Competitor or Collaborator

I teach a program called Referral Dynamic, it is an amazing program, and I love the results that our participants achieve as a result of this program.  One of the topics that we have a very spirited conversation around is competitors.  You see it’s my belief that there are no competitors, just opportunities for collaboration.

Network Deep instead of Wide

Have you ever ask someone for a referral or introduction to one of their contacts only to be put off or not introduced at all?  Did you wonder why?  You might be surprised to know that your referral source did not have the same level of credibility as the level referral you were asking for.

Ask Your Network How You Can Help Them First

I teach a series of Networking Classes to beginning Networkers and Business Owners for the Business Ownership Initiative here in Indiana.  I love helping business owners understand the Networking Process so that they can begin to create positive word of mouth for their businesses.  As we were summing up the class on night I ask each student, what is the most important thing that you have learned in this program?  Shane Helvie, Eye Design Graphics & Advertising Company summed it up beautifully.  He said, “What I learned is to build a great network you have to learn to ask twice.”   “Ask, how can I help them, then ask for what I need.”  Right on Target!

Anybody, Everybody and Small Business

When business people tell me that they do business with anybody, everybody or small businesses, I know that they have not spent time identifying who they want to work with and they are hoping that someone else will figure out for them. They are aiming at the sky hoping to hit a bird and every now and then, a flock will fly over a few get hit, and now the businessperson thinks their network is working. Reality is the flock just happens to fly over at the exact same time that the bullets fired. This is reactive and requires you to use a lot of time and energy with unpredictable results.

Referral Responsibility

I have been reading and working through Jack Canfields book, “The Success Principals“.  I mentor a couple of people and we hae decided to work this book together, allowing us to hold each other accountable to actually implementing the principals in the book.  So we have had a lot of conversation about Responsibility and how responsibility shows up for each of us.

You Took a Class – So What

Building Credibility With Testimonials

This article comes from a friend of mine, Frank DeRaffele Jr. As host of the the top Entrepreneurial Radio Show in the country, Frank was asked the following question on his blog.  I felt it was worth sharing with each of you.  Question:  How do you get people who don’t know you very well to feel comfortable with you, trust you a little, feel some confidence in you, before they every meet you?

Reach Back and Help Someone

I am in a stage of my life and business were I get to enjoy the fruits of my hard work. Business is good and I am enjoying my life. As I have grown professionally, personally and spiritually I have learned that my life is about the relationships I build and the contribution that I make in others lives. I am often asked what my secret is and I say over and over again, it is the way that I have designed my life.

Who Are Your Five

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Jim Rohn

The Three Foot Rule