And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

• You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
• You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
• You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few breakfast networ
  Business Process Management Solutions
  In designing an environment for the effective performance of individuals working together in groups, a manager’s most essential task is to see that everyone understands the groups purposes and objectives and its method of attaining them. If group effort is to be effective, people must know what they are expected to accomplish. This is a function of business process management solutions. Planning plays a pivotal part in attaining the solutions.Planning involves selecting missions and objectives and the actions to achieve them. It requires decision-making, choosing from among alternative future courses of action. Plans provide a rational approach to pre-selected objectives. Planning bridges the gap from where we are to where we want to go. It makes it possible for things to
  What's your time worth? If you regularly spend time attending networking meetings and/or events, you're making a BIG investment. It may not be a large dollar investment, but think about the time you invest. Time, as they say, is money and there's no better way to waste that resource than following these 4 networking tips:
  1. Forget It's Business
  2. Don't Have an Objective
  3. Wing-It
  4. Go for the Numbers

  FORGET IT'S BUSINESS A networking event is not a party and getting there is only part of the battle. If you plant yourself in a chair or attach yourself to someone you already know well and you're talking about the weather and the great food on the buffet table because it is comfortable; that's not networking.

  It's not about the food and it's not about the cocktails so if your idea of a good Chamber After Hours is a free dinner and to knock back a few beers, you are probably not seeing a lot of networking success. You're here to make new contacts and develop other important contacts. It's not about making an appearance and it's not to party. BE FOCUSED.

  DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTIVE

  Why are you going to these events? (If it's for a free dinner and drinks, we've already addressed that in #1 above.) Who will be attending this event? What client or potential client would you like to meet or get to know better? Make it a point to think through the result you would like to walk away with.

  If it's to meet new prospects, do your homework. Learn about their business before hand. Spend some time thinking of people you know with whom this potential prospect or client may be able to do business with or who they might be interested in knowing. BE PREPARED.

  WING-IT

  First impressions matter. You'll need it to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" at networking events. If you're a member of BNI (Business Network International) you have to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" every week. And surprisingly even BNIers, who have to recite their 60-sec (elevator pitch, audio logo, etc.) every week, even many of them have a hard time giving a crisp, clear description of what they do and for whom they do it.

  Many people you meet at other networking events will be unfamiliar with you and what you do so it's important to practice your audio logo so when someone asks "What do you do?", you'll be able to tell them:

  1. Who your target audience is;
  2. The problem your target audience has (This is important.); and
  3. Your solution that solves this problem - the benefit your clients get from working with you.

  Not only will you be able to tell what you do, you'll sound natural doing it. Be confident, but not stilted or pushy. Remember, a networking event isn't a formal interview any more than it's a party. BE SUCCINCT. (And don't forget to smile!)

  GO FOR THE NUMBERS

  I talked about networking being more like farming than hunting in a previous article, Networking: It's a Tool, Not a Crutch. For your networking efforts to pay off most effectively, you should focus on getting to know people and their business and on them getting to know you; not on how many contacts you can check off the list. It shouldn't be a card gathering contest.

  Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust. It's not what you know that counts; and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them. Focus on the quality of the connections you make rather than the quantity. Look at the person in the eye when you're speaking to them and when they are speaking to you. Don't be scanning the room looking for your next target. BE PATIENT.

  And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

  • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
  • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
  • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few breakfast network
    How To Avoid Lawn Care Business Failure
    Why Most People Fail With Their Lawn BusinessIt is a chilling fact that 80% of small lawn businesses fail within 2 to 5 years in the United States. But for more than one reason, I managed to stay in the 20% group that succeeded.Was I lucky? What secret ingredient was I using and not aware of? Of the ones that survive, why is it these lawn mowing business owners are not hitting the jackpot with their businesses?After I tenaciously began to search for the answers, I eventually found them. I cut them down into the top 4 major reasons people fail (or barely get by) with their grass maintenance business. It is my sincere hope that anyone reading this article will make a stern decision to avoid these 4 subtle business killers.Ignorance
    etworking success. You're here to make new contacts and develop other important contacts. It's not about making an appearance and it's not to party. BE FOCUSED.

    DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTIVE

    Why are you going to these events? (If it's for a free dinner and drinks, we've already addressed that in #1 above.) Who will be attending this event? What client or potential client would you like to meet or get to know better? Make it a point to think through the result you would like to walk away with.

    If it's to meet new prospects, do your homework. Learn about their business before hand. Spend some time thinking of people you know with whom this potential prospect or client may be able to do business with or who they might be interested in knowing. BE PREPARED.

    WING-IT

    First impressions matter. You'll need it to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" at networking events. If you're a member of BNI (Business Network International) you have to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" every week. And surprisingly even BNIers, who have to recite their 60-sec (elevator pitch, audio logo, etc.) every week, even many of them have a hard time giving a crisp, clear description of what they do and for whom they do it.

    Many people you meet at other networking events will be unfamiliar with you and what you do so it's important to practice your audio logo so when someone asks "What do you do?", you'll be able to tell them:

    1. Who your target audience is;
    2. The problem your target audience has (This is important.); and
    3. Your solution that solves this problem - the benefit your clients get from working with you.

    Not only will you be able to tell what you do, you'll sound natural doing it. Be confident, but not stilted or pushy. Remember, a networking event isn't a formal interview any more than it's a party. BE SUCCINCT. (And don't forget to smile!)

    GO FOR THE NUMBERS

    I talked about networking being more like farming than hunting in a previous article, Networking: It's a Tool, Not a Crutch. For your networking efforts to pay off most effectively, you should focus on getting to know people and their business and on them getting to know you; not on how many contacts you can check off the list. It shouldn't be a card gathering contest.

    Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust. It's not what you know that counts; and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them. Focus on the quality of the connections you make rather than the quantity. Look at the person in the eye when you're speaking to them and when they are speaking to you. Don't be scanning the room looking for your next target. BE PATIENT.

    And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

    • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
    • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
    • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few breakfast networ
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      uestion "What do you do?" at networking events. If you're a member of BNI (Business Network International) you have to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" every week. And surprisingly even BNIers, who have to recite their 60-sec (elevator pitch, audio logo, etc.) every week, even many of them have a hard time giving a crisp, clear description of what they do and for whom they do it.

      Many people you meet at other networking events will be unfamiliar with you and what you do so it's important to practice your audio logo so when someone asks "What do you do?", you'll be able to tell them:

      1. Who your target audience is;
      2. The problem your target audience has (This is important.); and
      3. Your solution that solves this problem - the benefit your clients get from working with you.

      Not only will you be able to tell what you do, you'll sound natural doing it. Be confident, but not stilted or pushy. Remember, a networking event isn't a formal interview any more than it's a party. BE SUCCINCT. (And don't forget to smile!)

      GO FOR THE NUMBERS

      I talked about networking being more like farming than hunting in a previous article, Networking: It's a Tool, Not a Crutch. For your networking efforts to pay off most effectively, you should focus on getting to know people and their business and on them getting to know you; not on how many contacts you can check off the list. It shouldn't be a card gathering contest.

      Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust. It's not what you know that counts; and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them. Focus on the quality of the connections you make rather than the quantity. Look at the person in the eye when you're speaking to them and when they are speaking to you. Don't be scanning the room looking for your next target. BE PATIENT.

      And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

      • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
      • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
      • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few breakfast networ
        Guide To Capitol Hill Careers
        Welcome to Capitol Hill, home to some of the most exciting and powerful people in the world. And those who aspire to a career on The Hill have not done so without having extreme ambition and definitely not without being aware of this fact.Capitol Hill offers some of the most exciting but highly demanding professional opportunities that you have ever dreamed of. The opportunities that Capitol Hill offers are summed up as openings in 535 congressional offices or 300 committees and subcommittees. Each of these hundreds of openings have a number of positions to offer depending on available vacancies and your qualifications.Why Capitol Hill?Everyone has her or his reasons for choosing to work on Capitol Hill. The general answers across the board are: 1) that Capit
        t isn't a formal interview any more than it's a party. BE SUCCINCT. (And don't forget to smile!)

        GO FOR THE NUMBERS

        I talked about networking being more like farming than hunting in a previous article, Networking: It's a Tool, Not a Crutch. For your networking efforts to pay off most effectively, you should focus on getting to know people and their business and on them getting to know you; not on how many contacts you can check off the list. It shouldn't be a card gathering contest.

        Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust. It's not what you know that counts; and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them. Focus on the quality of the connections you make rather than the quantity. Look at the person in the eye when you're speaking to them and when they are speaking to you. Don't be scanning the room looking for your next target. BE PATIENT.

        And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

        • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
        • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
        • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few breakfast networ
          Going from Mom to Employee
          It happens five days a week. You have to shift gears from being a mom to being an employee – even the boss. How can you effectively shift gears and get yourself ready for the workday ahead? How do you gain and keep respect with those who work alongside you?Be Confident with Your ChoicesThere’s nothing worse than not being comfortable with who you are leaving your children with during the day while you’re at work. Do your research and ask for referrals from trusted friends and family. You definitely don’t want to be worried your child isn’t being taken care of properly while you are trying to concentrate at work.Mommy guilt might be a coined phrase but it certainly fits many working mothers. This is something you have to come to peace with if working is
          >BE PATIENT.

          And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

          • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
          • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
          • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few breakfast networking (it's called Eggs 'N Issues in Maine) events throughout the year for a total of 26 hours a year. $1,300
          • You're also civic minded and are a member of the Kiwanis, the Rotary or another civic organization. While technically, your primary reason for joining this group isn't to network, let's face it; you make some great contacts and do some great business through these contacts. Assuming weekly meetings of an hour and a half per meeting you're looking at an investment of 78 hours a year. (This doesn't take into consideration the various projects and additional time these organizations sponsor.) $3,900.

          $5,200 + $1,800 + $1,300 + $3,900 = $12,200

          Whatever time you invest in whatever activities you consider to be valuable networking opportunities, it is important you treat this investment as you would any other financial investment you make. Because when you get down to it, networking IS a financial investment.

          BE FOCUSED * BE PREPARED * BE SUCCINCT * BE PATIENT

          and remember... BE BOLD. Success starts with a vision.