partnership which delivers strategic and inspired mentorship, real motivation, committed accountability, targeted connections and BUSINESS ACCELERATION, facilitated by award-winning Business and Executive Coach, Susan Ascher.

Premiere Partnership Dates and Times:

FRIDAYS FROM 12:00-3:00pm
THE PARK AVENUE CLUB
INCLUDES LUNCH

Friday, October 25th
Friday, November 15th
Friday, December 13th
Friday, January 10th

Design a clear business vision, set strategic, realistic goals, receive expert guidance in sourcing your ideal next steps, in an atmosphere of sophistication elegance, efficiency and fun. (We mean business and we have fun doing it)!

We’re not creating just another business network, we’re building a community of professionals dedicated to helping one another overcome obstacles and achieve greater success.

“You cannot create a new personal reality from the same personality.”
– Dr. Joe Dispenza, World Renowned Neuroscientist

EVENT DETAILS:

DATES: Four Fridays – October 25th; November 15th; December 13th; and January 10th
TIMES: 12:00pm to 3:00pm
WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932 | www.parkavenueclub.com | (973) 301-8233
COST: $997.00 p/person; includes Lunch

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Can’t make any of these sessions? Not to worry. We’ll be announcing a Spring session later this year. Dates and topics to be announced so stay tuned!

News

Passage to Profit Radio Show Interview Now Available Online

Susan Ascher, President and CEO of The Ascher Group, an award winning national consulting firm and the Founder of The Sphere of Excellence in Communication and Course Connections, was recently the expert guest on the Passage to Profit Radio Show and Podcast. The episode, which was featured live on Sunday, September 22nd on broadcast radio WOR 710 AM – New York, is now available online as part of the Passage to Profit Podcast.

LISTEN TO SUSAN’S PASSAGE TO PROFIT INTERVIEW BELOW

About the Profit to Passage Radio Show and Podcast

News Speaking engagements

Susan Ascher to Appear on Passage to Profit Show

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Susan Ascher, President and CEO of The Ascher Group, an award-winning consulting firm, will be the expert guest on the Passage to Profit Radio Show and Podcast, which will air this Sunday, September 22nd at 8:00pm on broadcast radio WOR 710 AM – New York, and on the iHeart Radio app (WOR AM). Each episode is released as a podcast the day after it airs.

About Susan Ascher

Susan has coached individuals and teams for clients ranging from the Fortune 50 to emerging growth companies, as well as healthcare organizations, non-profits, and numerous nationally ranked colleges and universities. Susan is a sought after national media resource. Susan has been interviewed on Bloomberg, ABC, NBC, CNBC, CNN, News 12 and My9TV, and is a frequent commentator on TV 8 in Vail, Colorado. She has been published in Forbes Magazine, Crain’s New York Business, The Star-Ledger, NJBIZ and New Jersey & Company.

About the Passage to Profit Podcast

Passage to Profit is a weekly radio show and podcast on iHeart Media with co-hosts Richard and Elizabeth Gearhart. The show features an expert guest interview followed by pitches by entrepreneurs and start-ups. The show airs on iHeart talk station WOR 710 on Sunday evenings at 8:00pm; each episode is released as a podcast the day after it airs. The pitches are voted on throughout the week and the winner receives a professionally produced video of their pitch.

>> CLICK HERE for the Passage to Profit Podcast

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Sales Sales coaching

Most Common Sales Mistakes – And How to Avoid Them

nj sales coach

It’s no secret that sales is a competitive industry with little room for error. One in eight full time positions in the United States are full time sales jobs, yet representatives must continually refine their techniques to stay on the top of the game. To improve your sales performance, avoid these common pitfalls – and try more successful alternatives instead.

Mistake 1: You Talk Too Much (Or Too Little)

According to a recent study from Saleshacker, there is a happy medium when it comes to talking to a client. By medium, we actually mean “a medium amount.” The top performing sales reps talked 46% of the time or less, while they listened 54% of the time. More middle range performers tended to talk more, closer to 70% of the time. Bottom performers, on the other hand, tended to only talk 28% of the time.

In other words, know what to talk about, but also know when to listen. Understanding a client’s needs creates a more organic dialogue that helps you address their pain points.

Mistake 2: You Use The Wrong Language

Using salesy jargon can tank your efforts and make your interaction with a customer appear less genuine. Using the word “discount” can lower your chance of a sale by over 15%. Using terms like “perfect” or “absolutely” excessively (over four times) can decrease your chances by 16%. Other words to sidestep, according to a recent analysis, include:

Billion
However
Competitor
Roadmap
Payment
Free trial
Contract
For example

The problem with words like these is they make you sound like you’re rehearsing a pitch. Don’t try for a hard sell; always make your sales interactions flow like natural conversations.

Mistake 3: You Don’t Pay Attention To Detail

Are you the type to “wing it” on presentations and pitches? If so, you’re missing out on big potential opportunities. Paying attention to the smallest of details, like editing emails for grammar and clarity, all work to establish credibility with your clientele.

It’s also important to pay attention to details within interactions with the client. Verbal and non-verbal cues may hint at you to change course or find another way to address your customers’ pain points. Showing that you understand both the product and the customer is an important step in conveying a high level of competence. If you cut corners, you risk your professional reputation – and a prospect may find what they’re looking for elsewhere.

Mistake 4: You Don’t Work Hard Enough to Connect

When people make a switch from your product or service to a competitor, it’s generally because they think someone else is more capable of paying better attention. Always assume that there are others keeping in contact trying to elicit business. When all it takes to keep a customer is to make a little effort to connect and make them feel valued, there’s little excuse to become complacent and let them go.

Connection can be as simple as an email or a phone call to check in, see how the client is liking your product or service, and thanking them for their business. It’s truly all it takes to make a client happy – and is well worth the investment.

If you’re looking to improve your sales, avoiding these common mistakes is a good place to start. By using your client interaction time wisely and maintaining a commitment to current clients, you can maintain the edge in your office and keep your customers and prospects interested.

Additional Resources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianaltman/2018/07/12/3-common-mistakes-every-sales-professionals-needs-to-avoid-at-all-costs/
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/283927
https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/10-common-sales-mistakes-to-avoid.html

News Speaking engagements

Susan Ascher to Be Featured Keynote Speaker for Business Group

Susan P. Ascher, President and CEO of The Ascher Group, an award-winning national consulting firm, and Founder of The Sphere of Excellence in Communication™ and the hit networking series Course Connections, will be the keynote speaker for BUSINESS BACK-TO-SCHOOL: Tips, Tricks, and Tools to Get Your Company Ahead of the Curve.

This gathering of professional dynamos will serve as a ‘Business Back-to-School’ to arm attendees with the key information they need to take their professional success to the next level. In addition to providing engaging education that covers insights in trademarking, accounting, lending, and marketing, we’re getting to the heart of what it means to grow your company. You’ll participate in icebreaker trivia along with guided networking to build relationships and further business connections throughout the night.

DETAILS:

September 18 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm EDT $135 – $165
Ferraro’s, 14 Elm St., Westfield, NJ 07090