An average small business owner may sometimes feel overwhelm with the plethora of existing and large corporations with deep pockets that must be compete against.
Additionally the cost of advertising, marketing, sales and public relations to acquire new customers and retaining existing ones are capital intensive for a small business owner.
However, business networking provides a sure palatable route to arrive at a profitable end. Also it 's an extremely credible, yet inexpensive strategy to acquire new customers by creating and sustaining a gradual creation of trust that hinges on mutual relationship with diverse business owners and potential clients alike.
If done well it 's proven to open their hearts to do business with you and refer others to your business.
Now, you may quickly conclude in your heart: "Yes I know about networking, I often do it and nothing comes out of it" Well, let me quickly say this: You may yet to have a full grasp of the kind of networking I'm about to show you here.
Sure, I am not talking about when you meet people, exchange pleasantries and laugh around. And it does not involve cocktail parties where you sip red wine, munch expensive 3-course meal and share business cards.
On a face value consideration, you may be deceived to think that such event us akin to MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP but you are wrong to think so. Effective business networking then, requires that you learn how to initiate and master the concept of human-to-human mutuality, via the power of expressive voice and written words.
In other words, you must be a LISTENER rather than a talker, which entail focusing on solving the problems of whoever you're talking to, rather than struggling to impress him.
Now let 's do a bit of practice. Let 's also assume you're a management consultant and one day, you find yourself seating beside someone inside an airplane. Initiate a discussion by introducing yourself this way: "Hi, I am please to meet you." Wait for his response, and then with a smile on your face, carry on: "My name is Pete Sammy, I assist companies experiencing low sales to identify hidden opportunities and make much more profits they never dreamt off!"
Believe me, even if he 's a rigid civil servant your introduction will trigger an emotional interest from him and he would want to know how you manage to assist companies this way. But don't ever be tempted to say more than that keep quiet.
Allow him to ask questions to which you systematically provide answers, and prompt him to ask more questions. Do you know what this means? Socio-psychologists discovered that when a person is allowed to ask hearty questions he feel important, wanted and gradually build up likeness toward the listener. .
Turn your conversation into ongoing contact. At this stage ask for his permission to give him a valuable gift such as booklet, free report or white paper. You may ask: "Dave, would you like to see a FREE copy of my report titled: 5 methods to spot hidden opportunities in your business and profit forever?" What do you think his response will be? YES of course. Then finish up this way, "okay can I have you email to send the report in tomorrow?"
Now look at this. You trigger his interest with a powerful headline introduction, you both had hearty discussion about how you work, and he'd given you permission to send your report to his email.
The hidden edge strength you'll get is that after sending the report, you have accessibility to call him and exchange further ideas. Even if he can't become a customer, he'll be open to refer others who'll to patronize you. But make sure you ask for referral.
Though there're other proven and successful networking methods such as joining a networking group. However, before joining any group, start by writing on a jotter if you want a strictly business oriented-group or a social group of business owners? Or, maybe you would like to form a networking group and invite others to join or simply aspire to hold an important position in existing one in your business domain?
Every small business networking strategy demand that you should do constant follow- ups on new referral and clients. Always remember to say 'thank you' for every new customer sent your way, and be careful no to burn your bridges that is, don't offend people who're introducing clients to you and treat them with respect they deserve.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Power Of Sharing
It has been said that "If you give, you shall receive". This saying is often used to refer to giving of your time, your effort, your money or other material things before you can reasonably expect to receive any of these things from others. All of these things can be very valuable, but one of the most powerful things to share, and also one of the easiest, is thoughts and ideas.
When we consider sharing something, we often think of this as parting with something. Share some of your money and you will no longer be able to spend it yourself. Share some chocolate and whoever you share it with gets to taste this delicious substance, not you. At least you won't taste all of it. Sharing, in these cases, means parting with. It means you give something away that you will no longer benefit from directly. This is not the case with thoughts and ideas.
When you share a thought or a good idea that doesn't mean you lose it. It doesn't even mean there is any less left for you. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite is true. You can truly be enriched by the thoughts and ideas you share with other people. Share some wisdom with someone else and now two can benefit from it. Even though there was no cost involved for you in sharing it, to the person on the receiving end it could represent a huge value.
Unfortunately we often try to keep things for ourselves in order to keep a competitive advantage. To 'keep the edge' so to speak. This is understandable and can sometimes be a good strategy. Certain information can be extremely valuable and if it really gives you this 'edge' then keeping it to yourself may be the smart thing to do. In reality however most of us don't possess any information that really offers sustainable advantage over others.
The truth is that the real advantage in this day and age, with the Internet at everybody 's fingertips, is no longer in any single piece of information. The people that have been most successful have done so by combining ideas and concepts into combinations that others haven't thought of. From this perspective not sharing your ideas may actually rob you of many opportunities and as such cost you a great deal.
In business, as well as in personal life, breakthroughs often come from a combination of ideas. Rarely is one man 's creative idea completely fabricated by his own mind. The tossing back and forth of ideas and concepts usually plays a critical role in the development of new ideas. In discussing the potential application of a certain technology with a customer, this customer can come up with ideas that you would have never thought of.
After all it 's the customer 's business and he probably knows more about it than you do. Especially when you're talking to an entrepreneurial type of individual. Most entrepreneurs are always looking for new opportunities to improve their bottom line and expand their business. Now why would he share his ideas with you if you haven't shared anything with him? Good question. You could of course turn the situation around; why share anything with him if he hasn't shared anything with you?
Although this may be a fair question, it isn't really relevant. After all this is exactly the deadlock situation that hampers so much creativity. Of course there is always a risk of someone running off with one of your ideas. So it wouldn't be a bad idea to protect your idea or at least a part of it. You could for instance leave out some details that aren't necessary to paint the big picture but would surely be critical in bringing the idea to fruition.
The human brain makes connections based on our frame of reference. Since every persons frame of reference is unique it 's possible for a group of 1000 individuals to listen to one and the same speech, talk or idea and yet, have all of them interpret it differently. As a matter of fact, this is not just possible, it will inevitably be the case.
Since no two persons share the exact same background, body of knowledge and life experiences. These differences in interpretations could therefore lead to very different concepts and ideas a person could come up with. That is where one of the most powerful aspects of sharing comes into play. Your ideas may spark a new idea in someone else that you would never have thought of by yourself, which in turn sparks another idea in you that they would never have thought of by themselves. Of course this doesn't have to be a conscious sharing of ideas.
Most of the time it will happen without you actually being aware of it. A thought will come up that you think is your own when in fact it was initially put their by someone else. In your quest for ideas your mind dug up this idea and perhaps linked it to some other fragments in your memory banks that, put together, formed a new breakthrough idea.
Even though this is mostly unconscious, it 's still a good strategy to share more ideas on a consistent basis. Think of it like this; every time you share something a number of things happen. For starters, you deposit something into someone else 's memory bank. You never know what this little piece of information, this concept will do for the person you share it with.
Perhaps it does nothing for them but it eventually does for someone else they share it with. This person may or may not share something with you in return. But there is a universal law that states that: "If you give out, something is coming back". The law doesn't say that it 's coming back on Thursday morning at 10.00, when you might need it the most. It just says "It 's coming back".
In many cases when you share something, that person will feel obligated to share something with you. Perhaps right away, perhaps a month from now. Not necessarily out of obligation, but out of human nature. This is the law of reciprocity at work.
Whenever they share something with you, that concept will be stored inside your head. Perhaps you may not see an immediate use for it. In many cases you probably never will. However you never know when and in what situation their idea may turn out to be useful. Perhaps in combination with some other ideas that have yet to be shared with you by other people.
But guess what? If you don't share your thoughts with them, they may not share theirs with you. And because you didn't share you missed out on that one little idea that you needed to put everything in its place. Who knows how much you will miss out on because of that? It 's safe to say that not sharing could cost you infinitely more than keeping it all to yourself would ever earn you. And that is just too much of a price to pay. So whenever you have the opportunity to share some worthwhile thoughts with another person, do so. It may work wonders, for you and them, and it won't cost a thing.
When we consider sharing something, we often think of this as parting with something. Share some of your money and you will no longer be able to spend it yourself. Share some chocolate and whoever you share it with gets to taste this delicious substance, not you. At least you won't taste all of it. Sharing, in these cases, means parting with. It means you give something away that you will no longer benefit from directly. This is not the case with thoughts and ideas.
When you share a thought or a good idea that doesn't mean you lose it. It doesn't even mean there is any less left for you. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite is true. You can truly be enriched by the thoughts and ideas you share with other people. Share some wisdom with someone else and now two can benefit from it. Even though there was no cost involved for you in sharing it, to the person on the receiving end it could represent a huge value.
Unfortunately we often try to keep things for ourselves in order to keep a competitive advantage. To 'keep the edge' so to speak. This is understandable and can sometimes be a good strategy. Certain information can be extremely valuable and if it really gives you this 'edge' then keeping it to yourself may be the smart thing to do. In reality however most of us don't possess any information that really offers sustainable advantage over others.
The truth is that the real advantage in this day and age, with the Internet at everybody 's fingertips, is no longer in any single piece of information. The people that have been most successful have done so by combining ideas and concepts into combinations that others haven't thought of. From this perspective not sharing your ideas may actually rob you of many opportunities and as such cost you a great deal.
In business, as well as in personal life, breakthroughs often come from a combination of ideas. Rarely is one man 's creative idea completely fabricated by his own mind. The tossing back and forth of ideas and concepts usually plays a critical role in the development of new ideas. In discussing the potential application of a certain technology with a customer, this customer can come up with ideas that you would have never thought of.
After all it 's the customer 's business and he probably knows more about it than you do. Especially when you're talking to an entrepreneurial type of individual. Most entrepreneurs are always looking for new opportunities to improve their bottom line and expand their business. Now why would he share his ideas with you if you haven't shared anything with him? Good question. You could of course turn the situation around; why share anything with him if he hasn't shared anything with you?
Although this may be a fair question, it isn't really relevant. After all this is exactly the deadlock situation that hampers so much creativity. Of course there is always a risk of someone running off with one of your ideas. So it wouldn't be a bad idea to protect your idea or at least a part of it. You could for instance leave out some details that aren't necessary to paint the big picture but would surely be critical in bringing the idea to fruition.
The human brain makes connections based on our frame of reference. Since every persons frame of reference is unique it 's possible for a group of 1000 individuals to listen to one and the same speech, talk or idea and yet, have all of them interpret it differently. As a matter of fact, this is not just possible, it will inevitably be the case.
Since no two persons share the exact same background, body of knowledge and life experiences. These differences in interpretations could therefore lead to very different concepts and ideas a person could come up with. That is where one of the most powerful aspects of sharing comes into play. Your ideas may spark a new idea in someone else that you would never have thought of by yourself, which in turn sparks another idea in you that they would never have thought of by themselves. Of course this doesn't have to be a conscious sharing of ideas.
Most of the time it will happen without you actually being aware of it. A thought will come up that you think is your own when in fact it was initially put their by someone else. In your quest for ideas your mind dug up this idea and perhaps linked it to some other fragments in your memory banks that, put together, formed a new breakthrough idea.
Even though this is mostly unconscious, it 's still a good strategy to share more ideas on a consistent basis. Think of it like this; every time you share something a number of things happen. For starters, you deposit something into someone else 's memory bank. You never know what this little piece of information, this concept will do for the person you share it with.
Perhaps it does nothing for them but it eventually does for someone else they share it with. This person may or may not share something with you in return. But there is a universal law that states that: "If you give out, something is coming back". The law doesn't say that it 's coming back on Thursday morning at 10.00, when you might need it the most. It just says "It 's coming back".
In many cases when you share something, that person will feel obligated to share something with you. Perhaps right away, perhaps a month from now. Not necessarily out of obligation, but out of human nature. This is the law of reciprocity at work.
Whenever they share something with you, that concept will be stored inside your head. Perhaps you may not see an immediate use for it. In many cases you probably never will. However you never know when and in what situation their idea may turn out to be useful. Perhaps in combination with some other ideas that have yet to be shared with you by other people.
But guess what? If you don't share your thoughts with them, they may not share theirs with you. And because you didn't share you missed out on that one little idea that you needed to put everything in its place. Who knows how much you will miss out on because of that? It 's safe to say that not sharing could cost you infinitely more than keeping it all to yourself would ever earn you. And that is just too much of a price to pay. So whenever you have the opportunity to share some worthwhile thoughts with another person, do so. It may work wonders, for you and them, and it won't cost a thing.
Get A Lift From Virtual Networking
The best form of advertising is word of mouth. There 's nothing new in that statement and few in business would disagree.
Unfortunately, what people fail to mention is that word of mouth advertising is also one of the hardest forms to get. It 's one of the few problems you can't solve simply by throwing money at it.
People buy from people; usually people they like. It follows then that to benefit from word of mouth advertising, you have to get to know plenty of people and they have to like you.
One well trodden route to expanding your network of business contacts is to join a networking group. There are a number of well established networking groups which meet early in the morning over breakfast. By joining you get to know, and get to be known by, plenty of local businesses.
The idea is not to sell the group members but to educate them about what you do and the sort of referrals you would like so that they can generate referral business for you from their existing contacts.
It 's a very powerful model. Suddenly you no longer have to rely on the yellow pages or other business directories to find suppliers and fellow members will start to pass you business referrals. In theory at least.
Having been a member of such a group for over a year I highly recommend joining a breakfast networking club if you your business is one with a geographical focus. By this I mean that if your potential customers are within a few miles of where the meetings take place, breakfast meetings are likely to work very well for you.
To give you an idea of just how well they can work, my local breakfast club generated nearly a million dollars worth of business for its members in just 6 months. Most of this was for companies in the construction sector.
Unfortunately, my companies are sell professional services and target mid to large corporates both in the UK and overseas. Hence the post code (zip code) focused nature of breakfast meetings didn't really work for me so I decided to start my own 'Virtual Networking Group' called the Ozone Business Network.
Virtual Networking sounds very high tech but all it means is that members of the group meet by phone and web as opposed to face to face. The meetings are run along similar lines to traditional breakfast groups but members can quite literally join the meetings without having to get out of bed. Since there is no need to travel, geography is irrelevant. You don't even need to be in the same country to participate.
Most of our members are based in the UK but a lady who runs a language translation company in Holland joins every week. We've even had people join when on assignment in the Yemen.
Whilst the virtual meetings are very effective, there is no substitute for face to face meetings to really get to know each other well so once a month, we hold a traditional meeting in the evening so that people can 'press the flesh' and develop business relationships over a drink or bite to eat.
So does it actually work? Well, it 's early days yet. We've only been up and running for a few months but as word gets round we are getting more and more requests experience a virtual meeting first hand. In fact, after being covered in the UK newspaper The Sunday Times, we were inundated with requests for more information.
People like the way we retain some of the best ideas from traditional breakfast meetings but remove the need to travel thereby saving time, money and helping to protect the environment. Unfortunately nobody has come up with a way of vitalizing breakfast so you have to supply your own coffee.
We are always glad to hear from people who would like to join us but, to put it delicately, we need to ensure that we restrict membership to the type of person who would most benefit from our forum. Unlike many breakfast groups, we do not want to be all things to all people.
We are only really interested in having members who are relatively senior in their organisations and entrepreneurs who are interested in growing their businesses. We normally ask that members' companies have been established for at least a year.
We chose this breakpoint to avoid what I call "Startup Syndrome". Without wishing to be unkind to people just starting out (we all have to start somewhere) I have been to many networking events where people present themselves as fully formed companies but when you dig a bit below the surface you find they are one man bands with no establish client base and therefore no contact book to share with other members.
I am convinced that as business comes more international and travel becomes more expensive and time consuming, this is the way to go. Only time will tell.
Unfortunately, what people fail to mention is that word of mouth advertising is also one of the hardest forms to get. It 's one of the few problems you can't solve simply by throwing money at it.
People buy from people; usually people they like. It follows then that to benefit from word of mouth advertising, you have to get to know plenty of people and they have to like you.
One well trodden route to expanding your network of business contacts is to join a networking group. There are a number of well established networking groups which meet early in the morning over breakfast. By joining you get to know, and get to be known by, plenty of local businesses.
The idea is not to sell the group members but to educate them about what you do and the sort of referrals you would like so that they can generate referral business for you from their existing contacts.
It 's a very powerful model. Suddenly you no longer have to rely on the yellow pages or other business directories to find suppliers and fellow members will start to pass you business referrals. In theory at least.
Having been a member of such a group for over a year I highly recommend joining a breakfast networking club if you your business is one with a geographical focus. By this I mean that if your potential customers are within a few miles of where the meetings take place, breakfast meetings are likely to work very well for you.
To give you an idea of just how well they can work, my local breakfast club generated nearly a million dollars worth of business for its members in just 6 months. Most of this was for companies in the construction sector.
Unfortunately, my companies are sell professional services and target mid to large corporates both in the UK and overseas. Hence the post code (zip code) focused nature of breakfast meetings didn't really work for me so I decided to start my own 'Virtual Networking Group' called the Ozone Business Network.
Virtual Networking sounds very high tech but all it means is that members of the group meet by phone and web as opposed to face to face. The meetings are run along similar lines to traditional breakfast groups but members can quite literally join the meetings without having to get out of bed. Since there is no need to travel, geography is irrelevant. You don't even need to be in the same country to participate.
Most of our members are based in the UK but a lady who runs a language translation company in Holland joins every week. We've even had people join when on assignment in the Yemen.
Whilst the virtual meetings are very effective, there is no substitute for face to face meetings to really get to know each other well so once a month, we hold a traditional meeting in the evening so that people can 'press the flesh' and develop business relationships over a drink or bite to eat.
So does it actually work? Well, it 's early days yet. We've only been up and running for a few months but as word gets round we are getting more and more requests experience a virtual meeting first hand. In fact, after being covered in the UK newspaper The Sunday Times, we were inundated with requests for more information.
People like the way we retain some of the best ideas from traditional breakfast meetings but remove the need to travel thereby saving time, money and helping to protect the environment. Unfortunately nobody has come up with a way of vitalizing breakfast so you have to supply your own coffee.
We are always glad to hear from people who would like to join us but, to put it delicately, we need to ensure that we restrict membership to the type of person who would most benefit from our forum. Unlike many breakfast groups, we do not want to be all things to all people.
We are only really interested in having members who are relatively senior in their organisations and entrepreneurs who are interested in growing their businesses. We normally ask that members' companies have been established for at least a year.
We chose this breakpoint to avoid what I call "Startup Syndrome". Without wishing to be unkind to people just starting out (we all have to start somewhere) I have been to many networking events where people present themselves as fully formed companies but when you dig a bit below the surface you find they are one man bands with no establish client base and therefore no contact book to share with other members.
I am convinced that as business comes more international and travel becomes more expensive and time consuming, this is the way to go. Only time will tell.
Build Your Network: A Simple Way To Stay In Touch With Business And Personal Contacts
Many people know that the secret to networking is "give and you shall receive". Every time you meet someone new, ask yourself "how can I help them"?
With this in mind, you can begin to develop a network of people who are interested in helping you, because you were nice enough to help them.
But once you have initiated contact with a new person, how do you build that into a friendship? How do you stay in touch with them, and stay in the forefront of their mind? How do you ensure that the next time they see an opportunity that would be perfect for you, they actually pick up the phone and call you?
The answer is to stay in touch, and like many keys to success it can be easier said than done. Keith Ferrazzi has an excellent book out on this subject, called "Never Eat Alone", and I recommend you read it. He refers to each contact with a person as a "ping", and mentions that it can take three to five pings with a new person to establish the relationship.
If you were to meet face-to-face with someone several times, that would certainly qualify. Or if four or five emails were exchanged over a period of time, that would be a good basis for a relationship. But periodic pings are required to stay in touch with your network.
If you're like me, you never remember to stay in touch with others until you actually need something from them, and there is nothing more insincere than a friend who only calls to ask for a favor. So I developed a system to remind myself to stay in touch, and provide value to others on a regular basis. I'm sure there are plenty of systems out there, and ultimately you'll have to adopt one that works well for you.
Personally, I resorted to a simple excel spreadsheet to keep track of my contacts. Every time I meet someone new who I want to stay in touch with, I enter their contact information in the spreadsheet and put them into one of three categories. Those in the "one" category, I'd like to stay in touch with with at at least once per month. If they are in the two category, I'd like to reach them at least once per quarter (every three months). And if they are in the three category, I try to reach them at least once per year.
Every month I go through and update the spreadsheet, catching those that I have missed.
This all may seem a bit mechanical to develop meaningful relationships with people, and I must admit that I resisted the idea at first. But what I realized is that, without a system helping me to remember, I was doing a horrible job of keeping in touch with friends. When I thought back over the years about how many wonderful people I had met, that I had lost touch with and never spoke to again, that was enough to make me change.
So what do I contact them about?
Just as when you met them, the question you should ask is "How can I help them?" Send them something of value, even if it 's small. Here are a few that I like to use:
1. Send them a link to an article you've read that they'd be interested in
2. Introduce them to someone who may be able to help them (potential customer, provider of a service, etc)
3. Send them a song they might like
4. Give them a copy of a book (or audio book) you've read and found useful
If all else fails, just call or write to say hello. Tell them you haven't talked in a while and just wanted to catch up (which is true). Ask them about their projects and how they are going.
Of course, the irony of it is that once I had a spreadsheet in place, staying in touch came to the forefront of my mind. I found myself automatically staying in touch, because I knew I'd have to do so at the end of the month anyway. It forced me to start thinking of others so that every time I read an article, I would think of someone who'd want to read it. Every time I met someone new, I'd think of someone who would love to meet them. And every time I heard a song, I'd think of someone who would love to hear it.
Do whatever is required to stay in touch friends and business contacts. Building your network and social circle is crucial to your success, so if you aren't naturally inclined to stay in touch, it 's time to put a system in place.
With this in mind, you can begin to develop a network of people who are interested in helping you, because you were nice enough to help them.
But once you have initiated contact with a new person, how do you build that into a friendship? How do you stay in touch with them, and stay in the forefront of their mind? How do you ensure that the next time they see an opportunity that would be perfect for you, they actually pick up the phone and call you?
The answer is to stay in touch, and like many keys to success it can be easier said than done. Keith Ferrazzi has an excellent book out on this subject, called "Never Eat Alone", and I recommend you read it. He refers to each contact with a person as a "ping", and mentions that it can take three to five pings with a new person to establish the relationship.
If you were to meet face-to-face with someone several times, that would certainly qualify. Or if four or five emails were exchanged over a period of time, that would be a good basis for a relationship. But periodic pings are required to stay in touch with your network.
If you're like me, you never remember to stay in touch with others until you actually need something from them, and there is nothing more insincere than a friend who only calls to ask for a favor. So I developed a system to remind myself to stay in touch, and provide value to others on a regular basis. I'm sure there are plenty of systems out there, and ultimately you'll have to adopt one that works well for you.
Personally, I resorted to a simple excel spreadsheet to keep track of my contacts. Every time I meet someone new who I want to stay in touch with, I enter their contact information in the spreadsheet and put them into one of three categories. Those in the "one" category, I'd like to stay in touch with with at at least once per month. If they are in the two category, I'd like to reach them at least once per quarter (every three months). And if they are in the three category, I try to reach them at least once per year.
Every month I go through and update the spreadsheet, catching those that I have missed.
This all may seem a bit mechanical to develop meaningful relationships with people, and I must admit that I resisted the idea at first. But what I realized is that, without a system helping me to remember, I was doing a horrible job of keeping in touch with friends. When I thought back over the years about how many wonderful people I had met, that I had lost touch with and never spoke to again, that was enough to make me change.
So what do I contact them about?
Just as when you met them, the question you should ask is "How can I help them?" Send them something of value, even if it 's small. Here are a few that I like to use:
1. Send them a link to an article you've read that they'd be interested in
2. Introduce them to someone who may be able to help them (potential customer, provider of a service, etc)
3. Send them a song they might like
4. Give them a copy of a book (or audio book) you've read and found useful
If all else fails, just call or write to say hello. Tell them you haven't talked in a while and just wanted to catch up (which is true). Ask them about their projects and how they are going.
Of course, the irony of it is that once I had a spreadsheet in place, staying in touch came to the forefront of my mind. I found myself automatically staying in touch, because I knew I'd have to do so at the end of the month anyway. It forced me to start thinking of others so that every time I read an article, I would think of someone who'd want to read it. Every time I met someone new, I'd think of someone who would love to meet them. And every time I heard a song, I'd think of someone who would love to hear it.
Do whatever is required to stay in touch friends and business contacts. Building your network and social circle is crucial to your success, so if you aren't naturally inclined to stay in touch, it 's time to put a system in place.
Six Steps To Mastering The Art Of Great Conversation
Becoming a great conversationalist takes proper planning and hard work. But, mastering the art of conversation is worth it. Outstanding conversation gets noticed and so does the person behind it.
Have you ever been to a social event and watched someone with an "Aw Shucks, I'm from a farm down home" look about them because they can't string two words together. They may be too shy or just have nothing to say. Either way, it 's not pretty. In most cases it 's not because a person can't hold a conversation, it 's because they haven't prepared for conversation. As with everything in life, great conversationalists understand this simple but important tenet: proper planning prevents poor performance (P5).
The following six steps should help you be better prepared when you next enter a room full of people.
Say something
Readers are leaders and good conversationalists. Keep up to speed with the latest events happening in your world through newspapers, television and radio. There 's always something topical happening ... make sure you know about it and that you have an opinion on it.
Ooze with confidence
Confidence is a massively attractive trait. People like talking to confident, authoritative and powerful people because it makes them feel safe. You'll attract more people to you than bees to a honey pot if you can appear confident.
Eye contact is critical
Make sure that you establish good eye contact when speaking to someone. Not the Charles Manson "thousand yard stare" kind of eye contact ... that 's just scary. Never break eye contact when you're busy making an important point. If you start looking like a sneaky, edgy Coyote, it puts doubt on your integrity and on the validity of your words. So does touching your face, nose and ears whilst speaking. This just makes you look like a fibber. This normally happens when you're not sure of yourself or your subject. Sigmund Freud once said that the body oozes deceit.
Compliments help you make friends
We all love compliments don't we? Make the compliment sincere, brief and specific. Most important of all, the compliment must be based on fact otherwise it just becomes empty flattery. For instance, if you saw someone helping an old lady carry her groceries to her car, your compliment would go something like this: "When I saw you helping that old lady with her groceries the other day, I realized that you're a kind and thoughtful person." That compliment is based on evidence.
However, if you say, "That 's a beautiful red tie you're wearing ... wow, you're a real go-getter and confident person." Well, that 's just plain old flattery, isn't it? Wearing a red tie is certainly not evidence of any kind of personality trait, is it? Of course, if someone compliments you, you should react in an appropriate way. When you receive a compliment, simply smile and say "thank you". By doing this, you do wonders for your confidence and you acknowledge the thoughtfulness (and courage) of the person who complimented you.
Become a great listener
Any conversation should follow the 80/20 rule. You do 20 percent of the talking and the rest of the time you're listening. People like to talk, so let them talk. It makes them feel important and it turns you into a friend. And, the bonus is that they think you're a great conversationalist. Sometimes its hard to get someone to open up. You can get them talking by ...
Asking great questions
Ask elaborating questions that force a person to open up. Here are some examples: "Really?" "How did that make you feel?" "That must have been exciting. Tell me more."
Try some of these tips next time you're at a cocktail party or conference and become the person people want to listen to.
Have you ever been to a social event and watched someone with an "Aw Shucks, I'm from a farm down home" look about them because they can't string two words together. They may be too shy or just have nothing to say. Either way, it 's not pretty. In most cases it 's not because a person can't hold a conversation, it 's because they haven't prepared for conversation. As with everything in life, great conversationalists understand this simple but important tenet: proper planning prevents poor performance (P5).
The following six steps should help you be better prepared when you next enter a room full of people.
Say something
Readers are leaders and good conversationalists. Keep up to speed with the latest events happening in your world through newspapers, television and radio. There 's always something topical happening ... make sure you know about it and that you have an opinion on it.
Ooze with confidence
Confidence is a massively attractive trait. People like talking to confident, authoritative and powerful people because it makes them feel safe. You'll attract more people to you than bees to a honey pot if you can appear confident.
Eye contact is critical
Make sure that you establish good eye contact when speaking to someone. Not the Charles Manson "thousand yard stare" kind of eye contact ... that 's just scary. Never break eye contact when you're busy making an important point. If you start looking like a sneaky, edgy Coyote, it puts doubt on your integrity and on the validity of your words. So does touching your face, nose and ears whilst speaking. This just makes you look like a fibber. This normally happens when you're not sure of yourself or your subject. Sigmund Freud once said that the body oozes deceit.
Compliments help you make friends
We all love compliments don't we? Make the compliment sincere, brief and specific. Most important of all, the compliment must be based on fact otherwise it just becomes empty flattery. For instance, if you saw someone helping an old lady carry her groceries to her car, your compliment would go something like this: "When I saw you helping that old lady with her groceries the other day, I realized that you're a kind and thoughtful person." That compliment is based on evidence.
However, if you say, "That 's a beautiful red tie you're wearing ... wow, you're a real go-getter and confident person." Well, that 's just plain old flattery, isn't it? Wearing a red tie is certainly not evidence of any kind of personality trait, is it? Of course, if someone compliments you, you should react in an appropriate way. When you receive a compliment, simply smile and say "thank you". By doing this, you do wonders for your confidence and you acknowledge the thoughtfulness (and courage) of the person who complimented you.
Become a great listener
Any conversation should follow the 80/20 rule. You do 20 percent of the talking and the rest of the time you're listening. People like to talk, so let them talk. It makes them feel important and it turns you into a friend. And, the bonus is that they think you're a great conversationalist. Sometimes its hard to get someone to open up. You can get them talking by ...
Asking great questions
Ask elaborating questions that force a person to open up. Here are some examples: "Really?" "How did that make you feel?" "That must have been exciting. Tell me more."
Try some of these tips next time you're at a cocktail party or conference and become the person people want to listen to.
Light Your Conversation Fire
There is a great tactic anyone can use that guarantees great conversation regardless of who you are talking to.
The top movers in the world of business and even those charming people who light up any social event know this secret and you can use it too.
This is a critical life skill and thankfully it is much easier than people think to excel at conversation skills once you know the smart way to go about it. There are three simple steps to lighting the conversation fire:
1. Complete Attention.
Give complete attention to the person you are talking to. Yes, all of your attention. Resist the temptation to scan the room, play with the loose change in your pocket or start thinking about what you need to do later in the day.
Talk and listen to the person before you as if this is the most important person you have ever met and as if this conversation is the most important discussion of you life. When you do this the other person cannot help but notice the respect you are showing him. This is flattering.
You will find whoever you are talking to will respond very positively to this attention. He will warm to you, speak more freely and pay close attention to what you say.
2. Conversation is like fishing.
Small talk is the starting point. Why? You engage in small talk to fish for great topics of conversation that appeal to you and the other person - you are looking for shared interests and passions.
For this reason, and following on from step one, pay very close attention to the non-verbal behavior of the other person as he talks. You need to spot clues that indicate his interests. And, you want to avoid those topics he finds boring, annoying or distasteful.
It is easy to spot these clues as long as you pay more attention to how someone talks than to what he says. You will still hear everything he says. You then simply look for clues as indicated by more enthusiasm in his voice and body language.
3. Follow the path of least resistance.
When you spot a topic that generates enthusiasm follow that lead and drive the conversation in that direction. This is very easy to do since people love to talk about what interests them. A few good questions to open up the topic is usually all it takes.
A spark then ignites the conversation and before you know it the conversation takes on a life of its own.
Make sure to match the enthusiasm of the other person in your voice tone and in your body language. This is important. If you fail to do this you will dampen his enthusiasm.
One important point. Some topics will get an emotional response that looks like enthusiasm but are to be avoided is meeting someone for the first time. If an issue agitates the other person the annoyance is like a negative passionate enthusiasm! This is risky ground with someone you do not know very well and is best to steer clear of.
Look for positive enthusiasm especially topics that cause someone to smile or laugh. Make it a goal to fish for topics that make people feel good and you will make friends with new people even faster that you expect.
You can light the conversation fire anytime you want to by remembering these three points: give complete attention to the other person, fish for great topics and follow the path of less resistance.
Over time you will get better and better at each step until it becomes second nature. At this point this process will run on automatic and meeting people becomes a lot of fun.
The top movers in the world of business and even those charming people who light up any social event know this secret and you can use it too.
This is a critical life skill and thankfully it is much easier than people think to excel at conversation skills once you know the smart way to go about it. There are three simple steps to lighting the conversation fire:
1. Complete Attention.
Give complete attention to the person you are talking to. Yes, all of your attention. Resist the temptation to scan the room, play with the loose change in your pocket or start thinking about what you need to do later in the day.
Talk and listen to the person before you as if this is the most important person you have ever met and as if this conversation is the most important discussion of you life. When you do this the other person cannot help but notice the respect you are showing him. This is flattering.
You will find whoever you are talking to will respond very positively to this attention. He will warm to you, speak more freely and pay close attention to what you say.
2. Conversation is like fishing.
Small talk is the starting point. Why? You engage in small talk to fish for great topics of conversation that appeal to you and the other person - you are looking for shared interests and passions.
For this reason, and following on from step one, pay very close attention to the non-verbal behavior of the other person as he talks. You need to spot clues that indicate his interests. And, you want to avoid those topics he finds boring, annoying or distasteful.
It is easy to spot these clues as long as you pay more attention to how someone talks than to what he says. You will still hear everything he says. You then simply look for clues as indicated by more enthusiasm in his voice and body language.
3. Follow the path of least resistance.
When you spot a topic that generates enthusiasm follow that lead and drive the conversation in that direction. This is very easy to do since people love to talk about what interests them. A few good questions to open up the topic is usually all it takes.
A spark then ignites the conversation and before you know it the conversation takes on a life of its own.
Make sure to match the enthusiasm of the other person in your voice tone and in your body language. This is important. If you fail to do this you will dampen his enthusiasm.
One important point. Some topics will get an emotional response that looks like enthusiasm but are to be avoided is meeting someone for the first time. If an issue agitates the other person the annoyance is like a negative passionate enthusiasm! This is risky ground with someone you do not know very well and is best to steer clear of.
Look for positive enthusiasm especially topics that cause someone to smile or laugh. Make it a goal to fish for topics that make people feel good and you will make friends with new people even faster that you expect.
You can light the conversation fire anytime you want to by remembering these three points: give complete attention to the other person, fish for great topics and follow the path of less resistance.
Over time you will get better and better at each step until it becomes second nature. At this point this process will run on automatic and meeting people becomes a lot of fun.
Four Tips For Boosting Your Profits With Business Cards
A business card may be the most overlooked advertising medium in the business world. But these simple rectangles of cardboard can be powerful tools to help any entrepreneur increase sales. Similarly, a poorly thought out or clumsily designed business card can be as much of a detriment for your sales as an "out of business" sign.
Business cards have actually been around for much longer than most people realize. The first ones, in the form of visiting cards or calling cards, were used in China about 600 years ago. They started being used in Europe approximately 200 years lager. When one aristocrat went out to visit another, the prospective guest 's servant would deliver his master 's calling card to the servant of the prospective host. An elaborate system of calling card etiquette developed and was followed by the gentry across England and France.
Today, anyone from North America or Europe who has gone on a business trip to Japan, China or other Asian countries knows there is very much a tradition of etiquette that must be followed when exchanging business cards in those countries.
But even if you are only going to be doing business in your home town, you can help boost that business by following four tips before you have your next business cards printed.
1. Legibility. It 's fine to have a creative, attractive design for your card, but do not fall for the trap of selecting a type face that is so fancy it is not legible. If people cannot decipher all the words and numbers on your card, it is useless. Also, remember that, especially in this era of aging baby boomers, type that is too small may also be difficult for some old eyes to read properly.
2. Individualize. You are a unique individual, and your business card should reflect your unique personality. One easy way to do this is to put your photograph on your card. Of, if you are an artist, crafts person or photographer, why not put an image of one of your creations on the card? If you sell unique widgets, put an illustration of them on your card.
3. Proofread. Just as a wood worker should always measure twice before he cuts, every word should be double checked for proper spelling. Every telephone number should be dialed and every web address visited to make sure they are letter perfect before your card goes to press.
4. Use the back. Your business card has two sides, and you are missing a prime opportunity if you leave the back of your card blank. Instead, utilize that space to say what is most important about you, your business, product or service. It could be as simple as "bring this card in for a 10% discount." Or you could use the back of your card to show off testimonials from some of your satisfied customers.
There are several very good internet business card companies that let you design your own cards online. In some cases, their shipping costs are less than it would cost you to drive to a local print shop and back.
Finally, if you only need a few cards, or if you want to experiment with different card designs, you can purchase perforated, blank business card stock at office supply stores and make your own cards using templates that come with many computer word processing software programs.
However your business cards are eventually printed, remember that they may leave a lasting impression of you and your business for many years to come.
Business cards have actually been around for much longer than most people realize. The first ones, in the form of visiting cards or calling cards, were used in China about 600 years ago. They started being used in Europe approximately 200 years lager. When one aristocrat went out to visit another, the prospective guest 's servant would deliver his master 's calling card to the servant of the prospective host. An elaborate system of calling card etiquette developed and was followed by the gentry across England and France.
Today, anyone from North America or Europe who has gone on a business trip to Japan, China or other Asian countries knows there is very much a tradition of etiquette that must be followed when exchanging business cards in those countries.
But even if you are only going to be doing business in your home town, you can help boost that business by following four tips before you have your next business cards printed.
1. Legibility. It 's fine to have a creative, attractive design for your card, but do not fall for the trap of selecting a type face that is so fancy it is not legible. If people cannot decipher all the words and numbers on your card, it is useless. Also, remember that, especially in this era of aging baby boomers, type that is too small may also be difficult for some old eyes to read properly.
2. Individualize. You are a unique individual, and your business card should reflect your unique personality. One easy way to do this is to put your photograph on your card. Of, if you are an artist, crafts person or photographer, why not put an image of one of your creations on the card? If you sell unique widgets, put an illustration of them on your card.
3. Proofread. Just as a wood worker should always measure twice before he cuts, every word should be double checked for proper spelling. Every telephone number should be dialed and every web address visited to make sure they are letter perfect before your card goes to press.
4. Use the back. Your business card has two sides, and you are missing a prime opportunity if you leave the back of your card blank. Instead, utilize that space to say what is most important about you, your business, product or service. It could be as simple as "bring this card in for a 10% discount." Or you could use the back of your card to show off testimonials from some of your satisfied customers.
There are several very good internet business card companies that let you design your own cards online. In some cases, their shipping costs are less than it would cost you to drive to a local print shop and back.
Finally, if you only need a few cards, or if you want to experiment with different card designs, you can purchase perforated, blank business card stock at office supply stores and make your own cards using templates that come with many computer word processing software programs.
However your business cards are eventually printed, remember that they may leave a lasting impression of you and your business for many years to come.
The Importance Of Maintaining Employment Software Services
The very idea of maintaining an online resource tends to bugger the shoulders of almost anyone, yet maintaining an efficient employment software program paves a critical pathway to success. All it means, after all, is ensuring that functions behave the way they're supposed to and that requests are fulfilled as planned. However whether a detailed analysis of specific maintenance procedures is warranted or not isn't what this article is about. The emphasis is instead on why maintenance is important rather than the "who, what, when, where, and how."
We thus introduce the importance OF maintaining the equipment used with employment software. Depending on the size of the clientele you service, your equipment may range from the sole spare computer in the den to a full-fledge network housed in an entire office of working professionals. By owning and operating your own personal computer, you should already have a good idea of what 's required to operate an adequate maintenance routine. However the timing in which running a defrag program, disk scan, or virus checker for a personal machine is quite different from running them on equipment that 's responsible for the finances and careers of strangers.
These programs not only attempt to protect the information that 's housed on the equipment that serves it, they also attempt to protect the information dispersed to perhaps a thousand to a hundred thousand of other networked computers as well. There are no short cuts and the responsibility of keeping a responsible employment software system is phenomenally critical.
As the administrator of a busy employment software system, you're going to have to think about the time, work, and expense involved in running one that 's efficient and essentially safe for others to use. Normally, running a defrag program, disk scan, or virus checker once a month on a sole desktop PC would be sufficient. However the employment software administrator may need to run these programs weekly or even more frequently than that.
But there 's more to maintenance than merely running a few software programs. The employment software administrator must also perform regular hardware diagnostics to ensure that (1) the employment software system serves up requested information within a reasonable amount of time and (2) ensure that this information is accurate. The schedules in which these tasks are required depend again, on the size of the clientele that accesses the employment software system. Though this schedule is subject to operate within specific time frames, all maintenance measures - whether hardware or software - should operate within the hours of least activity occurring outside of the network.
Perhaps the most important concern among the clientele that uses an employment software system is the timeliness in which it 's available and functioning. The very success of an employment software system is directly dependent on its capability to handle hundreds to thousands of requests per day. Things such as downed servers, database errors, or security breaches are enough to bring instant failure. So every effort must be made to ensure that an employment software system is safe to use, secure enough to store private information (and keep it private), and operate within at least a 20-hour time frame of each day.
The decision not to adhere to a rigid maintenance schedule is a risk that no serious employment software administrator would make, yet it 's not uncommon to experience apparent maintenance failures or even downright neglect as witnessed on even some of the most popular employment software systems. To understand the importance of such a laborious chore (and to avoid the aforementioned failures), you must realize that your employment software system will be home to some of the most prestigious freelancers and clients around. Their success literally depends on the capabilities of your equipment.
No reasonable freelancer or client would remain dedicated to a system that continually serves up errors or fails to operate on the critical day-to-day basis that employment software systems and their clientele need to thrive. There just aren't any alternatives and frankly, it 's useless to look for them.
We teach our youngsters the importance of maintaining a schedule, a clean environment, and good healthy friendships. Yet when it comes to computers, we ignore the values of maintenance that we grew up with. We may assume that the inanimate nature of computers or their leniency on automation are sufficient to sustain a working employment software system. But truth be told, there really isn't much difference between maintaining a healthy environment and group of important relationships offline - and doing the same, online.
We thus introduce the importance OF maintaining the equipment used with employment software. Depending on the size of the clientele you service, your equipment may range from the sole spare computer in the den to a full-fledge network housed in an entire office of working professionals. By owning and operating your own personal computer, you should already have a good idea of what 's required to operate an adequate maintenance routine. However the timing in which running a defrag program, disk scan, or virus checker for a personal machine is quite different from running them on equipment that 's responsible for the finances and careers of strangers.
These programs not only attempt to protect the information that 's housed on the equipment that serves it, they also attempt to protect the information dispersed to perhaps a thousand to a hundred thousand of other networked computers as well. There are no short cuts and the responsibility of keeping a responsible employment software system is phenomenally critical.
As the administrator of a busy employment software system, you're going to have to think about the time, work, and expense involved in running one that 's efficient and essentially safe for others to use. Normally, running a defrag program, disk scan, or virus checker once a month on a sole desktop PC would be sufficient. However the employment software administrator may need to run these programs weekly or even more frequently than that.
But there 's more to maintenance than merely running a few software programs. The employment software administrator must also perform regular hardware diagnostics to ensure that (1) the employment software system serves up requested information within a reasonable amount of time and (2) ensure that this information is accurate. The schedules in which these tasks are required depend again, on the size of the clientele that accesses the employment software system. Though this schedule is subject to operate within specific time frames, all maintenance measures - whether hardware or software - should operate within the hours of least activity occurring outside of the network.
Perhaps the most important concern among the clientele that uses an employment software system is the timeliness in which it 's available and functioning. The very success of an employment software system is directly dependent on its capability to handle hundreds to thousands of requests per day. Things such as downed servers, database errors, or security breaches are enough to bring instant failure. So every effort must be made to ensure that an employment software system is safe to use, secure enough to store private information (and keep it private), and operate within at least a 20-hour time frame of each day.
The decision not to adhere to a rigid maintenance schedule is a risk that no serious employment software administrator would make, yet it 's not uncommon to experience apparent maintenance failures or even downright neglect as witnessed on even some of the most popular employment software systems. To understand the importance of such a laborious chore (and to avoid the aforementioned failures), you must realize that your employment software system will be home to some of the most prestigious freelancers and clients around. Their success literally depends on the capabilities of your equipment.
No reasonable freelancer or client would remain dedicated to a system that continually serves up errors or fails to operate on the critical day-to-day basis that employment software systems and their clientele need to thrive. There just aren't any alternatives and frankly, it 's useless to look for them.
We teach our youngsters the importance of maintaining a schedule, a clean environment, and good healthy friendships. Yet when it comes to computers, we ignore the values of maintenance that we grew up with. We may assume that the inanimate nature of computers or their leniency on automation are sufficient to sustain a working employment software system. But truth be told, there really isn't much difference between maintaining a healthy environment and group of important relationships offline - and doing the same, online.
The Main Principles and Benefits of Online Networking
By now, most people are familiar with the idea of "six degrees of separation". The 1993 film, which starred Will Smith, brought the idea to the general public by using it as the title and main topic of the plot. The idea became more popular through the "Kevin Bacon game", whereby you pick any actor or actress and try to link them, in some way, to the actor Kevin Bacon within "six steps". Entertaining and seemingly frivolous though they are, these popularizing vehicles were based upon a serious academic concept of social interaction and human networks which had been around since the early 1990s.
The concept, as in the Kevin Bacon game, is that due to the technological advances in communications and transport, human beings are becoming ever more connected. Great distances have less effect upon communication and, therefore, human networks were expanding well beyond previous limits and barriers. The modern world is shrinking.
Social networks are at the heart of the Kevin Bacon game, and the six degrees of separation concept. A social network is, essentially, a series of connections between individuals or groups of individuals or organizations. One person or group may have many different networks, for example, one person may have a family network, an old school network, a network of friends, a golf playing network, and many others.
An organization may have an employee network, a supplier network, a client network, etc. Each of these networks is characterized by the type of relationship, or interaction, which connected it. A network of employees might be characterized by an employer, a network of golfers by those who play or are interested in golf. Networks start at the family and go right up to the level of nations. They are the "glue of societies, and are at the basis of all cultures.
While we probably each recognize that we are all a part of a network, or variety of networks, we don't necessarily think of them as anything more than the people we know in various capacities. Of course, the sorts of networks we are a part of are usually reflective of our domestic lives, our hobbies, our work life, our interests, and so the network itself isn't such a feature as the people that represent it for us. But it is interesting to consider, for a moment, these networks as structures.
If you were to write down the names of all the people you knew, and placed them each in lists corresponding to how you came to know them through family, golf, school, etc. then you would be close to creating a structural map of your networks. If each of the people in one of your lists then did the same, you could compare lists and then see the true extent of the network. You may only know five golfers, but each of them know five more, and so on. Your recommendation of a particular club could cross national boundaries based upon the advice given to a friend, which got passed on, and passed on.
In analyzing social networks, greater emphasis is given to those individual people, or groups, who not only have more connections within the specific network, but also are members of more networks. If you and all your golfer friends live in an isolated town where you only play golf and work and go home then your network will be restricted in its effectiveness and would be considered to be a "small and tight" network. Knowledge and opportunities in such networks goes no further than the individuals involved.
New and fresh members are less likely to join, the network is less likely to expand or stimulate its members any further once the existing knowledge and opportunities have been shared. If, on the other hand, each member of a network is also a member of many other networks then it is "more open" network and will expand and allow a greater circulation of fresh opportunities and wider access to new information. The flow of knowledge and information in such a network is far greater and beneficial to its members.
If we now apply these ideas to online networking, it should be immediately clear just how useful and beneficial the heightened communication possibilities of a worldwide web of networks would be. Since knowledge and opportunities may be seen as part of the valued currency of a network, then a worldwide platform must be a superior form. With online social network services specializing in this very aspect of networking the ability to join huge, and potentially greatly beneficial, networks is "supercharged".
The concept, as in the Kevin Bacon game, is that due to the technological advances in communications and transport, human beings are becoming ever more connected. Great distances have less effect upon communication and, therefore, human networks were expanding well beyond previous limits and barriers. The modern world is shrinking.
Social networks are at the heart of the Kevin Bacon game, and the six degrees of separation concept. A social network is, essentially, a series of connections between individuals or groups of individuals or organizations. One person or group may have many different networks, for example, one person may have a family network, an old school network, a network of friends, a golf playing network, and many others.
An organization may have an employee network, a supplier network, a client network, etc. Each of these networks is characterized by the type of relationship, or interaction, which connected it. A network of employees might be characterized by an employer, a network of golfers by those who play or are interested in golf. Networks start at the family and go right up to the level of nations. They are the "glue of societies, and are at the basis of all cultures.
While we probably each recognize that we are all a part of a network, or variety of networks, we don't necessarily think of them as anything more than the people we know in various capacities. Of course, the sorts of networks we are a part of are usually reflective of our domestic lives, our hobbies, our work life, our interests, and so the network itself isn't such a feature as the people that represent it for us. But it is interesting to consider, for a moment, these networks as structures.
If you were to write down the names of all the people you knew, and placed them each in lists corresponding to how you came to know them through family, golf, school, etc. then you would be close to creating a structural map of your networks. If each of the people in one of your lists then did the same, you could compare lists and then see the true extent of the network. You may only know five golfers, but each of them know five more, and so on. Your recommendation of a particular club could cross national boundaries based upon the advice given to a friend, which got passed on, and passed on.
In analyzing social networks, greater emphasis is given to those individual people, or groups, who not only have more connections within the specific network, but also are members of more networks. If you and all your golfer friends live in an isolated town where you only play golf and work and go home then your network will be restricted in its effectiveness and would be considered to be a "small and tight" network. Knowledge and opportunities in such networks goes no further than the individuals involved.
New and fresh members are less likely to join, the network is less likely to expand or stimulate its members any further once the existing knowledge and opportunities have been shared. If, on the other hand, each member of a network is also a member of many other networks then it is "more open" network and will expand and allow a greater circulation of fresh opportunities and wider access to new information. The flow of knowledge and information in such a network is far greater and beneficial to its members.
If we now apply these ideas to online networking, it should be immediately clear just how useful and beneficial the heightened communication possibilities of a worldwide web of networks would be. Since knowledge and opportunities may be seen as part of the valued currency of a network, then a worldwide platform must be a superior form. With online social network services specializing in this very aspect of networking the ability to join huge, and potentially greatly beneficial, networks is "supercharged".
How to stay focus on your home based business
Have you ever been doing your daily routine and then all of a sudden the phone rings?
It’s someone who immediately launches into a sales pitch for their product or service and tries to sell you something. Turns out, it’s someone who bought your name from some list. This list then gets sold a thousand times to people who really want your information.
This is something that happens to me all the time and I am sure it happens to you.
What do you do when you get these calls?
Most people feel annoyed. They may say something rude and hang up the phone, or not say anything at all and just hang up on them.
But I personally like these calls because they remind me of how I got started.
When you listen to these calls, you can tell they are blatantly reading from a script. Most people get these scripts from their companies. They are enthusiastic sales pitches, talking about how great their company’s moon juice is and how it’s going to change the world.
It’s funny, and I do crack a smile while going through the ordeal with them.
What are they doing wrong and why do I think it’s so funny?
Because they don’t even stop to ask you your name or if you have time to take the call and listen to them. They’re afraid that if they take the time to do that, you’ll hang up on them.
But people hang up anyway. So their approach does not work.
I take a different approach. I like to listen to their pitch. This reminds me of what it was like when I was out there doing the same thing. The scripts, the fast speech, the fear of not getting results… I was in that place before. And let me tell you, I learned from that experience.
Here’s what the callers don’t understand. At the time, I didn’t understand it either.
But now, I remember this one simple thing: save your breath because your prospects don’t care about your product!
This is a common mistake that I think we all make when we just get started. We find a product that has a big opportunity. We fall in love with not only the product, but the idea of making money.
But after the initial excitement wears down you ask, “What do I do now?”
The answer to that initial question is always the same. You’re told to turn into a robot and do what the company says. Read the script. That’s where the business will come. That’s what’s duplicable.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that having a strong conviction to your business is wrong. I DO think it’s an absolute key factor in your success.
But that’s not enough. You need to think from your prospects’ perspective.
Here’s the problem.
They don't know you.
They don't know your product.
They don't know your business.
And AT FIRST they don't care.
At the beginning, your prospects only care about what’s in it for them. When we sit down and recite the script to them, we are actually leaving the prospect out of the loop. This is not good and will not result in sales.
Don’t do what you are told!
So, what do they want?
ASK them what they want. Ask them what matters the most to them, what their biggest fears are, and what their greatest aspirations are. If only I had started asking them these things when I first started my career… Things would have gone a lot smoother for me in the beginning.
Reading a script AT them takes them completely out of the loop.
In marketing, the person that wins is the one that knows his or her prospects inside and out. Knowing their biggest problems and greatest dreams are what will help you. In marketing, this is the person who wins. Give them a solution to their problems and a way to help them with their dreams. This will bring them closer to you.
So I ask you...
Take some time to really think about your hopes, fears, and dreams are when it comes to your business.
Then, as you interact with your prospects, ask them. Don’t sell. Spend your time asking. It is the knowledge that you gain that will help you. And, take detailed notes when you are asking them so you can have a record of it.
Once you take the time to ask them, and then find a way that your business can meet their needs, that will put you light years ahead of the competition.
It’s someone who immediately launches into a sales pitch for their product or service and tries to sell you something. Turns out, it’s someone who bought your name from some list. This list then gets sold a thousand times to people who really want your information.
This is something that happens to me all the time and I am sure it happens to you.
What do you do when you get these calls?
Most people feel annoyed. They may say something rude and hang up the phone, or not say anything at all and just hang up on them.
But I personally like these calls because they remind me of how I got started.
When you listen to these calls, you can tell they are blatantly reading from a script. Most people get these scripts from their companies. They are enthusiastic sales pitches, talking about how great their company’s moon juice is and how it’s going to change the world.
It’s funny, and I do crack a smile while going through the ordeal with them.
What are they doing wrong and why do I think it’s so funny?
Because they don’t even stop to ask you your name or if you have time to take the call and listen to them. They’re afraid that if they take the time to do that, you’ll hang up on them.
But people hang up anyway. So their approach does not work.
I take a different approach. I like to listen to their pitch. This reminds me of what it was like when I was out there doing the same thing. The scripts, the fast speech, the fear of not getting results… I was in that place before. And let me tell you, I learned from that experience.
Here’s what the callers don’t understand. At the time, I didn’t understand it either.
But now, I remember this one simple thing: save your breath because your prospects don’t care about your product!
This is a common mistake that I think we all make when we just get started. We find a product that has a big opportunity. We fall in love with not only the product, but the idea of making money.
But after the initial excitement wears down you ask, “What do I do now?”
The answer to that initial question is always the same. You’re told to turn into a robot and do what the company says. Read the script. That’s where the business will come. That’s what’s duplicable.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that having a strong conviction to your business is wrong. I DO think it’s an absolute key factor in your success.
But that’s not enough. You need to think from your prospects’ perspective.
Here’s the problem.
They don't know you.
They don't know your product.
They don't know your business.
And AT FIRST they don't care.
At the beginning, your prospects only care about what’s in it for them. When we sit down and recite the script to them, we are actually leaving the prospect out of the loop. This is not good and will not result in sales.
Don’t do what you are told!
So, what do they want?
ASK them what they want. Ask them what matters the most to them, what their biggest fears are, and what their greatest aspirations are. If only I had started asking them these things when I first started my career… Things would have gone a lot smoother for me in the beginning.
Reading a script AT them takes them completely out of the loop.
In marketing, the person that wins is the one that knows his or her prospects inside and out. Knowing their biggest problems and greatest dreams are what will help you. In marketing, this is the person who wins. Give them a solution to their problems and a way to help them with their dreams. This will bring them closer to you.
So I ask you...
Take some time to really think about your hopes, fears, and dreams are when it comes to your business.
Then, as you interact with your prospects, ask them. Don’t sell. Spend your time asking. It is the knowledge that you gain that will help you. And, take detailed notes when you are asking them so you can have a record of it.
Once you take the time to ask them, and then find a way that your business can meet their needs, that will put you light years ahead of the competition.
How to choose the best out of thousands of MLM Businesses?
An MLM company is a form of business which is based on network marketing. A person gets recruited and he sells a product or a line of product independently and he in turn, recruits more people and the chain continues. These distributors earn commissions on the products they sell as well as the products that are sold by the distributors they in turn have recruited. Since many steps are involved in this kind of business, it is called an MLM business. If you are tired of the corporate world in which you have been busy making money for somebody else but don’t have the kind of money needed to set up a traditional business, a MLM business is a good idea. There are thousands of network marketing businesses out there who offer you ‘an opportunity of a lifetime’, promising you instant success. Bit how many of them are going to be really profitable in the long run is debatable. Before you invest your time and money in a MLM business, spend time understanding the pros and cons so that there is lesser chance of you regretting your decision later.
The first and foremost step to choose the MLM business you will join is to see whether the proposition they are making will be profitable to you. An offer may sound great but it may actually be a dirty little scheme to entice you to sell the scheme to more people down the line without really profiting you. Studying the sales literature is a good way to spot a phony scheme from a genuine one. If the sales literature has an innovative write-up about how to make money easily without you having to put much effort and lacks a detailed description of the product itself, you should think twice before investing. If the product you will be selling is not good enough no amount of good salesmanship is going to make it sell. Generating commissions is the lifeblood of a MLM business. As such, if the product is something that people don’t have a need for or the company doesn’t have the creativity to make it needed, then investing will be a bad idea. Moreover, the product should be such that it encourages repeat sales so that how revenue will keep coming in.
After you have removed the grossly unprofitable MLMs from your list, it’s time to seek out companies which are good. Choose a company which has got a few years of experience behind it. A network marketing company which is 5 years old probably has seen its share of ups and downs and has the ability to get out of the rut. Being listed in the Stock Exchange gives a company a lot of credibility. Make sure that the company you are joining has the capital necessary to pay commissions and continue its growth curve. In this case you would do well if you chose a publicly traded company. Again, the person who recruited you should have an interest in your success and make an effort to help you. Avoid joining a MLM company which sells products which are nothing bit fads. The business will last as long as the fads do.
Network marketing is all about planning on how to exploit your networking skills to maximize your profits. There are ways to ensure that you generate bigger revenues from your MLM business. Choosing from thousands of offers and selecting the best among them can be a daunting task. It’s best to stick to the ‘Highly Recommended’ list of reliable sources, including the internet. Try not to put all your eggs into one basket. Join at least two to three MLM businesses. If one of them fails, you will have the others to fall back on. There is safety in numbers. If the product being sold by an MLM company does not excite you or you don’t believe in it, it will be a disaster if you enroll as a distributor. Selling a product which you think will genuinely benefit the buyers is a great way to self-motivate yourself to go all out and sell it. Having confidence in the product is a boon for a salesperson.
Choosing a MLM business to join is not easy. With thousands of companies offering ‘get rich quick’ schemes all around you, selecting the most profitable one takes careful thought. You will have a lot of advice coming your way but remember that most of them have vested interests. The choice should depend on what your wants are, how much time and money you are willing to invest and what your expectations are from the business. And don’t forget to trust your instincts. Commitment and time towards your business will earn you the success your heart desires.
The first and foremost step to choose the MLM business you will join is to see whether the proposition they are making will be profitable to you. An offer may sound great but it may actually be a dirty little scheme to entice you to sell the scheme to more people down the line without really profiting you. Studying the sales literature is a good way to spot a phony scheme from a genuine one. If the sales literature has an innovative write-up about how to make money easily without you having to put much effort and lacks a detailed description of the product itself, you should think twice before investing. If the product you will be selling is not good enough no amount of good salesmanship is going to make it sell. Generating commissions is the lifeblood of a MLM business. As such, if the product is something that people don’t have a need for or the company doesn’t have the creativity to make it needed, then investing will be a bad idea. Moreover, the product should be such that it encourages repeat sales so that how revenue will keep coming in.
After you have removed the grossly unprofitable MLMs from your list, it’s time to seek out companies which are good. Choose a company which has got a few years of experience behind it. A network marketing company which is 5 years old probably has seen its share of ups and downs and has the ability to get out of the rut. Being listed in the Stock Exchange gives a company a lot of credibility. Make sure that the company you are joining has the capital necessary to pay commissions and continue its growth curve. In this case you would do well if you chose a publicly traded company. Again, the person who recruited you should have an interest in your success and make an effort to help you. Avoid joining a MLM company which sells products which are nothing bit fads. The business will last as long as the fads do.
Network marketing is all about planning on how to exploit your networking skills to maximize your profits. There are ways to ensure that you generate bigger revenues from your MLM business. Choosing from thousands of offers and selecting the best among them can be a daunting task. It’s best to stick to the ‘Highly Recommended’ list of reliable sources, including the internet. Try not to put all your eggs into one basket. Join at least two to three MLM businesses. If one of them fails, you will have the others to fall back on. There is safety in numbers. If the product being sold by an MLM company does not excite you or you don’t believe in it, it will be a disaster if you enroll as a distributor. Selling a product which you think will genuinely benefit the buyers is a great way to self-motivate yourself to go all out and sell it. Having confidence in the product is a boon for a salesperson.
Choosing a MLM business to join is not easy. With thousands of companies offering ‘get rich quick’ schemes all around you, selecting the most profitable one takes careful thought. You will have a lot of advice coming your way but remember that most of them have vested interests. The choice should depend on what your wants are, how much time and money you are willing to invest and what your expectations are from the business. And don’t forget to trust your instincts. Commitment and time towards your business will earn you the success your heart desires.
Do You Have What it Takes to Succeed in Network Marketing?
s the saying goes, "If it were easy to start your own business, everybody would be doing it."
Before we go any further I want to make a distinction between easy and simple. In North America we tend to use both terms synonymously. However they are not the same. Subconsciously easy implies no effort. We all know a real network marketing business requires effort.
Yet, a business can be simple- it can be straightforward, it can have a proven system that can be quickly learned and followed by the average person.
If you're serious about becoming an entrepreneur, reaping the benefits of being your own boss, and living a life without limits, now is the time to examine your level of commitment.
There are 3 simple, yet important, sets of questions that you can ask yourself to see if you have what it takes to be in a network marketing business opportunity.
You might be surprised to learn that your current level of education, your background, and current wealth have nothing to do with the answers.
Question 1: On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high) how strong is your desire for a successful, lucrative network marketing business?
Everyone wants more time and money. But the important thing to ask yourself is how badly do you want more time and money? Why do you want more time and money? The intensity of your feeling is the number one factor that will propel you to success.
Question #2: Are you coachable and trainable?
Can you follow a simple proven system and are you willing to be mentored by those who have been there ahead of you?
We have all been successful at different jobs, careers, and positions in our life. However, when we start something new like a network marketing business we have to drop our ego. We need to be willing to learn and to grow in order to Be, Do, and Have what we want.
Question #3: Do you believe in yourself enough to take the first step, to do some personal development, and start releasing the fear that has held you back?
Do you believe that success in the entrepreneurial world is possible for you? Do you believe that you are worthy and deserving of all the good you desire?
In order to be successful in your network marketing business you will need to develop a belief in your self, in your company, in your products and in the home-based business industry.
Belief in oneself is something that increases as one embarks on the journey of personal development.
A fabulous book on the subject of belief is by the author Wayne Dyer: "You'll See It When You Believe It."
Bonus Question - Last but not least are you open to what is possible for you as an entrepreneur, in the network marketing industry?
A very valuable use of your time would be to take a few moments to quiet your mind, reflect and journal on the questions above.
The truth is, working for your self won't always be easy. You'll inevitably have moments of frustration. But it isn't what frustrates you that counts, it 's how you handle it--it 's whether you choose to grow through personal development or whether you choose to give up on your dreams.
Being an entrepreneur in the network marketing industry can be challenging in the beginning, but the freedom, the choices, the sense of accomplishment that comes with having made a difference in other peoples' lives makes it very worthwhile.
If you are willing to put your heart and soul in a business of your own, and are ready to succeed in the network marketing industry, CONGRATULATIONS! You, are about to embark on a life transforming, enriching, and fulfilling endeavor.
Before we go any further I want to make a distinction between easy and simple. In North America we tend to use both terms synonymously. However they are not the same. Subconsciously easy implies no effort. We all know a real network marketing business requires effort.
Yet, a business can be simple- it can be straightforward, it can have a proven system that can be quickly learned and followed by the average person.
If you're serious about becoming an entrepreneur, reaping the benefits of being your own boss, and living a life without limits, now is the time to examine your level of commitment.
There are 3 simple, yet important, sets of questions that you can ask yourself to see if you have what it takes to be in a network marketing business opportunity.
You might be surprised to learn that your current level of education, your background, and current wealth have nothing to do with the answers.
Question 1: On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high) how strong is your desire for a successful, lucrative network marketing business?
Everyone wants more time and money. But the important thing to ask yourself is how badly do you want more time and money? Why do you want more time and money? The intensity of your feeling is the number one factor that will propel you to success.
Question #2: Are you coachable and trainable?
Can you follow a simple proven system and are you willing to be mentored by those who have been there ahead of you?
We have all been successful at different jobs, careers, and positions in our life. However, when we start something new like a network marketing business we have to drop our ego. We need to be willing to learn and to grow in order to Be, Do, and Have what we want.
Question #3: Do you believe in yourself enough to take the first step, to do some personal development, and start releasing the fear that has held you back?
Do you believe that success in the entrepreneurial world is possible for you? Do you believe that you are worthy and deserving of all the good you desire?
In order to be successful in your network marketing business you will need to develop a belief in your self, in your company, in your products and in the home-based business industry.
Belief in oneself is something that increases as one embarks on the journey of personal development.
A fabulous book on the subject of belief is by the author Wayne Dyer: "You'll See It When You Believe It."
Bonus Question - Last but not least are you open to what is possible for you as an entrepreneur, in the network marketing industry?
A very valuable use of your time would be to take a few moments to quiet your mind, reflect and journal on the questions above.
The truth is, working for your self won't always be easy. You'll inevitably have moments of frustration. But it isn't what frustrates you that counts, it 's how you handle it--it 's whether you choose to grow through personal development or whether you choose to give up on your dreams.
Being an entrepreneur in the network marketing industry can be challenging in the beginning, but the freedom, the choices, the sense of accomplishment that comes with having made a difference in other peoples' lives makes it very worthwhile.
If you are willing to put your heart and soul in a business of your own, and are ready to succeed in the network marketing industry, CONGRATULATIONS! You, are about to embark on a life transforming, enriching, and fulfilling endeavor.
Creating Multiple Streams of Income, Network Marketers as Writers and Public Speakers
There’s no doubt that one of the secrets to creating wealth on a long-term scale is having multiple streams of income constantly coming in. The idea behind multiple streams of income is that if one stream “dries up” temporarily (or permanently), then you’ve still got others to fall back on.
Having multiple streams of income means that you’re never faced with the panicky feeling that you’re not bringing in enough, and you can have a positive energy that affects others because you don’t have to worry about your business near as much. It’s definitely a great way to bring confidence and security into your life.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to expand your network marketing business to create wealth in different ways. Many network marketers expand into the field of public speaking or writing to add even more income and impact to their business.
Let’s start with the realm of public speaking. If you’re currently having success with your network marketing business, then offering talks to teach others how to do the same thing is a logical step. Many people feel public speaking could actually fall under the “personal development” category. Not only are you making money, but you also get the enormous satisfaction in knowing that you’re helping other people realize their dreams. That kind of positive energy and good feeling is worth the effort you’ll put into doing this, as will be the wonderful people you’ll get to meet along the way.
There are many different things you can do to promote yourself as a public speaker. You can offer tele-classes, which will enable you to reach a lot of people over a broader area, increasing your income. You can offer classes at community centers, schools, libraries, and other public places and show others the great benefits of exploring network marketing business opportunities. Once others see that you offer public speaking you’ll soon begin to be regarded as an expert in your field, which do wonders if you market yourself this way.
You can also offer one-on-one mentoring to the people you coach through your classes and talks. If 30 people show up to your “Creating Wealth Through Network Marketing” talk, it can be hard to give the type of personal attention and advice that some people might want. Well, offering a mentoring program to others looking at starting a business can give them the confidence and security they need. You’ll be there as a guide for them, answering questions and coaching along the way.
Although many people start shaking in their boots when they are faced with the prospect of public speaking, the best way to combat that and become a natural is to do what Tony Robbins did. He booked himself public speaking engagements 6 days per week when he was starting out. He made himself face his fear, and he put himself out there for the world to see because he truly believed he could help people. The result? He’s now one of the most highly paid public speakers in the world, and he’s created an empire from his personal development seminars. Can you do this with your network marketing business? You bet. But you must face your fear and realize that you have the power to help others start living their life without limits. Once you believe you can help, then you can draw from that whenever you get nervous.
Writing is also a great avenue to explore if you’re looking for a unique way to create wealth. Thanks to the Internet it’s easier than ever to write and submit articles, and e-books have quickly become an accepted way for readers to get good information. You could write an e-book and sell it on your Web site. You could write and submit articles on network marketing to ezines, print magazines, or newspapers.
You can approach writing the same way we talked about approaching public speaking. Yes, you’re looking to grow your business, but you have the power to change lives with the knowledge you have. You can help and inspire others to leave jobs that are unfulfilling and set them on a path that fills them with joy and gives them the type of freedom they’ve always dreamed about. Sounds pretty great, right?
If you’ve got some great ideas but are worried that you’re no great shakes at putting it all together, don’t worry. There are plenty of freelance writers out there that are more than happy to ghostwrite articles and e-books for you. If you’re not the best writer it’s a great way to start getting your ideas out there. If you feel comfortable with your writing ability, then search online to see what other people are writing about network marketing. What can you say differently? What can you offer that no one else can?
As you can see, growing your network marketing business and creating wealth in unique ways is yours for the taking. Will it take some effort? Sure it will. But nothing worth having is ever just handed to you, and both these opportunities have the potential to help hundreds of thousands of people make a difference in their own life, as well as bringing in plenty of extra income for you. It can be a very rewarding way to grow your business!
Having multiple streams of income means that you’re never faced with the panicky feeling that you’re not bringing in enough, and you can have a positive energy that affects others because you don’t have to worry about your business near as much. It’s definitely a great way to bring confidence and security into your life.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to expand your network marketing business to create wealth in different ways. Many network marketers expand into the field of public speaking or writing to add even more income and impact to their business.
Let’s start with the realm of public speaking. If you’re currently having success with your network marketing business, then offering talks to teach others how to do the same thing is a logical step. Many people feel public speaking could actually fall under the “personal development” category. Not only are you making money, but you also get the enormous satisfaction in knowing that you’re helping other people realize their dreams. That kind of positive energy and good feeling is worth the effort you’ll put into doing this, as will be the wonderful people you’ll get to meet along the way.
There are many different things you can do to promote yourself as a public speaker. You can offer tele-classes, which will enable you to reach a lot of people over a broader area, increasing your income. You can offer classes at community centers, schools, libraries, and other public places and show others the great benefits of exploring network marketing business opportunities. Once others see that you offer public speaking you’ll soon begin to be regarded as an expert in your field, which do wonders if you market yourself this way.
You can also offer one-on-one mentoring to the people you coach through your classes and talks. If 30 people show up to your “Creating Wealth Through Network Marketing” talk, it can be hard to give the type of personal attention and advice that some people might want. Well, offering a mentoring program to others looking at starting a business can give them the confidence and security they need. You’ll be there as a guide for them, answering questions and coaching along the way.
Although many people start shaking in their boots when they are faced with the prospect of public speaking, the best way to combat that and become a natural is to do what Tony Robbins did. He booked himself public speaking engagements 6 days per week when he was starting out. He made himself face his fear, and he put himself out there for the world to see because he truly believed he could help people. The result? He’s now one of the most highly paid public speakers in the world, and he’s created an empire from his personal development seminars. Can you do this with your network marketing business? You bet. But you must face your fear and realize that you have the power to help others start living their life without limits. Once you believe you can help, then you can draw from that whenever you get nervous.
Writing is also a great avenue to explore if you’re looking for a unique way to create wealth. Thanks to the Internet it’s easier than ever to write and submit articles, and e-books have quickly become an accepted way for readers to get good information. You could write an e-book and sell it on your Web site. You could write and submit articles on network marketing to ezines, print magazines, or newspapers.
You can approach writing the same way we talked about approaching public speaking. Yes, you’re looking to grow your business, but you have the power to change lives with the knowledge you have. You can help and inspire others to leave jobs that are unfulfilling and set them on a path that fills them with joy and gives them the type of freedom they’ve always dreamed about. Sounds pretty great, right?
If you’ve got some great ideas but are worried that you’re no great shakes at putting it all together, don’t worry. There are plenty of freelance writers out there that are more than happy to ghostwrite articles and e-books for you. If you’re not the best writer it’s a great way to start getting your ideas out there. If you feel comfortable with your writing ability, then search online to see what other people are writing about network marketing. What can you say differently? What can you offer that no one else can?
As you can see, growing your network marketing business and creating wealth in unique ways is yours for the taking. Will it take some effort? Sure it will. But nothing worth having is ever just handed to you, and both these opportunities have the potential to help hundreds of thousands of people make a difference in their own life, as well as bringing in plenty of extra income for you. It can be a very rewarding way to grow your business!
The Invisible Audience at The Trade Show
When preparing your booth for a Trade Show you might think the attendees should be your primary focus. After all, that 's why you paid the big bucks, right?
In all actuality, this is only partially true. In fact, the full truth just may surprise you.
In most industries and organizations there are people that Malcolm Gladwell refers to as "connectors" in his book The Tipping Point.
These connectors seem to have a knack for knowing a lot of people. They trade a lot of information on a daily basis. It 's just in their nature to be friendly and pass along useful information to others they connect with, even in casual conversation. It 's not uncommon to find someone like this in almost every organization. This is the person who, at the end of the day, seems to know what everyone is up to.
These connectors are the people you want to get to know. Why? Because when they see something of value, they don't keep the information to themselves! They freely share it with everyone; especially people they think may benefit from it.
When you attract the attention of connectors, everyone soon knows something about you and your level of sophistication in the competitive arena. They pass along a wealth of information that most of the time is surprisingly accurate. You targeted the message of your Trade Show booth toward the usual attendees, but by also being aware of potential connectors in your industry and by seeking them out, you now have double the means to spread the word about your company.
People who act as connectors in the marketplace, connecting your company with people you need to reach, usually aren't going to be major competitors. He or she may be a person who represents an accessory product or service which is sold to everyone in your industry, but is not a direct competitor themselves.
This person is usually a great talker; and a great listener. He 's a walking score card and billboard all packed into one.
At the end of the day, a connector can tell you a little something about everyone, but he can also give exacting perspectives on what the prospects are for a new company based on his wealth of information on all the competitors and observations that he 's gathered over many years.
A connector will go out of his way to say nice things about you if he 's been continually impressed with your innovative products, your success over a short period or even with you personally.
In fact, whenever the opportunity arises, he shares your success story with others. In the process of sharing your success with others, he plants a seed in the minds of countless people who tell others.
And what has it cost you? Perhaps as little as a couple of beers at the bar telling war stories at the end of a long hard day on the show floor.
Over the years, he identifies with you and your business in ways that you can't even imagine, all because he just seems to like you and the values that you and your company represent.
Because this person is a walking advertisement, people come to him for knowledge. They will ask his opinion on who 's doing good work in the industry these days. What they're really saying when they ask that question is: I'm not satisfied with my present supplier and I might be ready for a move when the time is right. Because of his reputation as a knowledgeable source of information, they will trust his opinions.
In an imperfect world it may not always happen this way, but I've seen people like the one I just described help a manufacturer double their distribution without it costing them a penny.
Even at home, a connector I knew many years ago seemed to be able to help countless entrepreneurs build their business just by free word-of-mouth advertising. He never bought anything from any of them, but he somehow knew all of their potential customers. It 's the old third-person testimonial that makes this avenue of approach so valuable.
So when you're preparing your booth for the next trade show, don't forget that the biggest catch may not be standing in your booth during the show at all. They may be exhibiting just like you are a few aisle away, but they have the ability to reach many times over the people that you can simply because of a natural tendency toward connecting.
In all actuality, this is only partially true. In fact, the full truth just may surprise you.
In most industries and organizations there are people that Malcolm Gladwell refers to as "connectors" in his book The Tipping Point.
These connectors seem to have a knack for knowing a lot of people. They trade a lot of information on a daily basis. It 's just in their nature to be friendly and pass along useful information to others they connect with, even in casual conversation. It 's not uncommon to find someone like this in almost every organization. This is the person who, at the end of the day, seems to know what everyone is up to.
These connectors are the people you want to get to know. Why? Because when they see something of value, they don't keep the information to themselves! They freely share it with everyone; especially people they think may benefit from it.
When you attract the attention of connectors, everyone soon knows something about you and your level of sophistication in the competitive arena. They pass along a wealth of information that most of the time is surprisingly accurate. You targeted the message of your Trade Show booth toward the usual attendees, but by also being aware of potential connectors in your industry and by seeking them out, you now have double the means to spread the word about your company.
People who act as connectors in the marketplace, connecting your company with people you need to reach, usually aren't going to be major competitors. He or she may be a person who represents an accessory product or service which is sold to everyone in your industry, but is not a direct competitor themselves.
This person is usually a great talker; and a great listener. He 's a walking score card and billboard all packed into one.
At the end of the day, a connector can tell you a little something about everyone, but he can also give exacting perspectives on what the prospects are for a new company based on his wealth of information on all the competitors and observations that he 's gathered over many years.
A connector will go out of his way to say nice things about you if he 's been continually impressed with your innovative products, your success over a short period or even with you personally.
In fact, whenever the opportunity arises, he shares your success story with others. In the process of sharing your success with others, he plants a seed in the minds of countless people who tell others.
And what has it cost you? Perhaps as little as a couple of beers at the bar telling war stories at the end of a long hard day on the show floor.
Over the years, he identifies with you and your business in ways that you can't even imagine, all because he just seems to like you and the values that you and your company represent.
Because this person is a walking advertisement, people come to him for knowledge. They will ask his opinion on who 's doing good work in the industry these days. What they're really saying when they ask that question is: I'm not satisfied with my present supplier and I might be ready for a move when the time is right. Because of his reputation as a knowledgeable source of information, they will trust his opinions.
In an imperfect world it may not always happen this way, but I've seen people like the one I just described help a manufacturer double their distribution without it costing them a penny.
Even at home, a connector I knew many years ago seemed to be able to help countless entrepreneurs build their business just by free word-of-mouth advertising. He never bought anything from any of them, but he somehow knew all of their potential customers. It 's the old third-person testimonial that makes this avenue of approach so valuable.
So when you're preparing your booth for the next trade show, don't forget that the biggest catch may not be standing in your booth during the show at all. They may be exhibiting just like you are a few aisle away, but they have the ability to reach many times over the people that you can simply because of a natural tendency toward connecting.
Four Simple Questions That Will Make Or Break Your Business
Here are four questions for you:
1.Do you find it challenging to answer the question, "What 's your Unique Selling Position (USP)?"
2. Do you talk about the features of your product or service verses addressing the benefits by answering (before they ask) "So what 's so good about that?"
3.Do you discount your actions or accomplishments with statements like, "Oh that, it was nothing"?
4.Do you believe it is vanity to think you are something special - that you have a talent or gift unique to you and no one else can do exactly what you do?
If you answered yes to any one of those questions - keep reading.
In business it 's important to highlight those things that set you apart from others in your industry. In the past 30+ years I've worked with hundreds of individuals, in many different arenas, getting them to see how they are "unique".
I had a revealing dream wherein I was hanging out in an old shanty looking at photos of several of our female relatives and they were in full dress green Marine Corps uniforms. I remember thinking, I know this person and she hadn't been in the Marines, so I asked when she had enlisted. The person I was talking with answered me "she went in just a few years ago". Hmmm. The problem was she was a grandmother.
I woke up reviewing. In reality, none of my female relatives served in the military. Yet, there I was, going through these dream pictures looking at them as Corporals' and Sergeants' doing things that I, a Former Marine had done myself.
The dream was about the desire to discount what I do. The "oh that was nothing" statement when someone delivers a compliment. There have been times that I was extremely uncomfortable with the question "what makes you unique". Over the years I have realized that I was NOT unique in that "discomfort".
Often times in the discomfor of expressing our uniqueness we fall back to these template driven statements - the elevator speech, or Audio Business Card, that sounds like one of these:
"Hi I'm Jane/John Doe and I am a therapist / coach / chiropractor.." OR
" Hi I'm Jane/John Doe and I paint houses / design websites / teach computer skills..." OR
" Hi I'm Jane/John Doe and I sell health / skin care / home care products (by brand name if they feel the brand is a strong hook)..."
We then proceed to tell every feature our product provides. And even the slowest elevator isn't enough time to get...e v e r y t h i n g...in.
I know. I've done this too. In truth, our reaction is , "So what?" You provide "quality service", "excellent products" . . . and so do a thousand other people.
We still have avoided the key element - what makes YOU unique for promoting that product.
In Deepak Chopra 's book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, he writes that the 7th Spiritual Law is the "Law of Dharma". In short, that law says when you combine your unique talent with service to humanity you make full use of the Law of Dharma. Your actions, coming from a place of your unique talent(s) bring about wealth. This wealth is manifest in various ways including health, spirit, relationship, and financial.
My friend, Chellie Campbell, a well-known author on creating weath, could be classified as a Financial Coach. If you saw her as just that you'd miss the mark. Looking deeper into her USP, Chellie helps thousands with her unique, insightful and heartwarming approach to money, different than any other financial coach. She is abundantly successful today by being honest and totally "Chellie" down to her gold and jeweled tennis shoes, in addition to serving others with her "USP".
It is not vanity to know that you are special. It is not ego (Edging God Out) to move through life as if you are unique. Even Christ said "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Somehow, along the way, I like many others, massaged that statement into the idea that I am to abase myself. I must be sure that others see every good thing I do as a "work of God" and every bad thing I do as a result of my humanity or "humanness". I am not advocating the "glorification of man" just that we were told to let OUR light/work shine. In that simple act - God is glorified. It is in this "uniqueness" that we are all the same.
Spend some time today, tomorrow or as long as it takes, getting to know what makes you unique. What is it that you have to offer, from the inside out, that makes you different from everyone else?
When you do that first - all of the beauty and success you desire will be yours.
1.Do you find it challenging to answer the question, "What 's your Unique Selling Position (USP)?"
2. Do you talk about the features of your product or service verses addressing the benefits by answering (before they ask) "So what 's so good about that?"
3.Do you discount your actions or accomplishments with statements like, "Oh that, it was nothing"?
4.Do you believe it is vanity to think you are something special - that you have a talent or gift unique to you and no one else can do exactly what you do?
If you answered yes to any one of those questions - keep reading.
In business it 's important to highlight those things that set you apart from others in your industry. In the past 30+ years I've worked with hundreds of individuals, in many different arenas, getting them to see how they are "unique".
I had a revealing dream wherein I was hanging out in an old shanty looking at photos of several of our female relatives and they were in full dress green Marine Corps uniforms. I remember thinking, I know this person and she hadn't been in the Marines, so I asked when she had enlisted. The person I was talking with answered me "she went in just a few years ago". Hmmm. The problem was she was a grandmother.
I woke up reviewing. In reality, none of my female relatives served in the military. Yet, there I was, going through these dream pictures looking at them as Corporals' and Sergeants' doing things that I, a Former Marine had done myself.
The dream was about the desire to discount what I do. The "oh that was nothing" statement when someone delivers a compliment. There have been times that I was extremely uncomfortable with the question "what makes you unique". Over the years I have realized that I was NOT unique in that "discomfort".
Often times in the discomfor of expressing our uniqueness we fall back to these template driven statements - the elevator speech, or Audio Business Card, that sounds like one of these:
"Hi I'm Jane/John Doe and I am a therapist / coach / chiropractor.." OR
" Hi I'm Jane/John Doe and I paint houses / design websites / teach computer skills..." OR
" Hi I'm Jane/John Doe and I sell health / skin care / home care products (by brand name if they feel the brand is a strong hook)..."
We then proceed to tell every feature our product provides. And even the slowest elevator isn't enough time to get...e v e r y t h i n g...in.
I know. I've done this too. In truth, our reaction is , "So what?" You provide "quality service", "excellent products" . . . and so do a thousand other people.
We still have avoided the key element - what makes YOU unique for promoting that product.
In Deepak Chopra 's book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, he writes that the 7th Spiritual Law is the "Law of Dharma". In short, that law says when you combine your unique talent with service to humanity you make full use of the Law of Dharma. Your actions, coming from a place of your unique talent(s) bring about wealth. This wealth is manifest in various ways including health, spirit, relationship, and financial.
My friend, Chellie Campbell, a well-known author on creating weath, could be classified as a Financial Coach. If you saw her as just that you'd miss the mark. Looking deeper into her USP, Chellie helps thousands with her unique, insightful and heartwarming approach to money, different than any other financial coach. She is abundantly successful today by being honest and totally "Chellie" down to her gold and jeweled tennis shoes, in addition to serving others with her "USP".
It is not vanity to know that you are special. It is not ego (Edging God Out) to move through life as if you are unique. Even Christ said "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Somehow, along the way, I like many others, massaged that statement into the idea that I am to abase myself. I must be sure that others see every good thing I do as a "work of God" and every bad thing I do as a result of my humanity or "humanness". I am not advocating the "glorification of man" just that we were told to let OUR light/work shine. In that simple act - God is glorified. It is in this "uniqueness" that we are all the same.
Spend some time today, tomorrow or as long as it takes, getting to know what makes you unique. What is it that you have to offer, from the inside out, that makes you different from everyone else?
When you do that first - all of the beauty and success you desire will be yours.
Two Ears and One Mouth
Last week after a presentation, we had the standard networking post presentation event. In a bid to ensure that he was communicating with all potential clients, a presenter sidled up and asked the standard what do you do question.
Standing next to a gentleman whose business consisted of plumbed in water systems, on hearing water, the presenter asked and answered his own questions at least four times about what aspects of the water business the owner was in, that had absolutely nothing to do with plumbed in systems. Out of courtesy the business man stood in silence.
The presenter had no clue when to leave so his attention turned to the nearby canapes!
We were given two ears but only one mouth. Is this because the creator knew that listening was twice as hard as talking?
The first skill that you can practice to be a good listener is to act like a good listener. We have spent a lot of our modern lives working at tuning out all of the information that is thrust at us.
It therefore becomes important to change our physical body language from that of a deflector to that of a receiver, much like a satellite dish. Our faces contain most of the receptive equipment in our bodies, so it is only natural that we should tilt our faces towards the channel of information.
A second skill is to use the other bodily receptors besides your ears. You can be a better listener when you look at the other person. Your eyes pick up the non-verbal signals that all people send out when they are speaking. By looking at the speaker, your eyes will also complete the eye contact that speakers are trying to make. A speaker will work harder at sending out the information when they see a receptive audience in attendance. Your eyes help complete the communication circuit that must be established between speaker and listener.
When you have established eye and face contact with your speaker, you must then react to the speaker by sending out non-verbal signals. Your face must move and give the range of emotions that indicate whether you are following what the speaker has to say. By moving your face to the information, you can better concentrate on what the person is saying. Your face must become an active and contoured catcher of information.
It is extremely difficult to receive information when your mouth is moving information out at the same time.
A good listener will stop talking and use receptive language instead. Depending on where you are, the noises change from the I see , to the. un hunh to the oh really words and phrases that follow and encourage your speaker 's train of thought. This forces you to react to the ideas presented, rather than the person.
You can then move to asking questions, instead of giving your opinion on the information being presented. It is a true listening skill to use your mouth as a moving receptor of information rather than a broadcaster.
A final skill is to move your mind to concentrate on what the speaker is saying. You cannot fully hear their point of view or process information when you argue mentally or judge what they are saying before they have completed. An open mind is a mind that is receiving and listening to information.
If you really want to listen, you will act like a good listener. Good listeners are good catchers because they give their speakers a target and then move that target to capture the information that is being sent. When good listeners are not understanding their speakers, they will send signals to the speaker about what they expect next, or how the speaker can change the speed of information delivery to suit the listener. Above all, a good listener involves all of their face to be an active moving listener.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
1. If you are really listening intently, you should feel tired after your speaker has finished. Effective listening is an active rather than a passive activity.
2. When you find yourself drifting away during a listening session, change your body position and concentrate on using one of the above skills. Once one of the skills is being used, the other active skills will come into place as well.
3. Your body position defines whether you will have the chance of being a good listener or a good deflector. Good listeners are like poor boxers: they lead with their faces.
4. Meaning cannot just be transmitted as a tangible substance by the speaker. It must also be stimulated or aroused in the receiver. The receiver must therefore be an active participant for the cycle of communication to be complete.
Standing next to a gentleman whose business consisted of plumbed in water systems, on hearing water, the presenter asked and answered his own questions at least four times about what aspects of the water business the owner was in, that had absolutely nothing to do with plumbed in systems. Out of courtesy the business man stood in silence.
The presenter had no clue when to leave so his attention turned to the nearby canapes!
We were given two ears but only one mouth. Is this because the creator knew that listening was twice as hard as talking?
The first skill that you can practice to be a good listener is to act like a good listener. We have spent a lot of our modern lives working at tuning out all of the information that is thrust at us.
It therefore becomes important to change our physical body language from that of a deflector to that of a receiver, much like a satellite dish. Our faces contain most of the receptive equipment in our bodies, so it is only natural that we should tilt our faces towards the channel of information.
A second skill is to use the other bodily receptors besides your ears. You can be a better listener when you look at the other person. Your eyes pick up the non-verbal signals that all people send out when they are speaking. By looking at the speaker, your eyes will also complete the eye contact that speakers are trying to make. A speaker will work harder at sending out the information when they see a receptive audience in attendance. Your eyes help complete the communication circuit that must be established between speaker and listener.
When you have established eye and face contact with your speaker, you must then react to the speaker by sending out non-verbal signals. Your face must move and give the range of emotions that indicate whether you are following what the speaker has to say. By moving your face to the information, you can better concentrate on what the person is saying. Your face must become an active and contoured catcher of information.
It is extremely difficult to receive information when your mouth is moving information out at the same time.
A good listener will stop talking and use receptive language instead. Depending on where you are, the noises change from the I see , to the. un hunh to the oh really words and phrases that follow and encourage your speaker 's train of thought. This forces you to react to the ideas presented, rather than the person.
You can then move to asking questions, instead of giving your opinion on the information being presented. It is a true listening skill to use your mouth as a moving receptor of information rather than a broadcaster.
A final skill is to move your mind to concentrate on what the speaker is saying. You cannot fully hear their point of view or process information when you argue mentally or judge what they are saying before they have completed. An open mind is a mind that is receiving and listening to information.
If you really want to listen, you will act like a good listener. Good listeners are good catchers because they give their speakers a target and then move that target to capture the information that is being sent. When good listeners are not understanding their speakers, they will send signals to the speaker about what they expect next, or how the speaker can change the speed of information delivery to suit the listener. Above all, a good listener involves all of their face to be an active moving listener.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
1. If you are really listening intently, you should feel tired after your speaker has finished. Effective listening is an active rather than a passive activity.
2. When you find yourself drifting away during a listening session, change your body position and concentrate on using one of the above skills. Once one of the skills is being used, the other active skills will come into place as well.
3. Your body position defines whether you will have the chance of being a good listener or a good deflector. Good listeners are like poor boxers: they lead with their faces.
4. Meaning cannot just be transmitted as a tangible substance by the speaker. It must also be stimulated or aroused in the receiver. The receiver must therefore be an active participant for the cycle of communication to be complete.
Equestrian Sport Enthusiast? How To Turn Your Passion Into Profit
Equestrian sport is a fascinating subject. However, these days I have to indulge my passion in front of the television, because my mare is "indisposed". After three years of trying, getting more desperate with every passing year, my gorgeous pure-bred Friesian mare has finally managed to get herself pregnant. At the grand old age of eight, she is expecting her first foal in the spring.
Of course, insemination by one of the breath-taking registered Friesian stallions was just not good enough for her. She had to fall for an unregistered pure-bred stud, probably because he was on-hand and available. Never mind, she is in foal at last, and had lots of fun getting there.
Somewhere along the line (it may have been due to all the vet 's bills while she was trying to conceive) it dawned on me that this was going to be an expensive undertaking. Not one to be daunted by such an insignificant obstacle to my mare 's happiness, I decided to find a way to earn some extra cash.
The internet seemed to provide the ideal opportunity. Lots of scope, on first examination. Everywhere you surf there are promises about making loads of money in the shortest time. Strangely enough, it always involves investing a fair amount of money in either a product or a service first. Not having a lot of money to start off with, protected me from the internet sharks, but also forced me to learn the hard way.
I found out that:
1. There is no miraculous bullet; no magic wand that will make you rich overnight and that earning money online involves as much work as it does off-line.
2. There is a lot to learn and figure out and all this takes a lot of time.
3. Contrary to all the get-rich-quick claims, earning money online is not about following a "secret" formula, but about coming up with your own original idea ASAP.
4. Funding a mare and foal is a very expensive enterprise indeed.
5. It is very difficult to find accurate up-to-date information that doesn't cost a fortune.
6. Advice and support from other internet marketers is worth its weight in gold.
7. Unless you are passionate about your subject, you are wasting your time.
Horseback riders are passionate about their horses and often enthusiastic about helping other people. All the internet gurus say that to be successful online you have to over-deliver. It is certainly no effort to over-deliver to horse people. To make money online you have to invest more than you get out. And I do not mean money! You must invest your time and some of yourself. Stamp your business with your own personality. Make it unique and characteristic. That shouldn't be too difficult for most horse riders.
We all need the support and advice of our mentors, but eventually we have to come up with our own ideas. Just as learning to understand your horse is fundamentally down to your own insight, ideas and efforts, so is building a successful business on the internet.
The most effective way for equestrians to learn the ropes online is to join an online community of equestrians that are interested in either starting a business online or taking their off-line business online. Currently the choice is limited, but there are a few excellent websites, blogs and membership sites that specialise in providing horse people who want to earn an income online with accurate information and a place to network with other equestrians.
Of course, insemination by one of the breath-taking registered Friesian stallions was just not good enough for her. She had to fall for an unregistered pure-bred stud, probably because he was on-hand and available. Never mind, she is in foal at last, and had lots of fun getting there.
Somewhere along the line (it may have been due to all the vet 's bills while she was trying to conceive) it dawned on me that this was going to be an expensive undertaking. Not one to be daunted by such an insignificant obstacle to my mare 's happiness, I decided to find a way to earn some extra cash.
The internet seemed to provide the ideal opportunity. Lots of scope, on first examination. Everywhere you surf there are promises about making loads of money in the shortest time. Strangely enough, it always involves investing a fair amount of money in either a product or a service first. Not having a lot of money to start off with, protected me from the internet sharks, but also forced me to learn the hard way.
I found out that:
1. There is no miraculous bullet; no magic wand that will make you rich overnight and that earning money online involves as much work as it does off-line.
2. There is a lot to learn and figure out and all this takes a lot of time.
3. Contrary to all the get-rich-quick claims, earning money online is not about following a "secret" formula, but about coming up with your own original idea ASAP.
4. Funding a mare and foal is a very expensive enterprise indeed.
5. It is very difficult to find accurate up-to-date information that doesn't cost a fortune.
6. Advice and support from other internet marketers is worth its weight in gold.
7. Unless you are passionate about your subject, you are wasting your time.
Horseback riders are passionate about their horses and often enthusiastic about helping other people. All the internet gurus say that to be successful online you have to over-deliver. It is certainly no effort to over-deliver to horse people. To make money online you have to invest more than you get out. And I do not mean money! You must invest your time and some of yourself. Stamp your business with your own personality. Make it unique and characteristic. That shouldn't be too difficult for most horse riders.
We all need the support and advice of our mentors, but eventually we have to come up with our own ideas. Just as learning to understand your horse is fundamentally down to your own insight, ideas and efforts, so is building a successful business on the internet.
The most effective way for equestrians to learn the ropes online is to join an online community of equestrians that are interested in either starting a business online or taking their off-line business online. Currently the choice is limited, but there are a few excellent websites, blogs and membership sites that specialise in providing horse people who want to earn an income online with accurate information and a place to network with other equestrians.
Solutions for Small Business Computer Networks
Computers have become very much a part of lives today. With each passing day we are becoming more and more dependent on the wonder machine. They are absolutely essential as regards businesses. As regards small businesses the first and foremost thing that would be necessary is to have an efficient and effective computer network setup at the work place. A computer network essentially means linking up of the computers in the office area. The most important advantage of having such a system in place is that it saves plenty of time. Small businesses are no different and they too would benefit hugely with having such a system in place. Small businesses also use computers for their day to day smooth functioning. There are companies which offer exclusive small business computer network. This could help in the effectiveness of the business operation.
Computer network installation is the first step in having an integrated computer system at the work place. There are experts in the field that lend their services for doing so. Once the computer network installation is completed the functioning of the business enterprise becomes easier. A well-established computer network setup helps in the growth of the business. If not, with such tough competition around it is likely that businesses which do not use the potential of the computers to the fullest will be left out in the race. Companies which set up the computer network also provide the computer network maintenance. Such enterprises provide the necessary computer network maintenance from time to time and this ensures that the network system functions smoothly or else it may result in huge losses for your business. For the smooth operation of any business computer network solutions is absolutely essential. A small business computer network is as important as that of a large business enterprise. A good computer network would help in file sharing which would help in saving time. The use of other devices can also be shared. For e.g. an integrated computer network system would result in the sharing of peripheral devices such as the printer and this would invariably save money for the enterprise. Over a period these savings would make a huge difference especially in case of small business enterprises. Data can be shared at a faster pace and there can be a smooth flow of information and communication. Even data recovery is more effective with such a network system in place. If one computer fails due to any reason such as a hardware problem then the data can be recovered from another system where it has been saved. So this also makes it a safe system of operation.
All Computer network solutions can be found with the firms that offer computer network installation and other services. A good computer network at an office place has far reaching benefits for the business enterprise and its growth. It is best to approach a well known company that offers such services and have an effective computer network setup in place at the earliest.So this also makes it a safe system of operation.
All Computer network solutions can be found with the firms that offer computer network installation and other services. A good computer network at an office place has far reaching benefits for the business enterprise and its growth. It is best to approach a well known company that offers such services and have an effective computer network setup in place at the earliest.
Computer network installation is the first step in having an integrated computer system at the work place. There are experts in the field that lend their services for doing so. Once the computer network installation is completed the functioning of the business enterprise becomes easier. A well-established computer network setup helps in the growth of the business. If not, with such tough competition around it is likely that businesses which do not use the potential of the computers to the fullest will be left out in the race. Companies which set up the computer network also provide the computer network maintenance. Such enterprises provide the necessary computer network maintenance from time to time and this ensures that the network system functions smoothly or else it may result in huge losses for your business. For the smooth operation of any business computer network solutions is absolutely essential. A small business computer network is as important as that of a large business enterprise. A good computer network would help in file sharing which would help in saving time. The use of other devices can also be shared. For e.g. an integrated computer network system would result in the sharing of peripheral devices such as the printer and this would invariably save money for the enterprise. Over a period these savings would make a huge difference especially in case of small business enterprises. Data can be shared at a faster pace and there can be a smooth flow of information and communication. Even data recovery is more effective with such a network system in place. If one computer fails due to any reason such as a hardware problem then the data can be recovered from another system where it has been saved. So this also makes it a safe system of operation.
All Computer network solutions can be found with the firms that offer computer network installation and other services. A good computer network at an office place has far reaching benefits for the business enterprise and its growth. It is best to approach a well known company that offers such services and have an effective computer network setup in place at the earliest.So this also makes it a safe system of operation.
All Computer network solutions can be found with the firms that offer computer network installation and other services. A good computer network at an office place has far reaching benefits for the business enterprise and its growth. It is best to approach a well known company that offers such services and have an effective computer network setup in place at the earliest.
IT Network Support and Solutions
Information Technology (IT) has become a major part of our lives. Any business or office is almost completely dependent on computers today for their operation. Once an office is computerized it may tend to have problems with the hardware or may end up with some software related issue some time or the other. To take care that the functioning of the business is not affected due to these problems most companies hire the services of an IT services firm which would provide it with the necessary IT support that it needs from time to time. In case of any problem this firm would give the IT solutions that are required to overcome the problem.
IT experts do a wide variety of jobs which include designing and installation of computer networks, managing the system and various other tasks. Some IT support lending firms have such advanced technology that they identify a problem at a very early stage and that tends to work as a warning system. This works as an alarm and major problems can be avoided and huge expenses can be prevented. The IT services firm monitors the functioning of the system and being a continuous process, problems are identified and addressed at the earliest saving both time and money.
Hiring a competent IT services firm is of utmost importance as it would have all the IT solutions which would make the functioning of the business an absolutely smooth process. Over a period the systems tend to slow down and a firm which has the right expertise would help you deal with this issue by monitoring the system and providing effective maintenance at regular intervals. The most well equipped firms offer many of their services right from their office and this would help in saving a lot of time. They are even capable of identifying a failing hardware which would ensure that no data is lost as recovery measures can be setup at the earliest.
Security issues are a big concern as far as computer networking is concerned. A capable and proficient technology support partner would help in getting the very best out of your system. Most of the time companies install programs that are available locally but at times there is a requirement of programs which are to be made with certain specifications meeting the demands of the company. Such IT solutions can be brought about only with a well experienced team of an efficient IT services firm.
If the network is managed by an experienced hand then you can concentrate completely on the functioning of the business. There are such firms which look into the needs of small business enterprise alone. Such competent firms also have well experienced staff to attend to every problem at the earliest and offer the very best solution. One should conduct a thorough survey before hiring the services of any such firm. There are plenty of such IT services lending firms but an efficient one is of utmost importance as the functioning of your enterprise is largely dependent on their service and effectiveness.
If the network is managed by an experienced hand then you can concentrate completely on the functioning of the business. There are such firms which look into the needs of small business enterprise alone. Such competent firms also have well experienced staff to attend to every problem at the earliest and offer the very best solution. One should conduct a thorough survey before hiring the services of any such firm. There are plenty of such IT services lending firms but an efficient one is of utmost importance as the functioning of your enterprise is largely dependent on their service and effectiveness.
IT experts do a wide variety of jobs which include designing and installation of computer networks, managing the system and various other tasks. Some IT support lending firms have such advanced technology that they identify a problem at a very early stage and that tends to work as a warning system. This works as an alarm and major problems can be avoided and huge expenses can be prevented. The IT services firm monitors the functioning of the system and being a continuous process, problems are identified and addressed at the earliest saving both time and money.
Hiring a competent IT services firm is of utmost importance as it would have all the IT solutions which would make the functioning of the business an absolutely smooth process. Over a period the systems tend to slow down and a firm which has the right expertise would help you deal with this issue by monitoring the system and providing effective maintenance at regular intervals. The most well equipped firms offer many of their services right from their office and this would help in saving a lot of time. They are even capable of identifying a failing hardware which would ensure that no data is lost as recovery measures can be setup at the earliest.
Security issues are a big concern as far as computer networking is concerned. A capable and proficient technology support partner would help in getting the very best out of your system. Most of the time companies install programs that are available locally but at times there is a requirement of programs which are to be made with certain specifications meeting the demands of the company. Such IT solutions can be brought about only with a well experienced team of an efficient IT services firm.
If the network is managed by an experienced hand then you can concentrate completely on the functioning of the business. There are such firms which look into the needs of small business enterprise alone. Such competent firms also have well experienced staff to attend to every problem at the earliest and offer the very best solution. One should conduct a thorough survey before hiring the services of any such firm. There are plenty of such IT services lending firms but an efficient one is of utmost importance as the functioning of your enterprise is largely dependent on their service and effectiveness.
If the network is managed by an experienced hand then you can concentrate completely on the functioning of the business. There are such firms which look into the needs of small business enterprise alone. Such competent firms also have well experienced staff to attend to every problem at the earliest and offer the very best solution. One should conduct a thorough survey before hiring the services of any such firm. There are plenty of such IT services lending firms but an efficient one is of utmost importance as the functioning of your enterprise is largely dependent on their service and effectiveness.
Your Referral IQ
Do you track the referrals you give to find customer satisfaction?
We each strive for a referral-based business, but at times it becomes a two-edged sword. Are you aware that the person you recommend is a reflection on how you believe business should be conducted? For this very reason, it is wise to follow-up with the person to whom you gave the referral.
Ask your associate the following questions:
1. Were they contacted promptly
2. Was the initial contact friendly and professional
3. Did the referral listen, add extra insight to the conversation, and take time to understand their challenges, strengths and goals to the point of being able to help?
The implication of being the referring party is the people you refer meet your standards of professionalism. Your associates will continue to look to you for leadership and advice. In return, they will refer your services to their associates. The better the referrals you provide, the stronger the likelihood of you being referred.
However the referral system is not always the picture of perfection. Sometimes the person you trusted to be an excellent resource proves to be not so.
Compounding the bad news, the person you were trying to help may become upset with your referral. If you are not active on follow-up, it will reflect badly on you. The end result will make you wish you never volunteered to help.
Do not treat the gesture of referral lightly. Following up with both parties is highly recommended. You can correct a glitch in a timely manner by asking for feedback on your referral. Your associate will be glad you checked in and care about the treatment they received.
You will quickly learn whether to keep the referral for future requests and whether or not you personally wish to continue doing business with the person you referred.
My Story
In the past several years, I was given two poor referrals. In both cases, the referring parties were contacted to let them know what transpired. The service was so inadequate I did not want anyone else to suffer the same. My feedback was greeted at opposite ends of the spectrum by each referring party.
Knowing I am a woman owned and certified business, I was referred to a consultant as being able to help me secure government and corporate contracts. The consultant spoke with me, offered to review my website and make recommendation for attracting large contracts along with a proposal.
When the proposal arrived, I was dismayed. The recommendations were based upon incorrect assumptions. Although the consultant asked for thousands of dollars for his service, he could not find the time to research my website. I viewed his deliverables as unprofessional.
I called the referring party to give my feedback on the situation. Undaunted by our conversation, he proceeded to sign a joint venture agreement with the consultant in question.
The second referral was that of our accountant who referred another service provider some years ago. Our experience was abysmal and we relayed our incident. What is most interesting is the accountant referred the same person to a mutual friend prior to us. The friend had a similar miserable experience but was too embarrassed to say anything. If this friend had provided feedback, we would not have similarly suffered.
The good news was our accountant, without any hesitancy, assured all of us he would never recommend that person again. To this day, we are loyal clients and good friends with our accountant.
Make a commitment to begin following-up on the referrals you provide, take the feedback seriously, and you may see a jump in the referrals you receive!
We each strive for a referral-based business, but at times it becomes a two-edged sword. Are you aware that the person you recommend is a reflection on how you believe business should be conducted? For this very reason, it is wise to follow-up with the person to whom you gave the referral.
Ask your associate the following questions:
1. Were they contacted promptly
2. Was the initial contact friendly and professional
3. Did the referral listen, add extra insight to the conversation, and take time to understand their challenges, strengths and goals to the point of being able to help?
The implication of being the referring party is the people you refer meet your standards of professionalism. Your associates will continue to look to you for leadership and advice. In return, they will refer your services to their associates. The better the referrals you provide, the stronger the likelihood of you being referred.
However the referral system is not always the picture of perfection. Sometimes the person you trusted to be an excellent resource proves to be not so.
Compounding the bad news, the person you were trying to help may become upset with your referral. If you are not active on follow-up, it will reflect badly on you. The end result will make you wish you never volunteered to help.
Do not treat the gesture of referral lightly. Following up with both parties is highly recommended. You can correct a glitch in a timely manner by asking for feedback on your referral. Your associate will be glad you checked in and care about the treatment they received.
You will quickly learn whether to keep the referral for future requests and whether or not you personally wish to continue doing business with the person you referred.
My Story
In the past several years, I was given two poor referrals. In both cases, the referring parties were contacted to let them know what transpired. The service was so inadequate I did not want anyone else to suffer the same. My feedback was greeted at opposite ends of the spectrum by each referring party.
Knowing I am a woman owned and certified business, I was referred to a consultant as being able to help me secure government and corporate contracts. The consultant spoke with me, offered to review my website and make recommendation for attracting large contracts along with a proposal.
When the proposal arrived, I was dismayed. The recommendations were based upon incorrect assumptions. Although the consultant asked for thousands of dollars for his service, he could not find the time to research my website. I viewed his deliverables as unprofessional.
I called the referring party to give my feedback on the situation. Undaunted by our conversation, he proceeded to sign a joint venture agreement with the consultant in question.
The second referral was that of our accountant who referred another service provider some years ago. Our experience was abysmal and we relayed our incident. What is most interesting is the accountant referred the same person to a mutual friend prior to us. The friend had a similar miserable experience but was too embarrassed to say anything. If this friend had provided feedback, we would not have similarly suffered.
The good news was our accountant, without any hesitancy, assured all of us he would never recommend that person again. To this day, we are loyal clients and good friends with our accountant.
Make a commitment to begin following-up on the referrals you provide, take the feedback seriously, and you may see a jump in the referrals you receive!
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