Competitive Excellence - "Superior Sales Results" with Stu Schlackman

Senator Jane Nelson of Texas

Dear Mr. Schlackman:

Thank you so much for your wonderful presentation at our staff retreat last month! You took the time and care to ensure that our time was well spent, and I am certain that what we learned will be invaluable for all of us. We will take our experience with us for years to come. I am confident that your program will help us to better serve the constituents of my Senate district.

Ebby Halliday

We offered Stu Schlackman’s “The Four People You Should Know” class several
times during 2009 and each time the reviews were unanimous. This was our most
popular class for 2009 and we are already having request for it this year. Stu has a
gift for getting the message delivered and for making everyone love the messenger.
His material is relevant, his delivery relatable. And more importantly what he
teaches works! Our associates who have participated in Mr. Schlackman’s courses
have improved their sales, their business and their lives.

Terry McMurtry
Professional Development

Ultralife Corporation

Between Stu’s engaging manner, his easy and sometime self deprecating humor and the interesting nature of what he had to impart, he had them from the start. It surveyed as the most popular and most useful training that we had ever done.

By changing his approach each time and keeping them all engaged, Stu managed to keep the attention of a very difficult to reach group, for the entire day, far exceeding any of our expectations.

John D. Kavazanjian
President & CEO
Ultralife Corporation

NEI

“If you are looking to bring your sales team to the next level of performance, bringing Stu Schlackman in for one of his training sessions will do it! Stu has taught our team how to build long term relationships with clients and how to strategically position our solutions and services to increase new business. His wit and experience are a unique combination that can make a difference to your team. So If you’re looking to increase new sales and shorten your sales cycle I highly recommend one of Stu’s programs.”

Rusty Cone
SVP Sales & Marketing
NEI

Plano Centre

Stu, thank you for sharing your expertise with us today! I have to tell you that I’ve been in the tourism industry for more than 25 years and have been selling most of that time. Well, as I’m sure you know, a person can get stuck in a rut, so to speak. I was thinking not long ago that I needed to re-think my selling “techniques” especially since we’re in such a competitive time. This seminar was perfect timing! Thanks again!

Kay Barnes Summerville
Sales Manager
Plano Centre

Penn Mutual

“Over the past few years that I have been working with Stu Schlackman, I have seen an increase in the productivity of my advisors. The information and methods he taught us to better understand our clients has helped build stronger relationships with them and close more deals. It’s also been extremely helpful in building our marketing strategy and programs by keeping my advisors in front of people who see the world as they do, allowing the advisors and their clients to have a more productive and rewarding experience together. “

David Boykin
Penn Mutual

Textura Corporation

Stu, your Personality Styles training sessions are a success at Textura. This adds a new dimension to our sales process, supporting our philosophy of helping prospects buy. You have helped us close new business and shorten sales cycles. Our team enthusiastically embraces the concept. Thank you!

Geoff Gitelson
Executive Vice President,Sales

CoServ

WOW! Great job Stu!! So many of the attendees have commented how much they liked the class (“best class ever” several stated!). I appreciate the opportunity to “be around” other professionals who are so passionate about their subjects. I learned today! Your genuineness came through loud and clear! Sharing your book was the icing on the cake. My colleagues enjoy receiving books, and it reinforces your message long after you have left the building. I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Dennis Engelke
Director of Member and Employee Relations

Riverstone Residential and CAS Partners

Thanks Stu for another outstanding workshop for my entire management team from around the country. Your knowledge of personality styles and your enthusiasm was evident to everyone in the organization. Once again, you knocked the ball out of the park and I know it will take our company’s performance to the next Level. Thanks again for your insight, enthusiasm and expertise as it relates to sales and building high performance teams!

Toni Portmann
CEO Riverstone Residential

2008 IBBA Fall Conference

“It was truly an honor to schedule Stu Schlackman as a keynote speaker for the International Business Brokers Association - M&A Source Fall 2008 Joint Conference for Professional Development! Stu was a superb choice and proved to be one of the highlights of the conference. Stu’s ability to engage a tough audience for both the keynote address followed by an overflowing workshop was truly a delight to see and far exceeded our expectations. As brokers and consultants hearing yet another “how to sell” speech worried us but we were just spell bound. His techniques and speaking style are phenomenal and it truly was a delight to have him teach us how to have an edge over the competition. Both in business or our personal lives, Stu’s techniques have already proven true.”

Thanks!
Pattie Walters- Conference Committee Chair 2008 IBBA
Fall 2008 Conference for Professional Development

Resource One Credit Union

The Competitive Excellence “Personality Styles Workshop” has been a great tool for our staff to incorporate in our day to day business. We have found that when implementing what we have learned we become more effective in our Sales presentations and internally we communicate more effectively. The beauty of Stu’s workshop is that it is really easy to grasp and implement. It is also fun to learn how to uncover the different personality types to be more effective in adapting to their style and preferences. The sessions are so interactive that before you know it you’re done.

Stu is a delight to work with and is flexible with his time to accommodate your training needs. If you are looking to increase your bottom line I recommend this training.

Sissy Littlefield
Director of Training Sales and Service

Allegiance Capital Corporation

Stu,

Your seminar provided to the investment bankers at Allegiance Capital has been enthusiastically received. You are a dynamic speaker and you made an outstanding presentation and provided real insights in how to be more effective in working with clients by understanding their social styles. Everyone at Allegiance Capital appreciates the fact that the “facts don’t change” but depending on the person’s social style, the way you present them does.

Stu, we look to have you come back shortly and provide additional training and reinforcement. We believe your training has dramatically helped us in our communicating information.

David J. Mahmood
Founder & Chairman

Stream

Stu:

Thank you for showing the Stream Executive and Sales Team our ‘true colors’! You enlightened over 150 of our top managers, executives, sales and business development professionals, with your incredible energy, insight, and rare applicability. We, now, consistently refer to one another by our color and are beginning to improve efficiency, effectiveness and communication because of our new found appreciation for our colorful differences!

Toni Portmann - CEO and President
Stream
2220 Campbell Creek Blvd. Suite 100
Richardson, TX 75082

GTESS Corporation

Stu,

Thanks again for another fantastic job this week! You are truly a member of our sales and marketing team. It is a pleasure to work with such a consummate professional! Your “Colors Course” continues to get the highest rankings on our field sales satisfaction surveys and delivers the most tactical revenue impact of any course we have ever used. And taking it to the next level in using by during negotiations was powerful. The Sales VPs all look forward to their next “Stu University”. Scott Thrasher even asked if you would be available for consulting on tactical opportunities. Of course, I told him, “Absolutely!”

Thanks again for all you do to contribute to our “Competitive Excellence” here at GTESS.

Sincerely,

Ivan Boyd
Senior VP and Chief Revenue Officer

BancTec, Inc.

Stu’s approach to organizational behavior and his ability to create a new paradigm in the way that people think, communicate, assess, and perceive situations both internally and externally, is one of the best kept secrets in the business world today. His passion, energy, insightfulness, and pragmatic style, combined with a terrific sense of humor, really keeps his audience engaged and entertained. Stu’s initial work with my organization has already made a significant impact and I personally look forward to continuing our relationship to gain even greater insights on how to further enhance our organization’s efficiency and success.

Regards,

Rich Mason

VP Sales
Americas & AsiaPac
BancTec, Inc.

BancTec, Inc.

Stu,

Thanks for delivering an outstanding training session to our sales, marketing and consulting organizations. Your delivery was incredible and you did a magnificent job of keeping a large and diverse audience engaged and participating. Our team is using what you taught us and I expect our results to improve through more effective communications with clients and colleagues alike. Everyone, regardless of functional responsibility in an organization, would benefit from your workshop. Thanks again!

Chuck Corbin
Vice President, Corporate Marketing
BancTec, Inc.

LTC International

Stu,

Thanks for an outstanding session on Wednesday. Beyond the very positive feedback forms, I’ve had several folks let me know that this is one of the few sessions of the many that they have attended over the years that has given them some useful tools to apply right away.

As you and I know, it is that real world focus that makes your concept so powerful - congratulations!

Barbara Lancaster
President

LTC International

I wanted to thank you for a very good seminar! I’ve been to a lot of these things over the years and this was one of the best. It was simple, nontechnical, and straightforward yet very thorough and enlightening. I not only learned important things about those “other types” of people, I learned about that most difficult of types - me! In addition, everyone seemed to be able to immediately start applying what we learned to help us with our challenges here.

Thanks again for a great afternoon.

Mike Halliburton
Technical Writer

EnergyNet

I wanted to take a minute to thank you again for visiting our Business Development offsite. The program was exceptional and probably the best money we have invested in training. Since the training we have all been sizing up our clients by their personality “colors” and it is amazing the difference we are seeing in our approach and follow through. We have taken the training one step further and have revisited past accounts for evaluation using your program. In a good many cases we found we were selling to our personality and not the potential client’s. I firmly believe the training will be another arrow in our quiver to continue our competitive advantage over our competitors.

Steve Bruton
Vice President Business Development
EnergyNet

Republic Title

Stu brought a fun, educational and interactive seminar to our company which captured our attention and created raving fans. He has an endearing and loyal personality and we are proud to have him represent Republic Title in the real estate community.

Lynn Lentscher
Senior Vice President
Republic Title

GTESS Corporation

Stu, the sales training was a great success, due to your great facilitation and excellent training. I heard many positive comments from the team. You helped us charge up the team, and prepare them for success with some new tools and skills for 2007.

Thanks, Stu, you’re the best.

Deb Gage
CEO
GTESS Corporation

Goldman Sachs

I wanted to let you know I was personally able to close a large deal 12/31 using your techniques. This individual was a bright blue and recognizing that enabled me to get this done. It was not a matter of facts I was able to show him it all came down to his blue characteristics and the relationship I was finally able to build.

We appreciate all you help!

Joe Dan Rowland
Producer

New York Life Insurance

Stu, I want you know how much our entire group enjoyed your Personality Styles Workshop. The concepts have really seemed to stick, and I see agents arranging their case prep according to their read on the person’s “color profile”. It’s amazing to watch how, with just a few clues, we’re all consistently being able to “peg” people and tailor our conversations to hold their interest. I anticipate the tips you gave them will allow our team to help more people meet their financial and organizational resolutions in 2007.

Best,

Karen I. Boykin

Financial Services Professional
Agent, New York Life Insurance Co.
Registered Representative, NYLIFE Securities Inc.

Ebby Halliday

Stu,

I am so glad I made the decision to take your personality styles workshop with my sales associates. As a branch manager with a top real estate company the benefits were amazing. The team work, energy and enthusiasm in the room was stronger than any other group training that we have ever had.

Afterwards it moved into the office environment and got even stronger. The information we received in helping us understand ourselves and our customers was invaluable. Thanks so much for sharing your program with us. We will definitely have you back. I can’t wait to read your book.

Terry Brion CRS, CRB
Branch Manager
Ebby Halliday REALTORS
Dallas, Texas

Wm. Rigg Company

Competitive Excellence provides a highly effective approach to identify, analyze and connect personality styles… thus optimizing the sales opportunity! It also represents an invaluable sale management tool to better understand your sale force thus enabling them to more effectively compete… and win. All of our producers have been through Stu’s training and in 2006 our revenues increased 24.2% and new business was up 35%! Thank you!

Stephen B. Smith, President
Wm. Rigg Co.

Corporate Tax Management

Stu,

I wanted to take a moment to write and say thank you for the training workshop you provided to us recently. It was by far the best, most informative training that we have had to date. Allowing us to participate made it fun and interesting. The time just flew by with a teamwork tone. Your training has not only helped us to gauge the best method of selling to prospects based on personality types, but it has also helped to understand the best methods of interacting with others within our own company.

Your training has given us the key that unlocks the mystery of selling in this competitive age. This knowledge can be used not only professionally but in every other aspect of our lives that deal with people and relationships. What we have gained from this experience has given us a greater edge that sets us apart from our competitors. You’ve succeeded in motivating our team to excellence and we thank you. I would highly recommend your training to anyone seeking increased sales, productivity, revenue and interpersonal skills. You contribute significantly to our world and to mankind by providing this information.

We are looking forward to the next training from Competitive Excellence.

Sincerely,
Sherri Blumberg
Corporate Tax Management

Republic Title

I have organized 2 seminars with Stu Schlackman and Competitive Excellence…never before have I had such great feedback from my clients! This is one of those classes that they actually come out of and feel empowered to sell!” Thank you, Stu, for supporting me and for helping my customers close the sale!

Janet Allen - Republic Title-Turtle Creek Branch

Ebby Halliday

STU…

THE CONSENSUS OF THE ATTENDEES IN YOUR SEMINAR WAS THAT THIS WAS THE MOST INFORMATIVE AND FUN MCE CLASS THEY HAVE EVER ATTENDED.

Not only did we discover OUR personality spectrum, it gave us useful tools in analyzing the personality traits of the people with whom we interact on a daily basis and clearly a better insight into what color guidelines our clients fit. I am now color coding all of my family, friends, associates, and more importantly, my buyers and sellers.

Your presentation was SO REFRESHING…AND UNLIKE MOST SEMINARS…WE TOOK SOMETHING WITH US WHICH WILL LAST A LIFETIME….NOT ONLY FOR OUR REAL ESTATE PROFESSION BUT IN ALL OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS…

THANK YOU …. THANK YOU.. FOR SHARING YOUR WISDOM & EXPERIENCE WITH US.

MARTHA MORGULOFF

Martha Morguloff, CRS, GRI, SRES
Ebby Halliday, Realtors

Verizon Business

Stu,

Thank you so much for presenting at our Brown Bag. This was by far the best presentation we had so far. Your seminar would be great for team building. The next time our department is interested in a team building, I will definitely suggest your program.

Kim Ortiz, CPA
Sr. Financial Analyst
Verizon Business - Fixed Asset Accounting

Republic Title

I want to thank you for providing such a dynamic and “cutting-edge” training class for our customers and prospects. Your subject matter, materials and excellent presentation skills make for a great event! As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t get any better than Competitive Excellence!

Bill Chesnutt
Republic Title - Frisco Branch

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

Competitive Excellence’s “Understanding Buying Behaviors” class benefits the student not only in their professional life, but immensely in one’s personal relationships as well. Schlackman has style, substance, charisma, relevance, and what he says is valuable information delivered in a way that is enjoyable at the same time. He cares about his audience and gives a truly wonderful presentation.

Jan Brand
Director of Career Development

GTESS

Stu, thanks for leading an excellent training event for our 2006 Sales Kick-off. Your insight on business planning, and strategic and executive selling provided the team a solid plan in moving forward and closing new business. And your fun workshop on personality styles was the “hit of the week.” It was an excellent team building exercise and gave us a new dimension and outlook to “why” customers will buy. The sales force is using it everyday and talking about their “green or gold” customers in all of our account planning sessions. I believe that we are positioned at GTESS for our best year ever and we appreciate your involvement in bringing our team to a new level of performance in 2006! It is truly a privilege to work with a professional.

Ivan G. Boyd
Senior VP and Chief Revenue Officer

Sleep Experts

After applying what I learned through Competitive Excellence’s personality lifestyle sales course I have seen a dramatic increase in my close ratio. My closing rate is now averaging 85%. In one week I closed 28 more sales than in previous week’s sales.

Eric McCloskey, Sales Associate
Sleep Experts

Reliable Chevrolet

After being in sales for over forty years I sometimes get “stuck in a rut.” The Competitive Excellence approach to identifying different personality styles has really helped structure my sales presentation to various customers. As I get better at using your program I will further develop my selling skills.

S. Jackson
Reliable Chevrolet

Pope Plumbing

In just three short sessions - one a week - my sales team developed new insights into understanding our customers’ needs, identifying selling opportunities and presenting value. Since the training the teams attitude has become more positive, which has led to improved customer service - and an increase in business.

Competitive Excellence helped us understand what leads to increased sales. The approach covered the whole relationship with the customer, not just selling. I would say Competitive Excellence’s insights could help just about any company, big or small, improve customer relationships and increase business.

Tim Chapman, President
Pope Plumbing

AT&T, Inc.

As in all companies with limited budgets, training dollars for employees are at a premium. I manage an area of high technology in the telecommunications business, and our limited training dollars are typically allocated to technical training. This practice has created a widening gap in soft skill capabilities among our managers. Stu’s course helped bridge that gap.

Stu gears his materials and delivery to the audience, making the class pertinent to all who attend. He creates an environment that is effective, yet fun and informal. With his energy and sense of humor, Stu is a great motivator for the team, giving them the tools they need, and encouraging them to practice and build confidence.

In a company as customer-focused as ours, it is important that our managers know the guidelines for presenting their material and themselves effectively, whether they are selling, informing, or motivating. Stu’s course provided the foundation for them to present themselves in a professional manner. His passion for his subject matter is contagious.

Janet Kennedy, Assistant Vice President
AT&T, Inc.

Masterplan

Thank you for the outstanding session you held with our sales team. It was clear that you understand the challenges facing a company attempting to dislodge an incumbent. With your help, I believe our sales team now has the tools required to clearly articulate the company’s value proposition. I especially appreciate the time you spent understanding our industry before developing your presentation. I look forward to working with you in the future on other sales enhancement strategies.

Bruce Cree, Chairman and CEO
Masterplan