Knowing how to convince someone of something is a trick up my parenting sleeve. I have often said to my friends, “I can sell anything to my kids.” How do we convince them that they want to clean their room or want to go to dinner as a family or want to wear a matching Halloween costume? Marketing.
In this tongue-in-cheek episode, we talk about how Supermoms Can Sell Anything | The Secret of Marketing based on the final chapter of the book Secrets of Supermom.
Ready to listen and learn how to convince someone (your kids)? Use the podcast player or listen anywhere you find your favorite podcasts. (Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!)
Rather read? Check out the show notes and episode content right here!
Show Notes and Transcript: How to Convince Someone
Hey, hey friend! Welcome to Episode #17 of The Secrets of Supermom Show!
Before we get started today, I must tell you that the doors are officially open for my new program, The Supermom System. Do you wish work and life felt balanced and aligned instead of constantly battling time and mom guilt? Do you feel like you are the only one struggling and all these other moms totally have it together (Spoiler alert…they don’t!). Do you wish you were a little less overwhelmed and a little more organized? Do you have a hard time saying no and setting solid boundaries? Do you feel stressed and exhausted far more often than motivated and energized? If you felt yourself nodding along to any one of those–or maybe all of them–then The Supermom System might be just what you need. It might be just what you didn’t even know you were looking for. Get all the details at secretsofsupermom.com/enroll or the link in the show notes! I hope to see you inside.
Y’all, today we are diving into the final chapter of the book. If you have been listening along from the beginning, you know that we are wrapping up Part 3 of the book which is The Secret Skills supermoms use to succeed. This final, sort of tongue-in-cheek chapter, focuses on marketing. But not like, let me teach you how to post on social media or sell vacuums door-to-door marketing. This chapter talks about how to convince someone of something, namely your children. How do you market to your children to make EVERYTHING easier? Stay tuned and find out.
This week, based on Chapter 16 from the book Secrets of Supermom, let’s dive into Supermoms Can Sell Anything | The Secret of Marketing.
Why Marketing?
I have often said to my friends, “I can sell anything to my kids.” How do I convince them that they want to clean their room or want to go to dinner as a family or want to wear matching Halloween costumes? Marketing. Now, my kids are still 11 and under so they may start to learn my tricks as they continue into adolescence. Sometimes I think they are already learning my tricks and using them back on me–smart little things.
How To Convince Someone of Something: The Key Secrets
At work and home, we often want or need someone to do something. We could force them, make demands, but does that work? Maybe in the short term, but certainly not in the long term. How can we convince someone to do something without manipulation but without aggression either? The steps we are going to talk about today allow open communication so we can ensure we get what we need while our kids get what they need, too.
Step 1: Listen and Learn
The number one quality of any good salesperson, any good marketer, and any good parent is listening. You have to listen to know what they want, what they need, what they fear, and who they want to be. I am not talking about mom listening where you are saying “mmm hmmm” and the words are going in one ear and out the other while you work on fourteen different tasks. I mean truly, actually genuinely listening.
When we listen, our kids feel important. Just like adults and clients and friends, our kids want to be heard and they want to be understood. When you listen and know what your kids want, it is easier to convince them of whatever you are hoping to convince them of.
In the book, I talk about our matching Halloween costumes when Kinley was only four and really wanted to be a princess. What she really wanted was a poufy dress, high heels, and beautiful hair. When I convinced her that Alice in Wonderland had all those things, it was an easy sell! I wasn’t lying or manipulating. Instead, I was able to focus on the parts that I knew were important to HER. I was happy and SHE was happy.
Step 2: Tell a Good Story
The book Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller shares how you can clarify your message and take your customer through the hero’s journey in order to market your company. This works for marketing to kids too! Think of someone you love talking with. I bet they tell good stories. By creating a story with your kiddo as the hero, you can more easily take them on the journey you want. Make things fun. Make monotonous errands adventures.
Step 3: Handling Objections
Anticipate why your kiddo might NOT want to do whatever it is you want him or her to do. Homework, taking a bath, getting a job…all of these things your child might not find enticing. However, if you can think about the true objections your kiddo might have, you can be more convincing.
So, you need your kid to take a bath. Of course, he doesn’t want to take a bath. You could fight and yell. You could turn it into a battle of wills. YOu could endure screaming and crying–maybe his or maybe yours You could end the night exhausted and defeated, albeit with a clean kid.
Or, you could listen and handle his objections.
He hates the bath because he hates putting his face underwater. You could use the faucet to wash his hair. He hates a bath because he has to stop playing monster trucks. YOu could choose bathtime monster trucks that only come out in the bath. He hates bath because it takes too long. You could set a timer and make it a race, a game.
None of these make the bath really that different or harder on you or a bigger hassle (and the timer might even make it faster). It is all about the messaging.
Step 4: Focus on Benefits
Kids want things to be awesome. Show them why it’s awesome. Focus on the things they want. A sucker at the doctor’s office. A lunch with the principal for perfect attendance. A faster race time after practicing.
Step 5: Be Persuasive
Persuasion can come in many forms. Here are a few to think about:
- Appeal to Authority: Show them research or an authority figure to justify your idea
- Appeal to Reason: Present facts, logic, numbers or rational information
- Appeal to Emotion: Show them how they will feel in a certain situation
- Appeal to Trust: Be consistent and honest so they know they can trust you
- Appeal to Belonging: Show them how they will be part of a group, community or team (and make sure you use positive peer pressure only!)
- Appeal to Repetition: Repeat your message to make sure it is heard and understood
Step 6: Be Honest
Although this episode is meant to be a little silly, it is certainly not a message to lie to your kids. Be honest, always.
One Small Step
Every week we share one small step you can take to get started today. So today, as we wrap up the final chapter of the Secrets of Supermom book, your one small step is…go order the book y’all! If you have not purchased Secrets of Supermom, check out the show notes or go right into Amazon, search Secrets of Supermom, and it will come right up! It will take you less than 5 minutes for sure.
Next week, now that we have wrapped up the final chapter of the book, we will be getting started with interviews! You do not want to miss this phenomenal episode with my special guest on self-care…it 100% isn’t what you think.
Finally, make sure to head over to the link in the show notes or go to secretsofsupermom.com/enroll and check out all the details of The Supermom System. Have a great week!
