HARDISON’S TIPS – MAY 7, 2021 – WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMMISSION SALES 8. Retail Salespersons Median pay: $25,250 Retail sales refers to the occupation in which merchandise (such as clothing, furniture, or appliances) are sold in a retail brick-and-mortar environment. These environments include everything from general merchandise stores to dealers specializing in specific wares such as sporting goods or musical instruments. Since success is often dependent on foot traffic rather than sales activity, retail salespersons are often compensated by a base salary only. However, retail environments with high-ticket items often pay flat commission rates.  9. Sales and Related Workers, All Other Median pay: $31,820 This category of sales encompasses salespeople in positions and industries that don’t fall into any of the ones mentioned…

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CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – MAY 7, 2021 Speaking Tips for Children Ten-year-old Sophie walks up to the microphone, takes a deep breath and confidently speaks. “I’m here to talk about what being a leader means to me. First of all, a leader always includes everybody and never leaves anyone out. Second of all, they listen to everybody’s ideas. Last but not least, a leader is somebody you can trust. A leader should be a good role model and somebody you can look up to. That’s what leadership means to me and that’s the kind of leader I want to be this year.” Even though she’s practising in an empty gymnasium on this Thursday morning, there are a few things evident about Sophie’s…

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HARDISON’S TIPS – MAY 6, 2021 – WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMMISSION SALES 1. Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives Median pay: $63,000 These kinds of sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. Their job security and livelihood is often almost entirely intertwined with the volume of merchandise they can sell. Their commission structure tends to reflect that. These reps are often paid with absolute or base salary plus commission plans. 2. Insurance Sales Agents Median pay: $50,940 Insurance sales agents contact potential customers to sell different kinds of insurance. Agents spend time directly interfacing with clients, completing paperwork, and preparing presentations. They also fulfill other customer-facing and administrative responsibilities. Commission for this brand of sales is generally…

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CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – MAY 6, 2021 As Halloween nears, let’s get real about something that many students ACTUALLY find scary: giving a speech or presentation.   If it’s true that many people fear public speaking more than death, then Secondary English teachers have to be the warriors on the front lines against that fear. It’s our job to not just assign a speech when the standards demand it, but to teach students HOW to prepare and give one with grace. So, how exactly do we help a wide range of students choose bravery over fear? As a speech nerd aficionado teaching a general English class, I love getting to the root of student problems and making them more comfortable presenting. It’s…

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HARDISON’S TIPS – MAY 5, 2021 – WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMMISSION SALES 3. Relative Commission Plan The relative commission plan is when a target or quota is set. Let’s say a salesperson has a quarterly quota of $90,000 and a quarterly commission of $10,000. If they meet 85% of the quota, they’ll receive 85% of the commission. This is in addition to their base salary, which can help incentivize underperformers without causing the turnover that often happens with roles under a commission-only plan. 4. Absolute Commission Plan  This is when a commission is paid as a result of engaging in specific activities or meeting specific goals. For example, a salesperson might be paid $1,000 for each new customer. Like the relative…

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CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – MAY 5, 2021 As Halloween nears, let’s get real about something that many students ACTUALLY find scary: giving a speech or presentation.   If it’s true that many people fear public speaking more than death, then Secondary English teachers have to be the warriors on the front lines against that fear. It’s our job to not just assign a speech when the standards demand it, but to teach students HOW to prepare and give one with grace. So, how exactly do we help a wide range of students choose bravery over fear? As a speech nerd aficionado teaching a general English class, I love getting to the root of student problems and making them more comfortable presenting. It’s…

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HARDISON’S TIPS – MAY 4, 2021 – WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMMISSION SALES Did you know 43% of workers would be willing to leave their companies for a 10% salary increase? Compensation is an important factor in attracting and retaining employees, especially in sales. Imagine if almost half of your sales team left the company because of a poorly designed compensation plan. The results wouldn’t be pretty. If your sales organization is struggling to strike a balance between company requirements and the compensation needs of employees, it’s likely time to reevaluate your compensation plan and commission structure. As a salesperson, it’s valuable to know what types of commission plans are available and what salary and commission rates you should look for from an…

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CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – MAY 4, 2021 SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS OUTLINE YOUR SPEECH Before you begin practicing your speech, you’ll need to answer a few basic questions: What is your topic? What point are you trying to make to your audience? What is the story you want to tell? Once you have these answers, start outlining your speech. A good order to follow is: Beginning Hook Introduction Goals Agenda Middle Details End Summary Inspiring takeaway Thank you Some people can present on the fly, but it’s always beneficial (and highly recommended) to outline and organize your speech. Effective presenters deliver information in a well-structured format that is easy for the audience to follow.  Hint: You can find Braven’s structure…

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HARDISON’S TIPS – MAY 3, 2021 – Unemployment Is High. Why Are Businesses Struggling to Hire? There are two distinct, and completely opposite, ways of looking at the American job market. One would be to consult the data tables produced every month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which suggest a plentiful supply of would-be workers. The unemployment rate is 6 percent, representing 9.7 million Americans who say they are actively looking for work. Alternately, you could search for news articles mentioning “labor shortage.” You will find dozens in which businesses, especially in the restaurant and other service industries, say they face a potentially catastrophic inability to hire. The anecdotes come from the biggest metropolitan areas and from small towns, as well as from tourist destinations of all varieties. If this…

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CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – MAY 3, 2021 Public Speaking Anxiety and Its Effects on Students Public speaking anxiety is ranked above the fear of death. Surprisingly? Isn’t it?! Almost 77% of the people are scared of public speaking. In a survey conducted by the Journal of Education and Educational Development, out of a sample of 50 students 75% of them had public speaking anxiety. This reminds me of a joke that some people prefer to be in a coffin rather than give a eulogy at a funeral. Back in school, that person would’ve been definitely me. As a student, I was always terrified of the stage. Students fear public speaking not only because of the lack of exposure but also due to…

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