IT ALL STARTS WITH US! "The Silent Screams of Consultants"

It All Starts With Us! with John A. Lee

All of us are consultants in a sense. We offer and apply our expertise to others in hopes of making a connection and receiving some form of compensation. This is the fundamental principal of networking. We have something to sell that someone else needs. Whether we call ourselves consultants, independent contractors, suppliers, vendors, or partners, we contract our services to another entity as a “non-employee” expert.

This is an important distinction as it tangibly defines the working relationship. A consultant is not an employee of his client even though the work may be vital and approach full-time levels. An employee has certain structures and rights that a consultant does not – steady paycheck at regular intervals, access to an HR department (or due process), protective labor laws, work environment and tools, and a platform for regular and steady open dialogue with the employer.

Further, the IRS applies a test that measures three areas – behavioral control, financial control, and the relationships of the parties - to define a contractor from an employee to ensure the engagement is not an attempt of the client to avoid payroll taxes.One key IRS point focuses on how the contractor is supervised. In general, the client has limited say in how, when, and where the contractor delivers the service. This creates a greater formality and distance between consultant and client. The consultant is never quite a full member of the family.

Breaching the formality (to close the distance) is a line in the sand that most consultants do not cross. On our side of the line, we offer and promise, and, repeat the mantra “no problem,” as our client asks for more. Yet, we are afraid to speak up for ourselves, our needs and expectations. We fear we are totally at the whim of our client.

The frustration of not openly communicating can grow to an unbearable point, yet the consultant will remain silent, fearful of damaging the relationship if he speaks up.

Over the years, I have talked to and listened to the frustrations of hundreds of consultants in my network - consultants that work in many industries and deliver many different services to their customers. Keep in mind most contractors love their work. There are not really complaining. They understand much of drama goes with the territory.

Also, keep in mind that no client engages a consultant with the intent to abuse, confuse, and flummox. Clients, at worst, recognize their need for specialized help but don’t know how to skillfully engage and manage the resource.

Having spent many years as an executive who hired consultants, I can see how my behavior may have caused some frustration. I didn’t always look out for my contractors and their needs the way I should have. I'd stick the invoice in the A/P "pay in 30 days" basket without a thought as to urgency. But I've seen the light! Consultants are special. With a little more thought, I could have easily made their engagement less frantic.

So, pressure builds and consultants vent to themselves with imaginary dialogues with their clients. Ever wonder what consultants wish they could say to their clients but don’t? Here are a few silent screams:

• Measure my fee by the value I provide. Don’t tell me my rates are too high or you’d love to use me but you think I’m too expensive. I’m running a business and I have to manage it like you manage yours. I have overhead, rent, equipment to purchase and maintain, expenses like healthcare premiums, and self-employment taxes. Plus, I use my profit to live on.

• Please pay me at the times we agreed upon. When you pay late, it can cause personal problems for me. I really can't wait 30 days or more after a project concludes for my payment.

• You are an absolute priority for me but sometimes I cannot be available as I attempt to be all things, to all people, at all times. Remember this when I agree with a smile in my voice to schedule our weekly call on Sunday evenings at 10:00 pm after you’ve put your kids to bed.

• Let’s define the scope of work you want me to do. I understand the need to be flexible, agile, and roll with the punches, but a direct relationship exists among scope, time, and fees. When you add to my workload I have to invest more time. Understand, I do want all of your business that I can manage, but I may have to charge more if I take on additional work.

• Let’s agree what success looks like for me . . . and for you. If we agree to expectations and goals, I will have a clear target to exceed.

• Know how to use me before you hire me. Be available to me. We’re in this together. Don’t engage me and fade away leaving me to wonder if I’ve disappointed you.

• Don’t be offended if I put our agreement in writing. While I believe in the strength and the integrity of the handshake, as time goes by, the detail of what each of us agreed to may fade.

• You’re asking me to reduce my profit? When you read my proposal you asked for a reduction in price but weren’t willing to reduce the scope of the project. Same work for less money. The profit margin is what I use to make my house payments, buy groceries for my family, gasoline, clothing, and pay college tuition.

• I’m in the service business, but I’m not a servant. I am as expert in my fields as you are in yours. Engage me for my expertise because you are convinced I have something you need.

• Have the courage say “No.” When I’m pitching your business and I get “buy” signs, I will show my eagerness to get started. I’ll float new ideas to you. Generate work product to show value. When you suddenly stop answering the phone, I feel used.

• Let me do the work you hired me to do. Empower me with your team. Don’t put me in a position where I have to defend my services to your team and fight for implementation or to be heard.

• Don’t hire me for my expertise and tell me why everything I propose won’t work. You wanted “fresh eyes” and my advantage is I’m not bogged down in the weeds of inertia. I’m not politically paralyzed. I can see the forest and the trees! At the same time!

• Don’t withhold information from me during an RFP. I’m a newcomer to your business and to really develop a strong proposal that will benefit you, I need your help. Don’t get so hung up on supposed “fair bidding practices” that you forget we are all bidding for the chance to make your business better. I can’t offer you the full impact of my expertise without specific and complete information. Information makes me strong. You want me strong. This isn’t a game. RFPs should never be about “I want to see what you come with.” Two weeks after you award me your business and I’m into the project, I’ll be a lot smarter. You’ll see me work my magic and be glad you hired me. Until that point, bury me with information to make my proposal stronger.

• Give me a shot at something small but tangible to start a relationship. If you have an incumbent supplier you like – good for you and good for them! I fully understand you’ve invested intellectual capital in that relationship and are hesitant to start over. And they must be doing something right. But, someday, you’ll want a fresh approach or your supplier may not have capacity or availability for something you need done. Invest in me for tomorrow and I’ll be waiting in the wings without need of a ramp-up.

• Understand my value as well as my price. Someone who will always say they can do it cheaper. Look beyond price to my reputation, to my satisfied clients, to my position in the industry. Factor your risk. Cheap is cheaper but seldom better.

• I’m in this business because I want to be. I believe in you and your business or I wouldn’t be pitching you. I’m defined, in part, by the status of the clients I serve. I’m proud to be working with you. I genuinely feel I can make a difference in your business and I will do anything to become indispensable to you. So, run to me. Open up to me. Embarrass me with your praise when I astound you. Because, together we can do amazing things.

Great business is based on relationships characterized by moments of inspiration and moments of despair. Relationship implies a personal as well as professional connection, emphasis on connection. It is important for both Contractor and Client to hear what’s spoken as well as to sense what’s not being said.

To thrive in a business juncture, we must develop a connection of trust, openness, and respect, understanding that as humans we often don’t say what we feel. Yet, it is this trait of feeling that differentiates us and makes us vibrant in the business world.

Feeling makes us care. Caring makes us passionate. Harness that energy and you can accomplish anything. Think of the power we could generate if each of us was open and truthful to each other as we leveraged our combined passions, because, need I remind you . . . it all starts with us!

Continued success,

John A. Lee, MA MBA
Laguna Beach, California

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


Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free - Click HERE.
The National Networker Companies
Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

IT ALL STARTS WITH US! "The Silent Screams of Consultants"

U.S., MID-ATLANTIC: Networking...Enhanced!

By Bruce Newman, U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bureau Chief

(New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC)

The power of networking can be greatly enhanced when combined with other forms of communication and woven into an effective business strategy. This point was confirmed during my recent conversation with David Gussin of 516Ads.com, an extremely positive and enthusiastic networker. David has combined networking and advertising to build a vibrant and rapidly growing advertising community network on Long Island. In this wide-ranging interview, he discussed how networking enhances advertising and how everyone benefits.

David, can you describe what you do?

We’re building an advertising community network - an incredible combination that incorporates three key elements: community, networking and Internet advertising. On the community side, it’s about “goodness” and speaking up. On the networking and advertising side, it’s about igniting business. This is a model that can be used in towns and counties throughout the country. It doesn’t work with just the computer alone. Business owners literally need to come together and interact with each other and we help facilitate these interactions.

Why?

There needs to be “warmth”. You can only do so much from a computer. Computers are an important part but they are only one part - networking is the other. You need to maintain a balance between the two. Besides communicating electronically, you must also speak with people on the phone and interact during events. Finding common ground greatly furthers relationship building. All of that helps maintain and enhance relationships.

Google generates huge revenue from its advertising. But imagine if it sponsored and promoted networking events? That would be amazing. It would provide a low-cost method of getting and igniting business.

Google makes much of its money through advertising revenue. Why would it care about networking?

Because advertising has changed. The days of just placing an ad are over. It’s expensive and ineffective. What if Google got people together, provided them with tools and gave them a means of communicating with each other? Now, you have a powerful advertising networking process.

A new search engine, YELP, does this. Yelp does the views and promotes its own networking night in New York City. It also gets high search engine rankings.

So, is what you do actually networking or advertising? How do you define networking?

I define networking as bringing people together. One of the best things you can do when you send out e-mails is to tell people about networking events. You are informing them about something they might find helpful. Including two or three tips in the e-mails greatly enhances the value. Good, positive, quality information about your company plus tidbits of information – that’s what people want.

Most people almost automatically press delete for emails. Try to never waste their time and give them quality information. If you want your email to be opened over and over again, mix information with it – something useful to your audience. Quality content is king.

I’ve always had a knack for saying a lot with very little, making things easy to remember. I own many websites with a 777____.com domain name. Why? Because it’s easy to remember. For example, 777clean.com and 777repairs.com. You know what they do just from their domain name – and you can remember it.

How often do you send out emails?

I send out an email every 2-3 days. I wait until I get enough quality information before I send it. When you send good news to the community, you get back more than you send. Give business excellent tools to promote themselves and spread goodness with it.

I define goodness as helping someone. An example of this is a walk for breast cancer. Goodness takes place all the time. People just need to be aware of it. And, it’s a win win situation. You’re helping business and spreading helping community causes.

Do you attend most of the events you list in your emails?

I try to attend as many events as possible. Speaking to people directly, encouraging people to speak with other people forms the basis for powerful relationship building. It is frequently because of these meetings that I find out about new events to publicize and what various businesses offer and require.

How long have you been doing this?

We started 516Ads.com July 20, 2007 with nothing but a logo on the site. We now have over 100 happy clients and thousands of people who open our emails and attend events. I’d have to say our advertising career started as a teenager. That’s when I created the now world famous Everything Bagel – TheEverythingBagel.com.

However, the accomplishment I’m most proud of is the LEARN program developed for the New York City public schools and has been used around the world. LEARN - Let’s End All Racism Now is about inspiring the future with an opposite to racism. Now that’s an advertising, marketing promotion program worth working on.

That’s quite an accomplishment. How effective has it been?

We’re talking racism here, so there’s lots of work to be done on this one. I’m not naïve, racism will always exist but I’m 100% certain that we could and should spread an opposite to it. It’s not always easy, but when you combine many of the key elements together: networking, advertising, events, goodness speaking up and constant communications, you can accomplish some pretty amazing results.

Is there anything else you wish to add?

People who network all need to hear the word: blog. A blog is one of the best ways to run your site efficiently and provide information. One reason for this is that it’s easy to update and modify without requiring web expertise. Also, search engines are more sensitive to changes. Email with a picture or logo can be copied and pasted directly onto the blog.

People should blog more. A good blog is an incredible tool. If necessary, you should pay someone to put something interesting for you on the blog every second week. Emails and newsletters that are just sent as email have a shelf life of one day. Then it’s over. Conversely, being on a blog provides a permanent foundation of articles for readers to reference and for search engines to pick up.

One of the things that attracted my attention to you was that you have a complete template for combining advertising and networking for any demographic area. Aren’t you afraid that people will just steal it?

No, I’ve never worried about that. We do many inventive activities to successfully combine networking and advertising and I’m always looking for new ones.

David Gussin can be reached at david@516ads.com


Do you have any major event announcements you would like to promote through The National Networker? If so, please notify me via email at bnewman@prodinst.com.


Bruce Newman, a consultant guru is the mid-Atlantic editor for The National Networker and the Vice President at The Productivity Institute, LLC. Finding consultants can be a very time consuming job and once you find one, how do you know how good they are? At The Productivity Institute, we do the work for you - at no cost to you! We find and constantly rate our consultants to ensure that their work remains outstanding. Sign up for our free newsletter and blog.


___________________________________________________________

Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newsletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free, continuous RSS feed (available either by traditional RSS or by direct email), go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com. You are also invited to click our buttons:


Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

U.S., MID-ATLANTIC: Networking...Enhanced!

U.S., MID-ATLANTIC: How To Follow-Up Networking Leads

By Bruce Newman, U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bureau Chief (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC)

Successful networking requires a systematic process. No longer is it sufficient to merely scribble a note on the back of a business card and - possibly - make a single follow-up phone call.

In this constantly evolving social and event-driven networking age, merely collecting business cards and contact names is at best limiting and at worst, time consuming and unproductive. All too often at networking events, people have taken my business card – sometimes even making notes on it, and never followed up. I have even told salespeople that I am interested in their product or service and still, not received a follow up phone call – something I find infuriating. Why go to the trouble and expense of getting my attention, only to then ignore my potential business or importance as a networking contact?

For networking to be successful, networkers must realize that the initial meeting or contact period is only the first part of the networking process. What is needed is a comprehensive and useful system in which networking leads are methodically processed.

This is the function of contact management and customer relationship management (CRM) software which allow you to effectively manage your contacts, appointments, tasks and meetings (among other things). This software is essential for excellent networkers. By entering your contact information into the system, you automatically create a “working record” that allows you track all communications with each contact. Contact management software also allows contacts to be scaled, grouped, keyed, sorted, assessed or processed in any way that allows you to effectively access them – by group, if desired, and to easily generate informative reports.

I use my CRM system to track every one of my contacts including all my LinkedIn connections. This allows me to categorize them, apply several ranks to them (for my purposes) and track all my communications with them. This grouping and sorting is very important and compensates for one of the major failings of most social networking programs: the ability to rank contacts. A casual contact in my network should have a different rank than one with whom I am in constant contact. Similarly, a recruiter, writer and outstanding technical consultant should all be grouped in different occupation categories. By using these categories, I can send a message or an interesting article to all members of a specific occupation merely by using a few keystrokes.

Contact management software also allows you to schedule your follow-up phone calls and appointments – and to easily reschedule unsuccessful or non-responsive calls. I find that most contacts appreciate my (if necessary) repeated communication efforts.

An occasional email to a contact is also effective. It serves the dual purpose of enabling me to remain “in front” of the contact while also providing a point of reference when we speak. (Having a CRM system is helpful because if a contact calls me in reference to a particular email, I can easily retrieve it from within the contact’s record and knowledgeably discuss its content.)

Every successful networker requires a contact manager to continue and enhance the networking process. Without one, much networking effort is wasted and usually reduced to limited notes written on the back of business cards.

Please contact me if you want more information on networking as a process or on contact management and CRM systems.

Bruce Newman is a consulting guru and the Vice President at The Productivity Institute, LLC (http://www.blogger.com/www.prodinst.com) which provides prodinst by matching the specific software products and services needs of companies to rated outstanding consultants who can meet those needs. Need consultants? Sign up for our free referral service and be contacted by up to five rated outstanding consultants. We do the searching and consultant evaluation for you. Also, subscribe to our free newsletter and read our blog and software product descriptions.

________________________________________________________

Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newsletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free RSS feed, go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com.

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

U.S., MID-ATLANTIC: How To Follow-Up Networking Leads

How Important is it to Attend Networking Events in This Internet Age?

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

I posed this question to subscribers of LinkedIn, my personal network, the companies and consultants at The Productivity Institute, and the subscribers of The National Networker and received many responses.

I also asked a friend of mine who is a very successful technical sales person. After asking the question, he looked at me with amazement in his eyes and exclaimed, “Of course you attend events and meet with a client or prospect. It’s the only way to gauge people and gain an understanding of their needs and motivations (and vice versa). Furthermore, you learn many things from them. For example, I found out about a golf game that I was able to join and interact with a very hard to reach executive”.

The responses I received to this question all agreed with this view; that even in our highly competitive and time-challenged workplace, it is still critical to attend events and meet with people. That despite the huge strides forward in technology, nothing replaces good eye contact and a warm handshake. One respondent stated that instead of meeting other people, we are desensitizing ourselves by being on the Internet and constantly creating text messages and emails. She felt that this enables us to maintain relationships but not create new ones or allow existing relationships to progress. Many respondents stated that attending events allowed them to meet new people and renew existing relationships, helping to ensure that their name and company name remain in the forefront.

However, there were caveats. Several people noted the increased number of networking opportunities that are currently available and the importance of being selective concerning which events or meetings to attend. Interestingly, many of them found the events to be unproductive, yet they still attend them.

Attending events is easy. Anyone can go to some event, pay their money (if necessary) and Poof!, they’re an attendee. That’s the easy part and where most people stop. Working an event is hard. Leo Goetz, who I interviewed for a prior article describes the need to actively work an event as being essential for success. He considers the trading of business cards as being passive and usually unproductive if that is the sole measure of the interaction.

What is needed is to realize that networking is an ongoing process that stretches from the initial contact stage through the development of a relationship. Creating a networking plan – complete with goals – in conjunction with a clear understanding of the purpose of an event is required for consistent success. Conversely, attending events unrelated to your area of interest or your goals helps explain why so many respondents cautioned against attending events just for the sake of attending events - and their frequent disappointment. Hope, at any time is important but rarely sufficient – and certainly not a reason to attend or keep on attending unrelated events. A networking plan also includes a rapid follow-up with almost every contact you make at an event since learning more about them and what they do helps build a relationship from which both parties can profit.

I have attended numerous events where I have told an individual or some company that I am interested in their product or service. And yet, more often than not they don’t contact me. Here’s a potential sale before them and they don’t act on it. Why attend or exhibit at an event if you’re not prepared and don’t take the necessary action?

Unfortunately, this passivity is all too common. An expert consultant hangs out a shingle and expects the world to come to him (or her). A company produces a great product but has no resources for marketing, blindly expecting a few announcements to produce enormous results. These actions represent hope – that’s important, but insufficient and unrealistic.

So, is attending events important? The almost unanimous answer appears to be, yes. The insightful answer is also yes, but only with a clear purpose and plan that allows an individual to focus on relevant and effective events while adhering to their plan's goals and actions. All of which explains the success of careful, active networkers and my friend, the technical salesperson.

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

Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newletter, go to http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free RSS feed, go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com/.

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

How Important is it to Attend Networking Events in This Internet Age?

A NAWBO Chapter That Excels

By Bruce Newman

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

Events: Comments?

In last month’s article, I presented a networking group with chapters in several states that schedules many events for its members. It raised an interesting question, Given today’s the rapidly increasing networking online opportunities, how important is it to attend events? Please feel free to respond to this question on my blog at prodinst.blogspot.com. I will provide a summary based on the feedback I receive in next month’s article.

This month’s article: A NAWBO chapter that excels.

This month, I caught up with Jane Barr Pino, Executive Director of The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Philadelphia Chapter and Kayte Connelly, a relatively new NAWBO member and the person who referred me to Jane. Jane discussed NAWBO with me and elaborated on several key NAWBO functions in the Philadelphia chapter. Her knowledgeable input formed the first part of this article. After speaking with Jane, I decided to also include Kayte’s perspective and enthusiasm towards NAWBO since she has been a member for less than two years. Kayte’s input constitutes the second part of this article.

Part 1 – Jane Barr Pino

What is NAWBO?

NAWBO is the National Association of Women Business Owners. Incorporated in 1975, NAWBO has grown to over 9,000 members and 80 chapters across the United States.

How long have you been involved with NAWBO?

I have been NAWBO’s Executive Director since 2001. I am currently the Executive Director or Administrator of thirteen associations and professional groups in the Philadelphia area. But NAWBO is the only group of which I’m a member.

How has your NAWBO chapter changed since you have been a member?

It has grown more than twofold and now has over 200 members and has become one of the most active and visible chapters in the country. I really enjoy working with the board members – they are great people and terrific worker bees.

What makes NAWBO, Philadelphia unique?

Unlike the many organizations out there serving professional business women, NAWBO is focused on supporting women entrepreneurs. The number of women starting their own businesses is increasing. NAWBO tailors its programs and member benefits specifically to the needs of these women.

You speak very highly of the board. What is its role?

The board consists of the officers and committee chairs. It sets the tone for the whole organization including the direction, goals, what they want to sponsor and strategic planning.

There are several committees including: membership, technology, public relations, public policy, programs, education and marketing. We’re currently working at obtaining 501C3 (charitable foundation) status to be able to extend our educational services and receive funding from corporate sponsors who give to 501C3’s. Many corporations only sponsor charitable organizations. Becoming a 501C3 organization will open up a new pool of potential sponsors and enable us to expand the educational programs we offer our members. We will also receive tax exemption benefits and lower postal rates.

What educational services do you offer?

We try to provide as much educational services as possible. In addition to our regular educational programs that range from topics on marketing on a shoestring or technology issues and trends to valuing your business or obtained particular business certifications, we offer a unique service called our CEO Roundtables. These roundtables are one of our most popular offerings. They provide an opportunity for women business owners to share their concerns and tap into the knowledge, experience and objective viewpoints of other business owners.

They are led by a professional facilitator and are limited to eight members per group. There are groups for new businesses, ones based on specific revenue classes and one for family-owned businesses. We have offered our CEO Roundtables for years and have women that continue to participate in them year after year.

We also have our ATHENAPowerLink program that is a joint venture with between the Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware NAWBO chapters. The ATHENAPowerLink program “links” selected women business owners with a panel of advisors recruited to meet the specific needs of her business. The panel helps the woman develop and expand profitability, explore new opportunities, gain access to capital and implement best practices. There is an in-depth submission process to be selected for this program.

What events do you offer your members?

Every month, we offer either networking or education seminars. They are well attended. We also have free networking meetings on the first Friday of every month that cover all the counties in our area. These are excellent opportunities to network and also share best practices for running a successful business.

This October, we will have our regularly scheduled Technology program in which we expect 30 – 40 attendees.

Last May, we had a terrific leadership conference. Our honored guests included: the president of Southwest Airlines, the founder and president of Build a Bear Workshop and the president of Acme Markets (all women). They discussed leadership qualities with real-world examples (through first person story telling) in this day long and well attended conference.

It is this type of conference that helps make our organization special.

What special events do you do?

We offer our BizOps procurement fair every other year. Our next one will be in April. The event is focused on women and minority businesses and how supplier diversity can help their businesses.

And our Leadership Conference, mentioned above, is the other special event we offer every other year.

Is there something else that makes your organization special?

I would say the strong relationships and trust between our members. Women like to do business with other women. And, our members make it a point to work with other NAWBO members whenever possible. They reach out to each other in their time of need and it is for this reason that 75 of our long term members pre-date my arrival in 2000.

Part 2 – Kayte Connelly

Why NAWBO? What programs have you participated in?

I became a member of NAWBO April, 2007. I was just rolling out my business and it made sense for me to join this organization compared to others in the Greater Philadelphia Region. Although there were more than 45 women's groups, each with their own specific mission, requirements, affiliations, etc., I selected this chapter because of what it had to offer.

In NAWBO - which is designed by and for women business owners, there were classes, some similar networking opportunities but only NAWBO provided the opportunity to participate in CEO roundtables with similar businesses. For six months, small groups of WBO under 3 years old or with gross revenues under $100,000, or family owned businesses or corporations with over $1 million in revenues are given an opportunity to meet with like-minded members and explore issues that are of significance to them and with an executive coach to help steer them.

In addition, our chapter has an Athena Program, which provides WBO with their own board of directors to support and direct their business growth.

We also have regularly scheduled satellite meetings that are free and open to all members and potential members.

I joined the Public Policy Committee and support distribution and advocacy on legislative issues that have a bearing on Women Business Owners. That committee is represented on the National Public Policy Committee and our committee interchanges our representation.

This year, that committee explored the possibility of expanding our services through the initiation and development of a charitable arm, the NAWBO Greater Philadelphia Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs, which is expected to be fully functional by the end of the year. A task force was developed to study NAWBO Chapters across the country to determine which programs worked and which did not.

One outcome was the mentoring program. Recognizing that 50% of businesses go out of business within one year and that 95% fail within their first five years, NAWBO Philadelphia wanted to do more. The SISTORS -

Sisterly
Introduction to
Supporting your efforts
Towards
Obtaining
Riches
Successfully -
program will pair an incoming member with a more experienced member to show them the ropes who acts as a mentor. This is yet another way that this group of women reaches out and makes a difference in the business climate in our region.

###

NAWBO can be found at: www.nawbo.org . The Philadelphia branch of NAWBO can be found at: www.nawbophila.org .

Jane Barr Pino: Jane Barr Pino & Associates (www.janebarrpino.com) assists associations, foundations and membership organizations with a variety of administrative and project management services enabling them to focus on the mission of their work while she and her team facilitate efficient back office management. In the ultimate show of confidence, Jane is honored to serve as a trusted member of the executive team of three of her client organizations. She can be reached at jane@barrpino.com or 215-628-9844.

Kayte Connelly: Kayte Connelly CCP is the President of Best Principled Solutions LLC (www.bestprincipledsolutions.com) located near Philadelphia PA. A leadership coach and organizational development consultant, she is a certified ChangeWorks Practitioner and approved Standards for Excellence for Nonprofits Consultant, she provides a variety of services focused on bringing control into your personal and professional goals. Kayte can be reached at: kayte@bestprincipledsolutions.com or 484-769-2327.

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

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

________________________________________________________

Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free RSS feed, go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com.
Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

A NAWBO Chapter That Excels