{"quotes":[{"text":"When you are 'off somewhere else' people notice. Have you found yourself in conversations in which you’re so concerned about what you are going to say next, that you don’t even hear what the other person is saying? Guilty as charged, right?","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["communication-skills","customer-service","engagement","motivational-speaker-susan-young","networking","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","selling-success","susanspeaks-com"],"id":1235,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"Initiative is The Start of All Good Things. Your ship will never come in if you don’t send any out. Have you ever found yourself dreaming, hoping, and waiting passively for things to change or for your life to get better?","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["communication-skills","customer-service","initiative","motivational-speaker-susan-young","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","selling-success","service-beyond-self","susanspeaks-com"],"id":1470,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"To cultivate bravery and courage, practice, practice, practice. Each time you test your bravery you grow your self-assurance and increase your comfort to a greater degree. Repetition helps build confidence and competence. You did it; now do it again!","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["bravery","communication-skills","conquer-fear","emotional-intelligence","motivational-speaker-susan-young","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","susanspeaks-com"],"id":4280,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"Our cultural lens is so much a part of us that we are not even aware of how obvious it is to others. Like the nose on your face, you may forget that it is there, but everyone else sees it. I can’t look at you and not see your nose.","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["communication-skills","customer-service","employee-engagement","mindfulness","motivational-speaker-susan-young","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","susanspeaks-com"],"id":5704,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"Imagine how many new friends you would make, how much new business you could create, and how much fun you could have by simply taking the initiative to be the inviter.","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["communication-skills","customer-service","initiative","motivational-speaker-susan-young","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","selling-success","service-beyond-self","susanspeaks-com"],"id":7455,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"I spend a great deal of time on airplanes traveling from one speaking engagement to the next. There have been times when I have sat for hours next to strangers with whom I never made eye contact or uttered a word. But then I have also met people with whom I engaged in such delightful conversation that it resulted in new business and referrals. The main difference was whether or not I took initiative to begin a conversation.","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["communication-skills","customer-service","initiative","motivational-speaker-susan-young","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","selling-success","service-beyond-self","susanspeaks-com"],"id":7675,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"I love acronyms, don’t you? They are quick and easy tools for remembering important lessons that are too good to forget. The PEACE acronym goes straight to the heart of the matter for delivering 'Service Beyond Self.' When you do this one thing, you will increase your opportunities, earn loyalty and respect, and rock your first and last impressions.Persistently Exceed All Customer Expectations.","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["communication-skills","customer-service","motivational-speaker-susan-young","positive-first-impression","positivity","by-susan-c-young","relationship","selling-success","service-beyond-self","susanspeaks-com"],"id":13742,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"The road to hell” (in the metaphorical sense, of course), occurs when the people who have good intentions fail to act, follow-through, or live up to their promises, all of which creates stress, frustration, and disappointment. People can be earnest and well-meaning, but their words become hollow when actions do not follow their words. By setting good intentions and taking deliberate action to back intentions up, you can transform your results.","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["communication-skills","customer-service","initiative","motivational-speaker-susan-young","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","selling-success","service-beyond-self","susanspeaks-com"],"id":17853,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"Mix•\tBe situationally aware and pay attention to the people in the room. •\tIntroduce guests or help strike up a conversation. •\tBe the one who takes the initiative and makes and effort to “work the room.”•\tMake eye contact and acknowledge others with a smile and friendly gestures.•\tGreet people as they arrive, even if it is not your expected role.•\tSpot the people who may be first timers or guests and help them feel more welcomed and embraced.","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["communication-skills","customer-service","motivational-speaker-susan-young","networking","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","selling-success","service-beyond-self","susanspeaks-com"],"id":18393,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"},{"text":"Listening actively confirms for people that you are positively receiving and thoroughly understanding the message they are conveying.","author":"Susan C. Young","tags":["active-listening","communication-skills","customer-service","healthy-conversation","motivational-speaker-susan-young","positive-first-impression","by-susan-c-young","relationship","susanspeaks-com"],"id":19934,"author_id":"Susan+C.+Young"}],"pagination":{"page":1,"page_size":10,"total":250,"pages":25,"next":"?page=2\u0026page_size=10"}}