Networking is Building Community, Part 4

Power Thought of the Week with Patricia Parham, Ph.D.

Conquering Similar Challenges

Work with another when you are facing similar challenges. Whether it’s finding more clients, improving your sales pitch, or cutting costs, two heads are often better than one. You must be sufficiently confident to admit that you need help and willing to make your processes transparent to discover the root causes of problems. Saying I need more clients is one thing. Working to discover why my conversion rate is low is another. I will, however, emerge more powerful and effective.

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

Networking is Building Community, Part 4

The First Impression Factor, Part V

JetNetting with Heshie Segal

The “look” you create in making a positive first impression is affected by the accessories you choose (or how you accessorize). For the conservative personality, this may be the time to create a unique statement. Note here, unique does not have to mean outlandish. It may simply mean carrying a personally designed briefcase; for a man, it may be consistently wearing a vest, or for a woman, always wearing a hat. Personally, when I am on stage, I wear relatively simple, conservative gold earrings. This changes when I am attending a social or business event, especially when the event extends to multiple days. I will invariably wear unusual earrings, often asymmetrical. It nearly always invokes a comment. On a regular basis, no matter where I am, I hang my glasses on a specially designed chain. People invariably stop me and comment - on the street, in a store, attending a seminar. It gives me a chance to say, “I wore them so I would meet you.”

For someone in a creative business, outlandish may be the norm. In this case, add something conservative to invite comments.

Accessories

Accessories such as shoes, belts, purses, jewelry, ties, eyewear, scarves should be a reflection of who you are and the position you hold. For the purpose of style and color, I am bundling shirts and blouses with accessories.

The Blouse for Women

For the most professional look, wear a white, off-white or pale color silk blouse. If you want to project high power and competence, choose one with lapels. If your goal is to appear more friendly, feminine and less intimidating, skip the lapels. A blouse should have sleeves unless a jacket will cover the shoulders at all times. A revealing neckline or transparent material is inappropriate in a business setting, especially in a strong, male dominated culture.

The Shirt for Men

A long sleeved professionally laundered cotton shirt is most professional. Should you choose a blend, make sure it has a high cotton content as blends tend to get “tired” more easily and should ultimately be tossed or donated. Plain solid color shirts are more versatile than a stripe (or certainly a plaid). A plain fabric without a woven pattern is preferred. Err on the side of caution when it comes to size – better a little lose than too snug. A sleeve should extend about ½” or more beyond the suit jacket sleeve. Wear a white crew neck tee shirt under the dress shirt.

Ties

Ties are a man's fashion statement (although women sometimes wear them and that may or may not be a statement). Conservative ties in a conservative environment are the norm. Ideally the tie is silk with a solid, stripe or small pattern, limited to no more than three colors. The more pattern or color in a tie, the more casual it is considered to be. The length ends just above the belt. A conservative tie will not help you stand out at a networking event and will tend to label you. In this case, experiment with for something just a little out of character, then a little more out of character, gauging the reaction each time and acting accordingly. If a tie wrinkles, steam it rather than press. If ties become soiled or stained, discard them. Frequently, even dry cleaning does not work. The tie should always compliment the suit or jacket in color and level of dress. Tie clips and tacks are out of date.

Scarves

A man’s scarf should be black, dark gray or camel. Cashmere or superior quality wool work well. For women, a silk scarf is preferred. Save the wild, loud prints and colors for casual events.

Belts

A belt is part of the look. For a finished look, a belt must fit through the loops. Most belts have five holes; use the third one. The tail of the belt should extend a little past the first loop on your pants and the edge of the belt buckle should line up with your fly, and the row of buttons on your shirt. Buy leather, preferably black with a subtle buckle, either brass or silver. Purchase a belt a size bigger than your waist. Your belt should match your shoes. If you’re wearing brown shoes, wear a brown belt. If you’re wearing black shoes, wear a black belt. If your belt looks worn, you will look unprofessional. It is time to buy a new one. Of course there are alternatives: toss it, give it away, or dab discolored areas with shoe polish. Make sure your shoe polish is waterproof, if not, when you perspire, you can ruin your shirt.

Shoes

Shoes make a strong fashion and personality statement. Top executives, and professionals in general, notice shoes. If you see a person is well-dressed, you just need to look down and check out the shoes. While your attire reflects how you look, your shoes are said to reflect how you think. What you wear on your feet can make or break your look, the interview or the sale. Focus should be on quality and style. The classic shoe for men is a black, cordovan or brown lace-up. Shoes should be scuff free, polished and look like new. If a shoe cannot be polished and made to shine, it is not for business.

Women should wear simple classic looking leather heels rather than those made of synthetic material; they convey a richer appearance. Avoid excessively high heels, preferably 11/2 to no more than 3 inches, depending on your height and the length of your pants. If you are wearing high heels, your pants should be about an inch above the floor. Use common sense and choose shoes that are good for comfort and walking. The heel and toe should be closed. Clunky heels, platforms and spike heels are inappropriate. Recommended colors are black, navy, brown, taupe and cordovan. White and pastels are not acceptable for business. Make sure your shoes complement your outfit and do not overpower it.

For either gender, in business, sneakers, deck/boat shoes, moccasins, sandals, and beach shoes are considered inappropriate footwear.

Socks/Stockings/Hosiery

The socks or stockings worn by men or women should not be a detraction.. For men, socks should be long enough so that there is no visible space between the top of the sock and the bottom of the pant leg, especially when legs are crossed. Dark colors, preferably matching the shoe or at least a shade of it, are acceptable; white is unacceptable. Thin socks, made of cotton or wool, are the best choice. Once they are faded or thread-bare, it’s time to purchase new ones.

For women, avoid patterns or lacy stockings, use a natural, beige, flesh tone or tan color. Hosiery is required at all times. Never wear tights or knee-highs, etc.

In Part VI of The First Impression Factor, we will wrap up the “Look” and then move on to attitude, body language, behavior, words and more. The first impression you make should be the one you design to be everlasting.

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

The First Impression Factor, Part V

The Most Powerful Person in America

By Maria Elena Duron

Multicultural Networking Editor

The right to vote is a fundamental human right. However, this right is not fully enforced by millions of individuals all over the world. There must be so many reasons why people chose not to register or even vote. But one thing’s for sure, they’re missing out their opportunity to be heard and to become a part of the decision-making process. As a result, there is this probability that the wrong official is put in the office. To prevent this from happening, more and more organizations are born to influence people to exercise their right to vote.

Recently, Nuestra America 2008 launched the search for The Most Powerful Person in America to help the non-voting Latinos exercise their right to vote. Now, who is the most powerful person in America? What can that person do? The Most Powerful Person in America is not just a contest but most importantly, it is a national voter registration drive between July 4^th and July 18^th. Nuestra America is in search of that person who can get as much friends and family members to register to vote and pass it on by Power Ranking. Adam Alonso, the executive director of Nuestra America said, “If one person can get his/her family and friends to vote, he/she can impact a local election. If these friends get their family and friends to vote, they can impact a Congressional election. If those friends get their family and friends to vote they can impact who the next President of the United States will be.”

Anyone can register in the website but this campaign is geared towards the American Latino community. What’s good about this registration drive is that when you register, you will be asked to choose a stand on various issues like foreign, military, domestic social, economic, and immigration policies. Then, it will automatically match your choices to the political candidate who has if not the same, the most matches or similarities to your picks. Isn’t that smart? So aside from increasing the political influence of the American Latino population, Nuestra America is also educating them about the national issues and the candidates’ stand on these matters.

So what’s in store for The Most Powerful Person in America? The one with the highest ranking between July 4^th and 18^th received a new Apple iPhone 3G. You can see the winners on their website, www.NuestraAmerica2008.com The person with the most number of family members and friends who registers to vote and joins Nuestra America wins. Members get extra points if their family members or friends pass it on to other people and get them to join.

Nuestra America aims to register as many American Latinos, educate them, and make sure that their voices are heard in the upcoming election. This organization is not supporting any candidate in particular. They just knew that the booming Hispanic population is promising especially in the political arena and that this community could actually make a change. Nuestra America has sure created opportunities and headaches to both political parties. Although there are no reports of outreach activities for minority populations, the organization will be canvassing sporting and cultural events, college campuses, and beaches throughout the summer to educate and register more voters. More information is available through their website, www.NuestraAmerica2008.com.

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

The Most Powerful Person in America

"Healthy, Wealthy & Wise"

By Meira Findel

Health & Wellness Editor

Sherry D. Fields, Sales Consultant for Warm Spirit, is known as "The Million Dollar Sales Earner". Sherry is the first person to achieve this status within this organization and within the Direct Selling industry alone, this is a HUGE accomplishment and would lend one to ask the question of "how" she did it.

With today's uncertain economy many are seeking ways to supplement their families' income and/or looking for inspiration to start their own businesses. Sherry overcame unemployment, a chronic health issue a weight issue and has been able to accomplish financial independence. Her story provides inspiration and solutions for everyone. She used her fear of losing her home, job and pride as the catalyst for her accomplishments. Sherry's motto today is to stay "Healthy, Wealthy & Wise". Now that she's in Atlanta, she has her sights set on a nutritional program to help people eat better, which makes their health better and as a side benefit even lose weight.

Sherry has been featured in Essence Magazine, and Success South Florida due to her success in the Direct Selling industry and holds the title of "Consultant of the Year" for 2006 & 2007 with Warm Spirit.

She credits organizations like, The Joy of Connecting with helping her attain new business. “The Joy of Connecting®" is a tool to aid women in connecting to resources, building relationships and growing their businesses. Take a look at their website: http://www.thejoyofconnecting.com for more information.

Sherry leveraged organizations that she had a relationship with to start her business. She I worked on a local basis with church bazaars, women's events, anywhere she could set up a table for a low cost, also partnering with an art gallery prior to the Christmas holiday – it was a very successful cross promotion where Sherry promoted the art gallery her clientele and the gallery promoted my business to their clientele. A true win/win. As the business and her confidence grew she branched out and started attending conventions, seminars, and workshops and introduced the business and products to the attendees.

Events are critical because while the company is showcased, people came for information and relationships were created from there.

In 2003 her team created a Serenity Sanctuary at a national Black MBA Association convention. It was basically a spa and relaxation area in the middle of a convention. Everyone loved it and it was one of the most successful events she ever did.

Sherry has worked with E-Women Network, The Joy of Connecting, Give 'N Take and the local Chamber of Commerce, health fairs at local corporations and all of which have been a great venue for meeting people.

Sherry has helped countless women who want to lead a healthy eating lifestyle with the side benefit of weight loss through her lifestyle eating plan called Juice With Me , a guided 7 day program where you learn how to detoxify your body with fresh juices and various daily care activities. Results have been amazing:

- eliminated inflammation in my body

- reduction in stiffness in joints

- increased energy level

- healthy, glowing skin

- eliminated sugar addictions

- eliminated food addictions

- increased daily intake of vegetables

- reduced belly fat

- maintained a 23 pound weight loss

To learn more about Warm Spirit’s Summer Business Special or their nature-based self-care and wellness products or to chat with Sherry D. Fields about her Warm Spirit success, please visit her website at http://www.sherrydfields.com.

Sherry has been featured in Essence Magazine and was selected in 2006 by Success South Florida Magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential African-Americans in South Florida. She’s a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association and active in the Jackie Robinson Foundation Alumni Association. Sherry was named “Consultant of the Year” in 2006 and 2007 with Warm Spirit and carries the title as "#1 Earner". In 2008, she was honored for being the first Warm Spirit consultant hitting the million dollar mark in sales. Sherry focuses on empowering people to be wealthy and healthy by partnering with Warm Spirit business owners throughout the United States, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Hawaii.

Passionate about helping others succeed by realizing their natural talents and unlimited abilities, Sherry is currently pursuing her Masters of Science in Holistic Nutrition at Clayton College of Natural Health based in Birmingham, Alabama. Sherry’s mission is to help people enjoy healthier, wealthier lives. For more information, please visit www.sherrydfields.com.

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

"Healthy, Wealthy & Wise"

Networks that “WORK”

By Sian Lindemann
Arts & Entertainment Editor

I was recently introduced to an amazing resource. For writers, publicists and others in marketing, HARO, Help A Reporter Out, is a wonderful service that allows all of “us” who have expertise in something to be able to provide “resources,” content, and recommendations to those who are writing for major publications across the country and the world and writers who are on tight deadlines.

I have found HARO, sign up at www.shankman.com, to be a landslide of new information as it relates to artists, arts organizations, and successful venues who really can DO something to help artists to succeed….whether it be the private recommendation of artists I interviewed, or whether it be the arts organizations under which the individual artists are housed or they have created…

Needless to say CEO Adam J. Kovitz, of The National Networker, has been more than frustrated with me this month, as I procured so much information from HARO that I truly did not know where to begin with the article content.

So, for those of you, that are also seeking a means by which to promote your collections or services, HARO has also provided me with a number of groups and individuals who are now promoting what I do in reference to my consulting services to artists….

Its been a terrific on both ends of the spectrum of my requests and my response to writers with queries that relate to my industry.

You MUST check it out.

Now be aware that you will receive 2 -3 emails a day when you sign up, but if you take the time to review the queries and see if the requests relate to your field of expertise, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can build new channels of FREE media support, and promotion for your particular service or product…

AND its FREE !!!!

There is no other way I know to put my face in front of over 20,000 people per day, just from HARO……and there is no other way I have found access to interviews for myself, with listeners and readers that exceed 1.5 million people…

Its awesome….but don’t just take my word, Check it out for yourself and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

The Head Poobah of HARO, is a young man by the name of Peter Shankman, based out of New York City….and to be honest with you, I ‘m going to have to amp up my caffeine consumption to keep up with that man. He’s here, there and everywhere, all the time, and goes over the top to provide this service to all of us at no charge…..

Pretty amazing….

So, in light of the massive amount of information I procured from HARO, I am going to do two series of articles that will have multiple parts. One will identify artists, organizations and services that are actually succeeding in creating significant sales for individual artists or artists in their care.

The other, with the very significant trend involving “saving our environment,” I have been introduced to innumerable contacts, organizations and companies who practice what they preach…They DO actually create change in regard to the preservation of our natural resources. My favorite, of course, is Al Cecere, Founder of The American Eagle Foundation, whom I mentioned last month. www.eagles.org His work with Eagle Rehabilitation, Breeding, and wilderness release programs has been an instrument to successfully removing the American Bald Eagle from the endangered species list.

Now he is working to perpetuate that fund, and endowment to assure Eagle population, forever.

Artists with whom I work are also donating a % of their proceeds to The American Eagle Foundation to assist in the endowment program.

Contact me in regard to the following if you wish to contribute as well to this cause. The art of photographer Steve Metzner (see his Eagle image on my website www.siandesign.com) and I will be adding images this week to that site. AND the collections of bronze sculptor, Mischell Riley will soon be available for purchase with %’s of sales going to the same Foundation, The American Eagle Foundation.

I love that I, too, now can contribute back to those individuals who continue to inspire me, bring me fulfillment in my work life, and artists who have become my dear friends. I feel so incredibly blessed.

All best to you

Sian Lindemann

August 2008 ( MY Birthday MONTH, by the way )

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

Networks that “WORK”

Sorry Guys…Ladies ONLY ~ Empowered Woman in LA

By Kathleen Ronald
Southwest Bureau Chief
(California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona)

I am always on the lookout for new and different ways to connect. I had heard about a group in LA called An Empowered Woman, so I checked them out at their website, www.anempoweredwoman.com. In addition to other activities, the group meets the second Sunday of every month. I recently had the chance to attend one of these meetings at the gorgeous Mountain Gate Country Club in LA.

As I turned into the entrance and continued up the mountain, I was in great anticipation of the event, as the beauty of the property continued to unfold. When I opened the front doors, I was greeted by three great gals at the registration desk and a view that would take your breath away. I remember thinking to myself that if the event was anything like the stunning environment, I would be in for a treat.

As I went down the short hall, I was greeted by the ever-graceful Desiree, who founded the organization. She has an elegant, peaceful air, and I felt a warm strength emanating from her, which made me feel very comfortable and welcomed.

I was very impressed by the women I met, the speakers that touched my heart, the vendors that presented a variety of goods and services, and even the fun fashion show that was presented by Vani Kumar from The Suit Closet. www.thesuitcloset.com I was so thrilled, I felt compelled to secure an interview with Desiree. I knew that all of you would benefit by knowing about this organization.

Desiree was involved in Real estate and investments, and started with nothing but babies and bills. After building a hugely successful career, she found herself yearning to empower other women with her knowledge, so they too could do what she was doing. What she found as a result of her seminars “From Babies and Bills to Riches in Real Estate is that very few were actually implementing the steps. She became acutely aware that there was much more than simple knowledge that women needed first in order to take action on any strategies. Desiree realized it wasn’t just the facts and figures that women needed; they had to be reminded that each of them had a power deep within. Since then, she has been on a mission to encourage women to realize what they had forgotten: their power!

Desiree joined The National Speaker’s Association, www.nsaspeaker.org and found herself with a wealth of access to celebrated authors and speakers. She held her first meeting with humble intentions, as a simple gathering at her home. In January 2006, An Empowered Woman was born, and has organically morphed over the years into a community that will far exceed your expectations.

After ten months, the group was taking on a life bigger than what her home could hold, and Desiree realized that she had to make a decision of whether to go big or to go home. She followed her intuition, and An Empowered Woman found its new home at the Mountain Gate Country Club. www.mtngatecc.com It has grown into an amazing organization that supports women, not only in LA, but all over the world.

Their mission is for women to empower each other by sharing their personal stories, challenges and victories. Leaving everyone touched, motivated and inspired.

Wow! Count me in!

The list of benefits is long and varied, and each offering is designed to build community.

I was so excited, after talking with her, that I decided that I wanted to be a part of this organization. If you live in LA, you have access to the monthly meetings; however, non-residents also have many opportunities. There are so many benefits beyond the meetings, including an option to be a part of their Web TV offering for a fee, an Empowered book club, MasterMind meetings, coaching and even a radio show entitled “Take Ten”. Naturally, this is aligned with all she creates for the organization.

They offer a Strictly Business series of tele-classes, as well as tele-calls and round tables that are available for viewing online. Another awesome benefit is Let’s Talk Success; their once-a-month program that highlights self-made millionaires. The program offers the speaker 45 minutes to share their story, 15 min of Q&A and then a 30 minute brainstorming session with the attendees. As if that wasn’t enough, they are preparing for their next ONE DAY. which will happen in November at the Luxe Hotel in Bel Air. They believe that in ONE DAY you can change your mind, your attitude and your life.

Again, this is in addition to all of their wonderful resources and events. I encourage all you ladies out there to get online now, and check them out. Get involved, and find your inner power, to become An Empowered Woman!

If you have any questions you can reach Desiree at 818-865-8563.

More information available at www.anempoweredwoman.com

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

Sorry Guys…Ladies ONLY ~ Empowered Woman in LA

Events Rule

By Bruce Newman

Mid-Atlantic Bureau Chief
(New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, West Virginia, Virginia)

I am always seeking more information about networking organizations in my mid-Atlantic territory. In my column, I will continue to list planned special events and feature one organization in an article. I urge any organization that has a planned event or wishes to be featured, to contact me at: bnewman@prodinst.com.

Upon reflection of this article depicting the importance of events, I realized this was an area I wished to pursue. I look forward to your feedback and comments at prodinst.blogspot.com. Possible topics include: do you consider attending events the most important aspect of networking? Do you strive to meet new attendees or reinforce your relationships with attendees you already know? What is your key thing you look for when you meet someone at an event? How do you pick which events to attend? What type of follow-up do you do following an event and how important is it?

Highlighted organization: www.midatlanticnetworking.com

This month, I spoke with Jay Updike, the creator and driving force behind www.midatlanticnetworking.com which “hosts business networking events and promotes its members all across Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C., southern Pennsylvania, and northern Virginia”.

Bruce: What is the goal of your organization?

Jay: We help individuals gain exposure to the business networking community. Our goal is to be able to put people in front of an area they request by the click of a mouse. For example, a brokerage firm may sponsor four different events in which interested members can sign up for one or even all four of them depending on their interest and availability.

Bruce: How do members become aware of events?

Jay: Members become aware of events by three means: from the calendar of events on our home page, via a master email that lists all events and an email of local events in their geographic region. Every month, we automatically send the master and local events emails to our members.

Bruce: It seems that you are very events oriented.

Jay: We believe that events are the crux of the networking experience. Attending events can be extremely productive as you can meet many people and develop many relationships. Since the cost of attending an event is free, there is no excuse to not attend a number of them.

Bruce: I read on your website that for $99 per year, a subscriber gets a web page that they can personalize and attend any number of events at no cost. Can you please elaborate?

Jay: Initially, there was no charge or obligation for our service. As we have continued to grow and evolve in our seven years, we found that by charging a modest fee of $99, we attracted those people who were truly interested in networking. For this $99 fee, subscribers get a web page they can considerably customize and the ability to attend all of our events. Since all of our events are free, this annual fee in most cases, represents a person’s sole yearly expenditure for our service. Soon, events will be only available to our subscribers.

Jay: Any organization can sponsor an event for around $500 depending on the cost of the lunch or happy hour and the number of attendees. Sponsors have their name on all invitations and get 5-10 minutes to talk about themselves in front of the attendees. We also have space for a limited number of banner ads on our website and an opportunities page, both at an additional cost.

Bruce: How long have you been in existence and how many members do you have?

Jay: We have been around for 7 years and have built a huge database of over 1 million email addresses and 500,000 fax numbers that we send out announcements to. We average over 1 million hits per month on our website. Our goal is to grow to 10,000 people and average 100 events per month with fewer events in the summer when it slows down. Currently, we average 20-30 events per month.

Jay: We have worked very hard to get to this point. Our subscribers have generated a lot of business and developed many relationships as a result of our efforts. The paradigm of offering many events for people to attend has proven to be highly successful and we are growing rapidly.

Bruce: What can you tell people about networking?

Jay: Do it! We have (reportedly) 1 million hits a month on our business directory because people are seeking networking opportunities. The more people you speak to, the more relationships you develop and the more successful you will be.

I look forward to your feedback and comments concerning the importance of attending events at prodinst.blogspot.com

Any networking group or organization that has a special meeting or conference they wish to announce, relevant articles or topics they wish to discuss, or would like to be featured by me (if possible), please email me at: bnewman@prodinst.com.

___________________________________________________________________

Bruce Newman is the Vice President at The Productivity Institute, LLC (http://www.prodinst.com) which provides prodinst by matching the specific software products and services needs of companies to rated outstanding consultants who can meet those needs. Any company that wishes to improve their productivity can sign up for this free service and be contacted by up to five rated outstanding consultants.

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

Events Rule

TNNW, August, 2008, Week 3: Reality Mining

I know that being something of a networking futurist can make things difficult for others who do not always "see" what I "see". This can also lead to my ideas being viewed as "naive" or just downright "crazy". But if I had a dollar for every futurist who people thought was crazy I would be rich!

Anyway, it's always great to see real life evidence that supports my "wild and crazy" ideas about networking. In my recently completed series on the Laws of Relationship Capital I suggest that Relationship Capital behaves in ways that are Newtonian and therefore using statistical methods like Monte Carlo analysis and such, we can literally build a predictive model of a social system - a "crystal ball" if you will. Sounds pretty crazy, right? After all predicting human behavior is something out of science fiction - Isaac Asimov's classic "Foundation" series explores such a theme.

Just recently a good friend and supporter sent to a project being done by MIT's media lab and funded by Nokia where approximately 100 users of Nokia cell phones had their data captured during the 2004-2005 acedemic year. Researchers captured data regarding "communication, proximity, location, and activity" to better understand the evolution of social networks, determine the predictability of human behavior and determine what can be done to change a social system to improve its functioning.

For more information on this project click on the following link: http://reality.media.mit.edu/

To my critics and non-believers...don't say I didn't tell you so...

As always, I look forward to networking with you...

- Adam

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

TNNW, August, 2008, Week 3: Reality Mining