You hang up the phone with a keen client and your hands are shaking. This is the biggest piece of work you've ever been offered.

You check your emails and see the subject line: Re: Your book deal. And your stomach flips.

You get your networking game face on and head to the top conference in your industry...where they promptly ask you to speak at next year's event.

These are exiting moments for any Ambitious Entrepreneur. And they're the 'Oh $@*^!' moments you need to learn how to handle with ease. Read on for how to close your biggest, best deal yet.

Pushing the boundaries of your earning potential - #IMadeTheAsk with Kristin Wong

IMadeTheAsk Spotlight, Small BusinessDevon SmileyMay 14, 2018article, negotiation consulting, IMadeTheAsk, inspiration, mindset, motivation, results

Negotiating A Great Deal, Despite Time Pressure

Ooooooeeeeee! The end of the year is fast approaching. Scratch that. It’s here!

And all of those plans we had to improve our business this year – the new deals, the ideal clients, the solid systems – this is crunch time for executing on those.

Sometimes, coming up against a deadline – even if self-imposed – can make us play a bit fast and loose when it comes to the quality we’re delivering, especially when it comes to a negotiation.

Picture it: You’re in the thick of a discussion with a potential new client, and all that stands between you and the achievement of your annual targets is to give in on a teensy tiny, itty bitty element of the agreement. Except – normally, you’d never agree to it. And yet, in the rush to close off, you have.

Read on for tips on how to avoid settling for a less-than-stunning result, even when the heat is on.

Corporate, Small BusinessDevon SmileyFebruary 21, 2018contracts, article, negotiation consultant, strategy, results

4 Questions That Will Maximize The Value Of Your Deals

Dollars, Euros, Yen, Pesos, Pounds...as an entrepreneur or small business owner it can be hard to think of anything as important to our businesses as the money. What do we want more of? Money. What do we want to spend less of? Money. But what about running our businesses, and negotiating with our clients and partners so that we have more of other things.

More time. More energy. More flexibility.

There are many elements at play in a negotiation, and taking stock of where the value is for you and your business is key in achieving your best yet results. Here, you'll learn the key questions to ask in order to uncover potential value.

Small BusinessDevon SmileyNovember 1, 2017contracts, article, negotiation consultant, value, results, strategy

A Quick & Simple Bottom Line Booster

Having a healthy bottom line is a must in business. You need to bring in enough to keep expenses covered, and still squirrel a little something away for a rainy day. So if your profit statements are looking a little lacklustre – it’s time to act.

Small BusinessDevon SmileyApril 21, 2016video, The Smiley Sessions, profit, money, guidelines, results

The Key To Getting What You Want

A big roadblock to embracing negotiation in your business is the feeling that it’s all about negotiating ‘against’ someone. The feeling that you need to beat them, or wage war to emerge victorious. Nope. Not how it works. Lower your weapons, shake off that fear, and embrace the mindset that what you’re really doing is negotiating with the other person.

The #1 Way To Be Ahead of the Curve in Business

Nothing kills the buzz of a business faster than an unanticipated snafu or dropped ball.

Small BusinessDevon SmileySeptember 28, 2015mindset, strategy, negotiation consultant, results, prep work

Negotiation Motivation, Volume 1 - The Essential Playlist

Truth time: I don’t wake up every single day with pep in my step and a fire in my heart when it comes to getting shit done in my business. Some days are more of a crawl to the coffee, then a bunch of procrastination.

And on those days, I need a swift kick in the butt to get back into business mode.

I’m betting that when it comes to negotiation, you feel the same way. You know you should. You know you could. You know that it’d probably get you some pretty great results. But. Ugh. Getting that motivation to make the Ask is tough.

When you’d rather tweak your blog graphics, or read just a few more articles in the name of research than jump into a negotiation, I want you to press play on the Negotiation Motivation Playlist below, and get ready for some serious Make The Ask Mojo.

Small BusinessDevon SmileySeptember 2, 2015motivation, negotiation consultant, results, inspiration

How To Unlock Maximum Value For Your Business

You're leaving an awful lot of money on the table in your business deals. But there’s more to success than money.

I’ll give you a moment to let that sink in.

Small BusinessDevon SmileyAugust 26, 2015article, negotiation consultant, results, value, flexibility, communication

Why You've Been Defining Success Wrong

Aside from the flexible work schedule and relaxed dress codes, one of the big appeals of the entrepreneur life is being able to create your own definition of success. Is it the big car, high tech condo and blinged out watch? Being able to fly first class to Paris?

Small BusinessDevon SmileyAugust 24, 2015mindset, negotiation consultant, success, results, priorities

12 Questions That Will Earn You Raving Fans

I want you to think back to your last few client conversations. How much of that conversation was you talking? And how much of that conversation was you asking questions? Hmmmmm… chances are that your ratio of answering : asking is skewing towards the former, rather than the latter.

Asking great questions is especially useful during the negotiation phase of a client relationship – but don’t dismiss the power of a few well-placed queries at other points in that relationship.

Today, we’re taking a look at the questions you should be asking to ensure great results with clients.

Small BusinessDevon SmileyAugust 19, 2015article, clients, communication, results, negotiation consultant, guidelines

The Inside Scoop: What It’s Like To Work With A Negotiation Consultant

We all know what to expect when we go to the salon. A shampoo, a cut, a nice sleek blowdry. Pretty much the same everywhere you go. Working with a business coach or consultant is less straight-forward. Skills, talents and personalities mean that from one pro to the next you could be signing up for a totally different experience. And that’s the best part! Read on for a front row seat to what it’s like when you and I work together.

Why Being Self-Centred In Business Will Cost You

Small BusinessDevon SmileyJuly 27, 2015mindset, communication, strategy, results

Contract Red Flags You Can't Afford To Ignore

Ever get butterflies in your stomach, but aren’t sure why? Or the hairs on the back of your neck stand up on end? It could be love, or a full moon…or it could be your entrepreneur intuition kicking in and telling you to think twice. Over the years, I’ve honed my Spidey Senses when it comes to contracts that are going to be more trouble than their worth – and today I’m sharing my Top 3 Contract Red Flags.

Small BusinessDevon SmileyJuly 22, 2015article, contracts, negotiation consultant, results, drafting, strategy

Get What You Want Without Sacrificing Your Reputation

Small BusinessDevon SmileyJuly 20, 2015mindset, strategy, results, negotiation consultant, contracts, credibility