THE ENTREPRENEURIAL GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT: Hawaii International Film Festival

The Entrepreneurial Guide to Entertainment
with Sandy McKee

The place to be in Hawaii from October 15 to 25, 2009 is, without question, the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF). Use your miles, max your cards, do whatever it takes to attend. I’m not alone in my views. “Must attend,” writes Entertainment Weekly. “One of the ten best film festivals around the world,” according to Travel & Leisure Magazine. And, my personal favorite from The Japan Times: “The ideal movie-geek's holiday.”

Movie geek though I may be, I confess my first attendance at HIFF was in 2008 on ACM Night. ACM stands for the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Academy for Creative Media and is the film school that my daughter attends. ACM Night showcases short films produced by the students, many of whom I predict will go on to be filmmaking powerhouses, if the shorts I’ve seen are any indication.

In the car on the way to the theater, my daughter and I engaged in a heated discussion about which film should be crowned the Best Film of All Time. She mentioned modern films that made me despair for the younger generation; I chose solid classics which she dismissed with scorn. We both furiously defended our positions. Things got so hot, if you plopped streaming lava into the conversation, it would have cooled things down. Just as she was threatening to bung me out of the car (letting her drive was my first mistake) and I informed her I was going to cut her out of my will (for real this time), I shouted out, “Seven Samurai!” She paused, contemplated, and said, “Okay.” Finally, deep called to deep! The rest of the evening was exceedingly pleasant and entertaining.

I enjoyed last year’s HIFF so much that I decided to volunteer this year to help in whatever capacity they might need. The highlight of HIFF for me will once again be ACM Night. I spoke with student director/screenwriter Priscilla Stafford about her short romantic-comedy Flowers, Chocolate, and Candlelit Dinners, which has been nominated for the Viewers’ Choice award. It is about a guy who tries to make romantic gestures to show his deepening commitment to his girlfriend. Unfortunately, nothing works out the way he plans and he stumbles through one awkward moment after another.

This year HIFF will show around 177 films from more than 36 countries. The opening night film is Mother from director Bong Joon-ho of South Korea. His 2006 horror/thriller Gwoemul (English name: The Host) was one of the highest grossing films in South Korea. Mother is a psychological murder mystery/thriller about a mother who goes to great lengths to prove the innocence of her mentally-challenged son who was accused of a brutal murder. Director Bong has been favorably compared to classic Hitchcock (think Vertigo or Rear Window).

The centerpiece film is Red Cliff (Hong Kong, China) by John Woo who directed Paycheck, Windtalkers, Mission Impossible II, etc. Red Cliff is a historical epic about the famous Battle of the Red Cliffs which took place during the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China (circa. 208 AD). The film has already garnered eleven film festival awards, so it is off to an impressive start.

The closing night film is Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang’s Warrior and the Wolf. This film also takes place in ancient China and tells the story of a disillusioned army general who finds himself stranded in a village populated by a strange clan with mystical connections to wolves. The film is based on a short story by Japanese writer Yasushi Inoue.

Also in the line-up is a celebration of the hit TV series Lost with special appearances by the cast; and, the world premiere of a film about Hawaii’s Princess Kai’ulani (1875-1899). The title of this film (Barbarian Princess), as well as other aspects of the film, is the subject of controversy here in Hawaii. The producers say the title is meant to be ironic, not disrespectful. However, Native Hawaiian leaders say it is an insult to the memory of the tragic young royal who died of illness at the age of 23. I do not know if this rift can be mended; but, I pray that the community can come together at HIFF and respect each other’s views.

For more information, please visit Sandy's TNNW Bio.

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THE ENTREPRENEURIAL GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT: Hawaii International Film Festival

POWER THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Networking and the Power of Spirit, Part 1

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

The Spirit of Networking
Networking taps into an eternal Truth. As human beings, we are all connected. The act of networking provides more energy to some connections than to others. As we strengthen our networks we become more responsible for and responsive to this global community of humanity. We send out our powerful energy and it moves around the globe, picks up like energy, and returns to us multiplied ten times. If you don’t like the response you’re getting from your network, change the message that you send.


Patricia A. Parham
Parham Enterprises
www.parhament.com

For more information, please visit Patricia's TNNW Bio.


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POWER THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Networking and the Power of Spirit, Part 1

GO WEST !!! Remember to be Humble

Go West! with Christine M. West, MS, CMHT

One of the most powerful lessons that I have ever learned as a business professional and especially as a speaker for hire is the power behind humbleness. I was reminded of this valuable lesson recently. This invisible power within humbleness was well illustrated recently at a conference that I was an attendee at.

One speaker, who I would rate as stupendous and presented exceptionally well, acted out some key behaviors for all of us to be reminded of. This presenter, who I will name for this article as Credible-Chris, understood the power behind humbleness. Credible-Chris provided value and maintained rapport with his audience because of the following:

1. He demonstrated topic expertise by providing substance, value and practicality.
2. His presentation naturally flowed and 90 minutes flew by fast.
3. He had excellent professional boundaries. When he was outside of his own expertise he identified what expert would be needed.
4. He promoted his services by “walking the talk” instead of behaving arrogantly and telling the audience of his greatness.
5. He involved his audience by engaging in activity that created awareness to identifying the problem to be solved and offering basic solution orientated strategies.
6. He spoke the language of the audience.
7. He gave creditability to ideas in his lecture that stemmed from a different originator.
8. He lived up who he said he was in his bio.
9. He indirectly sold his value proposition by demonstrating it.
10. (By the way his presentation was on Organizational Value, he clearly provided value.)

Another speaker at the conference that stood out for me acted professionally ridiculous. He was an excellent reminder of what NOT to do. I will name him Ridiculous-Ramon. Ridiculous-Ramon, made some very costly mistakes and obviously did NOT remember that GREATNESS comes from a state of being,NOT from a state of telling.


One of the saddest parts for Ridiculous-Ramon was claiming his expertise to be in Psychophysiology of Linguistics. That states he is a communication expert. His bio stated that he worked in the personal growth industry for the past 20 years. These are awesome credentials yet by not truly being able to communicate and engage your audience when you claim you can ------ is Pathetic for any professional.

The story gets worse. The list of mistakes was incredible. The following was my observation:

1. He did not take into account that others in the audience, such as me have an expertise that can validate the credibility of his message.
2. He forgot that I knew him prior to writing a book and I knew him as a salesman, not as a personal growth expert.
3. He lacked professional boundaries, integrity and ethics. He claimed a professional expertise that he did not have. When an audience participant asked who else has done research on what he claims is factual, he said he is the only person on the planet.

(Ridiculous-Ramon did not invent Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) Bandler and Grinder did or Neuro-Associative Conditioning Systems this was Anthony Robbins. Ridiculous-Ramon holds a Master of ART in Counseling not a PhD in Linguistics or Psychology or Sociology or even Anthropology) He created an application to teach the layman how to communicate easier and is using concepts from Anthony Robbins. Anthony Robbins work is based off of concepts in NLP, and NLP is based off of concepts of Social Learning Theory and Cognitive Learning Theory which are the work of Albert Bandura who is a Psychologist who expanded other psychological change theories.

Validity and Reliability of your message are very important claims to professionalism and holding credibility.

A concept is far more credible if you can share with you audience the building blocks of your concept as Credible-Chris did so eloquently.

4. He was arrogant and made the presentation a sales pitch of his greatness and all about him.

5. He was scheduled to lecture for 90 minutes and completed his lecture in 30 minutes. He asked the room moderator how much time he had after 30 minutes, then after 45 minutes, and then after 60 minutes…... This was painful to watch. Pacing is part of communication.

6. He had difficulty engaging with his audience, this skill is called rapport and is a major part of communication.

7. He lacked substance and did not tailor his material toward the industry he was speaking with and claimed his material would transform their specific industry culture. He provided no evidence of how or evidence of where he transformed a culture with this method before. He only gave examples on how to apply his concept to increase sales.

He knows a lot about sales because when I met him he was a sales professional five years ago. And by the way this was not a sales conference, it was a safety conference.

8. He put me on the spot by introducing me as a friend instead of as a professional colleague or acquaintance with a certain expertise. He asked me if he always walks his talk. I stated to the audience I need to be ethical and be honest. I said most of the time yet we are all human and are subject to human error. The audience actually for the first time started to laugh. Life did exist in this audience. Ridiculous-Ramon then grew defensive and illustrated that defense with his audience.

9. After the audience exited the room, Ridiculous-Ramon said to me “that was a tough audience, I could not get them engaged.” I replied “I noticed and least you did too something for you to think about” and I exited.

In conclusion, both speakers I learned something from. When I think about Credible-Chris he is an expert I would like to develop a professional relationship with. When I think of Ridiculous-Ramon, I smile, giggle out loud for a moment and Remember to Be Humble.

Genuinely,

Christine

Author: Christine M. West, TheBusinessMD, 2240 E. Tudor Rd. #976, Anchorage, Alaska, USA 99507. Phone 1-907-223-8403. Email: info@thebusinessmd.net, http://www.businessmd.net/ http://thebusinessmd.blogspot.com/ Christine West is an industrial organizational psychology practitioner and is in private practice as TheBusinessMD which helps organizations and individuals overcome fear and explore the power of change. Ms. West is also a Featured Columnist for the National Networker http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/

For more information, please visit Christine's TNNW Bio.

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GO WEST !!! Remember to be Humble

BEYOND NETWORKING: ONE + ONE + ONE + ONE = SUCCESS

Beyond Networking with Ron Sukenick

Have you ever been DISC=ed? The DISC Personality Profile is an indispensable tool for my work as business adviser and personal coach. One interesting thing I found out while studying under Dr. Robert Rohm is that most of the world's major corporations use the DISC to form effective teams. In today's fast-paced, global business environment, that's how most of the work gets done - it's assigned to project teams.

Teams, of course, are made up of people, individuals with unique personalities and behavior styles. It's obvious that team members must be able to get along and communicate effectively with one another, with other teams, and with management. But corporate leaders know teamwork goes well beyond just getting along and communicating results. They know that having different personality styles represented on one team is the secret to competitive performance. That secret lies in the synergy of different perspectives and different talents being brought to bear to solve problems and arrive at innovative business solutions. Synergy means that the whole adds up to more than the sum of the parts. Synergy is the magic that happens when teamwork really works!

Now, some of the businesses for whom I'm the adviser are so small, they don't have all four DISC personality types on their company team. That's exactly where going Beyond Networking helps. Those very small businesses create their magic by connecting with other business owners. (Remember, we're not talking about exchanging leads and referrals a' la traditional networking; we're about going beyond that to Connection.)

Ron Sukenick
Business Advisor / Relationship Strategist / Author / Connector
rs@ronsukenick.com
www.ronsukenick.com
317-216-8210
Check out my Radio Podcast’s
http://www.smallbizamerica.com/beyond

Let's get connected on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ron-sukenick/0/226/20a

“Certified Human Behavior Consultant”

For more information, please visit Ron's TNNW Bio.

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BEYOND NETWORKING: ONE + ONE + ONE + ONE = SUCCESS

WRITE TO EXCITE: Male or Female – Which is Superior?

Write to Excite with Peter Biadasz

In the past 2 months we have discussed your talent and your passion. This month I am going to actually give you something to write about. This column is called “Write to Excite”, and nothing can excite passion more than controversy. However, as a writer there is a right and wrong way to approach sensitive subjects.

No matter what you write, the first step is to research the subject. On any topic you can take a logical or an emotional approach in your presentation. However, the more thorough your research, the more information you have to work with to better your work. Research the topic by going to the internet, read the appropriate books and magazines, and interview those who are most knowledgeable and/or opinionated about the topic on which you are writing.

The next step is to decide which target audience or audiences you are writing too. In the topic noted in the title, Male or Female – Which is Superior? , you will obviously write a different book/article/poem/etc. targeted to men that you would to woman. A different approach would also be taken when writing to couples versus recently divorced people. Hopefully, you will take a different approach when writing the piece for the significant other in your life.

Then decide your approach to the piece; will it be serious or satire? ; will it be a tear jerker or comedy? ; will it inform or incite? ; these questions, and others, must be answered before you start writing the piece. Also, decide how long you want the piece to be and establish a timeline for completion. We writers seem to work better with a deadline.

So now I ask you - Male or Female – Which is Superior? Perform your research, decide who your target audience is, understand the type of piece you want to write, decide on your approach, commit to a deadline….and do it!!!

After you write the piece, if you like, let me know your opinion - Male or Female – Which is Superior?

Always write to excite!

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, as well as the newly released Write Your First Book, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To contact Peter about publishing or marketing your book feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

For more information, please visit Peter's TNNW Bio.

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WRITE TO EXCITE: Male or Female – Which is Superior?

MAKING IT WORK: An interview with The Westchester Business Connection

Making it Work with Bruce Newman

I recently attended a very unique networking event that was run by The Westchester Business Connection. Complete with plentiful (and very good) food and beverages (wine and soft drinks), this pure networking event possessed an energy uncommon to most of the networking events I have attended. Admittedly intrigued by the organization, the following week I interviewed Joseph Corbalis, The Westchester Business Connection co-founder.

Thank you for the interview. How long has The Westchester Business Connection been in existence?

Almost exactly one year. We held our first event on September 18th in Yonkers.

How many people attended?

We had 27 attendees. Now, we usually get between 60-80 people at each event.

How often do you hold events?

It varies from month to month. Usually, we hold 2-4 events per month. We’re approaching weekly events.

All of the events are held at night and are reasonably priced (i.e. inexpensive). They usually offer substantial quantities of very good food and beverage.

How many members do you have?

It’s really hard to say. Because we don’t have any membership dues, people can just show up at whichever events they decide to attend.

One of the really exciting aspects of each event is the number of new or occasional attendees who participate. We do have a core group of networkers who attend almost every event, but that usually constitutes a small percentage of attendees. I personally try to help the networking activities of new attendees by connecting them to attending members with whom they might have something in common.

Do you work closely with your co-founders?

Yes. We communicate frequently on all events, promotions and key issues. Grace Borrani and Jaime Garry are wonderful partners.

There are many Westchester-based networking groups already in existence. Why did you decide to create yet another networking organization?

I used to attend many networking events, some more successful than others. I used to attend many networking events, some more successful than others. I learned much from them and incorporated this knowledge into a new type of networking event that comprised high energy, many new people and plentiful, tasty food and beverages. In these economic times, people are discovering or rediscovering networking and the importance of connecting on a social basis – which is our niche.

We have grown rapidly in our first year of existence because:
• we make an effort to have new people meet existing members
• we have a high energy atmosphere. Our events usually last about two hours with a strong emphasis on networking and socializing.
• our events are affordable. Members pay only for the events they attend. There are no membership fees.
• in addition to our website, we use social media - Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to reach our members.
• our members help promote the organization.

How do you generate income if you don’t charge a membership fee?

Admittedly, membership fees would generate a steady income stream for us. However, requiring such fees would have retarded our rapid growth and adversely affect the number and type of people who attend our events. For one thing, we would end up with a high percentage of members who attend events and a low percentage of new members – just the opposite of what we have now. Undoubtedly, it would also have affected the high level of energy and interaction between our attendees.

We do generate money from several sources including fund raising and advertising on our website.

As we continue to grow, we plan on closely examining many additional revenue sources.

Can you please elaborate on how you use social media?

Each platform has its own strength.

We use Facebook for several purposes:
1. to share everything about us – who we are is important
2. as a fan page that allows us to post our events and those of our members
3. let people promote what they do
4. share photographs from our events with our participants and fans.

We use Twitter to:
1. tweet some positive quotes or messages
2. announce upcoming events
3. to meet certain networked/influential people who are local

We have been using LinkedIn for 4-5 months.
1. We have a LinkedIn group and 10 subgroups, some of which are quite active
2. We promote upcoming events
3. We provide our participants with news articles from a wide variety of career fields

Our key approach is to stay visible. If we disappeared for two months, we would lose all of our momentum and find it very difficult to recover. Instead, we use social media to remain in front of our members and to attract new ones. When one event ends, we post pictures and comments on Facebook of that event and begin to promote the next event. There’s no downtime – and that’s the key; channeling the energy and enthusiasm of people to produce effective social interactions and generate new business and relationships.

Particularly since your organization is so new, do you ever have “issues” with existing networking groups?

No. We believe that there is room for all types of networking groups. I personally belong to a BNI group and substitute for about 10 other groups. Both of my co-founders are also long-time BNI members and each participates in other networking groups and events on their own. We believe in networking in general - not just because we run this organization. In fact, I am currently working with several BNI and chamber groups and plan on working with more groups in the near future. Since we can help each other grow and be successful, why shouldn’t we work together?

What are your plans for the future?

Phase one was the building of the organization and the creation of regular events. We’re probably towards the end of this phase. Phase two will involve expanding the geographic range of our organization to expand into the surrounding areas: the five boroughs, Rockland county and northern New Jersey. Furthermore, our significant number of members and events makes us attractive partners to existing organizations and groups looking to enhance their networking opportunities.

Based on the success of our first year and value platform, we look forward to continued growth and success.

Joseph Corbalis can be reached at team@wbconnection.com . The Westchester Business Connection can be found at: http://www.wbconnection.com// . Links to their social media pages are available from their website as are a list of all their scheduled events.


Bruce Newman, an expert on consulting, is the Vice President at The Productivity Institute, LLC and a columnist for The National Networker. Since 1999, The Productivity Institute (PI) has helped clients improve their productivity and income by providing rated outstanding consultants and client-centered solutions. It also provides social media training and strategies that boost productivity and buzz. We also wax cars (sometimes). Subscribe to our informative and free newsletter (circ 7,500+) and read our blog. Bruce can be contacted at: bnewman@prodinst.com.


For more information, please visit Bruce's TNNW Bio.


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MAKING IT WORK: An interview with The Westchester Business Connection

KARL SMITH: Launch Your Own Networking Group

by Karl Smith

I had the most wonderful opportunity this month to address "Avontuur Networking Group" located in the Winelands of the beautiful Western Cape - South Africa. The owner, Zunia, told me that it was their largest gathering to date. She learned about me through one of her contacts. When I left I realized that I had conducted one of the most satisfying "Leverage the Power of Business Networking" presentations to date. The attendees were hungry to learn, they drank the sincere approach to making connections and building business relationships. As I believe in authenticity I normally refer to all aspects of the business and personal life’s of my audiences. “Networking” is not something you decide to do – you live the life, you are “caring” and “giving’ in all areas of your life and that’s the secret to building business relationships and your business.

When the last person left, I asked Zunia how the group started. She told me that they started with 8 people a few years ago and that she never had to market her restaurant. Zunia oozed with energy, a spirit of giving and a desire to help others. I have observed similar qualities in chatting to other successful business network owners. Additionally, I have observed similar attributes among coordinators of professional networking groups hosted by people in the accountancy profession for over 5 years. So I asked myself the question. What does it take to start and maintain a successful networking group? A group is a like an organism, it must be nurtured, cared for and looked after.

Starting a business networking group takes time, money, and a lot of effort, but the potential rewards can be staggering. Having your own business networking group is a great way for you and your business associates to meet new people, meet new customers and share the invaluable experience you have obtained from your efforts. You may be a business just starting out, or you may be a well established company looking to share your expertise in your field.

Here are 7 things to remember when launching your own networking group:

You must have a passion to help others. Every session is an event and it must be done professionally: co-ordination, invitations, finding speakers etc. Its hard work!

Understand whether your new group conflicts with another. People are more willing to support networking groups that offer something new. Develop an interesting model that other networking groups aren't using and you'll create repeat visitors to your events.

Decide early what your mission and strategy is for the first year. Being able to succinctly tell people why you're doing what you're doing can make the difference between having 10 repeat visitors or over 100. Understand why you're creating this new networking group by crafting a winning mission statement and strategies for the upcoming year. What the basis is for this networking group, what it can offer my business as well as my associates, and how much it will cost

Ensure that you build a solid “board”. You can't do this alone, so enlist the help of volunteers who share your vision. They can help you to shape the direction of your new group, and help to broaden its purpose and goal, not to mention help out on the costs.

Draft standard guidelines joining, membership benefits, requirements, payments, if any, etc. These guidelines will help you to govern your group so that it runs more smoothly

Plan your year's events before you launch your group. Nothing will irritate new members more than to attend a launch for your new networking group with no other events planned for the rest of the year. Figure out the appropriate meeting time and meeting place and try to stick to that model throughout the year. Being consistent is vital for any business networking group, as well as being professional and being well organized. If possible, make it the same time each month eg. the third Thursday or the first Monday. That way, people can plan ahead.

Lastly, I believe in getting feedback in everything I offer to others. Your group will grow and their realities and needs will change. So be open to formal and informal feedback.


Karl Smith is the author of “Beyond The Business Handshake: Dare To Build High-Trust Business Relationship”, South Africa’s Business Networking & Referral Coach, and the owner of Business Networking South Africa.

Visit ww.businessnetworkingsouthafrica.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. Karl acknowledge the expert advice of other commentators in drafting this article.

For more information, please visit Karl's TNNW Bio.

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KARL SMITH: Launch Your Own Networking Group

CONNECTING IS NOT ENOUGH: When Week is Strong

Connecting Is Not Enough with Andy Lopata

How often do you interact personally with your customers? Whether it’s working directly with them, speaking to them on the phone, visiting their offices. If you’re not in regular direct contact there’s a good chance it’s impacting on your ability to either upsell to them or to inspire them to refer you.

A couple of weeks ago I Chaired The Retail Conference in London. One of the speakers was Hamish Paton, the Commercial Director of Brighthouse Stores.

Despite having a presence across the UK, Brighthouse may not be a name you recognise. You won’t find a Brighthouse in the main shopping centres or streets of any of our major cities. Instead, their stores are situated in the suburbs, within three miles and easy access of their main customer base.

Location genuinely is vital for Brighthouse, because their customers need to visit them every week. In a business model more common to the US than the UK, Brighthouse customers purchase products and pay for them on a weekly basis over a period of time, normally three years, without the need for credit checks.

With the theme of the Conference being responsiveness and adaptability, it was no surprise when one of the questions directed at Hamish after his presentation was whether Brighthouse had considered changing their model with the times, bringing in monthly payment by Direct Debit or internet purchase.

Russell’s response was very interesting. Brighthouse had considered such moves but had dismissed them for two reasons.

The first is that the Direct Debit/Monthly payment market is very different and one where Brighthouse don’t necessarily understand the customers and their needs as well as they do their established market. They currently service a much needed niche and feel that it is better to build on their expertise than try to dilute it through diversification.

Secondly, Hamish sees tremendous value in the weekly connection with their customers.

“Our staff are counselors”, Hamish told the Conference. “They get to know their customers well and if someone misses a payment, the first thing they will do is work with them to get them back on track.

“If someone doesn’t turn up one week we will call them to find out what the problem is and see how they can be helped. That personal relationship is absolutely vital and we wouldn’t be able to provide the same service, or enjoy the same interaction, if people paid automatically through Direct Debit.”

After Hamish’s response, I asked him how much of Brighthouse’s business comes through up selling to existing customers. The answer was an astonishing 80%, a particularly impressive statistic when you consider that Brighthouse advertise on prime time television, including a sponsor slot on the Australian soap opera Home and Away.

Equally revealing was Hamish’s response to my next question. Despite their advertising strategy, 40% of Brighthouse’s new business comes through referral from existing customers.

With retail having a very transactional business model, many retailers will be much less dependent on direct referrals from customers than other industries. I asked the audience how many of them could boast a similar or greater rate of referrals from the existing customer base. Not one person raised their hand.

Yet Brighthouse have a strong focus on winning those referrals, and the opportunity to both ask their customers and remind them of the request. They operate an incentive scheme which rewards both the customer making the referral and the new customer signing up with them. That incentive scheme is featured on in-store promotions and in the pack that new customers receive, but it is the weekly meetings that make the difference.

“When customers make their payment each week, our team take the time and speak to them,” Hamish said. “We try to engage them as much as possible; we call it ‘till talk’. We train our staff to have a conversation with our customers rather than just process a transaction.

“One of the really unusual things about our business is that the customers and staff know each other by first name and greet each other outside the shop as well. We have a coffee machine in store and sometimes people just come in for a chat.

“Our staff are genuinely members of the local community, and there are very few places on the high street where you can walk in and expect people to know your name.”

The growth of internet solutions, remote banking and autoresponders has moved businesses away from our customers in recent years. We increasingly find ways to provide solutions without the personal touch. While there are very strong commercial arguments for developing such a strategy, are we in danger of losing the personal touch?

Surely the less we see and speak to our clients the weaker the bond between us becomes. That can impact a business not just in terms of reduced customer loyalty and the ability to sell more to them, but it also reduces the opportunity to ask them to refer us to others. Among the conversations Brighthouse staff have with their customers, they will regularly remind them of their referral incentive scheme and ask for their help.

It’s the relationship that makes that possible, and for Brighthouse that’s built through weekly contact with their customers. How many of us can say the same?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you struggling to put an effective networking or referral strategy into place? Do you want to know more about how to ensure you get the maximum possible return from your networking?
Andy's new Audio programme 'Networking in Ninety Minutes' will give you the tools you need to make the most from your networking. Available in CD or mp3 format here.
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CONNECTING IS NOT ENOUGH: When Week is Strong

BEING THERE WHEN IT COUNTS: I don't want to be bothered

Being There When It Counts with Rick Itzkowich

A friend of mine is part of a new company that is launching a very innovative fitness facility for kids. They have a wonderful concept that is very unique and different and should do well in the current economic environment.

The company’s marketing director has a very successful resume; yet, has been slow to embrace using social networking as a way to market the company. So my friend asked me to meet with both of them to explain the value of social networking.

The marketing director is a very bright, intelligent and delightful woman in her early 40s. However, once the conversation turned into social networking, it’s as if a switched turned off. She became extremely guarded and defensive. When I was explaining how social networking allows you to build your reach quickly and inexpensively, her quick response was, “Yes, you can have all of these people in your network, but they’re all shallow, and there’s really no relationship there.” The fact that she had no evidence to support her statement didn’t stop her.

She continued to tell me that she didn’t want to be bothered with all kinds of emails and requests from those SN people. Plus, both she and her husband had recently read where there were all kinds of privacy issues. And on and on.

After listening to all of the reasons why social networking was a total waste from a marketing standpoint, I got it. She didn’t want to be bothered. However, what she didn’t want to be bothered with were not the actual issues she brought up. The issues she had mentioned can be dealt with rather easily. What she didn’t want to be bothered with was with having to learn something new. She didn’t want to be bothered with challenging the ‘same old, same old’ way of thinking. She didn’t want to be bothered with the fact that companies and businesses no longer control conversations with customers. She didn’t want to be bothered with CHANGE.

Unfortunately, I find this woman’s perspective is more the norm, than the exception. When I talk to people about QuoteActions - a system for staying in touch with people by sending inspirational messages and corresponding actions to bring them to life, many respond the same way. "I don’t want to bother people with another email." I find it fascinating that they focus on a potential effect and exclude all the possibilities.

The fact is -- our fears of bothering others or being bothered ourselves are driving a lot of our actions. We’ve become so overwhelmed with information, requests, opportunities, and life in general, that more and more we’re dealing with it by not wanting to be bothered. With this mindset, we will forgo the chance of being delighted ourselves as well as delighting others. We will create safe (boring) products, have safe interactions and live life in a very limited fashion. I get daily messages from people who receive my QuoteActions as well as others who use them with their clients, telling me how delighted and thankful they are to receive them.

In conclusion, if you focus on those who don’t want to be bothered, you will also lose those who would be delighted. That’s a much bigger price to pay in my book.

This Month's QuoteAction is by Walter Anderson, Newspaper Editor

"Our lives improve only when we take chances - and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves."

Your action for this month is to look at something that is not working in your life and make a change.

Enjoy an Extraordinary Month!

Click *here* to find out more about QuoteActions and some of the other innovative products and services offered by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER.

As the creator of the QuoteActions, a unique relationship building system, Rick Itzkowich finds his articles, podcasts and blog messages regarding keeping your brand "top of mind" in high demand. His latest eBook, Social Networking for Business Profits, uses cost-effective follow up strategies. Rick is also the Co-founder and Vice President of Productive Learning & Leisure, a personal development training company for corporations and individuals. Rick can be reached at rick@productivelearning.com.

For more about Rick Itzkowich, please click here.



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BEING THERE WHEN IT COUNTS: I don't want to be bothered

ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN: "Your Life Purpose is in Your Hands -- Literally!"

Especially for Women with Ann B. Sloan

Introducing: Baeth Davis, President

The Hand Analyst, Inc. (TM)

"Palm Pilot for the SOUL of Your BUSINESS™"

“Is it time you got PAID for YOUR PASSIONS?”

How Baeth and I first connected: The Cycle of Reconnections

It amazes me – yes, this time also, again – how many of my women connections originate in some way from one specific (no longer existing) women’s networking organization: N.E.W. Entrepreneurs founded years ago by Christine Kloser in the Los Angeles area. Though Christine disbanded it and moved on to other pursuits long since, N.E.W. in some ways remains a “gift that keeps on giving”! (You’ll find a link to my TNNW interview with Christine at end of this article.)

Can we draw a conclusion here? Create an aphorism? Try something like this:

“Old networks never die – they’re just scattered like seeds...”

So ─ what’s Ali Brown got to do with it?

Here’s the chain of connections that led me to Baeth Davis a couple of months ago. Back story: It was at an early N.E.W. Entrepreneurs dinner meeting (2004?) that I met Ali (Alexandria) Brown – who at that time was marketing herself as “The Ezine Queen”. Ali’s entire product line at that time consisted of a three-ring binder: a detailed manual on how to market yourself via your own e-zine.

I signed up for The Ezine Queen’s e-mail newsletter list right away – and as the years (amazingly few years!) progressed, I was astounded to observe Ali’s rise to fame and fortune. From the one Ezine binder, she rapidly escalated to larger and more expensive programs and events, intensive coaching programs, etc. ─ and yes, she long ago dropped the title of Ezine Queen.

Today, Fall 2009, she has and is a huge enterprise: she even has her own magazine (also named Ali, of course.). Her company, http://www.alibrown.com , has shown tremendous growth over the past four years, taking her business from the low six-figures into the multimillions in revenues. In fact, her company is now recognized by Inc. 500 as being one of the fastest growing companies in the nation – recently ranked #263.

Enter – the Hand Analyst!

Baeth Davis’ name first came to my awareness via Ali’s Newsletters. Ali was enthusiastically recounting what a gigantic boost Baeth’s hand analysis reading had contributed to her (Ali’s) already notable personal and business success.

As I’m quite curious, I wanted to learn more about Baeth and her Hand Analyst teachings ─ so of course I had to sign up for her Newsletter too. And here’s what I found out: It turns out Baeth is one of Ali's closest friends – and she credits Ali’s teachings as major contribution to her own company’s tremendous growth. Baeth explains: “I met Ali Brown in 2005, making $60,000/year. This year, my company will clear well over 1.5 million. YES. It's true. And I don't have a huge list, either! “

I'm so inspired when I see such mutual mentoring between two women who contribute their own unique talents to each other’s success. But now, I aim to turn the spotlight on Baeth full force.

Who is Baeth Davis and what is she all about?

The www.handanalyst.com web site describes her as follows:

Baeth Davis, "The Hand Analyst," is a professional hand analyst specializing in non-predictive palmistry. She helps female entrepreneurs, small business owners and women experiencing major life transitions to discover the calling of their souls and create practical, pragmatic business plans to make their unique life purposes both meaningful AND profitable.

The key information to your business success, quite literally, rests in the palms of your hands. Baeth reads your palms, translating the "life map" there so you can navigate your life successfully. She transforms knowledge into wisdom and inspires you with flames of passion for the unique life that is 100% yours!

What’s available on the Hand Analyst web site?

Here’s the first menu option that drew my attention:

“What is Hand Analysis?”

-- Palmistry as a form of divination emerged in India over 5,000 years ago

-- Hand analysis is a combination of ancient palmistry, the latest scientific data and

current advances in human psychology and philosophy

-- Hand analysis is NOT predictive (I can't tell you how many children you're going

to have or when you're going to meet that tall, dark stranger.)

-- Hand analysis is a repeatable system, based upon thousands of hands studied

-- Hand analysis can be learned, like learning to read or play a musical instrument

-- Hand analysis does not require psychic ability.

Baeth explains what she actually does:

By looking at the lines on your palms, I can determine where you are experiencing both success and resistance in relationship to your Life Purpose and Life Lesson right now. Everything on your palms is decoded in terms of now ─ rather than the past or future.

If you find this information intriguing, there’s more available on the “What is Hand Analysis” page. You’ll also find a number of glowing testimonials from clients who’ve had their hand analyzed. And if you’re fascinated by famous folk, you’ll find plenty to read about on the “Celebrity Clients” page.

Other notable Hand Analyst menu options

"I want my hands read!"

This page presents procedures for getting a hand reading. Tell you a secret: Baeth does it by phone! How? It’s all explained step by here…

“Online Store”

Here you can purchase Baeth's Home-Study Course:

"How To Read Your Own Hands:

5 Proven Steps To Bring More

Health, Love and Money Into Your Life"

“Life Purpose Vision Mentoring Programs”

This actually refers to a “VIP Coaching Day” with Baeth”: i.e.

…one full day focused on making your business an expression of your unique Life Purpose.”

But you are quickly forewarned: “Space is limited to 9 VIP Days per year”.

And now, let’s move to our conversation with Baeth Davis: the "Palm Pilot for the SOUL of Your Business”:

Our Interview

How would you briefly describe what you do, Baeth ─ your elevator speech, your tag line?

“I help enlightened, spirit-rich™ entrepreneurs discover their Life Purposes and get paid for their passions so they can BE the change they want to see in the world.”

What makes you and your company unique? What is the so-called Unique Value Proposition (UVP) of your service?

“From a few minutes of looking at your hand prints and fingerprints, I can identify your specific Life Purpose, business niche, Life Lesson, unique gifts and more. With this information, I am able to help you determine your business direction and make a profitable, spiritual blueprint for your success.”

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

“My mission is to help one million people worldwide in the next five years to discover, know and live their Life Purposes. My personal passion is to inspire flames of passion within people so they live the life of their dreams.”

“One million? In five years? That’s HUGE, Baeth!” I laugh.

Now, would you describe how you got started in all this, and how you arrived where you are currently?

“I was working in marketing but not making much headway. I was also having a spiritual crisis of meaning and wondering what the point of this life was. I finally surrendered to the Universe and prayed, ‘If you show me my Life's Purpose, I will forever be your humble servant.’

Two weeks later, hand analysis entered my life. Through this means I discovered my Life Purpose is to be a spiritual mentor to entrepreneurs. Technically, from my own hand prints, you could call my Life Purpose the ‘Successful Spiritual Teacher and Business Woman with an Inspirational Message for a Large Audience.’"

I laugh. Was it really this specific? I ask.

“Yes, it was that specific, that explicit!” Baeth smiles back.

Was there a time of breakthrough, a turning point when you chose to change your course? Any specific quantum leaps?

“Oh yeah! First quantum leap was discovering metaphysics and psychology in college at age 18. Freud, Jung and astrology rocked my world.

Second quantum leap was 11 years ago, when I discovered hand analysis and my Life Purpose.

Third quantum leap was finding and marrying my husband, Mark.

Fourth quantum leap was discovering online marketing 4 years ago, allowing me to grow my business from $60,000/year to over a million a year!”

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

“I'm preparing for our next Life Purpose Spiritual Summit, June 10-13, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. We had our last summit in Las Vegas this past June and the outcomes people received were truly transformational. I've never seen so many people connected to their Life Purpose in one room at the same time!

I'm also getting ready to launch six new web sites that connect my speaking, training and coaching work with an online store and online university.”

I laugh. I must repeat myself and say: “That’s HUGE!” But then I proceed: How much of your work is focused specifically toward women?

“I market entirely to women, since they seem to resonate with my message at a ratio of 95% women, 5% men. The men find me anyway, usually through wives, sisters, girlfriends, nieces, co-workers, etc.

HOWEVER, the truth is, even though I market to women, most men want to know and live their Life Purpose and be paid for their passions, too!”

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

“Through my weekly ezine, ‘It's In Your Hands’, available for free at www.HandAnalyst.com . Also through joint ventures with other entrepreneurs, tele-classes, advertising, press releases, and radio and TV interviews.”

Whom does your network currently include? What is the size of your outreach?)

“I currently have a list of nearly 8,000 subscribers and another 5000 folks on Twitter and Facebook. We have about 2700 names in our direct mail mailing list.”

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

“The best thing about a network is that it makes having a business possible. The most valuable asset any business has is their client/customer list. The MOST valuable!

Networks also allow for resource sharing: ideas, vendors, funding, list building. The benefits are many. First of all, I am deeply grateful for the loyalty and readership of my subscribers. They are always reaching out to us with thank you notes, suggestions, feedback and referrals. Secondly, it's fun to feel a part of a tribe.”

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

“I’ve learned: Always put EVERYTHING in writing. Hold people to their contracts. I see many women entrepreneurs get into hot water if they don't make sure their clients pay on time. Also, it's vital to deliver everything you promise in a timely manner. This isn't always possible, but it's something to strive for.”

Bottom line – What do you feel is really working well for you, your company?

“I'm doing what I love to do and have structured my business to reflect the activities I love doing: writing, reading, speaking, teaching and coaching. I delegate as much of the rest as I humanly can. It's a joyous journey. I'll be speaking in San Francisco this fall and I'm quite excited about that. I love to travel and speak.”

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 other(s)?

“We send thank you notes to everyone after a hand analysis session as well as birthday cards to all of our clients. We periodically hold free gift tele-classes and offer specials and bonuses to our most loyal clients. Our most important vehicle is the newsletter ─ hands down the BEST!”

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

“Seeing my daughter, Julia, enter senior year in high school. She's pursuing a career as a fine artist. My husband, Mark, joined our business full time last summer. Being able to work with him every day is a dream come true.”

What are your plans and goals for the future ─ organizational, personal ─ especially regarding networking activities?

“I do most of my networking at live events. My attendance at live events has led to most, if not all, of my speaking engagements. I've also learned how to hold live events and sell from the stage by attending events with content that could help me grow my business.”

Any other point you’d like to emphasize at this time?

“Now is one of the greatest times in history to be alive. All the world's knowledge is available to us. If you want to experience abundance, it's vital to share your gifts with the world, while nurturing yourself and investing in yourself. The more a woman can invest in herself (without going into excessive debt) the more her business can grow as an expression of her greatest self.”

In conclusion, Baeth, anything you’d like to add ─ some words of encouragement, inspiration for our readers?

“I think it's vital to know and live your Life Purpose. What could be more important? I don't think anything is more important than fulfilling what you came to Earth to do. Anything else, in my opinion, is just drama ─ a distraction from one's greatness.”

Distraction from one’s greatness… So true!

“Yes! Most financial, physical and spiritual crises are brought on by ignoring our intuition and the call of our purpose in favor of social approval, familial approval, or just plain low self-worth. It takes GREAT courage to stand up and be true to one's self. But the rewards? Immeasurable!”

What a great principle to end on! Thanks so much, Baeth, for sharing your unique perspective and extraordinary ─ yet extraordinarily practical ─ skills with us.

# # #

Link to Ann Sloan’s TNNW interview with Christine Kloser:

http://thenationalnetworker.blogspot.com/2008/09/freedom-formula.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baeth Davis ─ Contact information

Web site: www.HandAnalyst.com

Be sure to get your $1 CD, "Money In Your Hands" at the web site!

Contact: Cindy Gallo, Business Manager, (877) 518-HAND

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ann Barczay Sloan, M.A.

Author & Editor / Creative Writing Coach

http://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/

For more information, please visit Ann's TNNW Bio.


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ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN: "Your Life Purpose is in Your Hands -- Literally!"

GET PUBLISHED NOW: Getting Published is Easy: 8 Things You Need to Know to Get Published

Get Published Now

with Beth Barany

Often people think that getting published is about getting noticed. But actually getting published is about relationships, relationship with yourself and with your readers. Lots of readers.

Did you know that a book is a dialog you have with yourself and your readers? An exchange. A meeting of minds. A conversation.

Answer these questions for your nonfiction message to uncover your relationships waiting to blossom.

Know What Your Book is About
What message are you passionate about bringing to the world?
List 5-12 points. Less than 5 and you may not have a book, but a guide, or series of articles. More than 12 points and you probably have more than one book.

Know Who Benefits From Your Book
Who can benefit from your message?
Be specific. Your audience isn’t everybody. Get real. Appealing to everybody is appealing to nobody. Sound familiar? List your audience’s demographics (age, salary, job title, residence, etc) and psychographics (attitudes, beliefs, likes, dislikes, etc.).

Know How Your Book Will Help Others
How will your book help your audience? How will your book benefit them?
List the results they will receive and/or the experience they will have from reading your book. Yes, be specific.

Know Yourself
How are you the right person to bring this message to your audience?
List your experiences, knowledge, know-how, and personality traits. Brag. This is the place.

Know How You’re Unique
How are your points and approach different from other authors and books out there?
Find this out by doing the research. Research your competitors and companion books. Some books will complement yours while other books will seem to compete. Operative word: seem. Know their unique selling points. Make your book different and find a way to stand out from the crowd.

Know Why You Want to Write and Publish this Book
What motivates you? What are you passionate about?
Describe the experience you want your reader to have. It’s probably what you want for yourself.

Know the Big Picture
How does this book fit into your personal and professional life?

Know Your Blind Spots
What stops you from moving forward on getting your book done and out into the world?
Clarify your weaknesses and get support. Get educated. Get writing.


For more information, please visit Beth's TNNW Bio.

Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free - Click HERE.
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GET PUBLISHED NOW: Getting Published is Easy: 8 Things You Need to Know to Get Published