Send Us Your Questions!
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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Call Us at 516.222.0236 About Upcoming
Meetings in Your Area!
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WOMEN ON THE FAST TRACK
LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAM TO HELP WOMEN
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD SET, AND REACH,
THEIR GOALS IN 2009
--National Women's Networking Group Creates
Online Forum for Women to Share Their Goals,
and Gain Valuable Assistance, from Other
Business Women --
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Women on the Fast Track, a national
networking organization for business and
professional women, has launched a new
tool to help today's business women not
only set new goals for themselves in
2009 - but achieve these goals with the
help of other business women throughout
the world. Beginning December 2008,
Women on the Fast Track has set up an
online program where women can work to
create clear-set goals for the new year,
and then share them with other business
women on the site. This unique program
demonstrates how women can truly help
each other during challenging economic
times.
The Women on the Fast Track "Goals Gone
Wild" program is expected to attract
hundreds of women worldwide and assist
in making their business New Year's
Resolutions by setting new goals for
2009. This program will allow women to
benefit from the insight, experience and
contacts of other business women
throughout a wide variety of
industries. There is no charge for
participation in the "Goals Gone Wild"
program.
To participate in "Goals Gone Wild"
women should visit
http://www.womenonthefasttrack.com/2009_goals_page.htm
where they will be prompted to fill in a
special "2009 Goals Sheet" template that
will be especially important as we move
into the upcoming business year. Every
woman's complete set of goals will be
posted on the Women on the Fast Track
website, where others can review them
and see how they may be able to assist.
As an additional resource and service
for today's business women, anyone who
would like assistance in identifying and
clarifying their 2009 business goals can
call 516-222-0236 to speak with a Women
on the Fast Track member who has
experience in helping women develop and
reach their goals.
For more information about the program,
as well as information about the
additional programs and services at
Women on the Fast Track, visit
www.womenonthefasttrack.com, or call
516-222-0236.
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Goals Gone Wild...
At the beginning of each year, I hand out a
"Goals Worksheet" to the members of women on
the Fast Track. My explanation is simple-
Once you declare your intentions, once you
really put it out there as to what you want,
what you are willing to do, what you really
and truly are going to go for---- the chance
that you will achieve your goal(s), your
aspirations, your intentions, have a better
chance of coming to fruition. How come? Is
it the universe? Is it the energy you exude
when declaring intentions? Is it because its
just a little bit of magic? Is it because if
you share your thoughts with others that
somehow this makes you more accountable,
therefore you become more attentive and
driven to succeed? I know there is a whole
lot of pontification that goes on
surrounding the stating of intentions...
I've decided it doesn't really matter why it
works, it only matters that it does! This
year, the chapter leaders of Women on the
Fast Track and I decided that alth ough its
really great to have all the members in the
group write down their goals and share them
with their group--- that this year----we
were going to shake it up a bit. and play
"Goals Gone Wild" with everyone and anyone
that wants to play. We decided we would
create a space on the WOTFT website (WOTFT
2009 Goals) for women everywhere to post
their goals for the world to see. Lets see
how big we can make this. Lets see how we
can support other women in reaching their
goals. Lets see if you can network beyond
your current network and expand your circle
even more.
I am encouraging you to post your goals.
Post them today. Let the world see what you
are working towards. Tell us how we can
support you in achieving your goals. If you
need help to identify what your goals are,
to clarify what you really want-- we can
help! Just email me at LucyRosen@aol.com and
I will help you.
Here's to Goals Gone Wild... Here's To
You.... Here's To Achieving What You Want!
Happy Networking and Happy New Year!
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Good
Networking Etiquette
Want to grow your business through
networking? Attending endless events and
handing out your business cards like
candy just aren't enough. For
networking to be effective, building
trust and relationships is key and so is
good networking etiquette. Here are just
a few tips to get you started:
1. If you make a promise, keep it. If
you told someone that you have a lead
for them, make sure to follow up and
actually give them the contact
information for that lead or make the
introduction. Make sure you have
permission before sharing contact
information.
2. Be courteous and pay attention. If
you meet someone, listen to them, engage
them in conversation and don't look over
their shoulder to see if a better
prospect is behind them. Even if they
are not a good networking fit for you,
you never know who they might know.
3. Be respectful of time, both yours and
theirs. "Work" the event. Don't hog any
one person's time. You both may miss out
on other opportunities. However, be sure
to exit conversations politely and
graciously.
4. Follow up. If someone gives you a
referral, make sure to promptly follow
up with that lead AND follow up with the
person that referred you to say "Thank
you!!". You should also follow up with
new acquaintances that you have met at
an event. A simple email, letter or
brief call letting them know how nice it
was to meet them and showing interest in
them goes a long way.
5. Focus on the "give", not the "get".
Good networking etiquette is not about
"me, me, me". Offer to help when you
can. Share information that you gained
if it can help someone else. Networking
is not a one way street.
6. Smile! First impressions do count. Be
friendly, be courteous, dress
appropriately for the occasion. Engage
people in conversation by
asking questions that show interest in
them and what they do. Introduce
yourself and shake hands firmly. If
someone hands you a business card, take
a moment to look at it before stuffing
it in your pocket.
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Are You In Your Own Way?
Are YOU not getting the money you deserve?
Are YOU not in a supportive relationship?
Are YOU not acknowledging how beautiful YOU
are everyday?
Guess what you are hiding OUT.
Below are 3 ways to help stop hiding behind
a disguise and start being the beautiful
YOU.
Listen to What YOU Say -- You are your
greatest champion. If you aren't singing
your praises, who else will?
Stop Trying to Be One of the Crowd -- If
your friends don't make you feel wonderful,
then guess what? You get to go Friend
Shopping. Find a new club or activity to
join that you enjoy and you will find
friends that honor you for who YOU are.
Spend Time With YOU -- How do you shower
love on a person that you don't really know?
Spend at least 15 minutes a day, just
discovering who you are. You can do this by:
writing for a couple of minutes in a
journal, drawing, dancing, or just being
quiet.
Understand the value of YOU and claim it
F.R.E.E. tele-a-class on December 9th at
7:00 p.m. EST.
Take The
Next Step.
Jennifer
Urezzio, Morristown NJ Chapter Leader
Intuitive Healer, Blooming Grove
www.bloominggrove.net
862.368.5877 |
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Looking Back, Moving Forward
"GO, GO, GO!" Those may be my exact
words on December 31, 2008 as the clock
approaches midnight. I can't help it, I
love new things; new years, new
beginnings, new ideas and seasons.
However, I know there's a reason why my
rearview mirror in my car is on the
windshield. It's important to know
what's behind me, even as I'm moving
forward. In fact, I never go forward
without looking back. Looking back at
things I've learned, and examining
things I could do differently. Today I
decided to look back on something that
doesn't belong to me, yet something I
can definitely learn from.
Recently I was asked to help sell a
small pet store. It's a "mom & pop"
that specializes mostly in exotic fish,
reptiles, and other hard to find
animals. They started their business in
1976, some 32 years ago. On the day
they opened their doors, the cost of a
first class stamp was 13 cents. Since
then, their company has seen six
different presidents, they've witnessed
our stock market hit high's and low's.
They watched as the dot com's of the
90's exploded then collapsed. They've
seen styles and trends in pop culture
change from hippie to disco to punk.
They recently paid gas prices near $4.00
per gallon, yet they can also remember
paying 60 cents per gallon. In looking
at their history, I found it interesting
that with all that change, they
remained.
Sure they're selling their business now,
but it's because they choose to. I
guess my question is, what did they do
right? They're not the biggest, they're
not a franchise, they're not in
commercials. What is it then? Here's
what I think, they built something we
are all striving for, customer loyalty.
The people that go to them, go back.
They also refer them, but why? I'm sure
there are many reasons, the following is
the one that stood out for me.
I found their business to be relational,
not steril. When you walk in you have a
good idea of who you're going to see.
Chances are they know you, your name,
and what you've come for. It reminds me
of a time when I lived in Colorado.
There was a small take out restaurant I
used to go to on a regular basis. I
started out by always ordering the same
thing. Soon, the workers began to
recognize my car. When I would walk in
the door my drink would be waiting on
the counter and my order would already
be with the chef. There were times I
might have went for something different
on the menu, however, that sense of
feeling "known" trumped my appetite
everytime. As silly as it sounds, they
made me feel special. Aside from good
food, it was that feeling that made me
want to go back over and over.
With that in mind, it makes me wonder,
what can I do in my own business to
create that feeling in others? In my
line of work, I need to get to know my
clients, and know them well. It's
easier for me because I deal with fewer
people than say a retail store. So for
someone in retail, what is it you do
that makes people want to bring you
their business? I'm always looking for
new ideas, ways to improve on what I
do. What are some things you've done
that have impacted your customers or
made them feel "special"? Email me your
ideas or comments tdziuk@prusandia.com.
I would love some feedback that we can
share with the rest of our readers.
On that note, I'll end by saying get
ready to celebrate 2009! It's a new
year, a new beginning for us all,
personal and professional. Here's to
making it the best one yet!
Tina
Dziuk, Albuquerque NM Chapter
Leader
Associate Broker, Prudential Sandia Real
Estate
www.prusandia.com
505.271.5800
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Planting
Seeds For Your Future Business Through
Sowing
Synergy With Female Teens
My
favorite quote is "What would you attempt to
do if you knew you could not fail?"
The story
is about how my teenage daughter used her
level of networking skills at the age of 15,
to realize a dream with a splash and
sprinkle of assistance and inspiration from
fellow WOTFT member Kerry Gillick-Goldberg,
CEO Maxine Clark from Build-A-Bear, Amy
Kulefrom Macy's Entertainment, her awesome
Art teachers and me, Elise's mom.
Elise wanted to ride a Macy's float on the
day of her 15th birthday and decided to
handwrite letters to all of the CEOs who had
floats in the parade. One of the letters she
wrote was to the head of Build A Bear.
Maxine Clark, the Build A Bear founder and
CEO wrote her back saying that she couldn't
help Elise get on a float. She sent her a
copy of her self authored book and wished
her a very happy birthday. Elise received a
call from the parade producer, Amy Kule who
then told Elise that the CEO from Build A
Bear forwarded the letter to Amy and that
Elise would be given 4 tickets to the
parade. Elise was too old to be on the
float. Elise was thrilled just to get the
VIP tickets.
Taking it
a step further as part of her National Art
Honor Society project at Half Hollow Hills
East High School the students were assigned
the task of creating a piece of art that
answered the open ended statement of , "The
Art Honor Society is thankful for....".
Elise
decided to create something fun to wear to
the parade.
She
downloaded the images onto iron-on transfer
fabric. She bought a dress for 4.99 at the
thrift store and Eureka, the art piece was
born. The dress will return to the school
after Elise wears it to the parade and it
will hang in the display case along with
other students' works.
I
sent her picture to Kerry Gillick-Goldberg
who is a fashion designer to ask her
thoughts on the dress. She forwarded to her
contacts at Macy's and now all of the Macy's
executives have a copy of Elise in her "stylin"
dress and have sent emails raving about it.
 At
the parade, the actors from the hit TV show
"The Office" stopped to have their picture
taken with her because they said her dress
one of the coolest things they've seen. Her
dress, "Be the Parade", is a testimony to
having a vision and bringing it into
reality. All things are possible with hard
work and determination. I'm proud of her for
her dedication and I'm happy that the
community said "Yes" to her dream. Who knows
maybe Macy's will create it with her as a
blanket for purchase next year. When
interviewed by the Associated Press
at the
opening of the parade, "What was she most
thankful for?" she answered, "My family".
For me
personally, I'm thankful for my family and
this year especially for the other women
that joined with me in helping create a
future female business entrepreneur's
journey.
GO Elise
Drake... GO!
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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