Success would be inevitable if we removed every excuse and obstacle in the way of getting things done. It would be like rolling down a hill - the path would be so clear and inviting that it would be harder to not do the thing.
For example, I realized I would need to write to be more successful. But I got anxious about sitting in front of the computer and writing. So I didn't. I talked to myself for a year about writing, but nothing happened.
Finally I realized that if I felt intimidated about writing on the computer, why didn't I remove that obstacle? I would write the old fashioned way, by hand, in a spiral bound notebook.
Then, I worried about how good the writing was. So I removed that obstacle by telling myself I never had to read it again because I was just developing the habit of writing. Then, I thought I didn't have the time to write, so I said it would only be one page.
Your brain does this you know - digs up excuses to not do something. I just kept arguing back until my brain ran out of excuses.
The last excuse? I wasn't going to write as much as I would if I sat down at the computer. But I wasn't writing anyway! It was better to be doing something no matter how small and simple than to be doing NOTHING.
After several months, I had a completely full notebook. It was usable information that clarified my thinking. I felt good enough about writing that I started a blog. And there's more in my writing future, just from removing those obstacles and excuses.
Networking tips and the best way to network ... by Networking on Purpose! Professional business networking strategies from Beth Bridges, speaker, and author.
Wasting Time
It was the first cool foggy day of the year in Fresno today. Finally, a month from winter, it feels like fall. Once we start thinking about the holidays, the next item on the list are resolutions.
I stopped making resolutions a long time ago. I don't want to try to improve my life only once a year! We're too used to dropping resolutions after a few weeks or months. Instead, I try to integrate new strategies, habits, and plans on a continuing basis.
Earlier this month I announced an intention to do push ups and to blog every day. So far - pretty good. I think I've missed one of each since then. Oddly enough, not on the same day.
Here's a new habit I'm serious about incorporating into my business life: not wasting anyone's time. Not our Chamber members', not the community, and not my fellow staffers' time. I don't want anyone to leave an event that I am responsible for thinking "that was a waste."
The question becomes how to not waste other people's time. What does "waste" mean to them? I don't think it means always being completely business-like and serious all the time. It means giving full value in every interaction, whether business, social, or personal.
I'll explore this more in future posts, but for now I don't want to take up any more of your time. :-)
I stopped making resolutions a long time ago. I don't want to try to improve my life only once a year! We're too used to dropping resolutions after a few weeks or months. Instead, I try to integrate new strategies, habits, and plans on a continuing basis.
Earlier this month I announced an intention to do push ups and to blog every day. So far - pretty good. I think I've missed one of each since then. Oddly enough, not on the same day.
Here's a new habit I'm serious about incorporating into my business life: not wasting anyone's time. Not our Chamber members', not the community, and not my fellow staffers' time. I don't want anyone to leave an event that I am responsible for thinking "that was a waste."
The question becomes how to not waste other people's time. What does "waste" mean to them? I don't think it means always being completely business-like and serious all the time. It means giving full value in every interaction, whether business, social, or personal.
I'll explore this more in future posts, but for now I don't want to take up any more of your time. :-)
Doesn't Hurt to Be Polite
Because it is a very small world, it doesn't hurt to be polite to everyone you meet. You never know who they are, what they do, or how you might be connected to them.
On the other hand, no sense in letting people walk all over you either. But you don't have to tell them that you're done with them. Let them guess :-)
On the other hand, no sense in letting people walk all over you either. But you don't have to tell them that you're done with them. Let them guess :-)
The Big "Mo"
Momentum.
Sometimes it's all that keeps us going on the path we want to go down. You can also call it inertia: "a body in motion tends to stay in motion." Starting is the hardest part, once you get rolling it's not so bad.
Going along with momentum helps you create habits - good and bad! Good habits are the path to success. There's no way it's all going to get done in one day, but if you stick with it, you'll make amazing progress a little at a time.
This topic is on my mind because today I met Lucy Beal who is a mid-life success coach. I visited her website at www.lucybeal.com and there was a link to a site called the 100 Day Reality Challenge. I should sign up! Remember several days ago, I proposed to do two things for one hundred days in a row.
I'm still good on the pushups (next time we meet, I'll show you the "guns"). I did miss one day of writing, so I've started over on that. No problem! I have a better plan now - write as soon as possible in the evening before I get too tired.
If I come home and relax first, I'll never get back up to write or do pushups. I work with momentum to keep going as long as I can.
Sometimes it's all that keeps us going on the path we want to go down. You can also call it inertia: "a body in motion tends to stay in motion." Starting is the hardest part, once you get rolling it's not so bad.
Going along with momentum helps you create habits - good and bad! Good habits are the path to success. There's no way it's all going to get done in one day, but if you stick with it, you'll make amazing progress a little at a time.
This topic is on my mind because today I met Lucy Beal who is a mid-life success coach. I visited her website at www.lucybeal.com and there was a link to a site called the 100 Day Reality Challenge. I should sign up! Remember several days ago, I proposed to do two things for one hundred days in a row.
I'm still good on the pushups (next time we meet, I'll show you the "guns"). I did miss one day of writing, so I've started over on that. No problem! I have a better plan now - write as soon as possible in the evening before I get too tired.
If I come home and relax first, I'll never get back up to write or do pushups. I work with momentum to keep going as long as I can.
Zig Ziglar's Holiday Sales Explosion Seminar
I'm on a short break in the middle of a three hour seminar presented by Zig Ziglar and Doug Firebaugh on creating a holiday "sales explosion."
Guess what? It's about networking. After telling us that the next five weeks are a great time to get to know more people and to get to know them better, Doug told us our first steps in building connections was to go as many places as possible. His suggestion for finding events? Call your local Chamber of Commerce. I laughed out loud because it's great to have that kind of recognition, and then I thought of the phone calls Chambers across the country will be getting tomorrow.
We get all kinds of calls. Today, someone called to ask if Fresno had UVerse yet.* I'm grateful we get these calls. It means we're recognized as a resource in the community. Oh, sometimes we complain, especially if the caller is rude or impatient. For the most part, it means that our industry (Chambers of Commerce) have done the right thing in positioning ourselves as purveyors of knowledge and connections. For free. Without obligation. That's why people call us all day long.
Imagine what could happen if you could position yourself this way. If you created an image of infinite connection and information. You would have people calling you ... and then you can start the conversation to convert them to customers, referrers, and resouces for you.
*I emailed one of our Ambassadors who works with AT&T. That caller is getting a personal response thanks to the Chamber.
Guess what? It's about networking. After telling us that the next five weeks are a great time to get to know more people and to get to know them better, Doug told us our first steps in building connections was to go as many places as possible. His suggestion for finding events? Call your local Chamber of Commerce. I laughed out loud because it's great to have that kind of recognition, and then I thought of the phone calls Chambers across the country will be getting tomorrow.
We get all kinds of calls. Today, someone called to ask if Fresno had UVerse yet.* I'm grateful we get these calls. It means we're recognized as a resource in the community. Oh, sometimes we complain, especially if the caller is rude or impatient. For the most part, it means that our industry (Chambers of Commerce) have done the right thing in positioning ourselves as purveyors of knowledge and connections. For free. Without obligation. That's why people call us all day long.
Imagine what could happen if you could position yourself this way. If you created an image of infinite connection and information. You would have people calling you ... and then you can start the conversation to convert them to customers, referrers, and resouces for you.
*I emailed one of our Ambassadors who works with AT&T. That caller is getting a personal response thanks to the Chamber.
More Reasons we Hold Back from Giving
A few more thoughts on why we don't give.
Besides the obvious fact that some people don't know that they'll get more if they give first and that it's what networking is build on, there are a few more reasons they hold back.
Depletion: "If I give it all away, I won't have anything left."
Besides the obvious fact that some people don't know that they'll get more if they give first and that it's what networking is build on, there are a few more reasons they hold back.
Depletion: "If I give it all away, I won't have anything left."
- This is the product of a lack mentality, not an abundance mentality. Dedicated philanthropists believe that the more they give - even if it's money and their physical goods - the more they will get back. There are many things to give - support, encouragement, friendship, referrals - that never run out and only grow the more you spread it around.
- People will know if you're giving to them only to get something back from them in a short amount of time. They'll resent it and you'll feel that resistance, fulfilling your belief that you're not going to get something back.
- Networking isn't a quid pro quo. Your generosity to one person might engender a response from an entirely different person. Your willingness to serve, give, and help out will enhance your reputation in a way that might be difficult to measure.
- There are also some people who, for one reason or another, aren't capable and will never be capable of paying you or anyone else back. You need to find a little room for charity in your business life.
- If you're dealing with loss, illness, or other difficult emotions, sometimes you just can't give. Now is the time that all the investments you made in other people's lives will return benefits back to you. We can't all give all the time; sometimes other people get the enjoyment of helping us.
- Burnt out? Maybe it's time to refresh and refocus. Take a break and make sure you are taking care of yourself.
Why We Hold Back on Giving
Networking gets a bad reputation because of people who expect to receive first without giving. Are they bad people to be avoided? No, they may be new to business and someone told them to get out there and "sell!" They don't know that "givers gain." Or, their sales approach has worked so far and they'll stay with their plan to meet, greet, and get those cards and brochures out there.
But there are still plenty of people who've read a few networking books, seen motivational speakers, joined their Chamber of Commerce, and been around the business networking world long enough to have heard that they need to give first; and yet they hesitate.
Why do they hold back on giving?
Resentment: "Why should I have to give first? Why can't other people do it?"
But there are still plenty of people who've read a few networking books, seen motivational speakers, joined their Chamber of Commerce, and been around the business networking world long enough to have heard that they need to give first; and yet they hesitate.
Why do they hold back on giving?
Resentment: "Why should I have to give first? Why can't other people do it?"
- If you want to be successful, you must be a leader. Leaders set the example and don't resent being in the position of going first.
- This is not quid pro quo, where I give you something and you give something of comparable value back. That's selling. Networking isn't selling. It's more like depositing goodwill into a giant shared bank account. Sometimes you'll deposit, sometimes you'll withdraw, but the individual transactions aren't tallied up.
- Don't give away the store! Start with small interactions while you develop trust in a relationship. And be prepared - some people are out to get what they can get, but they are fewer and further between than you think.
- Giving doesn't have to mean material goods. It can be. Giving someone your business is one of the most valuable things they could want. It can also be as simple as information, a referral, your time, or your insight into their problems.
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