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In This Issue |
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The 10 Commandments of Networking
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Shrimp Doesn't Belong on Toast
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Going Above And Beyond
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Who Is Placing Value on YOU?
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Making My Business Routine
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How Does 1/2 + 2 = 3?
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Question:
I've just started a business--- when should I
start networking?
K.M.- NYC
Answer:
From: Lucy Rosen
There is nothing magical about networking and
you don't have to be at a certain level of
success to start. All it takes is meeting like
minded people and a willingness to exchange
information. Networking is about a mutually
beneficial relationship, so there is no better
time than NOW to start!
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March 16th:
Woodbury
March 18th:
QUEENS
Call us today at 516.222.0236 for more
information about upcoming meetings in your
area.
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New groups
forming now-
email
LucyRosen@aol.com for more information
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Cool Events to Attend
In NEW
YORK:
Thursday, March 12th:
LINCK - a project of The Early Years, No
Child Left Inside Conference
Islandia
Marriot
8am-5pm
Click Here for more information
Friday, March 20th:
One
is Greater Than None Benefit Concert
Hammerstein
Ballroom 6:30pm
Click Here for more information
Thursday, April 2nd:
Top
Women in Business
Terrace on the Park
Queens
5pm - 9pm
Click Here for more information
Find more
exciting NY events at Mary Scott's
Networking Calender:
Click Here
In NEW MEXICO:
Wednesday, April 3rd:
2009 Women at Work
Networking Expo & Luncheon
Sandia Resort & Casino
Albuquerque
11:30am-1:30pm
Call Velsy at 505.224.2970 for more
information
Saturday, May 16th
Part One: Developing Your
Intuition...Tapping Into Your Wisdom From
Within.
Part Two: Understanding Your Soul's
Language.
Albuquerque
9:30am-3pm
Call 516.222.0236 for more
information
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Please join group leader,
Marie Cantone for our Women on the Fast
Track, Group3: Nassau Launch on
Monday, March 16th
@ 6 pm - 7:30 pm
Innovative Planning Services
80 Crossways Park West
Woodbury, NY 11797
If you want to see what WOTFT is all about,
we invite you to this first meeting to see
for yourself!
Bring yourself, bring your business cards,
bring your mind...see you there!
You must RSVP to attend - please contact
Mary at 516.222.0236
Please forward to your friends!
www.womenonthefasttrack.com
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Shrimp Doesn't Belong On Toast
You've probably been to at least a few of
them -- morning, afternoon and/or evening
events that are called "Networking
Events." However, how many times have you
looked around the room, realized that what
these "networking events" really were
methods of collecting money, providing you
with some finger foods (shrimp on toast... a
perennial favorite of networking events, yet
something I've yet to see served outside of
a networking function) and watered down
drinks ... and leaving it to whoever shows
up to network on their own.
To make a networking event work for you, try
acting as if you are the "hostess" at each
event you go to ... and follow this step by
step, fool-proof method to networking in a
room full of people that you don't know,
might want to know -- and you only have an
hour or two.
Step 1:
Show up at least 15 minutes early and get
the best spot in the room. Scope out the
room, see where the positions of power are
(hint: they aren't by the bathroom and they
aren't in the back of the room, sitting down
at a table for two!) Positions of power at
a networking event are near the door where
people come in, and near the bar if it's an
evening event. I've found that if you are
near the door greeting people as they come
in, you are automatically seen as the
hostess or host of the event. Also, in my
role as "hostess", I act as if its my job to
be sure that people who attend get their
needs met -- which means they meet people
that can make a difference in their
business.
Step 2:
Start the conversation ... and ask
questions. Being the fabulous hostess that
you are, start the conversation for each
person/group that you talk to in order to
get the ball rolling. I always walk up to
someone and tell them my name/ask theirs - a
simple (but always effective) way to break
the ice and sets the conversation in motion.
Other questions to ask could include: "How
do you spend your day?"; "What's the best
part of your job?"; "Who can I introduce you
to in this room?"; "What made you come to
this event?"; "Is there anything I can do
for you?" These questions -- and their
answers -- will provide you wit h a great
place to start a relationship.
Step 3:
Listen to their answers and take it upon
yourself to do something to help. Go above
and beyond just shaking your head and
smiling--- If they tell you they are looking
for a great travel agent and you don't know
one- find one for them! Use your networking
skills and find someone you can refer them
to -- it obviously doesn't have to be that
night, but make it a point to go out of your
way to go the extra mile. Here's what this
is going to do. When you give something to
someone, the natural inclination is for that
person to give something back to you. You
establish a back and forth, a
give-and-take, a "networking relationship"
... which is the reason you paid the $30.00
to come to the event in the first place!
Step 4:
Don't get stuck. As the hostess,
remember, your job is to make sure everyone
in the room gets their needs met- which
means you can't spend an hour with someone
you just met. 8-10 minutes is the average
time that should be spent with a new
connection at an event. That's just enough
time to ask your questions, meet their needs
then and there or tell them you will get
back to them within the week, exchange
business cards and make a time to talk to
maybe set up a time to meet.
The benefits of going to a "networking
event" are huge-if you act as the hostess.
After acting as the hostess at two or three
of these events, who knows... maybe you'll
take it a step further and host your own
networking event.
Just make sure you don't serve shrimp on
toast.
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Going Above And Beyond....
When people used to hear the term
"networking", it conjured up images of
business card exchanges and promises to
"do lunch". While it is still helpful
to retain some of the traditional means
of networking, if you really want to
grow your business or help someone else
grow theirs, let's take it up a notch.
There is a lot of competition out there
and it is a good time to start thinking
outside the box for ways that we can go
above and beyond to help grow each
other's business. Over the past several
months, I have had colleagues go above
and beyond to help me. One colleague
had a contact that she thought would be
a good match for me. My colleague could
easily have just taken the traditional
route and given that person my contact
information. Instead, she set up a
lunch meeting for the three of us and
personally made the introduction,
helping to "work" the connection.
It is so true that one of the best means
of networking comes through referrals.
When one person can endorse and
recommend you and your business to
another person, it lends a much higher
credibility than one stranger merely
handing another stranger a business card
at a networking event.
There are a few business contacts that I
routinely recommend. I have gone so far
as to carry some of their business cards
so that they are always at my fingertips
for a referral. Recommending someone
and then actually passing along their
card on the spot takes that
recommendation to a higher level. You
have now made it easier and more
convenient for that person to contact
your recommendation and there is a
psychological impact that comes from
demonstrating that you think highly
enough of that person to carry their
card.
At a recent Fast Track meeting, one of
our members came up with a suggestion to
take that extra step above and beyond
(Thanks Jenna!). She suggested that the
group exchange a few extra business
cards that we can tuck away in one of
those handy dandy multi-card holders
that are readily available at most
office supply stores and slim enough to
tuck into a purse or briefcase. That
way, we are always at the ready to
promote our fellow Fast Trackers.
How can YOU take it a step above and
beyond?
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Who is Placing Value on YOU?
I help people change their lives. I say this
because people have said it to me. I believe
my fees are fair, valuable and worth every
penny. Being in a service business, every
once in a while someone decides (without
having worked with me) that they are going
to let me know how much they think I should
charge.
This is a nice reminder to me that I'm the
only one that can and should place a value
on ME! I wanted to give WOTFT some tools to
help you if this comment is popping up in
your life.
3 Ways to Place Value on YOU
1. Don't Take It Personally - Remember, what
others say, do and feel is a projection of
their own inner world, thoughts, fears and
reality.
2. Speak Up With Compassion - Use your
voice. Often we don't speak up for ourselves
and let others know that what they send or
did is inappropriate. Before you speak, set
the intention to speak with a loving and
compassionate tone for yourself and for
others.
3. Feel Your Power - It is important that
you feel the power and value of YOU. Before
you start your day, ask the Universe to show
you how being your totally value feels. If
you get derailed by someone's action,
remember this feeling.
Interested in learning more tools and
techniques to being you? Sign up for my
F.R.E.E. classes at
info@bloominggrove.net
Jennifer
Urezzio, Morristown NJ Chapter Leader
Intuitive Healer, Blooming Grove
www.bloominggrove.net
862.368.5877 |
Making My Business
Routine
In an effort to make each year better
than the one before, I decided to look
over my daily schedule to see if I could
work more efficiently in 2009. Over a
year ago I spent several hours putting
together a well organized, scheduled
work week. Then one day, while reviewing
my schedule, I realized I rarely stuck
to it. My biggest problem was I
over-booked myself to work. My biggest
obstacle is, are you ready, I don't
like routines. There I said it. Yes,
it's true, I prefer one day be
completely different from the next.
Maybe it's the rebel in me, but fact is,
I don't like being told what to do, even
if it is by me. So, with that in mind,
I knew I had to find a way to make
routines work for me, and find a way to
stick to them. After some research and
brainstorming, I made five solid, so far
successful changes, to my day.
1. I quit over-scheduling myself. I
realized I don't have to schedule a
time for everything. Some things I
know I'm going to get done
regardless. What I do have to
schedule, however, are tasks that I
might procrastinate on. You know
what I'm talking about, the boring,
monotonous, but very necessary parts
of our business.
2. I rescheduled the things I don't
like to do for early in the day.
There's a saying "What you do first
in the day gets done." As the day
progresses, what I "meant to get
done" and what actually gets done
are two different things. There are
many things that can take me off
task. Once afternoon hits, I don't
"feel" like doing things I don't
enjoy. I find it's better to just
get those tasks out of the way
early.
3. I've scheduled blocks of time
that can be used for more than one
thing. Example, from 1:00-2:00 pm I
can either make phone calls, return
emails, send out thank you cards,
etc... You get the idea. It's how I
trick myself into believing that
1:00-2:00 pm does not have to be
spent doing just one thing. It's a
way for me to add flexibility to my
routine.
4. Always keep a daily to do list.
Okay I know, this one is a no
brainer. Yet, you would be
surprised at the number of people
that do not keep a daily list. What
I don't finish, I put at the top of
the next day. If I'm
procrastinating, I'll get tired of
writing the same task out day after
day. All it takes is my nagging to
do list to motivate me to the finish
line.
5. Rewards! I set a 30 day goal
with a reward at the end for
sticking to my new routine, and, I
found a buddy to help me. If you've
been following Goals Gone Wild for
2009, you know that an important
part of achieving your goals is to
have an accountability partner. I
found a buddy that will help me stay
focused on the goal, and share in
the reward. I know me, if I've
promised to share my reward with
someone else, I'll be more likely to
stick to my new routine.
Tina
Dziuk, Albuquerque NM Chapter
Leader
Associate Broker, Prudential Sandia Real
Estate
www.prusandia.com
505.271.5800
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How does 1/2 + 2= 3?
Spend Less On Ads But Get the Same
Splash and Double Your Budget for
PR!
Advertising deals are available like never
before. I'm talking about traditional
advertising in print, tv, radio and web.
When planning your advertising budget take a
look at what you
spent last year and then cut it directly in
half. Then take the smaller amount of money
and see if you can negotiate to get the same
media placements you still had for last year
but at half the price. No matter what you do
though, now is NOT the time to
stop advertising. If you are lucky enough to
have sailed past the economy dip then choose
to spend more in advertising than ever
before and dominate the market with your
strategic messages. When the market picks
back up you'll be top of mind.
When it comes to public relations spend
double what you spent last year...and spend
double the time and effort on it. Hold press
conferences. Take booths at trade shows.
Hire your PR agency to help find the most
creative ways to get your information out to
your existing and potential clients. Don't
be a shy violet. Be the bold sunflower!
Donna Drake-Dunninger,
Suffolk County NY Chapter Leader, Center
City - Philadelphia PA Chapter Leader,
Chestnut Hill PA Chapter Leader, King of
Prussia PA Chapter Leader, North Wilmington
DE Chapter Leader
President, Drake Media Network, Inc.
www.drakemedianetwork.com
631.742.6839 |
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The 10 Commandments of Networking: Raising
The Bar
1. Thou Shalt Not Sell To Me.... If we are trying to
help one another get more business, you tell me your
target market, I tell you my target market, and when
we are out in the world, we speak well of one
another and refer one another, do not try to sell me
- I am your referral resource. If I need your
product or service, know that I will call you. Use
our relationship to sell through me, to get to those
250 + people I know.
2. Thou Shalt Understand The Law of Reciprocity....
If I am sending you business, please keep me top of
mind. Giving me a new client is the best thank you
that I can receive, and I will continue working to
find you referrals if I know you appreciate me.
3. Thou Shalt Not Abuse Our Relationship....
Sending me a bogus referral just to use me, my
expertise, or my resources for free without asking
permission first is the fastest way to lose my
respect.
4. Thou Shalt Not Be Late .... If we have a meeting
set to get to know one another and strategize how
we can refer each other business, do not reschedule
our appointment more than twice. I blocked a chunk
of time in my schedule FOR YOU, and I respect you
enough to be on time.
5. Thou Shalt Be Specific .... Specific Is
Terrific! If you tell me your target market is
"anybody" or "everybody" that means nobody to me....
the more specific you are, the easier it will be for
me to find you business.
6. Thou Shalt Take Your Business Seriously .... As
your networking partner, I need to know your
intentions. If your company is a hobby business, it
will be difficult for me to assist you. If it is
part time, you are limited in the time you spend
working on your business and working to find me
referrals. However, if you are working your
business part time with a goal of making it full
time, I am there for you, 100%.
7. Thou Shalt Follow Up On Referrals... When I send
you business please follow up with that prospect in
a timely fashion - say 24 hours - if you are going
out of town, or will not be available for some time,
a quick email or phone call to the person to let
them know when you will be available will preserve
your credibility and protect my reputation in
recommending you to someone I know and care about.
8. Thou Shalt Communicate... If I do something to
upset you, send you a "bad" referral, or cause you
to have ill feelings toward me, please communicate
with me as soon as possible. I may not be aware I
have caused a problem for you, and if you tell me, I
can try to fix it. Referral networking is about
relationships! Relationships and Referrals are at
the heart of my business.
9. Thou Shalt Protect My Reputation... Most people
would rather die than risk their reputations. If I
receive feedback from a referral I have sent you
that is disparaging or derogatory, it is as though
you cut me off at the knees. Please do what you say
you will do and live up to the ethical standards of
your profession.
10. Thou Shalt Prepare For Success... If you really
want to grow your business, then prepare to receive
it. I will move mountains for my networking
partners to ensure they get referrals on a
consistent basis. I am a Ninja Networker - you may
not always see me working on your behalf.
Melinda Potcher
Group 3 Albuquerque Chapter Leader,
BNI Director, and Mortgage Maven, Trinity Mortgage,
LLC
http://HomeLoansAlbuquerque.com
505.259.6397
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