The National Networker (TNNW) Blog: 4/19/09

Saturday, April 25, 2009

U.S. NEW ENGLAND: Diva Toolbox tries Social Networking

by Noelle Southwick

U.S. New England Bureau Chief
(Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut)

After speaking with Janet Powers from the Diva Toolbox for my article last month I wanted to hear what she has to say about the social networking sites.

Janet jokingly says her most effective form of promotion has been the “my two feet and my big mouth” method. Like most people who are growing businesses, Janet has been out at networking events making personal introductions to grow the Diva Toolbox. Now she admits that she had undervalued the impact of social networking. She has been extremely impressed with how effective it has been in spreading her message and growing her contributors to the Diva Toolbox, particularly in the New England area.

Janet spent about one month contributing regularly to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. In only one month Janet has increased by three times the contributions to the Diva Toolbox. She is convinced that if you have products and services you want to share with a local market then social networking is the way to go.

“It’s free and very effective. You can’t beat that mathematical equation.” says Janet.

How to integrate social networking into everyday life?

With everyone having such overbooked schedules it is understandable that one might feel it’s too much to keep up with contributions to social networking too. You don’t need to be online 24/7 simply check in on your social networks when you check your emails.

The Diva Toolbox’s media expert Cindy Morrison (on twitter at http://twitter.com/CindyWMorrison) shared that the tool she uses to keep up is Ping.fm (http://ping.fm). It is a free tool that allows you to contribute to multiple social networking sites at the same time.

This removes any argument about not having enough time.

Don’t know what to say?

Janet is very practical with her advice on what to share on the social networks. She suggests you share the answers to the questions frequently asked by your clients.

Whatever you explain over and over again is what you explain on the social networking sites. Educate people on your business and you become their local expert. People do business with experts and they refer business to them too. Janet advises to just be you and answer the questions people have.

Think of a short conversation you might have with someone in the grocery. “Is that a good tomato sauce you’re buying?” “How do you like your child’s soccer team?” It really is that simple.

Power in simplicity

Social networking is asking someone who is using a product what he or she thinks of it. With social networking sometimes you’re asking and sometimes, as in Janet’s example, you are the one with spaghetti sauce in your carriage.

Through these interactions people get to know each other & then they will tend to ask more specific questions.

Janet offers the suggestion to schedule 15 minutes a couple of times a day as your social networking time. I am sure it will pay off for you too.

“What I am sure of is that social networking isn’t just for the kids anymore.” Janet insists that it is an effective tool for businesses to reach clients, vendors and partners.

Find more information

There are many articles written about networking and about connecting through the social networks posted on the Diva Toolbox. You can also listen to tips about social networking with media expert Cindy Morrison.

Janet is optimistic that The National Networker readers have great advice to share with people. She welcomes you to contribute to Diva Toolbox.

Janet Powers Founder and President

Diva Toolbox www.divatoolbox.com Information on Articles: articles@divatoolbox.com 600 West Cummings Park, Suite 1225 Woburn, MA 01801 (781) 995-2342

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U.S. ALASKA: Glaciers & Networking

By Stefanie Gorder, CTP, DS

Alaska Bureau Chief

Glaciers & Networking
An awesome and cool fit

Glaciers cover 10% of the world’s land mass and 75% of our freshwater comes from glaciers. Most would agree that glaciers are magnificent rain or shine. They can be deep blue in color from compressed snow and ice and full of mystery. Constant change and motion define both networking and glaciers. They can be altered by changing climates and the movement and shapes adjust over long periods of time. While networking in Alaska is not as slow moving as many glaciers, it can be conducted in a unique glacial setting. The question to ponder is if the venue is filled with memory creating opportunities, is the business conducted of more or less value to the participants?

One of Alaska’s finest networkers lives in the agricultural and historical region known as Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Valley (http://www.alaskavisit.com/). As the Marketing Manager at their Convention & Visitors Bureau, Tammy Bruce’s role is to convince tour operators and consumers alike to include her destination in future travel plans. To convince Premier Alaska Tours (http://www.premieralaskatours.com/) to bring more visitors to her region, Tammy hosted me on a whirlwind day trip (product development is under my realm of responsibilities). One of the activities which she believed would be of interest to small groups was glacier trekking. Being born and raised in Alaska does not make me an adventurer as I admit the great outdoors and I do not see eye to eye. Upon arrival at the Matanuska Glacier, Tammy handed me a helmet and ski poles and my immediate reaction was to run. However, with crampons and a professional guide provided by Mica Guides (http://www.micaguides.com/) on hand to reassure me, we went trekking on this spectacular moving piece of ice. With crisp blue water pooling in small crevasses creating unique formations, the adventure was nothing short of fantastic!

Along our full day journey, we discussed the great and numerous glacial opportunities available throughout Alaska. Would combining a day cruise with gray whales and puffin sightings with the wonders of a river raft bobbling amongst ice bergs go hand in hand with a glacial trek? Upon visual inspection, only ten percent of an iceberg shows above water meaning the main mass of these giant pieces of ice lie below the water’s surface.

Tammy’s strength is in not the selfish promotion of her own destination but realizing that selling all of Alaska will allow her destination to benefit. Therefore, ten percent of her day was spent convincing me that this region would tie in with existing tour product and the rest of the day she left to me to discover the beauty of this vast area as it unfolded around every corner. Now, Premier Alaska Tours features the Matanuska Susitna Valley in numerous tour programs (and much more than 10 percent).

Various types of glaciers, various networking opportunities

Group networking at its finest happened when Alaska played host to the Travel Alliance Partners, LLC annual TAP Dance conference. One of the main networking events was aboard the 26 Glacier Cruise (http://www.26glaciers.com/), a phenomenal cruise through the calm, protected waters of Prince William Sound. Guests come face to face with towering masses of ice, migratory whales and scenery that take the breath away! Imagine conducting business over beverages filled with ice thousands of years old and where the thundering sound of calving glaciers, make conversation come to a standstill.

Creating a venue where businesses can benefit through idea building intermingled with the “fun factor” is how TAP conducts their day to day operations. It goes without saying that an organization that works in cooperation with others will be successful and TAP is on the right course. The goal is to cross promote tour products to gain higher revenues through sharing client bases & product. With having hosted their prestigious conference, Alaska has gained valuable exposure and is reaping the rewards of greater in-bound group tour business.

TAP (Travel Alliance Partners, LLC) is a partner-owned organization of 34 premier tour operators in the United States and Canada. The company continues to stride forward according to its business philosophy of networking by establishing partnerships based in respect, reciprocity and reward (http://www.travelalliancepartners.com/).

Bobbling amongst icebergs or people …

Networking in the travel industry doesn’t always need to be with travel professionals. Consumers can offer a unique look into product awareness, especially in a destination where one saves for a lifetime to visit. One summer I was provided tickets aboard the world famous Alaska Railroad (http://www.akrr.com/) to experience a backcountry wilderness rail excursion combined with a scenic float trip on Spencer Lake. I was just slightly nervous when the conductor announced it was time to disembark the rail when all I could see was remote wilderness out the window. I was about to enter bear and moose habitat however this time, I was well prepared since I had read the brochure in advance! With our adventure guide we boarded a rubber raft and were led on a gentle float trip. I was mesmerized by the raft bobbling in Spencer Lake completely surrounded by stunning vistas and enormous icebergs. It was completely different than the glacial trek or large boat experience. I enjoyed myself as much as my raft mates, who were mostly visitors checking Alaska off their bucket list. This networking opportunity allowed me to listen to the visitor perception of the experience and bring immediate new product to Premier’s tour operation. The venue can strengthen networking opportunities immensely whether it is in or out of the comfort zone.

While competition exists in Alaska, the low population counts mean that everyone in all industries must play together nicely or risk being an outcast. If this concept was embraced around the world, imagine how truly rewarding life would be. While glacial networking might be unique to the great state of Alaska, the concept can be adapted to other environments with success.

For more information on group glacier treks, day cruises & adventures, contact any of the quality service providers noted in this article.

Next month: meet an Alaska legend, four time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser.
___________________________________________________

Stefanie Gorder, ctp, ds

marketingCents
Email: Stefanie@marketing-Cents.com
Twitter: @StefanieGorder

Premier Alaska Tours, Inc.
Email: Stefanie@tourAlaska.net
Twitter: @PremierAlaska
Web: www.PremierAlaskaTours.com

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U.S. SOUTHEAST: Networking the 400 Corridor From Buckhead to Dahlonega

By Larry Block

U.S. Southeast Bureau Chief
(The Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida)

Business 400 provides the Highway 400 Community with networking and business opportunities. They view the 400 corridor as a single economic engine that operates in Forsyth, Dawson, Lumpkin and Fulton counties. Business 400 functions as a business to business and a business to consumer network. They will encourage participants to function as a business to community network.

Their goal is to positively impact the Highway 400 community and the way these various entities interact. Encompassing Buckhead, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Cumming, Dawsonville and Dahlonega Georgia, the short term goal of BUSINESS 400, simply put, is to build more relationships and do more business. Their monthly networking events are held at The Metropolitan Club, normally on the first Tuesday of each month, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. There are also several other events in addition to the monthly meeting. There is a $10 door charge for each meeting, which covers admission, and a chance to win one of many great door prizes. Approximately 30-35 Display Tables are made available to members who would like to showcase their business on a rotating, first-come, first-serve basis. These exciting events are designed to expand your business market presence along and throughout the 400 corridor. It is not just who you know but more importantly who knows you!

In addition to the networking events Business 400 is proud of their involvement with local charities and non-profits. Giving back to our communities is a central theme.

There are also many opportunities for members to learn valuable skills to help them succeed in business. Our consultants often hold training events for the benefit of the membership. Outside experts and members alike may all share their expertise to help everyone grow their business and networking skills.

There is no limit to the membership level of Business 400, in fact their goal is to achieve a membership of over 4000. The monthly venue will hold up to 600 members and guests. Each meeting has a monthly cost on only ten dollars.

Ron and Marie Dinsmore are the owners of Business 400, Inc. and also make up the Dinsmore Team, a RE/MAX real estate team serving the North Georgia area.
Paul Romanick is a Sales and Marketing Consultant for Business 400, Inc. and has played a major role in the creation and implementation of this new exciting Business Association. He is also the creator of the CitruSolution Carpet Cleaning Process.

Ron, Marie and Paul have developed a networking group that is extremely well organized and the attendees are TRUE NETWORKERS (interested in not just receiving leads, but also giving leads). Members and guests alike will be amazed not just at the amount of leads, but the quality leads and truly interested parties in doing business within the community. It is an extremely well orchestrated event and I look forward to attending many more in the very near future.

For more information on Business 400 check out their website at www.business400.com or better yet, attend one of their monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month.

Larry Block is a text messaging expert, president of Mobile Marketing Technologies, Inc. he provides text message advertising and marketing services nationwide. Need an advertising solution that actually works and gets directly to your target market – visit www.hippocketads.com, Larry can be reached at larry@RuTxting.com

THE HANDSHAKE CLUB

The Handshake Club with J.D. Gershbein

In my initial posting in last month's blog, I introduced TNNW readers to Will Banter of Banter Media. Will is the amicable, over-extended, over-caffeinated and eminently accessible Networker Extraordinaire. He is the linchpin of The Handshake Club, my cartoon universe of Social Media types, entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate misfits and displaced transitional folk. We can identify with these people. They have flaws and idiosyncrasies. They are bogged down in minutiae. They are pressed for time. Yet they confidently make their way through the world—frequently achieving by accident—and are fully aware that we are now in the "relationship economy."

The members of The Handshake Club need a place to meet that is conducive for business. The Runny Yolk, or simply, "The Yolk," is that place. It is where the hot coffee flows, the food fills the tummy and the Wi-Fi is free. Walk in at any time during the day and you will see people engaged in the Fine Art of Networking with their eyes glued to their laptops and scribbling on legal pads. This is Will's domain. They know him here. This is where he first sits down with Brandy Share of the Cliché Marketing Group:

J.D. Gershbein is the President of Owlish Communications, an Internet Marketing firm based in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Vernon Hills. When he’s not helping his clients shine on LinkedIn, J.D. creates business cartoons and comic strips that brand businesses and make them memorable. He is also the creator of The Handshake Club. Follow Will Banter, Brandy Share and the other wacky inhabitants of The Handshake Club as they network their way into your heart and psyche.

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Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER (TNNW). All rights reserved.

To subscribe for your free TNNW Newsletter, go to http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/ For the complete National Networker (TNNW) Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free continuous RSS feed (available either by traditional RSS or by direct email), go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com/

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U.S. SOUTHWEST: Manhattan Beach Offers More Than Just the Beach

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

This month I am excited to highlight the Beach Cities Professionals Manhattan Beach Chapter of Business Network International (BNI). I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Joy Kennelly, who has been a member of this chapter for almost six months. Joy, a PR talent extraordinaire, volunteers as the Chapter Mentor of the Beach Cities Professionals Manhattan Beach (MB) BNI Chapter. Joy is one of two Chapter Mentors, along with Ms. Mindy Oumi, a compounding pharmacist at TLC Pharmacy in Hermosa Beach, CA.

Joy told me about the rich history of Business Network International, which was founded by one of our very own contributing writers for The National Networker, Ivan Misner, PhD. Ivan is well-known for his business networking success, as well as his New York Times bestseller, Truth or Delusion? Busting Networking’s Biggest Myths. While I had heard of BNI when I lived in the Bay Area, I was never able to make it out to an event. After speaking to Joy, I was thrilled to finally understand the true value that BNI offers to the business community as one of the leading Business Networking organizations renowned throughout the world.

When she first joined the Beach Cities Professionals MB BNI Chapter, it was considered a ‘startup group,’ because it had less than 20 members. It has since flourished, and is one of the more successful BNI locations in the South Bay area. While all chapters vary in the time of day of their meetings, Beach Cities Professionals holds their meetings in the morning.

Now, Joy was not a morning person when she joined; however, she really needed a networking organization that was focused on referrals as its main charter. As a result, she felt it was worth changing her day, in order to attend the 7:00 am weekly meetings.

Based on what Joy shared with me, I am convinced that BNI is the #1 organization when it comes to providing referrals as a business focus. As Joy went on enlightening me about the group’s dynamics, I continued to become more and more impressed by the level of mandatory trainings that is required of each new member.

Joy stressed that this component really sets them apart from other groups. The training sessions cover many topics, focusing on teaching people effective ways to be an awesome networker, as well as how to leverage their philosophies to gain skills and not only take full advantage of the BNI way, but to be a highly valuable contributing referral giving member. BNI’s motto is Givers Gain.

So what does a standard BMI meeting entail?
A time of Open Networking
The President opens the meeting with a welcome to visitors and induction of any new members. Then the member presentations begin.
Each person has 30 seconds to introduce themselves and explain who they are and what a good referral is for them. If you are a guest, when it’s your turn, you only say your name and company, as the referral process is a benefit for members only.
Two members are highlighted each month with a special presentation to introduce the group to their services in greater detail.
They have 10 minutes in front of the group to highlight the following points:
Introduce their business
What sets them apart?
What is a good referral?
They also bring a gift to share in a drawing at the end of the meeting.
If you are just visiting, and want to become a member, they have a process of acceptance with the group. After attending a meeting, if you’re interested in joining you will have a private meeting with the Visitor Host who will answer any questions you might have. Then you will fill out an application; then the membership committee will review it, and then the core members are asked for their input as to whether they would be a good fit for the group.

They also have a limit of one person in each business sector- ie. one realtor, one financial advisor, one insurance salesperson, etc. While it may seem extreme, the care with which they treat applications is representative of the care with which they handle their members, and the highly selective process ensures an exclusive group of unbeatable referrals! In addition, it provides other business opportunities because the community knows these members have passed stringent membership requirements to participate.

Once accepted, the new member is formally inducted into the group with a welcome ceremony for each new member. After the induction, Joy and Mindy’s role as Mentors kick in. They meet with each member to train them and answer any questions. A nice touch, in my opinion, is that they cover all of the BNI policies and procedures- a huge benefit that really supports new members to fully thrive in the group. New members are also given a card caddy to hold all the members’ cards. Each member is encouraged to carry 5 cards for each member in the group. This way they are always able to refer folks when they’re out and about in the community.

Now that’s what I call integrated referral strategies!

The cost of membership is $300.00 a year, along with a one-time-only fee of $150.00. There is a weekly room fee at this chapter’s meetings which is paid quarterly. Joy’s chapter simply chose to serve coffee in lieu of breakfast, and focus on the agenda and business networking. Be sure to inquire with the BNI chapter in your area to see how they run their meetings, as most are designed for the morning, with some meeting over lunch.

After we covered the highlights of the BNI way, my first question was, "so what do you do if you have issues with someone in your group that covers a certain sector, and you are unable to give any referrals to them?" Joy assured me that while this does happen, members are both welcomed and encouraged to visit other chapters in order to find people you might feel better synergy with; BNI members ought to be comfortable both personally and professionally with the people they refer.

Another rule you should be aware of is that you are allowed to only miss 3 meetings per quarter; however, you can send someone to fill in for you if need be to allow you to maintain your membership requirements and avoid an absence. I totally support this expectation as I really feel you only get the most out of any group when you attend on a consistent basis. If you are a traveling speaker, a sales person who is on the road a lot, or someone who is otherwise not available for the required attendance, this may not be the style of networking group for you.

As Joy shared, “this is NOT a social club; it is for serious business folks who want to become savvy networkers and powerful referral sources.” The whole model is to support education and referrals! Amazing!

Training, as I mentioned, is a large component of the foundation of this organization. New members are required to take a series of classes within the first 60 days to complete the first training. One of the 3-hour training sessions is dedicated to the ever-popular 60-second elevator pitch, while others are focused on “How to Give Quality Referrals ” and more. I wish more groups would incorporate these types of standards, as I feel that training is so needed and missing from most groups I’ve covered for TNN.

BNI also has many benefits over the web. Within the chapter you are allowed to feature yourself online with your business logo, name, contact information, website and key words.

So if YOU are looking for a group that is all about good referrals, weekly meetings, and education ~ this is the group for you.

If you like what you’ve read, give BNI a try. If you live in the Manhattan Beach area and would like to visit, you can contact Mindy Oumi at tlcpharmacy@verizon.net, or go to www.socalbni.com to find a chapter near you.

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ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN: The Passionate MavHERick(TM)

Especially for Women with Ann Barczay Sloan

Ann's article is brought to you by The Joy of Connecting

The Passionate MavHERick(TM):

Introducing Liz Pabon
CEO and Branding Maven
www.LizPabon.com

by
Ann Barczay Sloan
Featured Columnist, The National Networker

“Your brand is the heart of your business, and

you are the heart of your brand.”

Getting clear on what lives behind your packaging

is the first step in changing the rest of your life and

the lives of those you’re intended to touch.

How Liz Pabon and I first connected

Liz was enthusiastically recommended to me as interview subject by none other than Christine Kloser (formerly Founder of N.E.W. Entrepreneurs in Los Angeles), and now Founder / CEO of The Freedom Formula.

By now it seems funny how many times Christine’s name has shown up in this “Women’s Networking” column of mine: amazing to see how the N.E.W. dinner meetings I attended in Santa Monica around 2004 have resulted in such pivotal contacts and contacts of contacts. Again, the power of networking in full play!

Who is Liz Pabon and what is she all about?

“How She Does It”, Liz’s colorfully sophisticated e-newsletter, sums her up as follows:

As the CEO and Branding Maven for Liz P. Communications, Liz is committed to inspiring and motivating female entrepreneurs to design profitable businesses ─ fueled by spirit, smarts and strategy ─ that bring the female essence to the global leadership table.

It's Liz' belief that women are poised to create a massive shift in how business is conducted on a global level. A bona fide MavHERick(TM), Liz challenges conventional thinking and motivates women to use their natural talents and abilities (their best) to rock the business landscape by developing and introducing brands that transform the status quo.

The Branding Maven’s achievements

Because of her unique perspective on branding – one that extends beyond outer packaging ─ Liz became known as “The Branding Maven.” Her innovative and forward thinking approach to branding has won her acclaim. In 2007, her home study tool kit, Your ULTIMATE Brand by Design was presented with the prestigious Apex Excellence in Education and Training award – the course is now in its third printing.

And in 2008, her recently published book, The MavHERick™ Mind was recognized as a National Indie Award finalist and continues to inspire and empower women in business across the globe.

Exploring Liz’s web site

In the striking Home page illustration on www.LizPabon.com , Liz’s image is displayed on the screen of a hot-pink laptop computer parked on a bold zebra-striped couch. The hot pink headline calls out to the visitor:

“Discover how She does it!”

Some of the menu selections on this site are unexpected. Let’s take a look at a few details:

Home
The Home page displays Liz’ forthright declaration

Liz Pabon – Your Best is Yet to Come

The Rules of Success Have Changed...
Have You?

As an entrepreneurial woman, you've been playing with a dated rulebook. A rulebook

of principles that don't serve you as the spirited, sassy and savvy woman you are.

A rulebook you've been "sold" on as the only way, the right way to create success.

I'm here to tell you there is another way...
· A way to honor your creativity, vibrancy and authenticity.
· A way to do good in the world and make money with no guilt, fear or shame.
· A way to re-write the rulebook you've been living by and create success on your terms!

Services
"You've Got to Breakthrough to Breakout!", states the headline on this page.

International Branding and Marketing Expert, Liz Pabon, Reveals Irresistible Success

Secrets That Have Transformed Women from Invisible to Invincible...

Liz’s services listed here (defined in greater detail on the page) are:

Group Coaching
Business Consulting
Hands-on Coaching
Other Services: Tell Your Brand Story...
(through the power of movies)

Rants & Raves
Liz’s blog and Article Archives are found here.

Freebies
Free content available to LizPabon.com visitors:

-- Two inspiring movies
-- A collection of useful articles

Get to Know Liz
Liz freely shares her philosophy here. To begin:

My Message is My Life...
You see, who I am is what I do.
…When you are clear on your life's purpose and create your business as a channel

to express that purpose, then how you live your life is what you do. In other words,

the message of your business is the message of your life's purpose. Therefore, your

message is your life.

See, it's all about connecting with your True Essence. Without that connection,

you struggle in your business and will often feel disconnected or disillusioned between

what you do and where you're at on the rung of success.

When I connected with my True Essence my entire life changed.
And that's what I teach women to create...

A business that expresses your life's purpose, identifying and then embracing, the

unique gifts you possess to help you live that purpose. This is why your life and your

business become one but not in the dated, "bring your work home with you" kind

of way. It is instead an effortless, authentic way of living, being and contributing.

Media Page
Liz Pabon Bio ─ Excerpts
… Liz helps female entrepreneurs design profitable businesses - fueled by spirit, smarts

and strategy - by integrating inner and outer branding strategies.

It’s Liz’ belief that women are poised to create a massive shift in how business is conducted

on a global level. A bona fide MavHERick™, Liz challenges conventional thinking and

motivates women to use their natural talents and abilities (their best) to rock the business

landscape by developing and introducing brands that transform the status quo.

A former Media Executive, Liz established her background in marketing communication

as a VP of Sales & Marketing at some of the world’s leading multi-media publishers.

Having a passion for entrepreneurship, Liz P. Communications was born.

Become a Partner
Liz describes her “Power Partner Program” here: an Affiliate program for her information products. Her invitation states:

I have a growing product line - some award winning - and can't possibly create the

kind of wild-fire impact I want on my own...and that's where you come in. I'm reviewing

applications for a few hand-selected power partners to help me reach more women.

It’s time to move on now to the interview with the MavHERick(TM), herself.

Wow, Liz ─ now that I’ve seen aspects of your site, I’m left with even more questions. In your own words right now, how would you briefly describe what you do?

“I’m in the business of helping entrepreneurial-minded women connect powerfully with their true essence. And once connected to the essence of their uniqueness, we build their transformational lifestyle brand as an expression of that essence. A brand whose sole purpose is to transform the lives of others...”

What makes you, your company, unique? In other words, what is the so-called Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of your product or service?

“What makes my service unique is that it is not based on models, blueprints or formulas. It is based upon a strong connection to the inner workings of the human spirit. Great brands are emotional and tug at our hearts. The only way to create that kind of connection with any market is to find passion within yourself as the business owner and breathe that passion into your business.”

What is the primary goal, the mission of what you do?

“The primary intention behind what I do is to fulfill my divine purpose and do so through my business... It is how I express that which is in my own heart (to help others express what is in theirs) and that which gets my creative juices flowing.”

How did you get started with all this?

“Actually, I’ve been doing this work my whole life. After 20+ years in Corporate America, I began my entrepreneurial journey 5 years ago and in a 360 degree fashion, reconnected with the work I best love to do and have always done... empowering women by connecting them to who they truly are – their best and greatest self. Their business and their brand are merely a form of outer expression of their divine purpose and greatness.”

Which of your projects are you currently most excited and passionate about?

“Truth is, Ann, I don’t involve myself in any project(s) that I’m not completely passionate about...it’s just not worth it if there’s no passion behind it.”

How much of your work is focused specifically toward women?

“100% of my work is focused on women. Occasionally a daring man comes into my lair but women are the market I focus all of my efforts on. We have a wonderful opportunity to contribute our innate skills to the global leadership table and have held back for far too long by playing with the ‘old boys’ rule book. Today is a time when women’s natural abilities and the lens from which we view the world are badly needed.”

What are some of the ways and places you promote your enterprise?

“I promote my business predominantly online; ezine, blog, social networking, article publishing, online radio interviews and other online collaborations.”

Whom and / or what does your network currently include, Liz? How far does your network extend?

“My network is made up of thousands of women (and a few fantastic men) from around the world who wish to inspire others and be inspired.”

What has been the best about building a network so far: Positive experiences? Benefits, expected and unexpected?

“For me, it is having an audience (a platform) from which to voice my point of view, my philosophy and give others a different perspective to consider. It’s also an added benefit to have this network shower me with praises for the work I’m so passionate about.”

Such a big smile when you say this!
“Big happy smile –yes!”

What challenges (if any) have you found in your networking experiences? Unexpected events? Any benefits emerging from challenges in the long run?

“Actually, the greatest challenge I’ve encountered in my networking (social or offline) experiences are people who don’t understand networking is not a selling opportunity. It is instead a relationship building opportunity where both parties benefit and support one another.”

Any remedy for this?

“Any time I find myself faced with someone in ‘pitch mode’ I simply choose to recognize their excitement and focus as passion versus the pitch itself (which is frankly, a big turn off).”

That’s a wonderfully wise perspective!
Now ─ bottom line – what do you feel is really working well for you and your company?

“In the world of branding and marketing there is always talk of the ever-important “hook” – the offer or promise that reels an audience in.”

And your particular hook is -- ?

“What works well for my business is not a traditional hook but my passion. I teach my clients that the days of searching high and low and creatively drumming up a hook to entice an excite your market are slowly fading away. Today, the new “hook” is your passion. And I have lots of that...”

I can certainly see that! I laugh.
Besides networking, how else are you promoting your company? What do you view as the primary vehicle and what makes it more important than the others?

“Relationship marketing is what has always worked best for me and is also the method that women respond best to. I rely greatly on my weekly ezine (electronic newsletter) to help me build relationships with women across the globe.”

“How She Does It”?’ Clever name for an ezine!

“Yes! This works best for me because it is cost efficient, allows me to be timely and provides a regular means of contact with my audience. From this ezine, they get to know me, like me and trust me as not only an expert in my field but as a gal’s gal.”

What’s the achievement, the accomplishment you’re most proud of at this time?

“I’m most proud of every client I’ve ever had who has said ‘yes’ to stepping into their bigger shoes, playing a bigger game in life and helping others do the same. There is no greater joy I get than being their witness.”

I’m inspired just by the way you say that, Liz!
Now ─ what are your plans and goals for the future, especially regarding networking activities?

“I’m taking even greater advantage of social networking and having lots of fun with it. This year, I created a lifestyle fan page on Facebook and customized it to include sections that I’ve titled “On Liz’ Newsstand” and “Luxe Life.” I not only share a short book review about what’s currently on my newsstand but I also share information about the products and other indulgences that make me feel luxurious.”

Sounds like a terrific idea!

“This is a wonderful form of networking because it’s a two-way relationship building tool that gives people insight into what I love, offers us a chance to engage with one another and it’s just plain fun!”

In conclusion, anything else you would like to emphasize for our readers? Perhaps words of encouragement, inspiration?

“Here’s what I strongly believe: Networking is less about what you can get and more about what you can give others. It’s about trust and likeability and that can be achieved when you are operating from a place of 100% authenticity. Focus on authenticity and being of service to others and watch your networking results change...”

Thank you, Liz! I really appreciate your perspective and your passion with which you infuse your work ─ and also your play!

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Contact Information:

Liz Pabon
(www.lizpabon.com)
800.631.1367

Key Words:

Liz Pabon, MavHERick, brand, Branding Maven, affiliate, Power Partner Program, Ann Barczay Sloan, TNNW, TheNationalNetworker, women, networking, social networking, relationship marketing, Facebook

---------------------------------------
Ann Barczay Sloan, M.A.
Author & Editor / Creative Writing Coach
www.GeniusUnbound.com
www.linkedin.com/in/AnnBarczaySloan
Featured Columnist,
www.TheNationalNetworker.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author of the forthcoming book,
"How to Use the Pieces of a Broken Heart:
Recipes for Rebirth"
http://annbarczaysloan.blogspot.com

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POWER THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Choosing Your Most Powerful Networks, Part 4

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

Complementarity

Sometimes your most powerful networks are not necessarily the most comfortable. You may be providing a service that addresses omissions of another provider. For example, a colleague may tell a company the steps involved in implementing a quality improvement process and you may help them get cooperation from the people who must do the work. Not a comfortable union, but a profitable one for both parties. Seek out complementary partnerships.

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Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. All rights reserved.
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NETWORKING YOUR WEBSITE: Press Releases to Start the Buzz

Networking Your Website with Rita Wilhelm

Do you have a product or service that you want to promote? Would you like to get some buzz from bloggers and have your information posted on other websites and social networks?

A great way to get social buzz started is to send out an online press release. Your online press release should announce something interesting about your business. If you use a service such as PRWeb, your press release will be distributed all over the internet.

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Because bloggers and webmasters are hungry for content, they search the web for good information. One of the ways they do this is by setting up Google Alerts and RSS feeds for certain keywords. If you have a good keyword match, they will see your press release and possibly start a discussion about you on their blog. Or, some webmasters may just take an RSS feed from reputable sources such as Yahoo News and automatically post your press release onto their websites.

You will want to make sure your press release is well optimized before you send it out. I highly recommend that you take PRWeb’s free webinar. You can find available dates and times here.

Once your press release has been circulated on the internet, you can start networking on those sites and be part of the conversation.

EDITOR'S NOTE: One other great way to generate buzz for yourself through PR is by using The National Networker's PR Service, part of TNNW's premium suite of services to help you leverage our extensive network for your benefit. For more information on how to generate buzz for your business NOW click here.

_____________________________________________________________

Rita Wilhelm is founder and president of SnapMonkey Inc, which is a company that provides both online marketing consulting to businesses, as well as easy-to-use web-based technologies to help businesses effectively promote themselves on the web.

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JETNETTING: The First Impression Factor, Part XI: Facial Expression I

JetNetting with Heshie Segal

As you saw in the last article in the First Impression Series, eye contact plays a major role in connecting with people. Upcoming articles in the series will include additional facets of non-verbal communication including gestures, body language and posture. Since eye contact and facial expressions are so closely linked, it is perfectly logical that this article focuses on what impact they have on the First Impression Factor.

A few key points for eye contact review: We know that eye contact creates a connection and influences every action that follows. It governs back and forth conversations, reveals interest and interaction, intimacy, coldness, intimidation. Lack of eye contact is a signal of disinterest, boredom and rudenesss.

Facial expressions are a significant form of sending and receiving wordless messages. They are known to convey the real meaning behind the message, often expressing what words cannot. You can invariably determine someone’s emotional state by simply watching the movements of their facial muscles. Their mental and physiological states are mirrored by these expressions. When you are meeting, or even seeing someone for the first time, you can get a glimpse into their attitude by watching their countenance. Three aspects need to be considered:

1) To have a really accurate reading, consider facial expressions as simply an aspect within a cluster of other body language signs, gestures and posture. When they are all congruent, you are most likely getting an accurate reading. Point: Since facial expressions are triggered by emotion, they are hard to conceal…..it takes a very good actor to mask them with any degree of consistecy.

2) Keep in mind that at any given moment the person, just for that particular point in time, may be experiencing one of many emotions that might even be unrelated to the present circumstance; instead, potentially created by a flash-back of a previous emotional moment. All of this must be considered, so avoid jumping to conclusions too quickly.

3) While you are “reading” someone (assessing who they are and, even subconsciously, choosing how to associate with them), they will also be “reading” you. So, when you are mindful of your own facial expressions, you are consciously affecting the first impression you are creating. Caution: there are times when emotion takes over so strongly that your facial expressions will give you away, no matter what you do. Go ahead, don’t take my word for it. Give it a test. Smile when you are in excruciating pain, or when you can’t find your car keys and are going to be late for a crucial meeting; frown when you are overcome with joy; and/or be neutral when you look at something that truly disgusts you. I am sure you get the picture.

Take a situation where you run into an old friend. You say, "Hi, what’s up?" In most cases, you are likely to accompany this with a handshake, a hug or some other type of gesture. A change in facial expressions will most definitely occur from the moment you meet and greet until the time you part. The facial expression observed is often not one you are consciously controlling. Maybe it's that your facial expression reflects your negative mood of a few moments ago and you have a scowl on your face. This may give the other person the wrong impression and turn them off before anything has even been started. Clearly, this is where self-awareness and self-mastery come into play.

Let’s reflect on some examples: When you:

Subtly smile and narrow your eyes, you signal approval.

Close your eyes halfway, you will be perceived as suspicious.

Frown, you signal disapproval or even boredom.

Drop your jaw or raise your eyebrows, you are saying, "I don't believe it or perhaps “I’m amazed."

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Regardless of culture, the seven internationally recognized states of emotion seen through facial expressions are anger, contempt, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise. The degree of intensity displayed may differ due to cultural, or even individual, differences. In the latter case, personality, attitude and temperament play a role. When you are intent on creating your own persona, it is helpful to understand and monitor the expressions you reveal, and comprehend what you observe in others.

In the next installment, we will deal with these seven emotions in greater detail. You will learn to recognize them, understand them and turn them to your advantage.

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REAL ESTATE...AND OTHER THINGS OF VALUE: Greatness

Real Estate...and Other Things of Value with Yossi Feigenson

How can we define greatness? Is there even one single definition of greatness? How do we know if we have witnessed greatness? ? Is the ideal of attaining greatness something the common man can strive to achieve? And the biggest question of all; does everyone have the ability to achieve greatness?

Dr. Robert Solomon, a pioneer and leader in technology based thinking, has said that the population can be divided into three categories:

The first group consists of most of the population. For the most part, these are people who don’t have a strong sense of self awareness. They may be good, kind and productive, yet they don’t function with a sense of mission, a sense of purpose. These people are usually very influenced by popular culture. Their life is often lived by rote, they are not even sure they know why they do whatever it is they do. They are simply drifting along with the current of their circumstances. They also represent over 90% of our population.

Then there is the second group: People who have a sense of purpose to their lives. They plan for their lives and execute accordingly. They are usually well educated, and in the career of business of their choosing. They create their own circumstances. They are usually well read, have strong family ties, and have a sense of responsibility to community. This group represents 9.99% of the population.

This brings us to the last group. These are the elite. According to Solomon, you find about 1 in 10,000 people on this level. These are the uber humans. They are super achievers, leaders of industry and winners of various awards. They are often whom we refer to as great. We are awed in their presence. These people are often the rich and famous, but, just as often, they are folks living in obscurity, out of the public eye, yet, living their lives at an extreme level of consciousness.

Let’s take a look at one of our new heroes; the pilot, Chesley “Sulley" Sullenberger, who so ably piloted his plane into the Hudson River. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand that this story could have, and in many instances would have had a quite different outcome. The question is however, did Sully just instantly become great? Or was he preparing for this moment his entire life? And when his moment arrived he was ready to answer the call.

I instinctively understood that Chesley Sullenberger was a person that lived his life on a level, that when this moment came to him He was ready. Let’s explore a bit. He got his flying license at the ripe young age of 14. He mastered glider flying. He thoroughly investigated and studied flight disasters. He also studied the psychology of the crew in the cockpit. He was a pilot in the Air Force from 1973 until 1980. He is flying commercial airliners since 1980.

I think we are onto something.

Now let’s take a look at our new president, Barack Obama. It is startling to see how Mr. Obama has so carefully orchestrated events, prepared himself, and aligned himself for this moment. As far back as 1995 he had his sights on the oval office. He saw a vacuum of leadership, an opportunity for his charismatic personality to catapult him to where he is.

He penned what have now become, two best selling biographies. He wrote and delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic national convention. He was then tagged as one of the most influential politicians by Time Magazine. After the speech, Newsweek ran a cover of him with the caption “are we looking at the next president?

You see, greatness and heroism are often defined by a moment. Yet, in most cases it is a life of preparation in relative obscurity that allows the individual to seize the moment, and be labeled as great.

The big question that needs to be answered is what about the rest of us? A good friend of mine asked me how this can be applied to each and every individual. The vast majority of us go about our lives, our routines, trying to balance our family/work/community lives. Most of us will never be called upon to demonstrate greatness. But herein lies the essence.

This friend, David, works as a computer programmer for a well known, prestigious, global media company. I said to him: If you go about your business, always being on top of your particular area, the day may come when you see something come across your screen that can save the entire company. Will you be ready?

Our duty is to at the very least be in the top 9.9 percent, where we are performing on high levels, and, more importantly, growing through learning, reading, and self improvement and self awareness. And when the moment comes calling: Will we be there to heed the call?

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SOUTH AFRICA: Making Connections and Building Your Relationships in Diverse Cultures: Start with Names

By Karl Smith, South Africa Bureau Chief

I am an avid scholar of Dale Carnegie, the father of “people skills” teaching. He points out that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

Recently, I had a meeting at a business centre in Cape Town and I met a pleasant lady, named Coco. Now I have been socialized into the Western culture and word “Coco” to me is (and will be) simply a sound, unless I make a deliberate effort to add meaning to that sound. I have a sincere habit of asking people for the meaning and history of their names e.g. “Coco, how do you pronounce your name and what does in mean?” Coco taught me how to pronounce her name, she said that her name means “perfection” and it is a “Xhosa” name. I told Coco, that my name is “Karl” “Karl with a K” “Karl” as in “Karl Marx”. I further explained to her that I am the eldest grandson and therefore inherited my grandfathers’ name in terms of the practice during that time. Coco and I had a lovely discussion for almost two minutes and by then we had certain level of rapport before I moved to the “What brings you here?” question.

Something as simple as a name, has the potential for fostering strong relationships, uniting or alienating people. As Africans (and indeed as a diverse global community) we must make a concerted effort to remember (and correctly pronounce) the names of people. We need a name learning culture for strong internal networking in companies and for the diverse contacts who we meet at business networking events. A greater understanding of how and why people are named, and the relevance of names, may assist in improving respect and thereby relationships.

People from European ancestry generally select names for their children from lists of names, currently popular names, family names or after friends. Often the names of currently famous people are chosen for the new-born, for example soccer supporters may choose David - for David Beckham. Other more "New Age" families may choose names from nature, such as "Storm" or "Sky". Names often have deeper meanings, Brian means "the Brave" and Liam comes from William, which in turn comes from the German "Wilhelm" - meaning "unwavering protector”. In the Muslim community names are mostly chosen for religious relevance and/or deeper meanings. Hindu surnames often indicate caste or profession although, in South Africa, a person’s caste no longer holds the same relevance as it does in India. Amongst Afrikaners, family names are often chosen.

African names, given by parents, have relevance to the prevailing circumstances within the family, the community or the country when that child is born. Many of these names have been in the family for centuries. We need to be mindful of the desire to ask for "an easier name". "Please give me a name that I can pronounce." When given a name that at first sounds difficult to the ear, an attempt may be made to shorten the name or in the past the person was asked for an "English" name. This went even further as many priests, when baptising a child, would give the child "an easier name". This was in addition to the chosen name given by the child’s parents. In Southern Africa these names were invariably English in English-speaking areas and Afrikaans, in Afrikaans-speaking areas. For instance one of my business associates is known as “Errol” and his other name is “Lindelani”.

It is important to be aware that it is not polite, or acceptable, in many African cultures, to greet a married person by his/her first name - be it and African or Western name. Generally it far more important to use that person’s surname or most important ancestor’s name. When I meet people I learn about their names as mentioned above and I then ask for their guidance to help me with future interaction. Karl: “Lindelani, how would you like me to address you in future when I contact you again?” Karl’s golden rule: Never assume – Always ask your conversation partner his or her preferred name.

Why don’t you ask someone today to share the meaning of his/her name with you? Our diverse names are fantastic conversation starters, provide us with a unique opportunity to have great small talk and we can learn a great deal about our conversation partners.

Karl is the owner of ExecuEdge Consulting- a successful consulting and business relationships training company. Visit www.execuedge.co.za to see Karl in action, see what Karl’s clients says, book Karl to speak or to do in-company training, attend a public event, subscribe to his newsletter or to use the free networking resources.

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NET-TECH REPORT: Using Facebook for Marketing and PR

Net-Tech Report with Chris Kauza

For the last few months we've been exploring how to use various online tools to build relationships and enhance your offline networking abilities. We've already written about Facebook and some of the reasons you as a business owner should integrate it into your business and networking plans. We've also published articles on how Facebook has promoted more authentic networking, a brief overview on Facebook and it should be an integral part of your social media plans, transcendental and timeless perspectives on life and living in the networking world of Facebook, the fantastic growth of Facebook among online Candians (did you know it was HALF?!?!), and even setting up our own National Networker (TNNW) Fanpage on Facebook.

But this month, we're going to talk about using Facebook for Marketing and PR.

Here's one approach that Mike Nierengarten of Anvil Media, used to promote one of his clients, Animation Mentor. Animation Mentor is a four-year old, online animation school. In additional to Animation Mentor's already-existing website, Mike established a presence for them on Facebook, using a three-tiered approach:

Profile
Facebook Page
Fan Page

The profile was set up first, as a way to connect with current students. With an ever-increasing user base, it is likely that whatever your business is, you will find many of your current and potential customers on Facebook. Once you have people coming to your profile, you can more easily convert them into Fans on your Facebook page. Fan pages are great because they are indexed by Google and other search engines, and are viewable to unregistered people. This is important for building awareness and driving online reputation management. However, you can't send out “group messages” through the Facebook fan pages, so some of your communication will be limited.

Two other important things that Mike did:

created a Prospective Animation Mentor Student group for prospective students to connect and share their thoughts
promoted the page off of Facebook using an Animation blog

Last August, the Facebook page they created ranked for targeted keywords on Google (e.g. #23 for "animation school", #9 for "character animation"), they had over 700 fans with a mix of currents students and interested students interacting online, and also an area for prospective students to address their concerns and interact directly with someone from the school in their space. They also had an approximately 3% conversion rate (i.e. complete an application) from the Facebook page. As of this writing, they have over 2,200 fans. They have put together a low-cost (practically free) marketing engine for Animation Mentor.

In future posts we'll talk about press releases and article marketing, and how to use your blog and sites like HARO to enhance your credibility. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at Chris@AskABusinessGuy.com.

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PEOPLE, POWER AND POSSIBILITIES: The Mystery Business Card

People, Power and Possibilities with Donna Fisher

I found a business card in my pocket the other day and I have no idea where it came from and no idea who the person is. There are no handwritten notes on the card to give me a clue as to where I got the card. Because there are no notes on the card, I tend to think the card was given to me without a chance for me to interact with the person. I don’t like it when that happens because I know that I missed out on an opportunity to connect with someone.

Passing out business cards is not networking. Connecting with people so that we can be resources for one another is networking. Business cards are the tool that we use for exchanging information so that we can follow up and stay in touch.

Rather than passing out business cards focus on gathering information and connecting through conversations, By connecting with someone first, the business card exchange will be more meaningful and therefore remembered.

Generate an interesting conversation and listen for an opportunity to be a resource. Tell the person what you can do for them and then ask for their card so that you can follow up with them.

Example: Regarding your music project, I know someone that could be a good resource for you. If you’ll give me a card, I will get back with you with her contact information.

Be a conversational networker and have the business card exchange fit into the natural flow of the conversation.

Example: That’s interesting. What you’re looking for sounds similar to the products offered by Jane Doe’s company. I would be glad to have her give you a call. Do you have a card handy?

If you do want to give your card to someone, let them know why.

Example: You mentioned you send out an email newsletter. I would be very interested in your information. If I give you my card, would you add me to your list?

Tip: Don’t pass out business cards! Focus on making connections, gathering information and being a resource. Then the exchange of the business card will feel natural and will be meaningful. And then your business card will never be one of those mystery business cards that shows up in someone else’s pocket, purse or briefcase!

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UK: How Small Businesses Really Network

by Dave Clarke

UK Bureau Chief

In some recent research Alan Rae and Lisa Harris studied how small companies network and establish the best balance between on line and offline networking.

650 people from BNI, Ecademy, NRG-networks and from UK, Europe, US and the Far East were asked how much time they spent networking online and offline and how much time they spent on sales and marketing. In particular
• What networking environments they used
• What other marketing tools they used
• What their attitude to growth was
• How they went about building trust and deciding who to refer
• What size of networking group they preferred

There were some interesting findings.

1) Online and off line are not opposites. 40% of the people who spend more than 8 hours a week online also spend 8 hours networking face to face. And vice versa. This supported earlier observations that suggested that those best online were also good face to face networkers.
2) Offline networking peaks at 2-4 hours a week, online networking shows a U shaped curve – people either do less than 2 hours (46.3%) or more than 6 hours (24%)
3) Most people use traditional face to face selling and networking but about 15% did more than 8 hours on line.
4) Linked-in was the most popular online environment. Over 30% people used it regularly or depended on it compared to 15.7% for Facebook and 7.2 % for twitter.
5) PR, workshops, email shots and online advertising were used by between 26 & 30%
6) Most (55%) favoured a networking group of between 20 and 40
7) The process of building trust did not vary
a. Evidence of reliability evidenced by speed of response
b. Being clear about what they do
c. Knowing their subject
d. Positive Attitude including “Givers Gain" ®

The process of building trust support the findings of some research we did 3 years ago into the process of building trust in business relationships through networking.

Dave Clarke, high trust business relationships, offline networking, online networking, social networking research paper, the national networker, TNNW, UK
Alan & Lisa concluded that going on line depended on whether the business was scalable or non scalable, local or national /global. Most wanted a “home networking group” for mutual support and referrals. Some, however, needed the greater numbers that the online social media permit. They identified 3 groups

Group 1 is like Alan & Isobel Rae's vegetable business – everything is sold within a 25 mile radius and when they’ve sold it -its gone. Group 2 is like their plants4presents business. National and scalable so they need as many, often random, connections as they can. Group 3 are like Alan Rae himself. His business is not scalable – He's selling his time but he does work for people in other countries. It pays him to have thousands of contacts to find those that can fully use his skills

They estimated there are roughly 50% in category 1, 40% in category 2 and 10% in category 3.

Where do you and your business fit? Maybe you can use these findings to work out the best balance for your online & offline networking activities.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast

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Friday, April 24, 2009

TEAMWORK - CREATING TEAMS THAT WORK: Getting (and Staying) on the Same Page

Teamwork - Creating Teams That Work with Douglas Castle

Dear Readers:

Teamwork requires many skills, a great deal of focus, and a clear, unconflicted vision of a common goal of great importance to all participants. If I am a basketball hot-shot who loves to have the ball all of the time, my team will suffer the effects of my personal agenda and my ego's actions. Further (and the analogies only get worse), if we are on the same side in a tug-of-war, or a rafting race, we had better all be pulling or paddling in the same direction...otherwise we will either go flying forward or spinning in circles.

Conflicting agendas and differing priorities are the bane of effective teamwork, and are the ultimate destroyer of any team effort. Some simple guidelines follow that will help you keep your team members "on the same page" all of the time:

1. The Team must have an assigned leader. The types of decisions made by consensus must be few, and they should be the exception rather than the rule. A leader who cannot maintain focus, order and the respective of his/her teammates will see his/her team disintegrate into a committee or an informal group.

2. Individual decisionmaking capacity ("judgment calls") by the teammates must be limited, by the leader, to certain types of tactical issues which will not affect the focus of the team's mission. If there is any doubt about the appropriateness of an individual tactical decision, then the leader should be consulted.

3. The leader should generally have the ability (and also must bear the responsibility and accountability) to override individual decisions after due consideration. It is the leader's responsibility to explain, in brief, what his/her reasons are to that individual, or to the team, if appropriate.

4. The team's mission must be unequivocally and simply restated by the leader in every meeting with team members, and in every business-related conversation with the individual team members. As Adam J. Kovitz, CEO, Founder and Publisher of THE NATIONAL NETWORKER has said, on many occasions: "We learn through repetition and reminders."

5. The team leader, or his/her appointee must make frequent evaluations and issue statements (with the use of as much supporting quantitative data as possible) to the team about the progress that they are making toward the accomplishment of the mission. If these reports indicate progress, the team will be inspired, more firmly bonded, and work with increased energy and enthusiasm.

Exceptions:

There are exceptions to the foregoing five rules (aside from "executive privilege," "national security," "I invested the most money!" and "I'm bigger/older/more experienced/much smarter than you."), but these are quite limited:

Teams formed for the purpose of developing an initial plan or strategy;
Teams formed for the purposes of "brainstorming" ideas;
Collaborative efforts involving only two partners;
Committee meetings, board meetings and stakeholder meetings where resolutions are put to a vote;
Teams formed for the purpose of critiquing an idea, an action or a work -- a panel of judges is the classic example.

Generally speaking, if a leader fails to truly lead (rather like an orchestra conductor), the team will disintegrate (rather like the difference between performing a symphonic piece and an ethanol-powered and spontaneous chorus of "Waltzing Matilda" by a rugby team after a rough game).

If the directives above seem harsh, you must bear in mind that the team is not formed for the purpose of either stifling individuality or encouraging innovation, per se...it is formed for the sole purpose of accomplishing a mission for the benefit and common good of all of the teammates.

One analogy, which I particularly enjoy, if that a team is like a multicellular organism, and that each team player is a cell in a biological (life-giving or life-preserving) process. If any one cell should fail to cooperate, sabotage the efforts of other teammates, or misuse resources, it becomes cancerous. Overstated? Perhaps. But my mission in writing this article was to get a point across. An extreme analogy tends to be most memorable.

Get on the same page. Stay on the same page. Tight teams accomplish great things.

-DC http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com

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CANADA: The Progressive Group for Independent Business – Business Clubs

by Kensel Tracy, Canadian Bureau Chief

In talking with Craig Chandler from The Progressive Group for Independent Business Business Clubs (PG IB) you know you are talking to a business man and a consummate networker. Craig sounds like a radio announcer and I find out later on in the interview that he has in own online radio show at www.craigchandler.com. and I was impressed.

PGIB is a networking club that started in 1992 as a political organization and in 1997 started a link with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Craig who is the owner and the Executive Director of the company now run business clubs throughout the provinces of Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan with the sole purpose of helping businesses grow through networking.

Craig makes a point of telling me that his clubs are a business and they are dedicated to helping build businesses throughout western Canada and that they play a role in influencing the Federal Government in Canada through their lobbying efforts. PGIB clubs are setup like other networking referral clubs in that the weekly luncheon meetings act as a sales force for all the businesses that join the clubs. Membership dues are $320.00 per year.

When asked about his views on networking Craig is quite candid and open about it. He thinks that networking is all about relationships and in this economy; relationships are now going to be more important than ever. Calgary is located directly in the centre of Canada’s oil country and has been through a recent boom. With dropping of oil prices and the world economy, Craig believes the small business person and their ability to be able to network effectively with others is the main ingredient of business survival.

His business approach to running a good networking club is simple. Ensure that there are good people to network with, provide a good mix of business opportunities, add added values and ensure that everybody wins.

Craig says he is proud that his conservative business organization and has been able to take a stand on a variety of topics that have helped businesses grow in Canada by taking his case to governments throughout the province and Canada. He makes no bones about the fact that his networking organization is built on strong capitalist values and conservative views and that he proudly states this throughout the conversation. The organization lobbies consistently on public accountability, less government and lower taxes overall. Something I think that most business people would agree are great causes to fight for.

Craig’s wife has also started her own version of the PGIB for women. The women’s version of the club allows women business people to get together and hold their own meetings without men attending. There are meetings that are mixed and meetings for women only. The women’s group allows for networking to take place in a more relaxed and open atmosphere.

The Progressive Group for Independent Business, Business Clubs are one of the great opportunities for business people to get involved in a business organization in Calgary, Edmonton in Alberta and throughout various cities in British Columbia. Craig Chandler is the Executive Director and can be reached at www.pgib.ca.

Kensel Tracy is The Marketing Coach and Senior Partner with the Corporate Coachworkz Inc. business coaching and consulting company located in Chelsea, Quebec. He is also the President of Business over Breakfast (BoB Clubs) now setting up business networking clubs throughout North America.

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BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: Become Technologically Savvy: Building the Techno Advantage

Beyond Networking: Being with Ron Sukenick

Ron's section is sponsored by SmallBizAmerica.com

Strategy Twelve

Thanks to the Internet, and the latest innovations in technology, the confines of time and space have disappeared. Communication technology will help you better meet the increased expectations for the ever changing market. Strengthen your personal and business relationships by diagnosing the best channel for the specific relationship in mind.

Level the Playing Field With Technology

Communicating electronically is immediate, cost-effective, efficient, and 100% documentable. It is a matter of plugging in with the equipment that is “right” for you.

Scan the following technology publications and sites as you develop your technological advantage.

Technology Publications and Websites

Technology review http://www.technologyreview.com/
Since 1899, Technology Review has been MIT's magazine of innovation. Their mission statement is, "to promote the understanding of emerging technologies and their impact on business and society.”

Educational Technology reports from the Dept. of Education www.ed.gov/Technology/reports.html

PC magazine http://www.pcmag.com/
PC Magazine is an important technology publication that delivers authoritative, labs-based comparative reviews of computing and Internet products. The PC Magazine defines technology for e-business and provides in-depth reviews and accurate, repeatable testing from PC Magazine Labs placed in the unique context of today's business technology landscape.

Computer World http://www.computerworld.com/
Unlike any other IT information source, Computerworld has a proud heritage that speaks volumes about continuous change, adaptation and brand loyalty. Thirty-five years since launching as "the newsweekly for the computer community", Computerworld remains at the forefront of IT Leaders' information needs.

Info World http://www.infoworld.com/
InfoWorld Media Group delivers in-depth coverage and evaluation of IT products for technology experts involved in major purchase decisions for their companies. InfoWorld reaches readers through its integrated online, print, events, and research channels. InfoWorld provides specialized IT coverage for the CTO, senior-most company executives who are deeply steeped in technology expertise and experience.

IDG http://www.ieg.net/
IDG's Technology Directory serves the needs of global technology decision-makers by providing immediate access to trusted technology news, information and resources from around the world. Peruse technology content through our state of the art search, by category, or find the latest breaking information directly on our home page.

Darwin http://www.darwinmag.com/
For senior executives intent on successfully navigating through technology change, Darwin offers the latest tools and insight.

CIO Magazine http://www.cio.com/
CIO Magazine is an award winning publication, serving the needs of CIOs and other senior information technology experts since 1987.

Information week http://www.informationweek.com/
InformationWeek is a weekly print magazine that reaches 440,000 business and IT professionals at more than a quarter million businesses. It's read by CIOs, IT managers, business managers, and information technology professionals among others. The magazine provides in-depth analysis, news, research and perspectives on the latest business technology trends.

While there are many other publications for your review, starting with some of these will certainly support your understanding and working knowledge of what’s available.

The Internet: Trade Show Listings

Visit trade shows – While there are many local technology programs that are put on by your local Chamber, the following national programs are also available

The Trade Show Plaza http://www.tradeshowplaza.com/
The Premier resource center for: Trade Shows, Technology Conferences, Forums, Computer Expos, Web Seminars and Tech Events Worldwide.

IT Service Management Forum http://www.internettradeshowlist.com/
List is a complete guide of Internet conferences and technology trade shows & seminars including a trade show directory with descriptions, schedules.
Information Technology Exposition and Conference http://www.goitec.com/
ITEC builds a strong foundation for lasting relationships between technology solutions providers and IT decision makers. ITEC is by far the nation’s leading series of regional information technology events.

Website Design

While you can craft your own professional site with off-the-shelf software, local internet service providers (ISP) are great partners to help you establish quality site design and web site hosting inexpensively. Finding these partners is also at your fingertips. Go to:

http://www.thelist.com/: Here you will find a comprehensive directory of ISPs. You can narrow your search by state or area code. You will find information about rates, contact information, and specific services.

www.internic.net: This is the registration clearing house for domain names, or the part of a URL that falls between the www. And the .com or .net. Registration costs are minimal—although, domain names can become quite valuable!

Continuing to develop your technological savvy will truly help you level the playing field today and in the future.

What action steps will you take?

www.ronsukenick.com

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

OPTIMIZING YOUR IMPACT: Inspire vs Motivate: Because “Because I Said So” Won’t Sell It

Optimizing Your Impact with Jeff Schomay

This title is kind of like Jeopardy, can you guess the question that the title is an answer to? If you said “Why aren’t my customers taking action?” you’re right. That’s what we’ll be talking about.

I was recently blamed for not being “compelling.” I was supposed to get 10 people to get 10 people to get 10 people to get—you see where it’s going. I told 10 people what I was up to and what I wanted them to do. That was about as far as it went, and I got blamed for not having 10 friends who would do what ever I say. Now granted, it was for a good cause, and if everyone got their 10 people we could have had a million people working towards one common goal and that would have been pretty slick, but it wasn’t enough to inspire people to action. What was missing?

It is my humble opinion that we had the motivation in place, but not the inspiration. What’s the difference? Good question. What do you think the difference is? Is there a difference? We say, “I was motivated to do such and such” just as often as we say “He really inspired me to do such and such.” Are they interchangeable? Consider this: Every New Years millions of people are motivated to eat less, exercise more, and stop watching so much junk TV. Only the “inspired few” stick with it. Need I say more?

Motivation is an external force. Inspiration is an internal force. The motivated people on New Years saw themselves as fat and lazy and hated it. The inspired people on New Years probably saw the beautiful person hiding inside their temporarily not-so-beautiful body and wanted to let them out. Humans usually don’t act when our conscious brain says to do something, we usually only act when our emotions compel us. And if our emotions compel us we usually can’t be stopped. That’s inspiration.

How does this apply to branding and marketing? If you want to get people to act (ie. buy my stuff; sign up now; get 10 people…) then you’ve got to design a message that translates into an internal force. How do you do that? It’s hard. That’s why it often doesn’t happen and people often don’t act. Here’s some thoughts on accomplishing the task:

• Always, always, always approach your proposition from your customer’s point of view. Put it in their terms. What’s in it for them? What’s the incentive? How does your offer make their life great or solve the things that keep them up at night?
• Create recognition. Humans always respond better to something they recognize. That’s why word of mouth is the most effective advertising, and why people will buy things from the store they’ve shopped at for years when the same stuff is on sale at the competition. Recognition is hard-wired and linked to emotion. After all, half of branding is creating recognition.
• Be part of something larger. Make buying your product a part of a larger story, so people participating feel like they are playing out the themes of your campaign (themes stir emotion usually). Sound complicated? Watch a perfume ad and see how they do it. Or a car ad. Or Verizon’s commercials.
• Copy Hollywood and Disney. Have you ever noticed that everything is Las Vegas is “The ______ Experience?” Experiences play to all your senses and cause emotion. The more you can turn your offer into an experience for your customer, the more it speaks to their subconscious mind.

That should get you started. Look around and notice when people take action and what causes them to take that action. Is there an emotional decision involved? Look at yourself and ask the same questions. Now start crafting your messages to speak to those emotions, and be sure you back it up with a transaction point that upholds the inspiration you’ve created, otherwise it will dead end or backfire. But if you keep the inspiring message solid from start to finish, you’ll get people to act… maybe even one million of them.

Now go try it yourself. Why? Because I said so. Just kidding.

Good luck and good marketing,

Jeff Schomay

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Written by Jeff Schomay
Inspire Your Buyer - Branding and Marketing
Optimize Your Impact. Get Better Results.
www.Inspire-Your-Buyer.com
jeff@inspire-your-buyer.com
(c) 2009
Jeff Schomay is an expert brander and marketer and a professional film writer and director.

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DEALING WITH GIANTS: When to Hold and When to Fold

Dealing With Giants
with Claudine Halpern

Next Steps
Getting closer to the Close...When to Hold and When to Fold

It’s time to think about what to do next, you’ve planned the meeting, and executed the meeting plan, is it in your company's best interest to proceed?
Remember, YOU OWN THE SALES PROCESS, you have an absolute RIGHT and RESPONSIBILITY to make the smart decisions about going forward with the BIG BOY prospect. Not every prospect is good for the company, every sales encounter, whether it comes to fruition or not, costs you time and by default costs you money, and that money adds up.

Like every other decision that you make for your business now is a good time to do your first Risk/Reward assessment. We will do more of these as we move forward but lets do the first one together.

Click on the Banner, and Receive your Membership Free Trial and Discount

How do you know if you should continue with this BIG BOY prospect? You don’t. Though by now you will be able to tell if you should stop here. DON’T CHASE A DUD CUSTOMER, they will drive you crazy and bleed you dry.

Let’s talk about some signs that point toward the exit.

1) Rudeness; Your BIG BOY prospect is rude, I mean really rude. Some people are rude to children and small cute animals. If a prospect is particularly rude, to you or to anyone else, think about the cost to your company. Rudeness is strange behavior; sometimes people will use rudeness as a cover for self-loathing, boredom, lack of motivation or any other possible negative feelings. Some business sectors actually expect certain amount of rudeness, if that’s the case then watch and see if the rudeness is cultural or personal.

I was a consultant on a major financial firm’s equity trading floor ten years ago. I had a client who was not only rude to me, he was rude to his junior staff, the people who cleaned the floors, the people who made the coffee and anyone else who got in his way. He also had the misfortune of having toilet mouth, which embarrassed the young people who worked for him and everyone else. He was a big money maker for the firm and they gave him too much leeway.

I told him that when he saw me coming he should picture his mother, and if he wouldn’t say or behave that way in front of his mother, it was unacceptable to me as well. Well I’m a tall woman, I used to watch him open his mouth, stop, look for me, and if he saw me he started behaving properly, if not his toilet mouth returned. About a year later I saw a picture of this guy in a perp walk, he was accused of aggravated sexual harassment and went to jail. Karma comes around.

Long story short, if a BIG BOY is so rude that he makes you, or any of your people feel uncomfortable, walk away, fold.

2) Excessive Neediness; There are people who can never see the positive side of anything, they whine, complain, constantly vent and call you all the time to talk about their terrible lives. Think about this person as a customer, is there any way that you will be able to satisfy this person with your goods or service, or will you get a small sale and have a huge customer service problem, walk away, fold.

3) Totally Unqualified: This BIG BOY is unqualified to make the purchase and won’t introduce you to his boss’s boss who may or may not be qualified. This BIG BOY likes the attention, make sure that you are dealing with a potentially qualified prospect. This does not mean that you don’t talk to the lower people to get to the higher ones, but when the lower person is a blocker but not a facilitator, you will not get past him, walk away, fold.

In this case you want to get the name of the qualified person, walk away for a bit, and try to find a way to get directly to the qualified BIG BOY.

4) Fails the Smell Test: Something smells, I mean something really smells. You have a very bad feeling about it. You are uncomfortable because the BIG BOY is not behaving in a legal or ethical manner, for example if he asks you for up front money or favors.

I used to be the person who interviewed the trainee technical people at a firm that I worked for many years ago. We made a habit of hiring second career people who had retrained as they had life experience that very often made them more motivated employees. I was asked to interview a second cousin twice removed of one of the senior managers for an open position that I had. As with most technical spots, I did a technical interview and this guy did not answer one question correctly, needless to say this was going to be a short interview. I was about to show him out. He pulled a roll of hundreds from his pocket and told me he would make it worth my while and started counting the benjamins. I stepped out, called security and had him removed from the building. He was lucky I didn’t call the cops.

Anything illegal, unlawful or unethical will affect your company negatively, walk away, fold.

Next Articles: Next steps, Getting closer to the Close, How to Follow Up, Moving Forward, Getting a Handshake Agreement

Claudine Y. Halpern, President, The YCH Group, Inc.

Claudine Halpern is a chameleon; she has worked in many different situations during her more than twenty-five years in business; as a management consultant, Claudine advised many of the major brokerage, insurance, and financial houses, completing more than fifteen major corporate initiatives during the past ten years. As a crisis manager for major corporations, Claudine successfully brought in projects and products that other firms would not touch. As a specialist in business and management consultancy, Claudine consults to emerging businesses across the spectrum.

email chalpern@theychgroup.com

http://ychmagicclaudinehalpern.blogspot.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/claudinehalpern

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

DEEPENING NETWORKING THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS: Deepening Relationships While Defying Time

Deepening Networking Through Relationships

with Christine Sotmary, M.S., L.Ac., CPC

The first time Denise Scotto and I met was at a new Salsa social at the Spanish Cultural Center's La Nacional in New York City. Dancers are creatures of habit and have their usual haunts. Most of the time their events start late in the evening. This was a new place and an early hour. Right from the top we hit it off as we sat there for over 3 hours waiting for things to get started. We talked and talked, sharing our lives and our philosophies. Having strong beliefs and similar values made it easy to engage on many levels and the time flew by.

Because Denise is an effective leader in issues surrounding women, children and health, I wanted to have her share with you her thoughts on how deepening her relationships has impacted her life and business.

I asked her what she values most about networking, and this is what she shared with me:
"What I hold dear about networking is building relationships--relationships require an investment of one's time and one's energy. It's not about collecting shoe boxes of business cards if you haven't established relationships. Some deepen as time goes on and others change."

Since she is so busy with all her projects, I wondered how she has time to work with so many people whom she considers friends:
"When I speak about investing time and energy, it's important that it be mutual or a two way street. Relationships can't be built by one person alone. In the past I have given and given and given and seen how it hasn't served me and doesn't lead to respect. Respect is another important aspect to all of this and I fully believe that without it, there is no possibility of having an enduring relationship. The ability to agree to disagree with another and to understand it's not a personal rejection but a difference of opinion is the key. It is important to keep this in mind and to talk things through. While we may not see eye to eye, if we have similar core values we can move forward with respect, integrity and trust. Communication and having a safe environment to talk can take us to another level."

I asked Denise how she keeps things fresh and open hearted in her networking:
"The ability to let things evolve and to not box things up is another difficult but important way to approach networking and building relationships. Exploring potentialities as we learn about others can lead to unimagined situations."

The last thing I wanted to know from Denise was what was the most important thing she learned from her experience building and deepening her relationships:
"I would say, trust your instincts. If you're not comfortable with someone then don't force yourself to make something happen. It's important to honor yourself and work through fear and lack of confidence, but if there's the proverbial oil and vinegar, then listen to the inner wisdom. Sometimes, it's about timing or things may not get off to a good start but, sometimes it's about the other person. Keeping open is important, but it's also important to recognize that we won't necessarily be liked by everyone or get along well with everyone, and that's okay too. I aim to be my best self and know when I look in the mirror that I like what I see and feel comfortable with who I am.

Here's what Denise had to say about how taking the time to deepen her relationships worked in a practical way in her life:
"Years ago, I was a practicing trial lawyer and felt deeply frustrated and burnt out. A major change in my life and career was calling me. Through my professional bar association activities with international law, I was invited to attend a reception organized as a parallel event in connection with the prepatory committee meeting for the creation of the International Criminal Court at the United Nations. At that reception I met two older women, one an attorney. As it turns out, the woman attorney invited me to be a representative of the legal organization she was involved in at the UN. Through this legal organization, I started attending various inter-governmental meetings and other events and later worked at the UN for many years on a series of short- term contracts.

“The other woman, I am happy to say, is a close friend. We collaborated on many issues at the UN by organizing high level events on matters including the situation of civilians in times of war and political instability, the rape of women and girls in war, the situation of child soldiers, the effects of war on veterans, important legal conventions that relate to women, children, the disabled, etc."

So you can see why I found Denise so interesting that first night as we waited for the dancers to arrive. We have stayed friends over this past year and gotten involved in more than just Salsa dancing. Denise is not only a lawyer but a holistic healer, too; since that is a world I know quite well, I have brought her to my networking events and introduced her to other practitioners and healers. She in turn has helped me get the word out about my memoir and introduced me to several powerful women at the UN who specialize in issues relating to long-term caregiving and the elderly. I look forward to our meetings every couple of weeks to find out what projects Denise is working on because she is living a powerful life that directly helps so many in this global village of ours.

You can find Denise Scotto at:
917-348-5483
denise.scotto@gmail.com
www.denisscotto.com

You can contact Christine Sotmary at:
Getting On Track Coaching
www.gotcoaching.com
917-273-1308sotmary@gmail.com www.livingontheverge.com www.christinesotmary.blogspot.com www.sotmary.com

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REACHING FOR STARPOWER: Freebies, Newbies and Success

Reaching For Starpower with Barbara Marynowski

Today’s opportunities for online social networking are more plentiful than ever. MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, Friendster, Bakespace, Bebo, hi5, Orkut, Perfspot, Yahoo! 360, Netlog and Zorpia – these just name a few of the main contenders. Toptenreviws.com recently released their “2009 Social Networking Websites Product Comparisons” rating the pros and cons of many of the sites previously mentioned – a great resource when deciding what site can help you market your business, yourself and grow your network most efficiently to suit your needs and desires.

So what does this have to do with celebrity networking, you ask? For starters, they are great places to learn more about your desired celebrity and conduct some basic research on whether or not they are truly a fit for what you are seeking to market. Their basic stats and most recent projects are usually easy to identify in a quick, concise manner – there are few things more irritating than wasting time trying to piece together information just to get through the initial question of “is this a match?” Secondly, these sites are free. They are chock full of information, opportunities and potential without any financial risk. Knowing how to take full advantage of these is another issue, but as raw resources they’re hard to beat. (TNNW is a great place to search for tutorials, tips and tricks.) Invest as much or as little time as you want, experiment with various approaches and methods all without having to spend a dime. This is especially appealing to new and small business owners with much more limited budgets.

Thirdly, social networking sites are the perfect places to seek out up-and-comers. While attracting the attention of an already established star is always preferable, it is usually less likely right off the bat. However, newer celebrities tend to be much more approachable and willing to open lines of communication, plus they, too, have the desire to market themselves and network to grow their recognition so they are willing to do more one-on-one chatting. Although this method requires commitment and work to grow the relationship, it can prove fruitful with the right relationships. For example – my friend Patrick starting talking with a new musician from Norway, who happens to be on a record label pioneered by one of the members of Motley Crue; after months of conversation on Twitter and Facebook, he is now enjoying a position on their marketing team and connecting with professionals in the US market, a feat that would otherwise have been nearly impossible without already having an “in” in the business. And all he really did was some online socializing – something most of us do regularly anyway!

There’s really no reason not to take full advantage of social networking sites, especially as they continue to grow in popularity and successful marketing potential.

To your success,

Barbara H. Marynowski

Barbara H. Marynowski is the owner of Fempowerment Unlimited and an active member of Juko Kai International, training at White Crane Michigan. Contact her directly at barbmarynowski (at) aol.com.

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Monday, April 20, 2009

CAREER MANAGEMENT: Your Career Management Toolbox

Career Management with Jason Alba

Job search is important, but one purpose of career management is to keep the length of job searches down. I can't say that doing all of these things will guarantee your job searches go faster, but you should be in more control. I'm amazed at the number of professionals who come to JibberJobber, or read my LinkedIn book, who have been excellent at doing their job but have no idea what to do in a job search.

I understand - I assumed my job search tactics would lean heavily on job boards and recruiters. I spent hundreds of hours spinning the wrong wheels - it's no wonder I wasn't getting anywhere! And the thought of doing a job search every three to five years was petrifying!

As I learned more about Career Management I became more empowered. Here's is the key to career management: relationships.

Not "collecting business cards," or "growing your network on LinkedIn." I'm talking about real networking. Once I read Keith Ferrazzi's Never Eat Alone I started to understand what real relationships and networking was all about - not me, but how I could help others. There are multiple benefits of helping others, but the key is that it helps your relationship go beyond typical superficial networking, and it puts you into a completely different league.

Everything in career management revolves around relationships. Consider "target companies." You've heard you should network your way into companies, right? No matter where you find them, you need to figure out how to get in... what if you had a strong, nurtured network you could tap into easily and quickly.

So, considering this, what do YOU think belongs in your career management toolbox? Here are some ideas... I'm not saying whether they should be in yours or not, but think about how each of these tools helps (or doesn't help) you nurture relationships:

Job boards
classified ads
business cards
JibberJobber (a website to organize your job search)
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
resume(s)
cell phone
email account (not sexylegs@____.com)

What else is in your toolbox? Are there tools in there that are not really helping with anything? Are they helping you manage and nurture professional relationships - longterm?

---

Jason Alba developed JibberJobber.com to replace the job search spreadsheet. He recently created LinkedIn for Job Seekers - the DVD. He is the author I'm on LinkedIn -- Now What??? and author of I'm on Facebook -- Now What???, both of which are designed to help professionals get more value out of these social networking tools. Learn more about Jason at http://twitter.com/jasonalba.

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Sunday, April 19, 2009

THE CONNECTED BRAND: Offline Rules Still Apply to Online Networking

The Connected Brand with Maria Elena Duron

On a recent call, someone recommended that you join every group possible to get your name out there in the online world. I respectfully disagree.

To join every group is like the social butterfly who walks into the networking event collecting every card imaginable with the intent to spam or stalk them to the point of a pressured sale or a pissed off person. Or, it’s like the person you see at the networking even wreaking of ‘commission breath’ hungry for the next sale and hoping that they’ll make it right there at that event.

The first rule of networking still applies, “be interested in order to be interesting”. It’s more important to be interested in the people you are making a connection with.

No, I don’t have “the most” Twitter followers but I know my Twitter followers. I read their bios, visit their websites and engage in conversation with them. I’m re-tweeted, recommended as a person to follow and re-tweet those who say something that would be helpful to my network. We are networking just not racking up Twitter follower points.

No, I’m not this mega LinkedIn link who has thousands of connections yet I do know my connections. I answer questions, help make connections, deliver knowledge and engage.

And, on Facebook and my blog, I comment back to people who make comments or post on my wall. I engage in conversation which is important for people to have the opportunity to sample who you are.

So, why do people think that online and offline networking require different rules. After all, online is just a “tool” to communication…nothing more.

I get frustrated when I hear people talk of their Twitter strategy, their LinkedIn or Facebook strategy. Why? Because how many of us knew of these sites, terms or used them five years ago? Twitter didn’t even exist five years ago and tweeting and our tweeple were not ever terms used in any of our conversations two years ago.

While the tools will change (who knows what 2010 will hold), the fact that we are engaging and connecting with people remains the same. How we do it and the time and place we do that will inevitably evolve. Yet, people are still people connecting, doing business with, working and communicating with people.

Really, would you ever create a “hammer strategy” or would you rather have a strategy as to how you would repair your fence and maybe a “hammer” is one of the tools you use (or maybe even a staple gun for that matter) – is it really the tool you are strategizing about?

Author:
Maria Elena Duron is chief buzz agent & identity coach of buzz2bucks | a personal branding + word of mouth firm. and blogs about connecting your personal brand and SMART Connections. She is also the creator and moderator of brandchat: a live streaming branding discussion on twitter. Follow her on Twitter for daily updates or connect with her on Facebook.

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Saturday, April 25, 2009

LOCATE ANY PERSON, ANYWHERE - EXPERTLY AND QUICKLY

Friday, April 24, 2009

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Monday, April 20, 2009

Sunday, April 19, 2009

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