Monday, September 28, 2009

Get Connected_Make It Happen Newsletter September 2009

Get Connected-Make It Happen!
September 2009 Newsletter
Welcome to all Entrepreneurs. It's September that means time to create value for your customer and clients. Will be speaking in October for Skills for Change and Happen. Check out my blog for new articles on networking and building momentum for your business.
New exciting news!
Millionaire Mind Intensive Coming up in November 27-29 2009
Sample banner ad - "Register now for T. Harv Eker's Millionaire Mind Intensive"
www.peakpotentials.ca enter promo code 323805

Special Event:

Skill for Change (Dufferin and College)

October Oct 14th @ 11am-12:00pm ( followed by Q and A session)
GUEST SPEAKER
Jim Pagiamtzis
Network you way to Career Success
Happen for Professionals in transition
October 29 at the Metro Convention Centre
Jim Pagiamtzis speaking on "Networking your way to Success"
www.happen.ca for more information 9:00am-10:00am followed by Q and A
Click on Meeting then Toronto for details
Longbranch executive office open. Great rates. Call
www.3301.ca for details
Seminar and Office space available at great rates
Call Jim Pagiamtzis at 416-894-7859 ((serious inquires only)
Events:
Small Business Forum by Enterprise Toronto Oct 19,2009
Guest speaker will be Brett Wilson from CUBIC Dragon's Den
Articles, information and inspiring stories to come.
Articlesbase.com (multiple articles written)
Centennial College- Article on Journey to Success
Meridians :Natural Health Care
Toll free: 1-866-674-8270
Business of Value:

Make it Fly book Launch at Success on Sept 9,2009 was a great success. Carla Langhorst has produced a great book that should be read by every entrepreneur. Go to www.makitfly.ca form more information on this great book.

Habit for Humanity initiative:
It will promote the project which is to collect 150,000,000 aluminum used beverage cans, commonly referred to UBCs in support of
habitat for Humanity Brampton's build or 10 homes for 10 families by 2010. At 33 cans to the lb that equals 2,272.7 tons.
Asking all donor's to please rinse the can with water, then crush the can horizontally. The first operation insures that the flying insects, Bees, wasps, Hornets and ants will not bother future handlers. that second insures that the can is free from foreign matter and permits the storage of more, 400, cans per 30 gal bag.
If interested in donations please cal Jim Pagiamtzis (contact information below)
Great Website:
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
www.metroactive.org Great info and link to great magazines
www.simpletruths.com Great inspirational movies and quotes

www.womentumnetwork.com Look for speakers!
www.blairsinger.com Download free copy of Little Voice Management System.
www.connectuscanada.com great articles and tips on Networking and much more
www.sipgroup.org Great articles and events
www.referralquest.net for various networking groups throughout the GTA!
www.streetsmartmarket.com many free e-books available to download
Services:
www.bnicanada.ca for various chapter across Canada
www.trinitydiversified.com for income tax to asset Asset Management ask for Dave Halford at 1-866-642-3074 or 905-850-6842

Events:

www.enterprisetoronto.com for great events happening all over Toronto

www.bizlaunch.ca for events happening all over Canada
Books/CD/DVD's
How can I get myself to do what I need to do? (book) by Terry Gogna
DVD Why is my life not changing $30
CD 10 Formulas to Success $15
CD Secure people $15
Audio How do I get myself to do what I need to do? $25
Can are for delivery within the GTA region
Secrets of Millionaire Mind (2copies left)
Big Ideas Great stories shared by various authors $20 each
Services
Golfball Finder Glass www.golfballfinders.com
Need 1-800 number call 1-866-407-7601
Business cards online go to www.payamgis.ecardbuilder.com

Check out great blogs below!

www.sipgroup.blogspot.com Society of Internet Professionals

www.jayrosales.blogspot.com Breaking through the Clutter
http://www.marismith.com/blog/ great tips on relationship to build your business

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Networking Mixers: Break the Ice, Build Your Contacts, and Grow Your Business

Great article with lots great tips and suggestions by one of the great guru's of Networking

By Dr. Ivan Misner

iLearningGlobal Faculty Member

Founder & Chairman of BNI, World’s largest business networking organization

Sr. Partner of the Referral Institute

New York Times Bestselling Author

Called the “Father of Modern Networking” by CNN

Do you suffer from “Butterfly‐itis”at the very mention of networking at business functions? If you answered yes, you

are not alone! Many business people and entrepreneurs get a bit uncomfortable when it comes right down to walking

up to someone and starting a conversation. Many others are concerned about getting effective results from the time

they spend networking. The process doesn’ have to be traumatic, scary, or a waste of time. When done properly, it

can truly make a difference in the amount of business your company generates. With the right approach, you can use it

to build a wealth of resources and contacts that will help to make your business very successful.

Making contacts that turn into relationships is the foundation of a prosperous word‐of‐mouth business. Neophyte

networkers repeatedly ask me, “hat can I do to meet more people and make better contacts at business mixers?”To

answer this important question,

I’e put together what I call the “en Commandments of Networking”to help master those mixers. These rules work just

as well for events like a Chamber of Commerce mixer as they do for a company open‐house party.

The Ten Commandments of Networking a Mixer

1. Have your networking tools with you at all times.

2. Set a goal for the number of people you’ll meet.

3. Act like a host, not a guest.

4. Listen, and ask the five “W” questions: who, what, where, when, and why.

5. Give a lead or referral whenever possible.

6. Describe your product or service in sixty seconds.

7. Exchange business cards with the people you meet.

8. Spend ten minutes or less with each person you meet.

9. Write comments on the backs of the business cards you collect.

10. Follow up with the people you meet.

Now, all of these commandments are predicated on the idea that you actually
meet and talk to people at the event. So

before we even get to them, it’s important to talk about how to do just that.

Many times when entrepreneurs attend the ever‐popular networking mixer, they have a difficult time reading the crowd

and knowing when and where to get started. Sometimes, that seems to be the biggest challenge for entrepreneurs in

networking. They may say to themselves; “ don’ want to just barge in. Where do I start? Who do I talk to?”Being able to assess the room is an important beginning for the process. For example, look at Diagram A, below. Here is

a top‐down view of a portion of the room during a business mixer. For the person entering the room (like the individual

with the “”in the bottom right corner –it’ hard to determine where to start in the networking process.

With that in mind, consider this. The next time you are attending a networking mixer, take note of how people stand

physically grouped together. You will find that people stand with their bodies clearly indicating whether or not they are

open to having someone approach and join them or not. In other words, literally look for “pen”vs. “losed”groups.

What do I mean by open vs. closed groups? Compare the two diagrams below. You will note that in Diagram B the two

people are standing parallel to one another with their shoulders squared off in a way that does not make it easy for

anyone to enter the conversation. It is a Closed Two group. However, in Diagram C. you will note that the two parties

are standing slightly askew which makes it easier for someone to join the conversation. This is an example of an Open

Two.

B. C.

In Diagram D below, you will see an example of a Closed Three group. In this illustration, you can see that they have

closed the circle, thus indicating that they are having a more private conversation or are not interested in meeting

someone else at that moment. This would NOT be the group to break into and introduce yourself.

Sometimes the closed three’ do open for a time and then re‐close. As you watch the group, take the opportunity to

come in the group during the times when they are physically open. This usually indicates the ebb and flow of

conversation and lets you know that there is a break in the intensity of conversation or at least in the privacy of the

conversation.

On the other hand, look at Diagram E. In this illustration, you can clearly see that there is room for another person to

join in the group. These are the configurations to look for in a group of people where the majority of them are business

people you don’ know.

The Open Three’ will stand with a slight break between two of them.

D E

The same principles apply with groups of four or more. When all participants are facing “n to”each other, leaving no

opening for another, consider that a closed group. However, many groups of four or more will have a position open,

with room for another one (or more) to join. That would be an open group.

Being able to read a crowd, any size crowd, and gauge when to come into a group of two, three, or more people who are

networking is an acquired skill. If you aren’ able to learn this concept, you might be destined to attend event after



event and finally make the presumption that networking events aren’ a good way for you to make connections or

develop new networking partners.

This couldn’ be further from the truth. You must put yourself out there into the mix for it to work. As I like to say,

“etworking is a contact sport.”In order to make those connections, you need to successfully gauge the warmth of the

smaller gatherings of people at the mixer.

Below is Diagram A again. Take another look at it. Can you spot the open and closed groups? It’ amazing how the

same diagram makes sense when you look at it from the perspective of open or closed groups.

A

Often people who attend the mixer together will stay grouped together for the entire event. As the event unfolds,

however, they will open and close their grouping. I have seen this happening and watched as networkers who were

savvy to this concept came into the grouping as it opened, met the attendees and then moved around the room meeting

others, collecting business cards of future contacts for their successful networking efforts.

Now that you understand the analogy of Open and Closed Three’, let’ move on to my
Ten Commandments of

Networking a Mixer
. After you master these, you will truly be ready to have an enjoyable and profitable meeting!

Commandment # 1: Have Your Networking Tools With You at All Times

The first commandment is to have with you at all times the tools you need to network. This is the foundation of all that

follows. All successful business people (or what I call “Notable Networkers”) have the “tools of the trade.” These tools

include an informative name badge, plenty of business cards, brochures about their business, and a pocket‐sized

business‐card file that has the business cards of the professionals they refer.

As an effective networker, you need to purchase a commercially‐made badge. This looks much more professional than

the stick‐on, “ello My Name Is”paper badges. Your badge needs to include both your name and your company’ name

or your profession on it. As a rule of thumb, use your company’ name if it describes your profession.



For example:

John Anderson

“EADY‐FAST”PRINT & COPY

If your company’ name does not clearly describe your profession (as is the case with a consulting firm like Carlton,

Donner, & Finch), write your profession on the badge:

Mary S. Carlton

ADVERTISING &

MARKETING CONSULTANT

Badges are now available that require only slipping your business card into the top and—
voilĂ !— instant badge! These

badges are unique because you are literally wearing your business card, logo and all.

Make sure the print on your card is readable to people standing a few feet away. Many people recommend wearing

your badge on the right side, because people shake right‐handed and the badge is easier to see. While this seems to

makes sense, if you’e that close to someone, it doesn’ matter much. Always look for a profession on the badge.

Knowing someone’ profession or company name makes it easier to start a dialogue, because you can ask about his or

her business. Always carry plenty of business cards with you. I like to stash some in my wallet, briefcase, calendar, and

car so that I’ never without them. I also keep a small metal cardholder in the coat pocket of each of my suits.

Commandment # 2: Set a Goal for the Number of People You’ll Meet

Some people go to a meeting with only one goal in mind: the time they plan to leave! To get the most out of a

networking event, set a goal regarding the number of contacts you want to make or the number of business cards you

want to collect. Don’t leave until you’ve met your goal.

If you feel inspired, set a goal to meet fifteen to twenty people and make sure you get all their cards. If you don’t feel so

hot, shoot for less. In either case, set a reachable goal based on the attendance and type of group.

Commandment # 3: Act Like a Host, Not a Guest

In her book
Skills for Success, Dr. Adele Scheele tells about a cocktail party where she met someone who was hesitant to

introduce himself to total strangers. Dr. Scheele suggested that he “consider a different scenario for the evening. That is,

consider himself the party’s host instead of its guest.” She asked him, if he were the host, wouldn’t he introduce himself

to people he didn’t know and then introduce them to each other?

Wouldn’t he make sure people knew where the food and drinks were? Wouldn’t he watch for lulls in conversations, or

bring new people over to an already‐formed small group?



Scheele’ new acquaintance acknowledged the obvious difference between the active role of the host and the passive

role of the guest. A host is expected to do things for others, while a guest sits back and relaxes. Scheele concluded,

“here was nothing to stop this man from playing the role of host even though he wasn’ the actual host.”There is

nothing to stop you from being far more active when you’e with a large group of people, either.

A distinguishing characteristic of self‐made millionaires, according to Thomas Stanley, professor of marketing at Georgia

State University, is that they network everywhere. Most important, they do it all the time —at business conferences, at

the health club, on the golf course, or with the person sitting next to them on a plane. This fact alone should motivate

you to place yourself in situations where you can meet new people. Sit between strangers at business meetings or strike

up a conversation with people at the spa. Make friends, even when you don’ need to.

Commandment # 4: Listen, and Ask the Five “W” Questions; Who, What, Where, When, and Why

Dale Carnegie advised, show genuine interest in the other person’s business. If I meet a printer, I ask, “What kind of

printing do you specialize in? Commercial? Four‐color?

Instant? Copying? Where are you located? How long have you been in business?”The answer to each of these questions gives me a better grasp of the individual and the type of work she does. Thus, I’

in a better position to refer her to others or invite her to different networking groups.

Commandment # 5: Give a Referral Whenever Possible

Notable Networkers believe in the “givers gain” philosophy. If you don’t genuinely attempt to help the people you meet,

then you are not networking. You need to be creative in this area.

Few of the people you meet for the first time at a business mixer are going to express a need for your product or service.

That doesn’t mean you can’t give them something.

If you can’t give people bona fide referrals, offer them some information that would be of interest to them. Tell them

about a speaker’s bureau in their area that could help them get speaking engagements, tell them about another

business mixer that’s coming up soon, or give them information about one of the networking organizations you belong

to. Don’t be a “narcoleptic networker.” Stay awake, and take an active role in the networking groups you belong to.

If you work hard at developing your skills, people will remember you in a positive way. In addition, you will ultimately

expand your Contact Sphere, because, as we discussed earlier, many people who start out as Casual Contacts become

Strong Contacts.

The larger your network, the better your chances of reaching out and calling upon resources you wouldn’t have access

to otherwise. Most important, with this growth comes increased visibility, exposure, opportunity, and success.

Commandment # 6: Describe Your Product or Service

After you’ve learned what other people do, make sure to tell them what you do. Be specific but brief; use “memory

hooks” or basic explanations that they will retain after your brief encounter.



Too often, people try to cover everything they do in one introduction. When you have the chance to be in front of the

same group of folks regularly, don’t make the mistake most people make by painting with too broad a brush. Lasersharp

networking calls for you to be very specific and detailed about one thing at a time.

Sometimes I hear businesspeople say they have a “full service” business. I think saying this alone is a mistake; full service

doesn’t really mean anything to people who don’t understand the details of all the services you offer. Instead, talk about

what you specialize in or what you're best known for. There's something that sets you apart from the competition…let

others know about that aspect of your business.

Whatever you do, however, don’t assume people you meet for the first time will really know your business. Here is

where you need to gauge the conversation, and explain your business in a little further detail to them if they seem

interested.

Commandment # 7: Exchange Business Cards With The People You Meet

Ask the person you’ve just met for two of his cards, one to pass on to someone else and one to keep for yourself. This

sets the stage for networking to happen. Keep your cards in one pocket and put other people’s cards in the other

pocket. This way, you won’t be fumbling around trying to find your cards while accidentally giving somebody else’s card

away.

What do you do with business cards you collect from people you meet at networking events such as business forums,

breakfasts, and mixers? These cards can be instrumental in helping you remember people, initiate follow‐ups, discover

opportunities, and access information and resources.

Always review the cards for pertinent information. It is not always easy to determine what people do simply from their

title or company name. Note whether the products and services offered by the company are listed or summarized. If

you’e just received the card of an attorney, check to see whether the card indicates the attorney’ specialty. To

demonstrate your interest, write the missing information you collect on the front of the card, in view of the other

person.

Commandment # 8: Spend Ten Minutes or Less With Each Person You Meet and Don’t Linger With Friends and

Associates

Recalling Commandment # 2, if your goal is to meet a given number of people, then you can’t spend too much time with

any one person, no matter how interesting the conversation gets. Stay focused on making as many contacts as you can.

When you meet people who are very interesting and with whom you want to spend more time, set up appointments

with them. You can always meet later to continue the conversation.

Don’t try to close business deals while you’re networking; it’s impractical. Set a date to meet and discuss your product or

service in an environment more conducive to doing business. You may be able to increase your business with hot

prospects if you take the time to fully understand their needs.

Learn to leave conversations gracefully. Honesty is usually the best policy; tell them you need to connect with a few

more people, sample the hors d’oeuvres, or get another drink. If you feel uncomfortable with that, exit like a host by



introducing new acquaintances to someone you know. Better yet, if it seems appropriate, ask them to introduce you to

people they know.

Above all, don’t linger with friends and associates! These are people you already know, and you’re there to meet people

you don’t know. I attended a mixer once where I saw several business friends stand and talk with one another for two

hours. On their way out, one actually complained, “This was a waste of time. I didn’t get any business from it, did you?”

No kidding.

Commandment # 9: Write comments on the Backs of the Business Cards You Collect

This helps you remember more about the person when you follow up the next day. I try to meet many people when I’m

at a mixer. Two hours and twenty people later, I can’t always keep everyone straight. Therefore, I always carry a pen,

and when I’ve concluded a conversation with a new acquaintance, I step away and jot down notes, including the date

and location of the event. This information is crucial for effective follow‐up and becomes more important the busier you

are. I also write a note about what the person is seeking; for example:

“…s looking for a good printer,”“…as friend moving out of the area and needs a real estate agent,”or (the most important one of all),

“…ants to set an appointment with me; call on Tuesday!”If the individual doesn’ express a specific need, I may write down something about him or her that I learned from the

conversation —things relating to his or her responsibilities, contacts, interests, or hobbies.

For example:

“…ikes to back‐pack,”“…nows Joe Smith from L.A.,”or

“…upervises ten employees.”Record anything you think may be useful in remembering the person more clearly. As you’l see in Commandment # 10,

the more information you have about the people you meet, the better your chances of a successful follow‐up. One

important note however, some cultures (particularly Asian countries) find it bad form to write on their cards. Be aware

of your cultural surroundings before following this suggestion.

Commandment # 10: Follow up With The People You Meet

I’ve seen people spend untold hours in networking organizations, yet fail at networking because their follow‐up was

appalling. Remember, good follow‐up is the lifeblood of networking. You can obey the previous nine commandments

religiously, but if you don’ follow up effectively, you’e wasting your time! If you promise to get back to people, make

sure you do. Even if you don’ promise, call them or drop them a letter. If you follow up effectively, networking can be

empowering.



I highly suggest that you copy the list of commandments at the start of this article and keep it with you in your calendar,

briefcase, or purse. The next time you go to a business mixer, review the list before you go inside.

These commandments are part of the core of creating a positive message and delivering it effectively. Establishing a

word‐of‐mouth based business requires getting out of your cave and getting belly to belly with other business

professionals.

The next time you have the opportunity to go to a gathering of this sort, use what you’e learned here to break the ice

and build your business!

Special thanks to Martin & Gillian Lawson for their contributions to this article.

About Ivan Misner
: Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder & Chairman of BNI, the world’s largest business networking

organization. BNI was founded in 1985. The organization now has over 5,000 chapters throughout every populated

continent of the world. Last year alone, BNI generated 5.5 million referrals resulting in $2.2 billion dollars worth of

business for its members. Dr. Misner’s Ph.D. is from the University of Southern California. He has written ten books,

including his New York Times Best sellers: Masters of Sales, Truth or Delusion? and Masters of Networking. He is a

monthly columnist for Entrepreneur.com and is the Senior Partner for the Referral Institute – a referral training

company with trainers around the world. In addition, he has taught business management and social capital courses at

several universities throughout the United States and now sits on the Board of Trustees for the University of the Rockies.

Called the “Father of Modern Networking” by CNN and the “Networking Guru” by Entrepreneur magazine, Dr. Misner is

considered to be one of the world’s leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major

corporations and associations throughout the world. He has been featured in the L.A. Times, Wall Street Journal, and

New York. Times, as well as numerous TV and radio shows including CNN, CNBC, and the BBC in London. Dr. Misner is

the Founder of the BNI‐Misner Charitable Foundation and was recently named “umanitarian of the Year”by a

Southern California newspaper. He is married and lives with his wife Elisabeth and their three children in Claremont, CA.

In his spare time!!! He is also an amateur magician and a black belt in karate.
For more information visit www.bni.com

Friday, September 18, 2009

Differences make us Stronger

“Diversity is our strength” is a simple, yet powerful idea that has been adopted by many organizations over the years. While diversity may seem like a complicated concept, it is quite simple. In the workplace, diversity can be as simple as recognizing that customers have different needs and learning how we can best serve them, or listening to the input of co-workers to develop the best solution possible. Diversity is understanding that differences make us stronger.

“Diversity is taking the different thoughts and ideas of individuals and bringing them together to meet a common goal”. Say Jill Holsted, coordinator-Real Estate Services, based in Harrison general office. As a member of the Diversity Council, Jill has first-hand understanding of how diversity positively influences FedEx Freight regional. “It is great to be part of a company that values the knowledge, skills and talents of all individuals.

Diversity benefits everyone because it creates an open environment of respect where everyone can contribute. There contributions generate ideas and creative solutions that have helped make FedEx Fright regional and FedEx National LTL the industry leaders they are today. This inclusive environment will continue to help us be successful in the future.

An inclusive environment creates opportunities for the talents of all employees to be fully realized. When people feel that they are an important part of the company and they can make a difference in their workplace, employee engagement dramatically improves. Thus, leveraging our diversity to improve employee engagement can increase productivity in the company.

Additionally, the Diversity Council supports employee engagement by boosting morale, encouraging communication and soliciting ideas from co-workers.

Every employee is responsible for diversity, not just Diversity Council members. However, embracing diversity requires an active choice from each of us and each decision you make either builds up or tears down diversity in the company. “When we embrace diversity in the workplace and truly get to know one another, we learn to respect and embrace each others differences. We become a family, and families take care of each other” says Jill.

When you make the choice to support diversity, our company becomes better and stronger-one person at a time.

Article appears in the First Issue of Delivering The Promise.

Jim Pagiamtzis is member of the Diversity Council at FedEx Freight Canada.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

 
Posted by Picasa


Have the opportunity during the past year to volunteer with Junior Achievement of Canada and teach the Economics of Staying in School program to grade eight student in the Greater Toronto Region. It has been an experience and lessons for me to share great information on success of staying in school.

Have receiving a certificate for participating in this great program. Thank you goes out to Dionne Malabre, Jim Wedge and Arvinder Singh for partnering up for the day.
 
Posted by Picasa


Terry Gogna has has written great book called "How can I get myself to do what I need to do" wwww.terrygogna.com for three types of people. Students, Leaders & Achievers
 
Posted by Picasa




Few months ago had the opportunity to meet very inspiring lady Carla Langhorst at Enterpise Toronto event at City Hall in Toronto, we talked briefly and kept in touch via email as time passed.

She had told me that she had written this book on how entrepreneurs can test their ideas out. Few months later we were both scheduled to speak at Enterprise Toronto in North York Civic Centre. I was speaking on "Do you have a Mentor" and Carla was speaking on "Transportation 101" At the end her event we had a chance to continue networking and learned more about her book.

OnSept 9,2009 had her official book launch party at a local bar in the King and John area. It was great night of networking and meeting great people and her book was getting some great reviews.

Check out wwww.makeitfly.ca for great information on testing your idea before you go to market. You can also reach her at carla.langhorst@gmail.com or 647-290-7023

Are you Creating Business Momentum…. and profiting along the way?

When your business has momentum, task appear easier, your people are more engaged and your business thrives, It puts victory within reach so people believe that anything is possible.

The economy is going through changes, people are being careful where they are spending they budgeted dollars. These challenges create a need for every entrepreneur to be more knowledgeable about their products and services. The needs of the potential customer and clients are still there. As I teach in my “Network your way to Success” to entrepreneurs I always say “ you have two ears and one mouth use them effectively”. In the book Small Talk by Debra Fine she states in every chapter the importance of asking key questions to your potential customer and clients.

Having ongoing momentum on your side, the future look bright, obstacles look small, and trouble seems temporary. In moving forward with any kind of movement is possible. To inspire and give yourself a great push below are few strategies to consider.

System of Success
. Give yourself some easy challenges to create some positive momentum moving forward. As stated earlier there are great books to read, which give you questions and easy ways to talk to people on a daily basis. Social Networking is great way to keep in touch with current and potential customers. Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter all have programs that you can talk to people live they are online or send an email with information of interest to friends. (
- start an E- newsletter and email to entrepreneurs you have met
- start a blog on area of expertise and email friends
- attend events in your local area and network promote your business
- promote events of close friends or organizations you attend
- hand out sample of promotion material
Give yourself a weekly challenge to engage move forward. As you do this you will have lessons and experience along the way that will contribute to your momentum.


2. Stay Positive in amidst the Doom and Gloom
In the recent magazine Enterprise (www.enterprisemag.com) Beryl Allport stats some great points which I concur.
-Choose consciously where you focus your time and energy
- open doors to new possibilities and opportunities
-create some fun and see the joy in little things daily
Momentum is created by small steps daily and with persistent execution with great a sum of energy propelling you forward to creating synergistic movement that give you energy and attracts people to you and your cause.
Have a support of group of like-minded entrepreneur is the formula of many successful entrepreneurs for many years. Keep the close via phone or email and you will pleasantly surprised that they will give the confidence and self esteem to move forward. Everyone wants to win even through challenges evolving leaders rise up to the occasion and move forward. As a song on my mentor plays all the time called “Get over it”

3. Building your team
In the book Good to Great by Jim Collins he states so firmly. Get the right people on bus, sitting in the right seat on the bus, if not they are of the bus.
Strong analogy and so true! You want people on your team that share the same vision and focus that you do. This contributes to the momentum of you and your team.
Everyone one of you team members have skill and strengths and various areas of expertise. It’s your ability to keep aware of these and focused in that frame of mind that will allow the overall contribution to a successful team moving forward and creating the rewards of growth and profitability for everyone.
Building business momentum takes a plan of daily goals and the persistent action for result to overcome the tough and challenging economic teams. Rising above the waves and seeing further and reaching farther to satisfying the needs and wants of your potential customers.

Jim Pagiamtzis is published author and public speaker who has spoken to entrepreneurs on Mentorship, Marketing and promoting You, Networking your way to Success. He can reached at payamgis@gmail.com or 1-866-407-7601.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

 

Had the opportunity to attend the Extreme Fitness Grand Opening Party on Bay and Bloor. Extreme Makeover was taking picture. I had my fifteen minutes of FAME!
Posted by Picasa

Practice Uncommon Appreciation

Practice Uncommon AppreciationA recent management study revealed that 46% of employees leaving a company do so because they feel unappreciated; 61% said their bosses don’t place much importance on them as people; and 88% said they don’t receive acknowledgement for the work they do.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, manager, teacher, parent, coach or simply a friend, if you want to be successful with other people, you must master the art of appreciation.

I’ve never known anyone to complain about receiving too much positive feedback. Have you? In fact, just the opposite is true.

Consider this: Every year, a management consulting firm conducts a survey with 200 companies on the subject on what motivates employees. When given a list of 10 possible things that would most motivate them, the employee always list appreciation as the number-one motivator.

Managers and supervisors ranked appreciation number eight. This is a major mismatch, as the chart below so clearly shows.

10 Ways to Really Motivate an Employee

Employees

* Appreciation
* Feeling “in” on things
* Understanding attitude
* Job security
* Good wages
* Interesting work
* Promotional opportunities
* Loyalty from management
* Good working conditions
* Tactful discipline



Supervisors

* Good Wages
* Job Security
* Promotional Opportunities
* Good working conditions
* Interesting work
* Loyalty from management
* Tactful discipline
* Appreciation
* Understanding attitude
* Feeling “in” on things

Notice that the top three motivators for employees don’t cost anything, just a few moments of time, respect and understanding.

Keeping Score

When I first learned about the power of appreciation, it made total sense to me. However, it was still something that I forgot to do. I hadn’t yet turned it into a habit.

A valuable technique that I employed to help me lock in this new habit was to carry a 3” x 5” card in my pocket all day, and every time I acknowledged and appreciated someone, I would place a check mark on the card. I would not allow myself to go to bed until I had appreciated 10 people. If it was late in the evening and I didn’t have 10 check marks, I would appreciate my wife and children, I would send an e-mails to several of my staff, or I would write a letter to my mother or stepfather.

I did whatever it took until it became an unconscious habit. I did this every single day for 6 months—until I no longer needed the card to remind me.

Appreciation as a Secret of Success

Another important reason for being in a state of appreciation as often as possible is that when you are in such a state, you are in one of the highest emotional states possible.

When you are in a state of appreciation and gratitude, you are in a state of abundance. You are appreciating what you do have instead of focusing on, and complaining about, what you don’t have. Your focus is on what you have received… and you always get more of what you focus on.

And because the law of attraction states that like attracts like, the more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract, and even more to be grateful for. It becomes an upward-spiraling process of ever-increasing abundance that just keeps getting better and better.

Think about it. The more grateful people are for the gifts we give them, the more inclined we are to give them more gifts. Their gratitude and appreciation reinforces our giving. The same principle holds true on a universal and spiritual level as it does on an interpersonal level.

I challenge you to discover ways to immediately appreciate someone in your life, starting today!

For more tips and suggestions on how you, too, can find ways to appreciate those in your life, read Prinicple 53 in The Success Principles.

© 2009 Jack Canfield

* * *

Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

Monday, September 7, 2009

Achieving a six-figure income in IT

Instead of looking at what the majority of people of doing, we need to turn our attention to what the top 5 percent of income earners are income in IT? Or, an industry filled with outsourcing and off-shoring, maybe the better question is how do you keep you six-figure income? In either case , I want to share with you the secret formula for accelerating your career progression and guaranteeing you employment opportunities for the remainder of you working life.

However, first, let me as you another question: What does you “learning plan” look like? As long as you are not saying “learning plan, what learning plan?” you’re on the right track. For those of you who have a learning plan, you are most likely investing you time in understanding the latest technical language or platform and working toward one of a number of certifications.

It’s what the majority of professionals do. But what’s missing?
Let’s take a look at some numbers. According to the 2007 Dice Salary Survey, an average IT professional with three to five years experience is earning US $58,037. With six to ten years experience they are earning US $73,449. Now this is great money compared to the national average, but still a far cry from six figures-even with more than 15 years experience, the average of US$93,107 hasn’t hit the mark.
The truth is the majority of people don’t have a learning plan or, if they do have one, they are only focused on gaining technical skills. And , as we see the majority of IT people are making below six figures. Is there a correlation? I’ll let you draw you own conclusions.
So, instead of looking at what the majority of people are doing, we need to turn our attention to what the five percent of top income earners are doing- and doing differently.
I’ve spent my entire career studying this very topic. What follows is not just a theory. I’ve personally used what I’m about to share with you to triple my income in under five short years. I continue to use this formula to this day to my career and business.

The Leaders Formula

So what are the top five percent income earners doing differently that the average? In a word, leadership. I’m not talking about leadership in general. That’s too vague and hardly useful. I’m also not about leading teams, although that’s a part of it. What I’m referring to is personal leadership or, more specifically taking control of your life and taking your career-including teams, peers and bosses- in the direction that you wish to go.
Let’s take a closer look at three specific aspects of leadership that make up that I call Leader Formula. When used in combination they multiply effectiveness exponentially: visibility, likeability and credibility. Let’s explore each in more depth.

Visibility

Visibility is simply about being seen. It’s about getting out from behind your computer and talking to people. It’s about building an effective network- of people not computers –that extends beyond your peers and your boss.
It’s about connecting with people within your industry, across companies, across departments, in the user community, recruiters, your boss’s boss, your boss’s peers, your peers themselves and your team.
Just imagine if you had stayed connected with everyone in your graduating class in university. How powerful would you network be?
I know the idea of networking can be a challenge for some IT professionals, since we are sometimes lableled introverts- you know who you are. Let me tell you, I’m an introvert and I do it regardless, since I know it makes a huge difference in my earning potential.
Networking is a skill that can be learned and mastered. The only way that you get over the awkwardness is to just do it and keep doing it.
Go out and begin to network. Get to know the people in you department, company and industry. Participate in user groups, or start on. Attend a trade shows and career fairs. Reach out and begin to build a quality network.

Likealbility

Likeability is about quality communications. It’s about building rapport with those key individuals within your network. It’s about helping other people achieve there goals. It’s about being known as a positive person. What if you were well liked by a number of hiring executives in different companies? Would that increase your earning potential?
IT Professionals tend to be very good at performing actions that are required to achieve a desired result. What we need to work on is becoming more aware of the impact of those actions. I’m sure you can all think of someone that you know who is technically brilliant, but every time they open their mouth they offend someone.

The two parts of likeability that I want you to work on are influence and enrollment. Learn how you can continue to achieve results and have a positive impact. Perhaps you need to develop listening skills or must maybe lighten up a bit. I find it useful to hold on to a “state of curiosity” whenever I’m connecting with someone. Your goal is to influence people in a positive way and enroll them in your cause.

Credibility

Finally we have credibility, which is about trust and integrity. It’s about being known as a the person who can get the job done. It’s about making and delivering promises. It’s about holding yourself and others to a higher standard. Have you added anything cool to your resume in the six months?
IT Professionals tend to be very good at credibility. We’re delivering on our promises. What we are not so good at is estimating the amount of time required to complete a task because we tendency to get stuck in our ways and not take risks, which we can lead to uneventful and boring careers.

To help achieve credibility I want you to begin to add something cool to your resume at least every six months. How can you turn your current project into something wow? Is there a headache your boss has tat you can take of his or her hands? What would happen if you were able to solve a problem for your boss? Is that a raise in your future?

Summary

If you’ve ever been passed over for an opportunity it was because you were missing some aspect of the Leaders Formula. Did they know you wanted the job (visibility)? Were you liked by all the parties involved ( likeability)? Did you have a past track record of success ( credibility)? You can’t just focus on one or two of them. You must work on all three.
The Leaders Formula is so much more that it seems. It represent everything from the core of your personal reputation all the way to the outer edges as your personal brand. To earn a six-figure income you need to work on your visibility, likeability and credibility. So get out there and start networking, make a positive impact and deliver beyond peopl’s expectations.

Above article appeared The 2008 Guide to Best Places to Work in IT

Ron Vereggen is a career and leadership coach specializing in transforming IT professionals into leaders, which in turn directly increase the success rate of IT initiatives with the respective organizations with which he works. Visit www.rapidsuccesscoach.com to download a free ebook to help you take your career to the next level.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Applying effective trade show techniques.That Work!

At events, visitors’ minds are more open to product evaluation and the purchasing of products/services than any other time of the year. Every volunteer should know how to build a quick rapport with the visitor at the booth. Be a professional and dress the part. Don’t eat, drink or read the newspaper in the booth; Go out of the booth if you need to make a phone call.

Promoting from the booth at a trade show event can be made more efficient if our volunteers understand and practice the “three S” of booth staffing:

1. Stop them

2. Speak to them, list and qualify

3. Close and Sell them


1. Stop them. In the confines of a show booth, you have limited time to greet visitors and introduce them to the features and benefits our programs or service. Your first contact with a visitor is often made through a simple, yet effective, greeting and smile. Visitor should be welcomed by name (usually have a badge) give a firm handshake and sincere smile. To start the conversation, our volunteers should be polite, friendly, professional and respectful. Try some of these openers:


“Let me show you some of the programs we offer.”

“We have initiatives that you may find of interesting.”

“Have you heard of _______?” If they answer NO, then tell them, “we have not done a good marketing job! “we will be celebrating our____ Anniversarynext year)

“Are you involved with the Internet?”

“Hello_______, what do you do for a living?”


2. Speak to them, listen and qualify: After you have secured the visitor’s attention, engage them in conversation. Raise open-ended questions that require more the “yes” or “no” response. Inquire about the attendee’s networking and association interest and the kinds of programs they would like to attend. Ask about their organizations or own need for professional designation. Listen carefully to their answers while at the same time developing a strategy to invite them.

At this point direct them to what you are promoting and set them for the close.


3. Close and Sell them: Sit them down (if chairs are available) if not get them to a table where they can have the room to write. Share the information and paperwork and assist them with any additional questions.


In closing get them to drop of their business card for one the prizes available for attending the booth.


Through repeating this process in systematic way, you will created momentum and experience to effective apply and achieve great results applying effective trade show Techniques. That Work!


Have fun and enjoy your marketing experience!

Jim Pagiamtzis has participated in numerous tradeshow in recent years and have learned many great techniques though experience and lessons tradeshow exhibitors. Check out his blog for further insights at www.jimpagiamtzis.blogspot.com or emial payamgis@gmail.com for full report on Trade Show Mastery