You Don't Know What You're Missing

What is the risk involved in speaking with someone new? Not too much, unless you think they are going to try to sell you something. Suddenly the person appears as a  threat to your time, energy, and money.

How are people perceiving you? Are you missing out on a genuine opportunity because someone in the equation feels like they are about to be pitched to?
Take this quiz to find out how approachable you are.

• How many times are you willing to attend a networking event before you get business out of it?
• When you enter a networking event, do you immediately go toward the people you know, or toward strangers hoping they need your product or service?
• Do you spend most of the conversation time at networking events focusing on the other person, or do you tend to monopolize the conversation?
• Do you connect with people on Linked In and other social media sites and stay in touch with them over time?
• Do you ever bring guests with you to a networking event?
• Out of all the people you know from networking, what percentage of them would you say are friends?
• Do you ever get together with some of your networking friends outside of work hours?

The answers to these questions will be different for everyone but they should provide some insight into your motivation during networking events. Make that time about helping other people first, and you will find what you have been missing; valuable relationships with other business people. Earning trust, and new clients, takes time and patience.

Joanne Randall

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Marketing Mojo Radio

Help! I Need Somebody! - John Lennon

When you need help ask for it.
Recently my back went out. And when I say my back went out I mean I couldn't walk or function. It was the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend. We had been planning on camping for a few weeks and my husband had been furiously working to get the camper ready for our first camping trip.
I had played softball on Monday evening and even though my back was sore I thought I was still okay and just needed to rest. On Tuesday morning I bent over to pick up my shoes and my back went out. Basically, my world stopped. I was in excruciating pain and I knew I would not be able to fulfill my business responsibilities for the remainder of the week.

But instead of this week being a total loss, I called in the troops. My new employee, Amanda, is a very competent young woman. I called her to tell her not to come to the office but to work from her house all day Wednesday. We spoke on the phone in the morning and I gave her instructions on what I would like her to do. We touched base again after lunch and I gave her additional assignments for the day. I also contacted my group of business associates that I network with and asked them to help me find a sub for my BNI meeting that Friday morning. People jumped right in and helped me find someone quickly.
I also knew that if I really needed it I could ask my church to help provide meals for me for a couple days so that I could rest. I did not call them but knowing that I could make me feel a lot better.
The story has a happy ending. I got most of the work done that I had planned on that week and on Friday morning my back was able to be adjusted and I started feeling almost normal by lunchtime. I was able to go camping with my family and relax for three days knowing that my workload had not built up over the week and I would be able to return to work on Tuesday morning on schedule.
As entrepreneurs we are used to doing everything by ourselves. I must tell you however that that is not a good idea when you have an unexpected event happen to you. Don't be afraid to ask for help. People love to help other people because they know that their time will come when they need help as well. It can also be an opportunity for some people to pay it forward for something someone had done for them in the past.
Ask for help. Get the help. Stay on track. You will not regret it and you will really appreciate those people who stepped forward to help.

Get by with a little help from your friends.

Joanne Randall

724-603-LEAP

joanne@leapyearmarketing.com

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Marketing Mojo Radio

Business Page "LIKES"

There is a very good reason why businesses should all LIKE business pages of our professional associates. When one business LIKEs another on Facebook, it is considered a professional courtesy. It is what I refer to as a gentle recommendation. It lets other people and businesses know that you recommend the other business from your own business, not just yourself personally. This is just like walking into your client’s office and referring one of your networking group members while you are there. It also reflects your attitude around your business community by showing that you recognize the importance of businesses working together.

So this week, log into your business page as the business (not as yourself personally) and visit pages of businesses that you would recommend. Click the LIKE button to show your support. And while your LIKE button finger is warmed up, if you feel so moved, please visit and LIKE NH Women In Business and Leap Year Marketing.

Tough Week!

What a crazy week! We had a special lunch for our favorite producer, Jay Dawg, who celebrated his first 10 years in broadcasting. Sales meetings, phone calls, appointments with clients. Evenings consumed by church activities, kid's homework and sports. Another snow storm. Rescheduling. Again. Try fitting exercise in with that! Meals, dentist, investments, dog, chiropractor, hair color. Networking, building relationships with clients and colleagues. Dinner and a movie. Hanging out with friends. I guess it was really a typical week after all. Monday. Bring it on.

Epsom rocks!

Today we had 26 (26!) people at our Epsom Networking group. I can't get over how excellent that is. We enjoyed a great presentation, introduced 6 new people, and connected with some friends. I love meeting new people and learning about what they do outside of work, because that is who they really are.

Later today I did another interview for NHWIB that will be on 2/13. Allison from Tutor Doctor. She has become a good friend in a short time.

Can't wait to see everyone again tomorrow in Chichester.

Networking works!

Who says networking doesn't work? I get more calls from interested parties from networking events than I do in 100 cold calls. Not to mention the fabulous people you meet, most of whom become your friends.
Got three calls this week from almost complete strangers who I met either at an event I was at or I was recommended by someone I met at a networking event. You can't put a value on that. Correction. That is priceless!