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Add You - Women's Networking -- Heaven or Hell
Back in the days when Super Bowls were numbered in single digits, and teams like the Packers and the Steelers reigned supreme, there was a legendary coach by the name of Vince Lombardi.He shared some interesting thoughts about the differences between winning and losing, and between winners and losers.Undoubtedly, you’ve come across his often derided line: “Winning isn’t everything—It’s the ONLY thing!”But that’s not my favorite Lombardi-ism. It’s:“Winning isn’t a sometime thing—It’s an ALL THE TIME THING!”In other words winning is a
Your time is valuable, you know this, and you hear it from every business adviser you encounter, but it is absolutely true. Two hours spent catching up with nice folk you see twice a month, (plus travel time) might make you feel like you are working on the business, but examine the evidence, before you sign up for any more meetings.
If you answered yes to any, or all of 3, 4 and 5 - yo
This morning, as I emerged blinking from Chancery Lane station on my way to work, I was confronted by a young lady sporting a nylon tunic emblazoned with the words ‘Every Child’ and a fat clipboard full of Direct Debit forms. As I approached, she began to play out some ridiculous dumb show of desperation worthy of the sad clown in a cut-price circus and entreating myself and the guy walking immediately ahead of me to “Pleeeeeease stop and talk to me!” in pathetic, ‘can-I-have-a-pony-Daddy?’ tones. In response to her transparent and two dimensional plea, I fixed on my
We are all supposed to get 'out there' and 'network'. Cue collective groaning, and creative avoidance techniques to avoid the tension inducing prospect that is networking. I sympathise, really, even having run a really enjoyable networking group myself, I am not blind to the pitfalls.
Even if you have managed to find the group that perfectly suits you, and more importantly, your business aims, it is likely that you sometimes suffer from post networking stress syndrome. Was it worth it? Why do I talk to the same people each time? Is it worth the effort?
Time to act. Why do you network?
- To find new customers?
- To engineer meetings with decision makers?
- To listen to the experiences of others in business or starting up?
- To enjoy some social contact with other business people?
- To raise your profile?
If you answered yes to 1) and 2), and no to the others, you probably need to rethink. Of course, it is possible to pick up business, if you regularly talk to the same people and they come to know you as a potential supplier, or advisor. However, if you spend a lot of time networking, perhaps using this as your main new business activity, you could be neglecting other key issues.
Make sure you are paying attention to the other elements of your marketing and promotion too. List all of the things that you do now to get new business, the time you have spent on them, and the results so far. Of course, you need a combination to ensure a steady stream of new clients, and repeat business from existing clients, but you will be able to see if you are spending valuable hours networking, with not much to show in terms of a return.
Your time is valuable, you know this, and you hear it from every business adviser you encounter, but it is absolutely true. Two hours spent catching up with nice folk you see twice a month, (plus travel time) might make you feel like you are working on the business, but examine the evidence, before you sign up for any more meetings.
If you answered yes to any, or all of 3, 4 and 5 - you
Perhaps you have a book out, or a wonderful service that helps people make their lives better. Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. Entrepreneurs know their products. But after the initial one-year honeymoon, sales slow down.To counter this make sure your ebook, product, or service you offer will keep on selling from the first day, the first year, even for life. Write a short sales letter for each product or ebook.Whether you have a Web site or not, you can write a first class, must-buy-now sales letter. Write one for each telec
Time to act. Why do you network?
- To find new customers?
- To engineer meetings with decision makers?
- To listen to the experiences of others in business or starting up?
- To enjoy some social contact with other business people?
- To raise your profile?
If you answered yes to 1) and 2), and no to the others, you probably need to rethink. Of course, it is possible to pick up business, if you regularly talk to the same people and they come to know you as a potential supplier, or advisor. However, if you spend a lot of time networking, perhaps using this as your main new business activity, you could be neglecting other key issues.
Make sure you are paying attention to the other elements of your marketing and promotion too. List all of the things that you do now to get new business, the time you have spent on them, and the results so far. Of course, you need a combination to ensure a steady stream of new clients, and repeat business from existing clients, but you will be able to see if you are spending valuable hours networking, with not much to show in terms of a return.
Your time is valuable, you know this, and you hear it from every business adviser you encounter, but it is absolutely true. Two hours spent catching up with nice folk you see twice a month, (plus travel time) might make you feel like you are working on the business, but examine the evidence, before you sign up for any more meetings.
If you answered yes to any, or all of 3, 4 and 5 - yo
Let’s discuss several factors that reveal the reasons, motivations of the firms’ growth. The article grew to be more philosophical than managerial.Growth is generally achieved by small firms by making more of its existing products, or by developing more products. Hence, a common obstacle that many small firms face is that they do not have the finance to expand through invention, or developing a new product. Finance is necessary to pay researchers or inventors, to pay for materials and then once the product has been developed, to market it. Another way of achiev
If you answered yes to 1) and 2), and no to the others, you probably need to rethink. Of course, it is possible to pick up business, if you regularly talk to the same people and they come to know you as a potential supplier, or advisor. However, if you spend a lot of time networking, perhaps using this as your main new business activity, you could be neglecting other key issues.
Make sure you are paying attention to the other elements of your marketing and promotion too. List all of the things that you do now to get new business, the time you have spent on them, and the results so far. Of course, you need a combination to ensure a steady stream of new clients, and repeat business from existing clients, but you will be able to see if you are spending valuable hours networking, with not much to show in terms of a return.
Your time is valuable, you know this, and you hear it from every business adviser you encounter, but it is absolutely true. Two hours spent catching up with nice folk you see twice a month, (plus travel time) might make you feel like you are working on the business, but examine the evidence, before you sign up for any more meetings.
If you answered yes to any, or all of 3, 4 and 5 - yo
What do the stock market, the grocery, the dentist, a copper mine, and the janitorial service have in common?I can’t imagine a more dissimilar group of business descriptions but they all are subject to the whims of the marketplace. The value of each product or service is subject to trends and fads created by events and market forces far removed from the actual effort involved in production or fulfillment.Market knowledge, intuition, powers of observation, and timing are crucial to the success of every person who presents a product or service to their ma
Make sure you are paying attention to the other elements of your marketing and promotion too. List all of the things that you do now to get new business, the time you have spent on them, and the results so far. Of course, you need a combination to ensure a steady stream of new clients, and repeat business from existing clients, but you will be able to see if you are spending valuable hours networking, with not much to show in terms of a return.
Your time is valuable, you know this, and you hear it from every business adviser you encounter, but it is absolutely true. Two hours spent catching up with nice folk you see twice a month, (plus travel time) might make you feel like you are working on the business, but examine the evidence, before you sign up for any more meetings.
If you answered yes to any, or all of 3, 4 and 5 - yo
It's "Why do people fail to even consider them?"One of the major problems with advertising is that there are far too many Chiefs and no Indians at all! And all have a different opinion as to why advertising is under severe questioning.Here are just two examples of ChiefSpeak:"TV under pressure", says Accountant turned Adman, Sir Martin Sorrell. However he goes on to say, "Television is under pressure at the moment from the Internet…but predictions of a depression have gone too far. Television advertising is not going to disappear. It still ha
Your time is valuable, you know this, and you hear it from every business adviser you encounter, but it is absolutely true. Two hours spent catching up with nice folk you see twice a month, (plus travel time) might make you feel like you are working on the business, but examine the evidence, before you sign up for any more meetings.
If you answered yes to any, or all of 3, 4 and 5 - you are on the right track. Relax and let yourself listen, instead of trying to impress everyone, and a women's networking group can enrich your life. Of course, there will be women who are only intent on selling themselves, (figuratively speaking!). I have to admit, alarm bells tend to chime when I hear NLP in a conversation (really, is it not common sense??) The trick is, to use the usually friendly environment that a female networking event provides, to hone your communication skills and talk about your business. Volunteer to present your 30 second pitch if offered, and ask for feedback.
Finding networking groups for women:
There are now literally hundreds of groups around the country, appealing to City business women, and those in rural areas.
Here are a few regional organisations that would be a good place to start, ask about groups in your area.
UK wide
Women at Work - http://www.womenatwork.co.uk/
The Women's Company - www.thewomenscompany.com
Women Working 4 Women - http://www.womenworking4women.co.uk/
One Woman Business - www.onewomanbusiness.co.uk
Everywoman - www.everywoman.co.uk
London/South
The Womens Networking Company - www.thewomensnetworkingcompany.com
Aurora - www.auroravoice.com/
Women in Business - http://www.wib-org.uk/
Midlands
FATIMA Women's Network - http://www.fatima-network.com
Women involved in Successful Enterprise WiiSE - www.derbyshirechamber.com/cms/9.html
West
Business Support Network www.businesssupportnetwork.com
East
Women on Top - www.women-on-top.co.uk
North West
Women's Business Network - www.wbn.org.uk
Winning Women - www.winningwomen.co.uk
North East
Women into the Network - www.network
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