NETWORK - Don't OVERWORK
by Alison Morano - e-mail: alison@bworks.com
President: keywordmarketing.net

Sure, I could run my own business. Who couldn’t?

I grew up in a household where we were told that we could do anything we wanted. My father always told me that I’d be rich one day, all it took was persistenace and some sales skill.

But, if I just tried a little bit, had a great product and went at it. I could kick anybody’s ass and make a million dollars.

Well, it just isn’t that simple. Believe me, I’ve tried, and I’ve failed. Several times.

I believe, a lot of it had to do with the fact that I didn’t know how to say NO. And, I didn’t realize it.

In 1984, I left college after 2 years, and took a job working for a securities trading company. I had no idea what I was doing. I went in for a summer job, and I talked such a good game, and had no idea that anything could stop me – that they informed me that the assistant (or secretarial) job was filled, but was I interested in working for the branch liaison.

Sure! I took the job, and I loved it. I was quickly given more and more responsibility, and eventually I had more work than I could handle. This led to a ‘talking to’ by the Vice President about how I should maybe give up some of my responsibilities’ since I was just doing too much.

I was a complete let down and failure, I thought. It scarred me for months. But, I kept on working, and was given raises and praises. However, I felt like I blown my chance to get ahead. But, this wasn’t the case at all.

Now, looking back on it, I realize that what had actually happened is something that happens to many women – We don’t know how to say NO. If I had known back then that I should listen to my boss and the VP that my overloaded and overworked self was just taking on too much for one person to possibly handle, I would have felt much better and gladly given some of the work up. Instead, I kept saying yes every time someone asked me to take on another account & having so much to do meant that I didn’t do any of it well. (And, for the record, this was not a commission based job – I didn’t make more money by taking on more accounts)

Today, I meet women who are overworked and overstressed, and while I hear from everyone else “Sally’s doing a great job! I’m sure it’s no problem for her to take care of that” – I usually hear from Sally “I just don’t know how to say NO”

Why do I bring this up?

It all has to do with Networking and running your business. I built my business up in 8 years to a respectable level. And, I’m happy with the direction it’s taken. But, the most important lesson I’ve learned over the years is HOW TO SAY NO.

I absolutely believe the best way to introduce yourself and your business to the world is through networking. You should find all the meetings you can, and make business cards, handouts and introductions wherever possible.

Keep lists of the prospects you meet and keep business cards for contacts. Not only for yourself, but so that you can pass the information on to someone else you meet along the way. For example, you meet Kathy, and she’s an accountant. But you already have an accountant, and maybe Kathy and you won’t be doing business together.

The following Monday, you get a call from Cynthia – she asks if you know any accountants. Do you? Yup, right here in card file. You give her Kathy’s name and phone number (or e-mail address). That’s a great connection – and true Networking.

Networking is not only about meeting people and doing business together. It’s about making connections that you can pass on to others you meet along the way. This is how you build your “network”.

Anyway, back to the NO part.

It’s great if you find lots of meetings to go to, make lots of connections and get involved. But, don’t spread yourself too thin.

Even though I learned my lesson back with Stevens Securities, I find myself, 10-12 years later still trying to figure out how I’m going to fit my work into my busy schedule of ‘promise-keeping’. That is, how do I get all my committee work done and still have time to run a business and pay my mortgage?

I have found myself once again needing to say NO. And, I pull back every few months and ‘clear my plate’. – without feeling like a failure.

This is very important. Do what you can. In business groups, volunteer to work on committees that will utilize your current skills. Things that fit into your every day work environment and responsibilities. If you’re no good at making phone calls, don’t volunteer to be on the fundraising committee. If you are good at balancing spreadsheets, volunteer to be on the accounting committee. I meet women every day who tell me that they’ve volunteered for this or that, but they have no idea how to do the job.

Men don’t have this problem.

My husband, for example, doesn’t volunteer for anything except something he can get done on the computer. And, I’ll tell you, if someone asks him to help out with a project, he finds out exactly what it entails, and makes an informed decision.

Me, I just scream “Yes! Of course I can do that!” – then I have to listen to him ask me why in the world I volunteered. I don’t know. I couldn’t help it. Isn’t that how you grow your business? By getting involved? Yes, but know how to take on the responsibilities that will make people say “She does a great job” – not “Is this project too much for you to handle?”, or, as has happened to people I actually know “When is she getting out of the hospital?” Two people I know landed in the emergency room with heart pains from stress and anxiety from stretching themselves too thin. In both cases, the number one factor I heard from other people was “She needs to learn how to say NO”.

It’s great to get involved, but make sure you know what you’re doing, and if you feel anxiety because you’ve got too many deadlines, and NO MONEY, you’re taking on too much.

When I volunteer now, it’s to help groups and organizations get their website on the Search Engines. That’s what I know how to do, that’s what I take on for my groups. It works out great. And, that gets me the business I want from Networking. I’m introduced as an “expert marketer” – “She has gotten so many hits to our website that we could never get on our own.” – that gets me business from the other members. See how it works?