Posts Tagged ‘practice’

Free! 300 plus networking meeting coming up

October 18th, 2010

On Nov. 1, I am attending a 300 plus networking meeting in Lynnwood. Bring your business cards and 30 second commercial and get prepared to meet people.

The key to this meeting is the follow up. After the meeting, send a thank you card and then call within a week to set up an appointment. When you have 300 plus people, you can’t sell anything. You just want to meet them and find something in common with them or better yet some problem they are having so that you can set an appointment to help them out.

Let me know if you want to go so I can register you. It’s Free!

Have you heard the Duck Song?

September 25th, 2010

My 2 year old keeps asking for this song. It’s kind of a funny song. It also shows that you need to keep plugging away in networking to garner success. I’ve been working on something for a year now, and I think I’m just now starting to make some headway. Persistance helps and you just might get a grape (reference to the song)

Build a Relationship – Jeffrey Gitomer

September 10th, 2010

For those of you who know me, you know I am a big fan of Jeffrey Gitomer. I found this video on YouTube about building relationships. I thought it was interesting…

6 steps to turn your new contact into business (or give a referral)

May 27th, 2010

After you have met someone at a networking event – now what? Your follow up process is key.  Here are the steps I recommend.

  1. Send a thank you card. Thank the person for the time they spent with you. Include your business card.
  2. Put a reminder for you to call in one week to set up a coffee appointment.
  3. At the appointment, get to know their business better. Why did they start? What problems are they having? (You may not be able to help them, but you may be able to connect them to someone who can (opportunity to give a referral)) Don’t push your product. Just listen and taken notes. They’ll ask about your business so just be patient.
  4. Send another thank you note for their time.
  5. Review your notes and look for opportunities to help them. If you can’t help them that is okay. Ask permission to include them in your newsletter or some other form of contact.
  6. If you can help them, call and set up another coffee appointment. Show how you can help them.

Business Class – Networking 101

May 21st, 2010

Colleges, high school, any business program should have a section on networking. They need to explain how to do it, how to follow up and how to make it effective. Many think they just need to show up and pass out business cards. This doesn’t work.

Others think they need to talk with everyone and sit back and expect the phone to ring. This doesn’t work.

My experience has shown that you need to repeatedly make contacts, follow up and provide a referral yourself. Have a plan on next steps. Be interested in what the other person does. Networking isn’t so much about yourself, its about making connections and helping others. When you do this, then they’ll be motivated to help you.

Networking Event – Speedy in Duvall

May 5th, 2010

Do you want to meet other business owners or try your networking skills. Here is a great event (partly because I’m the one running it!)

This Thursday, May 6 at 7:30 a.m. a speed networking event will be hosted by the Duvall Chamber of Commerce.  The event is located at the Grange Cafe in Duvall.

We wanted to make this a very successful event, so we sent Duvall Chamber members far and wide (okay, Monroe, Carnation, Bellevue and Woodinville) to find the best way for our members to connect with one another. We learned a lot of different ways to make this a successful event, and some things we’ll want to avoid.
 
Please remember to bring business cards, and be prepared to talk about your business. Our goal is for every member to find someone they can meet with after the meeting to either build their business or receive a referral.

Preschool and Business World – so much alike

April 22nd, 2010

My oldest daughter had a rough day yesterday. Some of the children at preschool were not playing nice. It didn’t help that she was tired (having put her to bed very late the night before). She was in tears most of the day, grumpy and pouty. It wasn’t a good day, and she really didn’t want to go back.

So this morning, I figured she would be wanting to stay home. Boy was I wrong. She was excited to go back to school – all was forgiven. She also slept very well last night.

So how does this relate to the business world. Recently, I have spoken to several individuals who for one reason or another was not happy with a company, an business organization or an individual. Something was said or done that offended them, made them angry or just rubbed them the wrong way. Because of the wrong doing, the person(s) decided to not go back or stop what they had been working on when the offense took place.

It felt a lot like my daughters issue yesterday. However, she bounced back. I wonder why, as adults, we don’t bounce back as easily and that we willing hold the grudge. From my perspective, most people don’t intentionally try to hurt someone (similiar to the playground) it just happended. (Disclaimer: there are bullies out there, and I’m not talking about them ;^)

I know I try to move on. It isn’t always easy, but life is too short to hold a grudge. If we all want to play in the sandbox (or jungle gym, or business world) then we need to play nice.

PS. We should also get a good nights sleep. It makes a world of difference!

Three tips to acheive your goal

April 21st, 2010

A good friend, Beth Neibert, let me borrow a book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker. I’ve been slowly reading it, and came across a section I really liked. I thought I would share.

Eker says, “The first time you tried something new, was it comfortable or uncomfortable?” The answer has to be uncomfortable. I think it’s human nature to do anything the first time and not have it comfortable. He talks about expanding your comfort zone. Most people will not grow and develop their skills unless they choose to be uncomfortable or they are forced to be uncomfortable.

Tip 1 – do something uncomfortable. (it helps if you make it your goal)

Tip 2 – Practice it.  The more you do it, the more comfortable you will be. Personally, I still have to do somethings that I’m not comfortable with; however, I recognize the discomfort and do it anyway.

Tip 3 – When you do be comfortable, it is a clear signal to expand again (do something else that is new) or push yourself even further.

Writing can be hard

April 18th, 2010

I just finished my fourth and final article for the Duvall Chamber of Commerce newsletter. You’d think I write all the time in it, but I don’t. I just suddenly had a lot to say (I guess!) I did two articles yesterday and then I had another two due today. I just spent the last hour and half working on them. – Funny, and now I’m writing a blog article on it.

Some of you may know (or not know) that my background used to be in writing. I became very burnt out and changed careers. Even today, I wasn’t looking forward to writing.

The whole point is that writing – like anything else out there – takes time and diligence. Sometimes you have to do the unpleasant stuff, to open opportunities to do the fun stuff.

So with that said, I think I’ll go play with my daughters now. Have a great weekend!

2.5 Tips for Building Relationships

April 13th, 2010

I attended the Woodinville Chamber of Commerce networking meeting last week. The host made the comment about setting a goal of setting one appointment during the event. I thought a lot about this and he was absolutely correct. As we did the speed networking event, I started to look for an opportunity to set an appointment. One came up that was not expected and I jumped at the chance. I’m not sure if it will go anywhere, but we’ll see. In addition, we had some serious discussions about how to build relationships. Here are my 2.5 tips from that discussion.

Tip 1 – Be a regular. People want to see your face. So many times, someone will show up and then never be seen again. You need to attend regularly so people get to see you.

Tip 2 – Don’t go after business at the first meeting. Listen. Talk. Be genuine. Get to know the other person, and let them get to know you. Set up a meeting outside of the networking event to get to know each other better (sounds like dating!).

Tip 2.5 – Have a follow up strategy in place to go after the business. This is one area that I have been developing personally. My follow up strategy isn’t perfect yet, but I’m working on it. The only thing I’m consistent in right now is a Thank you card I send to each new person I meet. It can be better, which is why I’m working on it.

If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them!