Archive for April, 2005

What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve! How many times have you heard that one. Just how do you use your mind to create the future. Visualize!!

On Thursday, April 28th, San Diego Women, Inc. has invited Barbara Eldridge, Mind Masters, to help us do just that.

Barbara will be sharing the “how-tos” of using dream boards to visualize our goals. You’ll leave the meeting with a completed dream board to hang in your office, reminding you daily of your dreams, helping your visualize your success.

This is a great dinner meeting and the networking is outstanding. Don’t miss this meeting. Go to San Diego Women, Inc. to register to attend this Thursday’s event.

1. Dress for the occasion. This could mean dressing the way that your customers dress or dressing the way that they expect you to dress. You choose. But first impressions are made in a matter of seconds. And the fun tie that your children bought you for Christmas might not be the best thing to impress a company chairman.
2. Take plenty of business cards. If your business does more than one thing, have different cards for different purposes.
3. Arrive early. The early bird really does get the worm. It’s harder to break in on conversations when you arrive late.
4. Find a partner. Go to the meeting with someone who you know well. Work the room between you; introducing each other to new people that you’ve individually met is a great way of increasing coverage.
5. Not sure how to approach? Simply smile, nod your head, walk forwards with hand stretched out and say, “Hello. I just wanted to come over and say hello.”
6. Ask open questions and listen carefully
7. Receive other people’s business cards graciously and with two hands. Use the back of cards to make any notes about the person that you’ve just met.
8. Have something fun or different. For instance a card that is business card size but carries some business tips is likely to be much more memorable than just your name and company. Use these in conjunction with your normal cards.
9. Ask for people’s permission to follow up with them in some way. For instance, say that if they are interested in what you do, then you would happily add them to your database. It would be rude for them to say no. Wouldn’t it? Don’t feel intimidated. It doesn’t matter how big or small your business is. You are dealing with a person. They have the same hopes and fears that you have.
10. If you have a trumpet, go out and blow it. No one else is going to promote your business for you. Have total belief. Go for it! Shameless self-promotion is the order of the day. Join networking groups that meet regularly – repetitive exposure increases the possibility of gaining referrals.

Sundowner – April 20, 2005
Network in the fast lane at April Sundowner

K1 Speed will host the Carlsbad Chamber’s April 20 Sundowner from 5-7 p.m. at 6212 Corte Del Abeto in Carlsbad.

K1 Speed is Southern California’s newest, hottest and most complete entertainment and corporate function facility finally open for business and ready for action! At K1 Speed, now the largest indoor karting facility on the west coast, you’ll find state of the art tracks and karts precisely scaled and engineered to guarantee you a real racing experience. The 75,000 square foot complex includes 60,000 square feet of track area, a 10,000 square foot TV lounge and lobby overlooking the track, gourmet café, game room with pool tables, and two conference room, (2,000 sq. ft. & 600 sq. ft.). With all new state of the art audio/video presentation equipment and internet access, K1 is being promoted as one of the area’s premier spots for corporate events and entertainment. We provide everything you’ll need for the ultimate rush. Except the adrenaline… you’ll supply that yourself.

Admission is $5 for members and $10 for prospective members. No reservations required – pay at the door. For more information, contact Denise Wigley at (760) 931-8400.

Wow, what a great night of networking. There we were, under the stars at the Karl Strauss Brewery in Mira Mesa, meeting many other small business owners and professionals.

Leads Club is an organization dedicated to helping small business owners and sales professionals expand their business. They do that by forming business networking groups, offering exclusivity to the business member. Each week members of a chapter get together for breakfast or lunch and share information about their businesses and the leads they have for the other businesses in their chapter.

Every small business owner should look at using a structured referral exchange organization such as Leads Club to market their business. At the Spring Fling we learned that the average small business sees a net increase of 19% their first year with Leads Club. There are some chapters that are exchanging in excess of $10,000 a month in business between their members.

Check out Leads Club and see if they have a chapter with your category available. Then go visit. It could make a huge difference in your business.