by Penny Ng, BACKTALKTM Producer
NEW: At the bottom of every TNNW article, we feature a COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE button. Click on it! We want your opinion on every article and author. Push our buttons. Spark us. Inspire us. Interact with us. We love hearing from you!
NEWER: At the bottom of every article you will now also find a multi-purpose comprehensive social media button which will permit you to forward, email, rate and share articles with all of your colleagues on all of your social media. Forward. Share. Never miss an opportunity to get you name in front of your colleagues, clients and prospective clients -- and you can do this without selling and without spamming!
Sometimes the keys to successful commerce are 1) keeping in touch through regular, enjoyable contact (so that you'll always be on the recipient's mind), and 2) simply being there when it counts. When your client needs what you have to offer, he will give you FIRST PRIORITY. This new button gives you the power to mass communicate and announce your availability and brand. Samples of both buttons follow, but first...
Be a part of our growing GICBC -- our GLOBAL INTERNETWORKED COOPERATIVE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
Look at these fancy buttons!
Here are some of your comments on our recent articles published in the TNNW Weekly Newsletter, the Blue Tuesday Report, and our other infomedia, publications and special bulletins:
BLUE THING #3: Amazing New Facts and Statistics
Interesting Facts About Carillons
"This article is nicely done, but a few of the "facts" are false.
1) The set of 8 bells shipped from England to Boston in 1745 did not constitute a carillon, but a ring (bells hung for change ringing, not for tune playing). The first American carillon with a keyboard arrived from Belgium in 1883.
2) The GCNA did not "disqualify" anything in 2000, or at any other time. The GCNA simply ignores (for the most part) any electric action associated with any number of bells. While carillon-sized and chime-sized sets of bells with electric action are listed on the GCNA Website, that simply recognizes that some such instruments have been upgraded to traditional carillons."
Carl Scott Zimmerman, GCNA Webmaster
http://www.gcna.org
"[Adam - I'm afraid that Mr. Zimmerman has caught one of our writers by the....er....ah....clapper!]
The Carillon Clarification. (Sounds like a Robert Ludlum novel)
This is a wonderful, informative comment. I look forward to seeing it published in Backtalk! It should be heralded with great tintinabulation*. We are always looking for constructive criticism and correction from technical experts. This chap has caught one of our writers by the clapper.
The writer who failed to do thorough research must be humiliated and publicly punished in the Village Square (the peasants love brutal entertainment!), and the expert, Mr. Zimmerman, should be rewarded for having prevented the progressive promulgation of potentially pernicious prevarication.
Adam J. Kovitz - You might have just won yourself the No-Bell Peace Prize.
As for myself and the rest of us, perhaps we should be asking, "For whom doth the bell toll?"**
Ms. Ng -- I would respectfully insist that my comment (this very one) be published as a companion to Mr. Zimmerman's edifying clarification (to the colossal carillon confusion) in the next updating of Backtalk!"
Douglas Castle***
* With apologies to Edgar A. Poe
** With apologies to John Donne
*** With apologies to Quasimodo, and all of the readers of The National Networker Newsletter and The Blue Tuesday Report.
BETH BARANY: Get Published Now
3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Publish Your Book
"I disagree with the post, but I think that's sort of the point. It's supposed to make you think about whether a) your prose is ready, b) you DO want to work that hard promoting your work, and c) your idea is that unique after all.
It's a gut check, and that's all well and good. People who are dissuaded by it probably aren't ready to publish their book.
But there's another aspect here - one that a lot of podcast fiction authors are struggling with at the moment - maybe you don't have a business model to profit from your work yet. Connecting with Fans is all fine and good, but you've got to be able to provide them with the Reason to Buy half of the equation. And that means giving them something of value. If what you've got to offer is the story, and you give them the story in the CwF half of the equation, what's their RtB?"
Z. R.
"I think that a book can be a very powerful tool when shared. You don't know who is going to read or when - and you certainly don't know what reading your book could do for them. I know I have received so much value from different books - I would be sad had they not been available when 'I' needed the experience. If you are inspired ...I say share!"
L. R.
"I agree with you 100%. I think that most people publish their book before they have an established, successful track record in business. This oftentimes, only serves to tarnish their reputation, and puts them in the category of 'teachers teach because they can't do'. I feel like after someone has achieved better than average success in an industry, it might be time to consider publishing."
D. K.
"Sometimes I wonder about a book vs. a web site. Authors create a web site for the book, but I wonder if it may be more effective to see if you can gather audience interest then try to get it published -- even more stats for publishers. Thoughts?"
L. H.
"Thank you for your insights. As a published author I can agree to your reasons for not publishing for aspiring authors. I would also like to hear the reasons a writer should self-publish, a choice I made after writing my first non-fiction book. My experience included securing the interest of a literary agent and getting the attention of a publisher without an agent. My first book was published in 1998 and has been purchased by libraries, book stores and through back of the room sales. I'd like to hear your input further."
I. R.
"Actually, all Beth is saying is that there are reasons for not publishing...yet!
1. Make sure your grammar, style and substantiation is good enough to make a worthwhile read.
2. Do it for a reason other than money - it may be your passion and your reputation enhancement vehicle - it's hard work and unlikely to be a cash cow.
3. Do your research and make sure your story is sufficiently interesting - a smart, well-read market may have seen, heard or read it all before.
And there may be more. For me, I'm still struggling to devote the time to get the ideas focused and structured - must try harder, maybe next week...?"
R. M.
DOUGLAS CASTLE: Humanitus Maximus
MANIFESTATION? – NO. IT’S ACTUALLY “ATTAINMENT.”
"Dear Douglas:
You nailed it! Somewhat.
I've personally never been a fan of Dwayne Dyer. I always felt he offered nothing more than pop-culture psycho babble and feel-good palliatives which are then rehashed by a bunch of hapless academics and peddled as the ultimate panacea.
But, Genevieve Behrend’s thesis is as valid today as it was 89 years ago when she wrote the book. Each of her 5 principles is critical for an effective and productive cold-calling, prospecting campaign. Why, because they've stood the test of time. They actually work! Is it easy? Absolutely not. But, it does provide a framework for the entrepreneur to construct an approach to actually getting more business.
Embracing and working these principles requires change. Charles Darwin said it best 'It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.'
Thank you for an intelligent and insightful essay."
Gabriel Siegel
ADAM J. KOVITZ: A Note From the Chairman
Big Banking and the Loss of Relationship Capital
"This administration's socialist agenda continues to interfere and hurt our economy and especially the banking industry. Banks are a primary target that they'd love to run. They can make money. Yet, they take away profits previously earned on student loans because they can. There are continuing bank failures all over the country - smaller banks - not the Big Boys - close to 140 in '09 and 37 this year - so far. Yet, the media doesn't talk about that because it's not headline news.
If things continue on the path our government is taking us on, we won't have an economy worth discussing. When they begin to subpoena Verizon, ATT, John Deere. et al asking for internal emails and financial info because there's criticism of the healthcare costs associated bill passed - we're in bigger trouble than trying to evaluate lending practices. The relationship economy will be based on relationships with China and other major foreign debt holders. At the rate we're going, our national debt will be 90% of GDP in 2020. Is that a sustainable economy?"
R. P.
"First, my background: I was in banking for 14 years, out of it for 15 years and back in for 9 years before I got kicked to the curb by Chase. (I had been with Washington Mutual. Now I sell AFLAC and love it!) My entire time in banking was spent working with small to medium sized businesses. When I was out of banking I consulted to small businesses and financial institutions.
Adam, I don't think that banks are waging war against small business. Although I completely agree with your concept of diminishment of Relationship Capital. It's much of the reason I went into insurance instead of back into banking.
Whether they are large or small, banks recognize that business relationships are on average three times more profitable that personal banking relationships. However, developing a relationship with human beings at large banks is increasingly difficult. The big banks are often machines designed to sell, sell, sell to expand business ties to the bank. The more products you have with a bank the more inconvenient it s to move your relationship elsewhere.
There is so much emphasis on sales volume in banking that the people with whom you would logically have a relationship simply don't have time to give you. Instead of personal relationships, big banks have systems and products designed to make your banking more convenient. These products are generally automated, so little or no human intervention is required to make your experience positive. No human relationship interaction is encouraged by this paradigm of banking. A few banks even charge you for the privilege of speaking to one of their people. And people actually pay the fees!!!
I would recommend to any business owner to get to know the manager of the bank where they maintain their deposit accounts. Invest in one or two lunches per year to pick the brain of this person to see what's new that might benefit you and even to network. Bank managers get to know a lot of business owners. If the chemistry is good, that's a good place to bank. If the chemistry doesn't make you feel confident and comfortable, shop for a new bank - one where the manager makes you feel important.
One additional thought: today most banks don't allow their branch managers to have the authority to approve any kind of credit, so have realistic expectations in that regard. Keep your accounts, your income statement and your balance sheet all positive. It's good business and it will keep you in good stead with your bankers."
G. P.
"I have the honor of having a big bank as a client. Right now the perception is bad, but it's better than it was and it will keep getting better. Please take no offense to this. Being the best big bank right now is kinda' like being the skinniest kid at fat camp. However, over time order will come back. The consuming public is too in love with all the things that big banks can offer that small credit unions can't. Just because you see the story many times on the news doesn't mean that it's really that bad. ;)
The American public is the most forgiving group of people on this earth. During this liminal period we simply must maintain the best of breed position. Again, when order comes back - it will be the best seat in the house."
E. H.
"Great article! Thank you so much, Adam!"
L. M.
SIAN LINDEMANN: Lasting Impressions
Raiders of the “Lost Art”
"Sian,
Your posting is refreshing. You remind us all that, in the end, the difference between option 'A' and option 'B' may rest completely on having cared enough to say or do something that another person would appreciate.
I recently referred a client to a software company. A few days later a package arrived at my home. It was for my wife. A box of Godiva chocolates. The note read, "Your husband helped us gain a new client. We hope this helps you have a nice day, too."
Simple. Effective. Memorable. It wasn't the time it required, it was the thought-full-ness it reflected.
You're so right. A little thoughtfulness and the ability to say and do things that follow from that can make you feel the magic. Nice post.
Thank you."
Bill Doerr, CCO
SellMore Marketing
DR. IVAN MISNER: Network Like A Pro
Fishing for Referrals
"Dr. Misner hits the "nail on the head" again. I have personally experienced the exact things he talks about in the article. I'm constantly amazed as to how many "out of the blue" opportunities come my way soon after I've been passing referrals and opportunities to others.
I'm 100% convinced that the law of reciprocity is just as valid as the law of gravity."
Rick Itzkowich
Creator of QuoteActions
The National Networker Companies
Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:
No comments:
Post a Comment