Sunday, May 3, 2009
Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs, Michael Gerber Says There Is A System To Create What You Don't Know How To Create (Part 1)
Baby Boomer, as you stand before the task of creating a new business, to join the entrepreneurs, you have a problem. The problem is that you have to create something that you have never created before, a working business. Further, you have to do that and you probably don't know how. Even worse, the majority of people who have tried what you are doing have failed.
Michael Gerber says that does not have to be a problem for you. The author of the E-Myth Revisited, the man who has explained why so many small businesses fail, says there is a system that you can follow to achieve success. In an interview by Kean Wong of The New Millionaire, he begins to explain the system to you. Please take a look.
And please see our free directory of other information about Michael Gerber and the E-Myth Revisited.
Shallie Bey
follow me on Twitter
Friday, May 1, 2009
Internet based marketing & business networking on the increase
In a recent monthly column on the National Networker I wrote about 'UK: Networking Activity on the Increase'. In the post I asked whether 'Offline' networking was growing in line with 'Online' and reported the anecdotal evidence to support the view that it was.
Some research came to my attention earlier this week from Robert Rush of pfa research. The findings in relation to sales & marketing activity in their South West Business Pulse January 2009 make interesting reading:
* 29% increasing activity on internet based marketing with 2% reducing activity
* 16% increasing activity on business networking with 1% reducing activity
Increasing activity in these areas is against a background of 17% reporting an increase in overall activity on sales & marketing as opposed to 26% reporting an overall decrease.
Make sure you don't miss the opportunities that this increase in business networking activity is providing.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Some research came to my attention earlier this week from Robert Rush of pfa research. The findings in relation to sales & marketing activity in their South West Business Pulse January 2009 make interesting reading:
* 29% increasing activity on internet based marketing with 2% reducing activity
* 16% increasing activity on business networking with 1% reducing activity
Increasing activity in these areas is against a background of 17% reporting an increase in overall activity on sales & marketing as opposed to 26% reporting an overall decrease.
Make sure you don't miss the opportunities that this increase in business networking activity is providing.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Advocacy Model: Develop Advocates
In Stage 3 of the Advocacy Model, form relationships, I wrote about moving from follow up to developing a trusted relationship. The final stage of this journey is Stage 4, Develop Advocates.
This is point at which you are prepared to promote another person actively and unreservedly. The people that you advocate will be in your mind to scout and prospect for when you go to network events. You will look out for suppliers, prospects and potential partners.
The key aspect of this stage of the networking relationship is that it requires continual nurturing. You must keep looking to provide ongoing value to the relationship, eg:
· continuing to make connections and introductions
· using your expertise to provide information to them
As you do this for others, and are seen to do this, the level of trust that others have in you will increase and others will become advocates for you. For my story on how this approach can save you time and money see, 'Networking groups save time'
For more on the Advocacy Model of building trusted relationships in Business Networking see the following posts:
How to build trust in business relationships
Business Networking: The Advocacy Model
The Advocacy Model: Making a Contact
The Advocacy Model: Follow Up
The Advocacy Model, Develop Advocates
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
This is point at which you are prepared to promote another person actively and unreservedly. The people that you advocate will be in your mind to scout and prospect for when you go to network events. You will look out for suppliers, prospects and potential partners.
The key aspect of this stage of the networking relationship is that it requires continual nurturing. You must keep looking to provide ongoing value to the relationship, eg:
· continuing to make connections and introductions
· using your expertise to provide information to them
As you do this for others, and are seen to do this, the level of trust that others have in you will increase and others will become advocates for you. For my story on how this approach can save you time and money see, 'Networking groups save time'
For more on the Advocacy Model of building trusted relationships in Business Networking see the following posts:
How to build trust in business relationships
Business Networking: The Advocacy Model
The Advocacy Model: Making a Contact
The Advocacy Model: Follow Up
The Advocacy Model, Develop Advocates
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Advocacy Model: Form Relationships
I wrote last time that once you have made a good connection the best way to follow up is to arrange a OnetoOne meeting to discuss things further. Stage 3 of the Advocacy Model, form relationships, is next.
Assuming your assessment after Stage 2 is positive you should be prepared to
make a ‘qualified referral’. This is where you connect this person to another with the proviso that you have limited experience of their capability. You should also be prepared to invite them to join your network group and share helpful information and advice with them.
If appropriate you might work with them on a low risk joint project.
Your objectives are to:
· Get feedback
· Build trust in them and their capability
· Continue to make qualified referrals until you decide to move forward
When you make that decision and provided you still like them you are almost at the Advocate stage. More on that next time.
For more on the Advocacy Model of Business Networking see the following posts:
How to build trust in business relationships
Business Networking: The Advocacy Model
The Advocacy Model: Making a Contact
The Advocacy Model: Follow Up
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Assuming your assessment after Stage 2 is positive you should be prepared to
make a ‘qualified referral’. This is where you connect this person to another with the proviso that you have limited experience of their capability. You should also be prepared to invite them to join your network group and share helpful information and advice with them.
If appropriate you might work with them on a low risk joint project.
Your objectives are to:
· Get feedback
· Build trust in them and their capability
· Continue to make qualified referrals until you decide to move forward
When you make that decision and provided you still like them you are almost at the Advocate stage. More on that next time.
For more on the Advocacy Model of Business Networking see the following posts:
How to build trust in business relationships
Business Networking: The Advocacy Model
The Advocacy Model: Making a Contact
The Advocacy Model: Follow Up
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Advocacy Model: Follow Up
Once you have made a good connection the best way to follow up is to arrange a OnetoOne meeting to discuss things further.
These One2One meetings can often go wrong for 2 main reasons;
1. People use it as an opportunity to go straight into a sales pitch. Networking is NOT selling, the advocacy model for business networking is all about building relationships for the longer term. A good advocate will recommend you and your products and services time and time again without being asked or paid.
2. The meeting becomes a social chat with no agenda or purpose.
In order to get to the next stage the purpose of this meeting is to:
· Discuss mutual interests
· Validate your initial assessment (do you still like them?)
· Research their business
· Appraise qualification, experience, ability (your judgement)
· Balance potential value versus risk (your time)
If your assessment is positive then you need to undertake some actions in order to move into the forming relationship stage. With each you are extending more trust and helping your continued assessment:
· Invite them to a regular networking group you attend
· Introduce to a trusted contact
· Send some useful information to them
For more on the Advocacy Model of Business Networking see the following posts:
How to build trust in business relationships
Business Networking: The Advocacy Model
The Advocacy Model: Making a Contact
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
These One2One meetings can often go wrong for 2 main reasons;
1. People use it as an opportunity to go straight into a sales pitch. Networking is NOT selling, the advocacy model for business networking is all about building relationships for the longer term. A good advocate will recommend you and your products and services time and time again without being asked or paid.
2. The meeting becomes a social chat with no agenda or purpose.
In order to get to the next stage the purpose of this meeting is to:
· Discuss mutual interests
· Validate your initial assessment (do you still like them?)
· Research their business
· Appraise qualification, experience, ability (your judgement)
· Balance potential value versus risk (your time)
If your assessment is positive then you need to undertake some actions in order to move into the forming relationship stage. With each you are extending more trust and helping your continued assessment:
· Invite them to a regular networking group you attend
· Introduce to a trusted contact
· Send some useful information to them
For more on the Advocacy Model of Business Networking see the following posts:
How to build trust in business relationships
Business Networking: The Advocacy Model
The Advocacy Model: Making a Contact
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Advocacy Model: Making a Contact
In 'Business Networking: The Advocacy Model' I outlined the four steps involved.
The first is making contact or connecting. When you meet someone through networking the key factors that lead to a networking relationship are:
· do I like them?
· do I find them interesting?
· are there points of contact (business or personal)?
· do I want to take this further?
This connection may not happen the first time you meet someone. It may take time attending regular meetings to get to liking someone, finding them interesting or establishing points of contact. One of the great things about interacting with people in a regular group is that you get the time to make connections with people that you might have dismissed on the basis of a single brief meeting.
In order to address the last question you need to learn enough about the person to decide. That means having a real conversation rather than a superficial one where you just exchange business cards and move on.
When the time is right and you both decide that further exploration is worthwhile then you can move to the second stage, follow up.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
The first is making contact or connecting. When you meet someone through networking the key factors that lead to a networking relationship are:
· do I like them?
· do I find them interesting?
· are there points of contact (business or personal)?
· do I want to take this further?
This connection may not happen the first time you meet someone. It may take time attending regular meetings to get to liking someone, finding them interesting or establishing points of contact. One of the great things about interacting with people in a regular group is that you get the time to make connections with people that you might have dismissed on the basis of a single brief meeting.
In order to address the last question you need to learn enough about the person to decide. That means having a real conversation rather than a superficial one where you just exchange business cards and move on.
When the time is right and you both decide that further exploration is worthwhile then you can move to the second stage, follow up.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs Jailbreak Your Life Not Just Your Phone
Imagine you have this great new phone, with all kinds of wonderful applications. There is just one little problem, there is one important application that you need and your phone doesn't support it. Do you learn to just live with what the manufacturer gives you? Or do you have options? For many, the solution is to “Jailbreak your phone”.
Though I am very proud of my degree as an electrical engineer from Purdue University, I don't know much about jailbreaking your phone. However, there is a very interesting blog called “What Do You Know” that recently spoke to the topic. It got me to thinking about us baby boomers who want to become entrepreneurs but haven't taken the step yet. What Do You Know...about Jailbreaking Your Life?
The Pwnage Tool & Jailbreaking an IPhone is the title of the post by Robert Bockenkamp. In all fairness, I need to start out by saying that Robert does not advocate jailbreaking your phone. He points out clearly that he is only explaining to you what it is.
I, on the other hand, not only want to explain to you what jailbreaking your life is, I want to encourage and possibly even help you in taking the step. But let's begin with Robert's definitions:
Pwnage Tools is a program that facilitates the jailbreaking of an IPhone or Ipod Touch.
Technical Definition of Jailbreak: The iPhone and iPod touch hack that allow users to gain access to the entire Unix file system. In Unix terms, this refers to changing the root of the directory tree to /.
Understandable Definition of Jailbreak: A hack that gains access to areas of the iPhone or iPod Touch that users aren’t supposed to mess with. Typically, this is an immediate prelude to either installing cool programs, unlocking the handset for use with another cellular network, or both.
Through jailbreaking, you are able to add additional applications to your iPhone or iPod Touch. It allows you to do so by adding an application called Cydia (firmware 2.x) or Installer (firmware 1.1.4 and below) to your iPhone or iPod Touch. It also also modding (changing) of your iPhone/iPod Touch application icons, wallpaper, dock, status bar, chat bubbles, weather backgrounds, keyboard
On to Jailbreaking your life
So, do words like the following interest you:
Ending the pawn age (pwnage)
Controlling parts of your life that you aren't supposed to mess with
Installing really cool programs into your life
- Are you tired of having to accept what is given to you?
Then it is probably time to begin thinking about how to Jailbreak Your Life. Many people us entrepreneurship as the tool to bring freedom into their lives.
Among baby boomers, entrepreneurship is fast becoming an alternative to the traditional retirement path. Americans aged 55 to 64 are starting businesses at a higher rate than any other age group.
But mooding, as in changing the mood of your cell phone, is also necessary for jailbreaking your life.
You have to change your thinking, your mindset, from that of an employee to that of a business owner.
You also have to learn new skills that might not have been used in your last job description. One of those key skills that you must introduce is how to master marketing. You can have the best product or service in the universe but you can't sell it if people don't know about it.
Plan Your Jailbreak
You can consume many resources in the process of starting your business. Let me recommend to you that you use the many free and low cost resources that are available on the Internet. I have become particularly interested in social media marketing as a free tool to help with marketing. You can find more about that at: The Secret Recipe...
http://businessrebirth.blogspot.com/2009/04/baby-boomer-entrepreneurs-use-twitter.html
I have also created for you a free resource directory at:
Join The Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs
and a video for you Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs You Need A Guide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzSVLQUTxYs
Now - Click the links and check out the resources I have for you. Make a good plan to Jailbreak Your Life!
Shallie Bey
follow me on twitter
Friday, April 24, 2009
Business Networking: The Advocacy Model
I mentioned the Advocacy Model in a recent post on 'How to build trust in business relationships'. I have also made reference to the various steps in many of the recent posts so thought it worth summarising the model again here.
1. Make contact
Usually a conversation at an event or networking group meeting
2. Follow up
Often a One2One interaction or smaller group to decide whether to move forward and how.
3. Form relationships
The next stage after having done something for the other person in the follow up to help them or their business. Or when they have done that for you.
4. Develop Advocates
Provide ongoing value to the relationship by continuing to make connections and using your expertise to provide information to them. Regular feedback and thanks to the ones doing this for you.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
1. Make contact
Usually a conversation at an event or networking group meeting
2. Follow up
Often a One2One interaction or smaller group to decide whether to move forward and how.
3. Form relationships
The next stage after having done something for the other person in the follow up to help them or their business. Or when they have done that for you.
4. Develop Advocates
Provide ongoing value to the relationship by continuing to make connections and using your expertise to provide information to them. Regular feedback and thanks to the ones doing this for you.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Thursday, April 23, 2009
What happens next? Part 2
A couple of days ago in my post on 'What happens next?' I shared the loose agenda structure that I use in One2One meetings to build towards a mutually beneficial and positive business relationship. The ultimate purpose being to develop networking advocates.
Neil Denny commented that the model is mostly easy to grasp and implement, except for the last one. "The next steps (typically connections to people & information) that you will undertake before meeting again."
He rightly points out that this calls for action and accountability and demonstrates credibility and commitment. Relationship building in networking this way requires that you give an increasing level of trust at each stage. It is very difficult to commit yourself to this and to making those connections to people & information unless you are wholeheartedly committed.
If you are committed to building trusted relationships where you give first and receive later then try & go a little deeper with your questions on the other person's background & business. Find out about their goals, the real challenges in their business and its development, their other interests and the people and businesses they know. See if you can establish the person or information that would make a real difference and make that connection.
Then you have the next steps in place. The action followed by the next session to get feedback and decide the next stage. With this approach you develop the relationship in the way that Neil described in his comment;
"We start to share commercial intimacy and build relationships that work, as opposed to more passive, and probably easier but less fruitful relationships."
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Neil Denny commented that the model is mostly easy to grasp and implement, except for the last one. "The next steps (typically connections to people & information) that you will undertake before meeting again."
He rightly points out that this calls for action and accountability and demonstrates credibility and commitment. Relationship building in networking this way requires that you give an increasing level of trust at each stage. It is very difficult to commit yourself to this and to making those connections to people & information unless you are wholeheartedly committed.
If you are committed to building trusted relationships where you give first and receive later then try & go a little deeper with your questions on the other person's background & business. Find out about their goals, the real challenges in their business and its development, their other interests and the people and businesses they know. See if you can establish the person or information that would make a real difference and make that connection.
Then you have the next steps in place. The action followed by the next session to get feedback and decide the next stage. With this approach you develop the relationship in the way that Neil described in his comment;
"We start to share commercial intimacy and build relationships that work, as opposed to more passive, and probably easier but less fruitful relationships."
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
How much time do you get for conversations whilst networking?
A couple of days ago I blogged about a question that is often asked, 'How many people will be at the event?'. There were some great insights shared in the comments.
The underlying theme was that context, philosophy and actions were far more important than just the number of attendees. This brings us on to another issue. You need to have meaningful conversations to really connect with someone before going on to follow up and build a relationship.
So when you are thinking about attending an event or joining a group it might be important to ask a different question.
'How much time is dedicated to genuine 2 way conversation and is the meeting facilitated in any way to assist with those conversations?'
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
The underlying theme was that context, philosophy and actions were far more important than just the number of attendees. This brings us on to another issue. You need to have meaningful conversations to really connect with someone before going on to follow up and build a relationship.
So when you are thinking about attending an event or joining a group it might be important to ask a different question.
'How much time is dedicated to genuine 2 way conversation and is the meeting facilitated in any way to assist with those conversations?'
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
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