ART OF CHARM
Steve Sims | How to Always Get a Yes
For a man who has arguably the most influential and successful connections in the world, Steve Sims’ life didn’t start with a silver spoon. He’s an Irish lad born to an East London construction family with blue collar roots.
Initially he wanted to be a stockbroker so he talked his way into that world, and eventually a job in Hong Kong. He began work there on a Tuesday and was fired by the next Saturday. But that led to his work as a doorman at nightclubs where he noticed something curious: the most elite clients weren’t just the stuffy old-money crowd, there were a lot of new rich people coming in the doors.
Soon he was being asked if he could connect those folks with the fanciest parties, the best hotels, events, etc. Even though he didn’t often know how he could make connections for them, he said yes and made it happen!
That was 18 years ago and today he heads up a company called Bluefish, a luxury concierge service that provides whatever your heart desires.
But Steve never tells anyone he runs a concierge service, he believes what they do is so much more than that. He says he is the person who makes magic happen and if you ask about a few of the events he’s helped create for others you’ll see why this description is so appropriate.
On today’s show Steve shares some of his trade secrets, including the 3 ways he communicates for maximum return and how he makes other people happy (which in and of itself is one of his secrets to succeeding in anything).
The 3 ways he communicates for maximum return are phoning people, writing letters (handwriting the envelope, even if the letter is typed) and answering people’s emails with videos. The personal touch each of these provide show people they matter to him and that he’s thinking of them. Steve’s three suggestions take just a little bit of effort but they leave a lasting impression and make other people happy.
Another way he makes people happy is simply by asking them! For example if a client emails him with a request, he doesn’t respond with an email. He picks up the phone and talks with them. He asks them questions about their request, like: Why is this important to you? What could we create to make you so excited you won’t sleep the night before this event and will have you talking about it for years to come?
With those answers, Steve sets out on his quest to make their experience happy. But he doesn’t stop with just his clients happiness, he finds ways to make the people providing the experience for his clients happy as well. He once had a hotelier who was an exceptional resource, Steve discovered this hotelier loved Maroon5 so he had the band autograph a guitar and then gave the guitar to the hotelier. You can bet that is a gift that will be treasured throughout the hotelier’s lifetime!
Whether or not you run a business and have clients of your own, Steve gives examples and tips to contribute to other people in your life. He also shares many of his stories, including how he got one of his clients to sing four songs with Journey, live on stage!
You’ll want to listen in to hear all the goods Steve has to share today, there are plenty!
To view the interview, you can go to: theartofcharm.com