Hazel 'The Queen' Walker » training http://hazelmwalker.com The Networking Strategist Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:09:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 If Referrals are Important, Why are they Random? http://hazelmwalker.com/if-referrals-are-important-why-are-the-random/ http://hazelmwalker.com/if-referrals-are-important-why-are-the-random/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:26:46 +0000 Hazel Walker http://thenetworkingstrategist.wordpress.com/?p=187

I am always interested in learning how people generate referrals for their business.  So, when I am networking I will ask the people I meet the following questions;  How much of your business is  by referral and the response is often 50% or more.  That always leads me to my next question, do you have a tracking system or is that a good guess?  It is usually just a guess.

For most networkers, referrals are completely random and go something like this:

If someone calls me up and ask me if I know someone who can help them, and if I can remember if I know someone who can help them and if I can find the number of that person and give it to the person who just called me, and if they will pick up the phone and call the person I recommended, then they got a referral!  The average networker is very excited because they believe that their network is working.  But it is completely random and reactive.

Do you have a system for generating referrals?  If referrals are important to your business, shouldn’t you have a system that you can count on?

Shouldn’t you know who you best referral sources are?

Shouldn’t you know how and when your referrals will show up?

Shouldn’t you have a system to track your networking activities?

Shouldn’t you have a system in place for thanking your referral sources?

Really, why are your referral random?

Organizations like the Referral Institute have created programs and software to help business professionals get out of the “If” referrals to developing a system that generates referrals consistently.

If referrals are important to you then why are they so random?  With organizations like the Referral Institute and books like The 29% Solution they do not have to be.

]]> http://hazelmwalker.com/if-referrals-are-important-why-are-the-random/feed/ 2 How Much are You Spending on Your Professional Development http://hazelmwalker.com/how-much-are-you-spending-your-self-improvement/ http://hazelmwalker.com/how-much-are-you-spending-your-self-improvement/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:59:41 +0000 Hazel Walker http://thenetworkingstrategist.wordpress.com/?p=158

How much and how often are you investing in yourself?  Are you taking trainings to make yourself better?  Stephen Covey says that you must “Sharpen The Saw” regularly.  Sharpen the saw equals sharpen your skills.  All to often Entrepreneurs spend so much time doing what they do but no time do they spend anytime at all “Sharpening Their Saw” .
Training is one of the most important things that business people should do for themselves.  Here is a mathematical formula to show you how much you should be spending on your training and education

Annual Income $,___________x 10% = Investment in your self improvement

I personally have invested more than $100,000 in my expertise as a Referral Expert with the Referral Institute.  How much have you spent on your personal and professional improvement?  This is not the place to cut your budget!

If you are going to be the expert in your field, you must keep your saw sharp or someone else will clear cut your forest!

]]> http://hazelmwalker.com/how-much-are-you-spending-your-self-improvement/feed/ 0