Are you FUN to network with?
GetConnected2010 (www.getconnected2010.com) was an enriching 3-day experience on Miami Beach a few short weekends ago organized by PMC Events to celebrate International Networking Week (www.internationalnetworkingweek.com) Those of us who attended enjoyed several expert presentations, while networking with high-quality local, national and international professionals. While listening to several of the speakers, I was reminded of the six fun ways to network, and I hope you enjoy it.
Become FUN to REFER!
A referral is the best compliment another professional can pay to you, and your business; however, so many professionals forget the most important thing about being referred: to make the person or company referring you, look great, which makes you fun to refer! If you provide a world-class experience in your field, especially for those clients, friends, industry partners, and family who think enough of you to refer you, you’ll grow your business – guaranteed!
Become FUN to MEET!
A critical element of networking is meeting people. We attend so many events (seminars, continuing education classes, various training sessions, the frequent happy hour, chamber of commerce luncheons, etc.) How many times have you experienced “that person” who talks incessantly about themselves, who talks non-stop about the blah blah blah of their business, when all you really hoped for was a brief, yet meaningful introduction? First impressions create very lasting memories, so when you are meeting someone for the first time, prepare to be clear and concise in your communication – so that you can briefly and effectively say who are, what you do, how it helps others, and be prepared to ask for (and receive) a business card for future follow up. Ask yourself - are you fun to meet?
Become FUN to INVITE!
Do you suffer from too many event invitations, or not enough? If you answered the latter, then this paragraph is for you. While there are no hard and fast rules on “getting invited”, here are a few thoughts that will make you fun to invite: mix well in a diverse group of people, keep politics, sex, religion, and other personal items to yourself, stay current on your local, national and global news, while always bringing something of relevance to the host of the event, such as a bottle of wine, scotch, or a donation. These are not hard and fast rules, but rather ideas on how you can always be flooded with the right type of invitations, by being FUN to invite!
Become FUN to INVOLVE!
Society today moves as the speed of thought. Text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Cloud computing have us all craving for less tech and more personal interpersonal-interaction. Our communities have so much need, including a need for: money, volunteer time, expertise, and other basics – that if we’d all just work a little harder, and more together, we could dramatically reduce if not overcome these shortcomings. Think about what really matters to you. Think about how you can make an impact. Think about how society would benefit if more people like you stepped up. Then take an interest, and learn more. Take the risk, attend a meeting or an event. Take action! Serve on a board. Feed the homeless. Tutor a young child. Mentor a fellow business owner. Visit a local senior. Walk for a cause. Sponsor an event. And remember, when you become fun to involve, everyone wins!
Become FUN to SUPPORT!
Already involved in your community? Great! Have you developed a following for what you’re involved in? Invite your friends, family, colleagues and network to learn more about what you’re involved in, and most importantly why it matters to you and/or to our community, and you will start to become fun to support. By keeping your network actively aware of your efforts, it will build awareness, generate interest, and create a positive momentum that will make you fun to support!
Become FUN to COMPLIMENT!
Word of mouth is a powerful form of advertising and it is always working. The question: is it working for you? What do other people, companies, friends and family say about you, your business, and/or the way you live your life? Praise is fun, powerful, and a very motivating action; however, the likelihood is today that you’ll hear 5 criticisms for every 1 compliment. Why is that? Without delving into the labyrinth of psychological theories on the subject, it can be summed up in a simple way: act and do more positive things in better and more visible ways so that you can become more fun to compliment!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
THRIVE through it!
Welcome to 2010!
The decade-ending 2009 is best viewed through your rearview mirror, and fortunately for us all, a new year is now. It has been my experience that a car is driven best from the driver's seat, with both eyes open wide, and you free from distraction looking squarely through the windshield and road ahead. As such, I am hoping this finds you in the drivers seat, packed full of the knowledge and experience you have gained over these past few years, and ready for your trip. What trip you ask? Your best year yet! Have you decided that 2010 will be your best year yet? Well - have YOU? All it takes to have your best year yet is YOUR DECISION to do whatever it takes to create the success you desire.
In late 2008, my partners from one of my businesses (BNI Miami-Dade) decided that we would "refuse to participate in the recession", and we wore maroon buttons with our logo to every meeting and event we attended in 2009. It was more than just a catchy slogan to us, as we truly believed in the possibility that 2009, despite all odds and obstacles, could be our best year yet. You know what? IT WAS! We ended 12/31/09 as the #1 rated franchise of BNI in the world, out of 372 franchises in 42 countries. No - I am not kidding, nor exaggerating - this is fact. If you don't believe me, contact our CEO Norm Dominguez at norm@bni.com, ask him which franchise ended 2009 #1 in the world on Traffic Lights, and who the Executive Director is, and if you reference Jeff Stay in the subject title, I am confident he'll respond.
So - I ask you again: have you decided to have your best year yet in 2010?
I know, I know.... we have tragedy happening in an already impoverished Haiti, a group of dictators seizing anything democratic in a beautiful country known as Venezuela, and an Iranian state determined to secure nuclear capabilities, for what is obviously military uses. As if that's not enough to send you into a depression, let's share some other reason(s) WHY you should have doubts, fears, and pessimism - provided to us courtesy of every news medium on planet Earth:
1-"we are in what is being called The Great Recession"
2-"we are in a long, protracted and difficult war"
3-"unemployment is above 10% in most major cities, and closer to 20% if you count those who are underemployed, or who have stopped looking"
4- "ObamaCare is on the verge of passing the U. S. Senate, and is that good (or bad) for America?"
5- "banks are handing out billions in bonus payments while the rest of us suffer"
6- "it's tough out there right now"
Shall I continue? No, of course not. So, if you're looking at the title of this article, and you're wondering impatiently what "it" is - let me explain. IT =the bad news. Each of these subjects 1-6, including the paragraph prior, were headline news stories from our area, from every area of the world today. In fact, they've been relatively similar since the "downturn", "slow down", or "bust" began, whenever that was. Do you know the one thing that hasn't changed in all that time? MY REACTION to the bad news! I have repeatedly decided, each and every year, to "THRIVE through it", and I sincerely hope after reading this, you will, too.
We are under assualt at every turn with pessimism, negatively-spun realism, or just plain negativism, and yet nobody is screaming aloud ENOUGH ALREADY! GIVE ME IDEAS, GIVE ME TIPS, GIVE ME TOOLS, GIVE ME EDUCATION, GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY AND GIVE ME HOPE! But they should be, because if we let the news media, including the t.v., newpapers, magazines, blogs, and locals publications control our mindshare, then we're always going to be talking about doom and gloom. How does that help anyone? It doesn't, but we remain addicted. Why? The answer to this question is not my field of expertise, so I'll avoid answering here; however, I'll tell you what is my field of expertise: CREATING SUCCESS. In fact, it's my business to help others in business to be more successful, which is the purpose of STAYSUCCESSFUL. (http://www.staysuccessful.com/)
How can you "THRIVE through it" in 2010?
T- tomorrow is here, so tackle that big problem from 2009, stop waiting and call on that dream client, and realize that the single best decision you can make right now, is to commit to your success - TODAY.
H- help others, passionately and with compassion to achieve their goals and dreams, and they in turn will help you to achieve yours.
R - remember the little things every day, such as a call from a friend, a card from a family member, or a hug and a kiss from your loved one.
I- invest in your business, and in yourself, by attending a seminar, listening to a CD (or an old cassette tape), or continuing your education.
V- ibe is the personal music you create, every minute of every day, in your business and in your life - so have you asked yourself lately - what the vibe that I am conveying to my community?
E- xcellence is not a destination, it's a journey that lasts forever, so when you succeed (and you will), re-load your goals, re-set your plans, execute your best intentions and THRIVE!
The decade-ending 2009 is best viewed through your rearview mirror, and fortunately for us all, a new year is now. It has been my experience that a car is driven best from the driver's seat, with both eyes open wide, and you free from distraction looking squarely through the windshield and road ahead. As such, I am hoping this finds you in the drivers seat, packed full of the knowledge and experience you have gained over these past few years, and ready for your trip. What trip you ask? Your best year yet! Have you decided that 2010 will be your best year yet? Well - have YOU? All it takes to have your best year yet is YOUR DECISION to do whatever it takes to create the success you desire.
In late 2008, my partners from one of my businesses (BNI Miami-Dade) decided that we would "refuse to participate in the recession", and we wore maroon buttons with our logo to every meeting and event we attended in 2009. It was more than just a catchy slogan to us, as we truly believed in the possibility that 2009, despite all odds and obstacles, could be our best year yet. You know what? IT WAS! We ended 12/31/09 as the #1 rated franchise of BNI in the world, out of 372 franchises in 42 countries. No - I am not kidding, nor exaggerating - this is fact. If you don't believe me, contact our CEO Norm Dominguez at norm@bni.com, ask him which franchise ended 2009 #1 in the world on Traffic Lights, and who the Executive Director is, and if you reference Jeff Stay in the subject title, I am confident he'll respond.
So - I ask you again: have you decided to have your best year yet in 2010?
I know, I know.... we have tragedy happening in an already impoverished Haiti, a group of dictators seizing anything democratic in a beautiful country known as Venezuela, and an Iranian state determined to secure nuclear capabilities, for what is obviously military uses. As if that's not enough to send you into a depression, let's share some other reason(s) WHY you should have doubts, fears, and pessimism - provided to us courtesy of every news medium on planet Earth:
1-"we are in what is being called The Great Recession"
2-"we are in a long, protracted and difficult war"
3-"unemployment is above 10% in most major cities, and closer to 20% if you count those who are underemployed, or who have stopped looking"
4- "ObamaCare is on the verge of passing the U. S. Senate, and is that good (or bad) for America?"
5- "banks are handing out billions in bonus payments while the rest of us suffer"
6- "it's tough out there right now"
Shall I continue? No, of course not. So, if you're looking at the title of this article, and you're wondering impatiently what "it" is - let me explain. IT =the bad news. Each of these subjects 1-6, including the paragraph prior, were headline news stories from our area, from every area of the world today. In fact, they've been relatively similar since the "downturn", "slow down", or "bust" began, whenever that was. Do you know the one thing that hasn't changed in all that time? MY REACTION to the bad news! I have repeatedly decided, each and every year, to "THRIVE through it", and I sincerely hope after reading this, you will, too.
We are under assualt at every turn with pessimism, negatively-spun realism, or just plain negativism, and yet nobody is screaming aloud ENOUGH ALREADY! GIVE ME IDEAS, GIVE ME TIPS, GIVE ME TOOLS, GIVE ME EDUCATION, GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY AND GIVE ME HOPE! But they should be, because if we let the news media, including the t.v., newpapers, magazines, blogs, and locals publications control our mindshare, then we're always going to be talking about doom and gloom. How does that help anyone? It doesn't, but we remain addicted. Why? The answer to this question is not my field of expertise, so I'll avoid answering here; however, I'll tell you what is my field of expertise: CREATING SUCCESS. In fact, it's my business to help others in business to be more successful, which is the purpose of STAYSUCCESSFUL. (http://www.staysuccessful.com/)
How can you "THRIVE through it" in 2010?
T- tomorrow is here, so tackle that big problem from 2009, stop waiting and call on that dream client, and realize that the single best decision you can make right now, is to commit to your success - TODAY.
H- help others, passionately and with compassion to achieve their goals and dreams, and they in turn will help you to achieve yours.
R - remember the little things every day, such as a call from a friend, a card from a family member, or a hug and a kiss from your loved one.
I- invest in your business, and in yourself, by attending a seminar, listening to a CD (or an old cassette tape), or continuing your education.
V- ibe is the personal music you create, every minute of every day, in your business and in your life - so have you asked yourself lately - what the vibe that I am conveying to my community?
E- xcellence is not a destination, it's a journey that lasts forever, so when you succeed (and you will), re-load your goals, re-set your plans, execute your best intentions and THRIVE!
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