Category: Sales Training

Retail: The Lessons, the Pressure, and the Price

Paul Wagenaar

Retail has a way of shaping you for what comes next. It builds judgment under pressure, people skills that actually work, and leadership grounded in reality, not theory.

In my latest blog, I explore how experience in retail prepares you for future growth: which skills travel well beyond the sales floor, how to keep evolving without burning out, and what it takes to build a career rooted in integrity and purpose.

If you’re in retail now, transitioning out, or rethinking your next chapter, this piece is written with you in mind.

Do You Remember a Time When Your Life Changed?

Paul Wagenaar

More than a hundred years ago a book was written that continues to reverberate with many people, myself included even today. In a world full of negative commentary and conflict, it serves as a source of positive influence and hope.

Take a few minutes … its lessons might change your life.

Is it you or is it them – Frustrated at work

Paul Wagenaar

When you can’t go forward, you can’t go back, and you can’t stay where you are; this is a horrible situation to find yourself in. Being stuck is something that happens to many of us in our careers. Today’s post is a short guide, based at least in part by my own experience, on how to become unstuck.

Building Culture is Building Success

Paul Wagenaar

Culture isn’t built in meetings. It is built in moments – every minute of every day and in every action – culture can be nurtured, strengthened, and lived. The way we treat people when no one’s watching determines the strength of every business. Start small, stay kind, and keep building. It isn’t easy, it can be hard work, frustrating, fraught with setbacks; however, it is worth the time, and it is worth the investment … every time.

Consider this post to be an introduction, a starting point for building your team through one of the areas that is entirely within your ability to influence.

… things managers do that leaders don’t

Paul Wagenaar

You might think I have something against managers … I am less “anti-manager” than I am more “pro-leader.” Our interactions with people matter and anyone aspiring to be a good manager should set their sights higher and pursue being a good leader. As a retail store manager, a consultant, a project manager, a board member, and now as a career advisor and coordinator I have seen the difference a manager who aspires to be a leader can make and I invite you to see how many of these tools you can use.

Starting your Journey to becoming a Servant Leader

Paul Wagenaar

Becoming a manager of any type of organization is a big accomplishment for anyone. My challenge for anyone in this position is to strive to be more than a manager … become a leader … and most importantly become a servant leader. The road ahead for a new manager is full of danger and chances for failure; however, as an aspiring servant leader, your chances for success increase dramatically when you put serving your team ahead of your own aspirations.

Answer …  Everything is about value and standing out

Paul Wagenaar

We are conditioned by society not to stand out, we all suffer to one extent or another because of the education system and by human nature. Fortunately “blending in” is a learned behavior that can be “unlearned.” The journey to success is helped by learning to stand out, to always provide value and it doesn’t matter if it is for yourself, personally, or for your organization; and it is something you can do, you can even start today.

Being a Servant Leader without being a Manager or Supervisor

Paul Wagenaar

What is leadership? Does it come automatically when you are a supervisor or a manager? Or is it the cumulative effect of dozens of small actions that sometimes seem invisible unless you are looking for them? Someone who is a manager or supervisor doesn’t automatically become a leader, especially not a servant leader; although anyone who is a servant leader would always make a great supervisor or manager.

MORE TEACHABLE MOMENTS

Paul Wagenaar

I work assisting people who are experiencing barriers to employment overcome them and find jobs that either accomplish their goals or take them to the next step on their individual journeys.

My role as a coach and mentor constantly reminds me of the lessons shared with me during my career, this post is the next chapter on “lessons learned” from my November 24th post.

Black Friday and Boxing Day (BFBD) … one merchant’s least two favorite days of the year

Paul Wagenaar

As a merchant, the end of November and the beginning of December is part of the most exciting time of the year. The holiday spirit infuses people and there a more of a willingness to make purchases during this period than at any other time of the year. Unfortunately, there are two events, Black Friday and Boxing Day (BFBD), that have come to represent the only shadow on this season. From a merchant’s perspective, let me share why BFBD are my least two favorite days of the year.