Embrace all possibilities – all opportunities…
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This has been an interesting and rewarding series of posts; I hope I have shaken up your thinking and provided a few new thoughts that will stick in your mind as you are out in what you might previously have viewed as a jungle! Does it seem a bit more friendly? Do you have a tad less angst about the process? Today, I am going to ask you to push the edges of your comfort zone at another level… never pass on an opportunity to make a long-term connection! Take an assertive position and make it happen – for you and for all the potential it promises.
Know no regrets…
What I am asking you to do is to shift your thinking from one of making that connection somewhere in life and not following through with getting enough information that you can re-connect. How many times have you visited with someone at an airport, in line at the store, or even at some sports event or concert – only to leave, thinking what a nice connection that was, but making absolutely no attempt to ask for any contact information?
I heard a story once about former PR professional Joe Martin having a perfectly wonderful, unexpected opportunity to visit with NBA star, David Robinson, and did nothing to make himself memorable, nor give himself the privilege of following up with him. Joe simply didn’t think to ask – and based on how many times he recounted the story, something he forever regretted!
Step into your place of courage…
James Malinchak also shares a story of having met the actor, Dennis Hopper, at a social event and mustered the courage to stop and visit with him over supper. Unlike Joe Martin, however, James also stepped up with another show of courage and asked Dennis Hopper for his contact information so that they might reconnect. He was surprised at how easy it was to walk away, having exchanged their information on napkins!
If you don’t ask – you don’t get…
Both of these stories remind me of a statement I must have heard a thousand times from my Mother: “You will never know if you don’t ask; and you always have a 50/50 chance of a yes!” Add to that the age old philosophy of nothing ventured/ nothing gained and there you have it… Go for it – step right up and ask for the connections you want in life.
Create a formula/phrase that you can count on to work…
The process doesn’t have to be painful or uncomfortable, all you have to do is to craft a little “formula/ phrase” you can practice and use over and over again that will get you exactly what you want… contact information of someone you want to build a relationship with! My formula is as follows:
“Gosh, the time has just flown, Ted. I had such a great time visiting with you and surprised at how many things we have in common! I really like building new friendships – how about exchanging information so that we can stay in touch?”
This may be a bit uncomfortable the first three or four times you say it, but as you refine the message, and express it authentically at the end of a truly great conversation with someone, you will find that your request is equally authentic.
Action Step:
Make a concentrated effort, first – to design your own “formula/phrase” and then… use it on the next three to four people you meet. After the meeting, and having made the request, take a few minutes to embrace exactly what transpired.
- How did you feel in making the request?
- How did the person respond to you?
- Were you more excited about the outcome than nervous?
- Do you feel there is something you can modify to make it more natural… more authentic?
By the way, I have really enjoyed spending time sharing this series of messages with you! It is obvious that we both share a genuine interest in the power of networking, and since I enjoy building friendships with like-minded people, perhaps you would like to email me at Jan-Vitale@cox.net and connect with your next “future friend!”
Jan Vitale, building my business, one relationship at a time
The Eight Second Ride…
I was raised in Wyoming where they have a lot of… yes, you guessed it – Rodeos! Every summer they have the fair and all the associated events, including the rodeo – about which my friends have recently been making a lot of Facebook posts.
Walking the Shiatsu this morning, wondering why it took her so long to get through her daily, I started thinking about time management and how important each second is…
Then my mind drifted to the eight seconds that are allowed for those brave cowboys to make one of the toughest rides in the world; a qualified professional bull ride. Can you imagine how strong, focused and compelling they must be in order to make that ride successful?
Thoughts then flowed to some of the reading I’ve been doing lately about the brain, finding that eight seconds is also the maximum amount of time the “average” person can fully focus on something and not lose his concentration…
More mind drifting – to what it must take, when we are communicating with someone else, to deliver a message that is strong, focused and compelling enough that we are heard?
Ok… by now, you know that my mind sometimes rambles in this creative flow of thought. However, I do tend to “bring it all home” to something cohesive… and today it was the fact that I plan to go to a networking event tonight and I may actually have only 8 seconds to get a 30-second “commercial” communicated! Well, actually, that 8 seconds is probably the time I need to make my “hook” happen and I have to hold on as a mean, tough animal (prospect) tries to throw me off. How tight must my message be to hang on and be strong, focused and compelling?
Sometimes, that “hook’ is all you need – it is not necessary, at a networking event to close the deal! You can use those eight seconds to “hold on” to the relationship you just started and take the meat of the conversation to a more personal level over breakfast or lunch. I had a friend recently tell me that her “social” questions include: “Are you an early morning person or an afternoon person?” Once she has determined that – she discovers what they prefer to eat, which allows her to either offer to drop bagels and coffee by, or meet them somewhere for lunch. No selling – just the perfect amount of interest in “who” the other person is to get her foot through the door – emotionally and literally!
I have never been a proponent of the “30-second commercial” or the “elevator pitch”… they are both outdated ideas from when that elevator ride really was three to five minutes long and you actually could engage in some meaningful conversation. Technology has made everything move faster, including elevators and the need to make our marketing pitches more immediately relevant. Like it or not, however, these succinct marketing messages (hooks) are necessary, and must sell more than your product or service and why you are unique or stand above your competition. They are essential to building your brand, conveying who you are, what you offer and what promise you will be able to deliver on! All that in SUCH a short span of time.
There is a ton of buzz about branding, but the short eight second take on that is that your brand is… the promises you make and keep to your customers. If as a business you fail to focus on and meet those promises, your chance of staying on for the long ride is zero! You are conveying to anyone who listens what he/she will get from your business and you must be able to deliver.
Eight-second short ride… simple message: Clearly and concisely convey what you offer – knowing you can stand behind that offer. I know how difficult this process is… it pains even me! So, research person that I am, I found a few goodies I could throw your way.
“I was riding up the Gherkin elevator with Will Harris, the marketing director at Nokia. I asked, ‘What if you could get dozens of user-generated videos for less than $1,000 each with www.mofilm.com?” He signed up before we reached the top floor and then Nokia went on to win the Cannes UGC competition with one of those videos.” – Jeffrey Merrihue, CEO, Accenture Marketing Sciences (London)
“The worst elevator pitch is one I hear frequently. It goes like this: Prospect: ‘What is it that you do?’ Salesperson: ‘I represent XYZ Company.’ Stop! What does that do to help build the relationship we all need in sales? Describe not whom you represent but what you do to help people solve the problems they have. Why not answer with, ‘I help people solve the problems of living too long, becoming disabled, or dying too soon.’” – Robert D. Lowrey, Managing Partner, Northwestern Mutual
“The Best: We make print clickable. The Worst: We do anything and everything a company needs us to do as cheaply as possible.” – Andy and Julie Plata, Co-CEOs, OutputLinks, Inc., Graphic Communications World
Ok… I am going to go get ready for my eight second ride(s) tonight. How about you? I would love to have you share your “hook.” Go ahead; hit me with your best shot and let’s see some comments here!
Contributing author:
Anna Weber
Always… encouraging to you take positive, life-altering actions that will provide you with long-term, sustainable benefit.
I encourage you to sign up for the RSS feed for my blog so you don’t miss a one of these informational articles and to find more rich content on my website, Vital Enterprises, LLC.
Jan Vitale
Providing the tools to accelerate your growth in Network Marketing…
30-second commercial, 8-second ride, Anna Weber, branding, bull-riding, elevator pitch, Jan Vitale, LLC, Networking, networking hook, Vital Enterprises
Planning the Perfect Honeymoon
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The task of planning the perfect honeymoon can be daunting, especially if you haven’t traveled much before. I am excited to bring you a series of blog posts that will provide a wealth of information about honeymoon planning, location and tips to help you discover ways to save money, plan the best travel times, and even… knowing how to Travel Lite!
Let’s start by challenging you to print off two copies of the questionnaire and then to check the degree of compatibility the two of you have about something as important as your honeymoon. By asking questions about things you may not even think of looking into, you can ensure your honeymoon will be something you look at for years later as being… perfect.
First, go into this knowing you will most likely not respond to all of the questions identically – and that is ok. Sometimes the ‘negotiation” adds a little spark and interest and in the compromise, you may both experience something you would not otherwise have thought as a possibility.
I would prefer taking our honeymoon:
□ Before the wedding. □ Following the wedding. □ Later, when the “time” is right. □ Later, when we have more money. □ I’d rather not have one.I would like to have the honeymoon planned by:
□ A skilled travel agent or consultant who can help us with all the planning and coordination. □ One of us, but who will “take the reins.” □ Both of us, working together to make it happen.I would like to allocate the following amount to spend on the honeymoon:
□ Under $500 □ $500-1,000 □ $1,000-$2,500 □ $2,500-$5,000 □ $5,000-$10,000 □ $10,000+I would like to be on our honeymoon for:
□ A simple overnight stay. □ Just a weekend/long weekend. □ At least a week. □ No less than two weeks. □ Longer _________________My honeymoon travel preference is:
□ To see more of the U.S. □ Explore places abroad _____________________My favorite vacation spot is:
□ Strolling along a nice, sandy beach. □ Hiking in the mountains. □ Experiencing the culture and bustle of the city. □ Disconnecting from the world… at sea.I would be most comfortable:
□ Camping out or staying in hostels. □ Visiting with family and friends. □ Just picking out lodging as we go. □ Making sure all rooms have been reserved in well known hotels or condos. □ Having the best money can buy, i.e., luxury!I have always envisioned a honeymoon where I got to share the following with my new mate:
□ Adventure travel □ Aerobics □ Antiquing □ Baseball □ Basketball □ Bicycling □ Billiards □ Birding □ Bodybuilding □ Boxing □ Canoeing □ Cooking classes □ Concert-going □ Cricket □ Cross country skiing □ Cruising □ Downhill Skiing □ Dirt Biking □ Diving □ Driving □ Extreme Sports □ Fencing □ Figure Skating □ Fishing □ Fitness □ Flying □ Folk Dancing □ Frisbee □ Gambling □ Golf □ Gliding □ Hiking □ Horseback Riding □ Ice Skating □ Inline Skating □ Jet-skiing □ Jogging □ Kayaking □ Marathon □ Motor Sports □ Mountain Biking □ Mushing □ Orienteering □ Parasailing □ Pilates □ Poker □ Polo □ Racquetball □ Rock Climbing □ Roller Skating □ Rowing □ Rugby □ Sailing □ Safari □ Scuba Diving □ Shopping □ Skiing Europe □ Skiing USA & Canada □ Snorkeling □ Snowboarding □ Softball □ Sleigh Riding □ Spa Treatments □ Spectator Sports □ Squash □ Surfing □ Swimming □ Tennis □ Volleyball □ Walking □ Water Polo □ Waterskiing □ Windsurfing □ Wine Tasting □ Yachting □ Yoga □ Other:______________I have always thought about sharing my honeymoon with all the people who are important to me and would love to have friends and family come along.
□ Absolutely! □ Heaven Forbid!Honeymoons are frequently know for the amazing food that is available on cruises and in hotels; I anticipate we will have:
□ Just quick meals from diners and fast-food franchises. □ Taking time to share creating interesting meals for ourselves. □ A step up from fast food, but still taking in inexpensive local restaurants. □ The ambiance of an elegant hotel where the food is included in our honeymoon package. □ The best of the best in local restaurants; I want to try them all! □ Our hotel. I want a honeymoon where food is included in the price. □ Staying in our room and ordering service from the hotel.The days are filled with fun and activity; the nights should be filled with:
□ Dancing, dancing, and more dancing. □ Taking in the local street musicians. □ Having time to experience the local culture. □ Just hanging out watching movies. □ Are you kidding? It’s my honeymoon!Now for the real fun! Comparing your answers and deciding how to work out all the details and compromises. And, when you are ready to take the next step… email me at Jan-Vitale@cox.net with HONEYMOON TRAVEL in the subject line.
Make sure to subscribe to the RSS feed so that you get each future Honeymoon article posted.
Jan Vitale, your Honeymoon Travel expert Vital Enterprises, LLC Making your honeymoon the sweetest part of your wedding.
I have provided insurance products to clients for the better part of my adult life. It is only natural that I am now as passionate about providing information to help others understand the devastation that comes with certain life events, and help them embrace a responsible position of being prepared – a preparedness that minimizes potential tragedy at many levels.
Disaster Preparedness… are YOU prepared?
It seems the news is filled with some new disaster being faced some where … every day. I don’t recall this being the case when I was growing up, but I think I have come to the realization that many natural disasters occurred, but were not given the national attention that is now possible through the media and the Internet.
However, since we are now made more aware of these tragic events, we can also be better prepared, for example, by having a Basic Emergency Supply Kit.
Copy this off, modify it to meet the needs of your family, print it and collect and keep the items in an easy-to-access location.
□ Water: One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
□ Food: At least a three-day supply of non-perishable goods.
□ Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert – and extra batteries for both.
□ Heavy-duty flashlight and extra batteries.
□ First aid kit.
□ Large whistle – to signal for help.
□ Dust masks, to help filter contaminated air – and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place.
□ Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
□ Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
□ Can opener for food – if your food supplies contain canned foods.
□ Local maps.
You might want to consider having two emergency kits: a full one at home – sealed in a large plastic container, and another smaller one to keep in your workplace or vehicle.
Personal Items to Consider Adding:
□ Prescription medications and glasses.
□ Infant formula and diapers.
□ Pet food and extra water for your pet.
□ Important family documents such as insurance policies, personal identification, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.
□ Cash or traveler’s checks and change.
□ Emergency reference material, such as a first aid book – this kind of information can be found at www.ready.gov
□ Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider adding more bedding if you life in a cold-weather climate.
□ Complete change of clothing, including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
□ Household chlorine bleach and a medicine dropper. When diluted – nine parts water to one part bleach – it can be used as a disinfectant. In an emergency, you can use it to treat water, by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe, or bleach with added cleaners.
□ Fire Extinguisher.
□ Matches in a waterproof container.
□ Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items.
□ Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils and paper towels.
□ Paper and pencils.
□ Books, games, puzzles, and other activities (for children)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has taken a strong position in educating and empowering Americans to take the steps necessary to prepare and respond to potential emergencies… unfortunately, these now include the threat of terrorist attacks. Being prepare requires that you do three simple things:
- Create your emergency supply kit.
- Make a family emergency plan and share that periodically with your family members.
- Be informed about the various types of disasters and emergencies and know how to appropriately respond to each of them.
Thank you for taking time to be aware. I trust you will see the importance of using this information – not just reading it! On my website you will find many Disaster Preparedness resources, for example, the PortaVault the perfect storage for your Vital Documents, allowing you to quickly grab the protective container – taking all your important information with you in less than five minutes.
Please feel free to subscribe (RSS) to this blog so that you might continue to educate yourself on the many, varied aspects of Disaster Preparedness and being prepared to protect your family in any emergency.
Jan Vitale, your Investment Protector
Vital Enterprises, LLC
Bringing you experience, wisdom and choices in protecting all things valuable to you…
disaster preparedness, Disaster Preparedness Resources, emergencies, emergency supply kit, family emergency plan, Jan Vitale, PortaVault, terrorist attacks, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, vital documents, Vital Enterprises LLC
Based on the principles provided and the actions encouraged by the previous posts in this series, you should be able to see just how easy it really is to build and retain relationships over time. You simply have to have a process, and engage with frequency in creating, culturing and nurturing them and over time you will be… memorable!
Accelerating the normal relationship building process…
The issue I want to put out on the table today is about how to accelerate this process for that occasion when you meet a stranger in an airport or some workshop where it is not as likely you will have the luxury of time to work through your process. We are just so much less inclined to respond as openly to strangers, and are much more guarded in our responses to their probing questions, wondering why the “interrogation?”
Being prepared for opportunity, when it knocks…
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What can you do to “anchor” yourself in the memory of that occasional stranger? What can you do to make sure you at least leave a memorable impression? First, understand and accept that in all walks of life, in every action of each day, there is opportunity – the chance meeting that may potentially change your future. You simply must be prepared for how you are going to anchor yourself in the subconscious of that person, and be able to respond with genuine authenticity as you uncover their need or want and some leave a subtle conveyance that you are the person to fill it!
Although I am not a fan of the 30-second commercials we are taught to craft for networking events, I do know if you cannot clearly articulate your message, there will be a huge lost opportunity cost. Billions of dollars are spent on advertising every year, with companies trying to deliver messages that we, as potential customers, will never forget.
As Entrepreneurs and SOLOpreneurs, we are really no different than these huge corporations, other than of course our size. We have the same responsibility to take control of making sure we create these memorable anchors in the minds of those whom we would seek to serve. Even if someone can remember “you” but they don’t remember what you do or what you need, how can you expect them to call on you to serve them, or to refer you to others they know who could also use your support? A consistent increase in contacts is necessary to thrive in business and that increase calls for crafting a message that makes us memorable.
Becoming the one pursued…
Two things that I have learned in my years of networking is that a) you must be able to clearly articulate what you do in a concise manner – no one wants to sit and listen to your story forever, and b) you must be able to craft that message in such a manner that it doesn’t tell your whole story, but piques the listener’s interest enough to draw them in so that they engage in the dance of asking you questions!
Keep in mind that your purpose is not to make a sale! It takes between 7 and 13 “touches” with you before a sale will be consummated… don’t fool yourself into thinking you can do it right out of the box. Forget about the prompting to buy – create a quick, simple and effective line that gets your listener to ask you for more information! For example: I was at a recent networking event and a young man walked up to me and introduced himself, “Hi, I’m Jason, and I help successful people automate their lives!” He didn’t tell me a thing about his company or industry; he left that for me to inquire about exactly how he helped successful people automate their lives because his statement left it open to mean a lot of different things. His objective, to engage me in dancing around questions for a spell, worked perfectly! I found out he was a computer programmer who worked exclusively with insurance agents and financial planners.
I help people streamline the process of securing the vital essentials of life! And, you?
Becoming the “wanted commodity” by leaving memorable anchors…
This process helps build a rapport that the other person wants! You become the wanted commodity, and if your responses are more about them and the benefits they need in life because you are taking time to listen – you will be able to get both your message and your memorable anchor placed DEEP in their subconscious! Don’t try to sell – try to compel.
What will you do today to assess and modify the message you provide to that rare opportunity to connect that just happens to pop up in front of you?
Jan Vitale, building my business, one relationship at a time!
30-second commercial, Jan Vitale, memorable anchors, memorable impression, Networking, networking events, subconscious, Vital Enterprises
Networking
connections, contact information, David Robinson, Dennis Hopper, James Mailnchak, Jan Vitale, Joe Martin, Networking, Vital Enterprises
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