Rrrrrrrr

No matter what sphere of business you are in, there will always be opportunities to learn from the experts …the people who are leaders in their respective fields, who not only are at the cutting edge and are doing it every day but are prepared to take time from their busy schedules to share their knowledge with others.

Conferences and Seminars abound throughout the business world in every conceivable niche and I suppose when you are starting off or perhaps experiencing difficulties in your Business then attending a seminar can lift the spirits and give you further encouragement to press on.

Taking time out from your own busy routine is sometimes a gut wrenching decision and can create more than a little stress but I have found that invariably it is often just the right thing to do no matter how busy you are! Here’s a little true story of my own rude awakening and introduction into the heady world of Sales and Marketing and the importance of taking time out to investigate what is happening on your patch!

Twenty Seven years ago, just after getting married and buying And selling my first house in a matter of months, the company that I worked for sent my new wife and me on a journey that continues to this day. Half way across the country to a strange City with no family nearby or friends for that matter…definitely a journey into the unknown, where very few motorists drove on the left hand side and everyone that you passed gave you a wave! (Not conducive to road safety I might add which, as most of you know, who are reading this, is a subject close to my heart!)

After several months of backbreaking work (wife-less during the week!) and a daily routine that was reminiscent of a chain gang on steroids, our Sales Director (and my first real Mentor) announced he was coming down the next day and I was to take him on a tour of the New Branch’s Territory. Imagine… the Boss coming all that way to see how we were getting on…what a thrill and of course the prospect of a good lunch didn’t escape me! How wrong I was and the next day taught me a valuable lesson which everyone in Business needs to take on board.

Naturally, I was chauffeur and we toured the City and Industrial Estates all morning. Every few seconds, or so it seemed, a voice bellowed “who have we there?” which roughly translates to “how many customers in that stretch of street” to which the reply, from an increasingly despondent Driver was “well… none yet but we plan to visit next week and two presentations have been scheduled!”) It seemed that the Inquisitor had an uncanny knack of selecting areas and parts of the City that well… were totally devoid of our attention and more importantly our presence!

At that stage I wished the road would have swallowed us up but the grand tour was not an attempt to trip me up or find an excuse to fire me but a practical exercise in teaching a new Manager that no matter how much work there is to do at your desk or elsewhere it is vital to set aside some time on a regular basis to check out your market place.

You need to see what your competitors are up to; to see just who is setting up in business that could provide a useful opportunity for your services and to give yourself a break from the heavy routine which will then start the creative juices flowing.

A regular tour of your territory (whether on -line or off-line) will give you some surprising results that you would never have thought of and quite probably a jump on your competitors.

Back at base an animated Sales Director said sternly “you must take time away from the Branch to see what is happening out there other wise we are going nowhere”. I had fallen into the trap of being brilliant (almost) at Administration and convincing myself that this was much more important in the short term than sales.

This was a valuable lesson and before long we were showing up as the fastest growing branch in an organisation of 71 branches. Lesson learnt! Life is peppered with potentially quantum leaps up the success ladder if we only seize the moment and then put the idea into practise in all future activities.

Seminars present an absolutely incredible opportunity to learn from the experts and get out of the office at the same time. Invariably you will make some really excellent contacts for the future for two way business opportunities and if you can speed -write or develop your own shorthand technique then you will be able to take notes and take it all in at the same time!( I warn you this isn’t easy)

I nearly forgot…a professionally organised full day seminar will always give you a free lunch (now where did we hear about the free lunch before?) which keeps you ticking over for the afternoon session and also provides the opportunity to network. It’s a good idea not to make a bee line for the people you talked with over morning coffee …give yourself the chance to meet as many delegates as possible and naturally you want to be carrying as many Business cards as your wallet will hold without destroying the look of your suit!

What was the inspiration for this article you might wonder? Was it on my hard drive in essence for months or years? No Sireee… We just attended an Irish Internet Association Seminar yesterday and Guess what? All the above mentioned benefits came true including the Free Lunch! There will be a follow up article of the Seminar with a look at the benefits obtained from all the key speakers; ideas that you yourself can easily put in motion with a little effort. How about writing an article on the absolutely guaranteed benefits of attending a seminar…you get the picture!

The next Seminar that comes to your Town…make sure you are there no matter what the cost and no matter how busy you are!

Robin Piggott is moving from the oh so frequent status of being a “Pretty Web Site” Owner with no traffic to a whole new world of opportunities and success. First the mindset basics need to be addressed.We share our expertise and experiences through the Web Site and Blogs.

http://www.astralmotoring.ie
http://astraldrivingschool.blogs.ie

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How many leads do you pass on?

As a reminder, you must give a lot before you can expect any leads from the group. You must be able to define your best customer, give your pitch and describe what you do best. On top of this you must gain credibility. Then how do you know how many leads to expect? If you have done your homework, you will have a good idea about the expectations of each member in the group. If the group does an average of 1 lead per person in the group per week, then you have hit a high note. The biggest problem with getting a lead is the fact that you do not know whether that lead is actually qualified to buy your product or service.

Once you are an older member, you can expect to get more leads and better leads. You should make sure that the leads you do get are ones where you get an introduction. Without the introduction, the lead may as well be a cold call. Sometimes people bring in leads that have a potential but it has not been stated that they are looking for a particular product or service. You want to make sure that you do not get anything but a qualified lead. In order to make sure the leads are qualified, you need to let the group know exactly what you are looking for and how you can obtain that business. If you have helped the group help you, then you can expect to receive at least 3 or 4 good leads a month.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com

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Effective Business Ideas

Get Connected in Business: Be Interactive

What is the best way to get connected? Being Interactive. This means you get involved and stay involved with people without there having to be a problem or situation that gets you started. You will then know what is happening around you. You will know your bosses’ goals. What concerns your peers and customers have. And if you have people reporting to you, you will know what they are thinking. And at the same time, don’t be shy about your own goals and needs. Make sure other people know what you are thinking and planning. The more you know about your organization and the more people know about your goals, the more successful they and you will be.

Will being interactive mean that you will never be blindsided and start to feel that you don’t know what is going on? No. However, when the unexpected happens you will have a better sense of how urgent the matter is because you will know the priorities of your business. You will know who to work with so it can be resolved with a minimum of fuss and effort. And you will know what is needed and not have to second guess those around you - you will know that you are headed in the right direction and have support and understanding from colleagues and clients.

How to change tactics
How do you make this shift? Try these suggestions and then practice them.
1) Create learning situations with clients and colleagues. Teach what you do and know. Learn what others do and what they need. Update this learning often.
2) Be creative - use the learning to the benefit of all parties. Share ideas, link ideas. Look for best practices, benchmarking, clear roles and responsibilities.

3) Look for barriers to understanding and cooperation. Then work with others to eliminate these as they arise.
4) When going into a new situation, ask of everyone: What do you want to happen? How will we measure our success? Look for understanding, past successful actions - start out right.
5) When completing a task, ask everyone: How could this be better?

Use these suggestions to increase connection and introduce an interactive approach to everything you do.

© Fritz M. Brunner, Ph.D. 2005

Fritz M. Brunner, Ph.D. is a coach and consultant engaged in working with people wanting to excel in life and business. Please visit his web site at http://www.fmbrunner.com or contact him at fritz@fmbrunner.com

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“Let’s meet for lunch” may sound like a fun business invitation, but remember there’s no such thing as a “free lunch.” What you do or say could either make or break a deal. So, as host or guest, if you feel lunch is an inappropriate place to hold your meeting, offer a different possibility.

For the times you decide to “do lunch,” here are a few tips to make your luncheon meeting as pleasant and profitable as possible.

Begin by choosing the right place to meet and eat. Avoid loud, busy restaurants. You can pick some place you already know or you could allow your guest to choose their favorite spot. That way, you can avoid mistakes - like taking a vegetarian to “Fat Bubba’s Rib Joint.”

Always confirm the time and place so there’s no miscommunication or embarrassment and be sure to arrive on time dressed appropriately. If you have a limit to how long you can spend eating, let the other person know. And definitely turn off your cell phone. It’s rude to take calls during a business meal.

Start the meeting with a warm smile and firm handshake. Thank the other person for either inviting you or accepting your invitation. Some pleasant, getting related small talk is important to set the proper tone, so don’t jump right into talking business. Wait until the food order is placed or at least allow the other person to make the first move.

Almost every restaurant in the country now has their menu posted on the web. Check it out ahead of time, so you know what to order in advance. Never smoke or drink and never order sloppy. (Let’s face it, there’s no way to eat a double bacon cheeseburger with extra sauce without looking like a pig.) Also, if you’re the guest, never order an appetizer, dessert or the most expensive entrée, unless your host encourages it. Even then, be appropriate.

Know your table etiquette (forks on the left, knives on the right, etc.) and always mind your manners. Don’t be looking around the restaurant to check out what other people are doing. Focus first on the conversation at hand and secondly on the meal. And never speak rudely to your server. Be polite at all times.

If you’re the host, it’s your responsibility to pick up the check and cover all costs, including the tip, parking and coat check. And if you’re the guest, be gracious and express appreciation. Let the host know you enjoyed their company and the meal. (But not to the point of asking for a “doggy bag.”) A thank you note sent to the host on the following day is always a classy thing to do.

As schedules get busier, the business lunch is becoming more popular. When handled with style, grace and charm, breaking bread together is a great way to get to know someone on a more personal level, as well as an efficient and effective way to conduct business.

Katie Byrd will take you by the hand and teach you the skills she’s used to journey from a financially-strapped, bad credit nightmare to debt free abundant living. To find out more visit: http://abundanceandwealth.bellaonline.com

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You might feel that Networking is of value for your business, but still wonder if its worth the effort.

It is worth considering why Networking can be so valuable. I have selected 8 of the most important reasons, and give justification for my selections. What do you think?

1) You increase Sales!

This is the most obvious reason for networking, and many people would put it clearly ahead of all the others. They rely on the principle that the more people you can meet, then the more sales you’ll be able to make. While there is a certain truth to this, I think there’s a lot more to Networking, as you’ll see below.

2) Develop ongoing Relationships

This is more like Networking, rather than simply trying to make sales there and then. You will be aiming to get to know people better, and for them to know more about you in return. In business there often needs to be a great deal of trust, and it helps if you have known your contacts over an extended period, and you know you can trust and rely on them.

3) Recommend Businesses to each Other

Once you begin to know more about a person, you will get a good idea as to whether she is trustworthy or not. Also you have a better understanding of the products or services that are on offer. Even if you are not in a position to take advantage of these, you might know of people you can recommend who might be interested, or even directly refer these people to your networking contact.

4) Have other People refer You

As well as you being able to recommend people, hopefully they will find that they can confidently recommend you and your services or products. Usually you shouldn’t need to chase these referrals, but instead find that people remember you when they learn of someone needing what you have to offer.

5) Exchange useful Information

Networking needn’t be just about directly helping sales. Sometimes if can be more valuable to gain special information which would otherwise be difficult to obtain. For instance, people you talk to might be able to suggest ways you can improve the operation of your business. Of course the exchange of information is a two-way process, and you should look for any opportunity to help any of your contacts.

6) Learn of Business Opportunities

Networking is particularly valuable when you need to build your business. Not only can you learn of potential customers for whatever you have to offer, but you might hear of a new direction for your business that it might be useful to investigate. For instance, if you hear of a major business is relocating to your area, you might be able to arrange to supply it directly.

7) Learn of Employment Opportunities

You don’t necessary already have a business up-and-running to be able to benefit from Networking. It can even be useful to be networking when you are looking for your first job. Once you have been able to establish yourself as a reliable and trustworthy person, then you might be fortunate enough to be offered employment, or at least referred on to a contact who might be interested in employing you.

You enjoy the Networking Process

At first we are probably all a bit reluctant to make enough effort to network. After a while, however, you will probably find yourself keen to take advantage of any opportunity. This is particularly the case if you network well, and feel that you are helping other people as well as gaining benefits for yourself. It will be satisfying to meet new people, learn about them and their business, and see how you can be of value to each other.

So these are some of the main reasons why Networking can be considered to be valuable. How many of these reasons can be applied to yourself?

Can you see why it is likely that you are not taking sufficient advantage of any Networking opportunities that come your way? What are you going to do to improve your Networking?

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Geoffrey Ponder is an experienced Technical Writer who has worked on contract for some of the leading Investment Banks, as well as Consulting firms such as PwC and KPMG. Recently he has been involved in Property Investment, and has built up a substantial portfolio of rental properties.

Now he is concentrating on helping people network more effectively, in order to build their business. In particular, he feels that Online Networking has a great deal to offer any business, anywhere in the world. This is often the best way of developing numerous contacts for mutual benefit.

You can learn more by going to -
http://www.Networking-Knowledge.com

If you subscribe to the free newsletter you’ll receive regular articles to further improve your understanding of Networking, and help you gain more from Networking.

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