A Podcast with Marketing Guru, Ilise Benun. A Workplace Guide for the Timid, Shy, and Less Assertive

Ilise Benun

Ms. Benun's latest book is titled Stop Pushing Me Around: A Workplace Guide for the Timid, Shy, and Less Assertive published by Career Press.

Questions Peter Clayton asked Ilise Benun.

Tell us about your company, Marketing Mentors.

You do all of your client consultations by phone?

You and your business partner, Peleg Top also give workshops?

Are you seeing any trends, Ilise? Are your clients having success -- or problems with any specific areas of marketing and promotion?

What is the single most important thing you need to do to promote your personal brand?

About Ilise Benun

Ilise Benun, international speaker and founder of Marketing Mentor, has conducted numerous successful seminars and workshops teaching shy people the basic skills required to initiate and develop the relationships necessary to get ahead.

Ilise Benun is an author, speaker and founder of Marketing Mentor. Her books include "Self-Promotion Online" and "Designing Web Sites:// for Every Audience" (HOW Design Books), and her work has been featured in many national magazines. Benun publishes an email newsletter called "Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor," which is read by almost 10,000 readers. Benun is also Board Chair of the American Consultant's League, as well as a board member of the Usability Professionals' Association (NY Chapter) and Women in Cable and Telecommunications (NY Chapter). She started her Hoboken, NJ-based consulting firm, Creative Marketing & Management, in 1988 and has a B.A. in Spanish from Tufts University. 

Benun has conducted marketing workshops for international organizations, including International Association of Business Leaders, Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario, Fox Valley Ad Club (WI), AIGA (several local chapters), Graphic Artists Guild (several local chapters), the HOW Design Conference, NYU Entrepreneurship Summit, the American Marketing Association, the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Family Business Council, the Usability Professionals Association, and the 92nd St. Y. (For more about speaking services, email Ilise at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

About Stop Pushing Me Around!
Succeeding in business requires an assertive personality, self-confidence and solid communication skills. But according to the Shyness Institute in Palo Alto CA, half of all American adults consider themselves shy. Their hearts race and their palms sweat at the thought of talking to strangers

Avoiding conversations can have dire consequences on your earning power and your climb up the corporate ladder, from not getting a deserved promotion to missing out on a big project.

However, there are skills and techniques you can learn which will allow you to grow out of your shell and become a friendly, assertive person. Learn these simple strategies and you will get along better with colleagues, be seen as a strong, team player, get the promotions you deserve or the clients you want and, ultimately - and naturally - succeed in business.

In this book she offers her tried and tested techniques for:

• How to uncover and develop confidence in your natural networking talents
• How to overcome the irrational fears that prevent you from connecting with people who could catapult your career
• How to master the art of small talk
• How to sell ideas without selling out
• How to present ideas verbally without being overwhelmed by fear
• How to overcome fear of rejection
• How to negotiate successful agreements
• How to deal with difficult clients and colleagues
• How to make the most of all kinds of networking opportunities

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