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Stop Going to Networking Meetings and Get MORE BusinessA few days ago I returned from my annual National Speaker's Association (NSA) conference in Atlanta. The educational sessions were OK, the hotel was so-so, and the town was lacking in exciting things to do, but my experience was stellar. How is that possible? Though I am often accused of being an extrovert, I consider myself quite introverted, as I truly dislike social events and networking gatherings where I am forced to meet new people and mingle with individuals whom I don't know. You know the feeling - that insecure child inside of you automatically assumes that you won't like anyone new and that they probably won't like you, either. It's simply safer to stick with people with whom you already have a relationship. Of course, the adult inside knows that to grow as a person (and as a business), you must meet new people, network effectively, and experience new challenges. So, what do you do? As an introverted defense mechanism, I learned that becoming involved with committees, task forces, and boards, I could meet a lot of people without the painfulness of cold networking. Joining committees provides the unique opportunity to hide behind the tasks of the group to meet others until you feel more comfortable and less socially awkward. It allows you to get to know someone well, while working together on a joint effort. What a concept! My NSA convention was a huge personal and professional success because I am actively involved with one of the charitable events surrounding the organization. My involvement with this group gives me the avenue to meet people whom I would have never even met under normal convention circumstances. Some of my closest friends, mentors, buddies, and clients have come into my life as a result of being an involved member of an organization. Though, of course, being involved often means giving up a significant portion of time working towards the greater good of the organization, but it provides a unique opportunity to meet people who can make a difference in your life. So, if you are like me, and don't enjoy business card exchanges, networking events, baby showers, or standard social gatherings, then by-pass them all and join a committee or get on a board. It will be your quickest and most effective path to meeting people with whom you can connect personally and professionally. It will impact your business and your life all while working on a worthwhile project. How fantastic is that? Other articles by this author »
About Kirstin Carey
Kirstin Carey is the author of "Starving Artist No More: Hearty Business Strategies for Creative Folks." Kirstin knows how much most creative people hate sales, contracts, and discussing money and she consults creative people on the business side of creativity so they make more money, get better clients, and still love what they do. She put together a resource full of proven strategies and insider secrets guaranteed to help creative types get the business help they need so they don't have to starve anymore! Go to www.MyCreativeBiz.com. Related
And here is another random article you might be interested in... Home Business Start up--Relocation ConsultantThe Relocation Consultant Home Business Vital Information: • Start-up Investment: $300-$700 (advertising costs) • Break-even time Two weeks to one year • Estimate of Annual Revenue and Profit: $15,000-$25,000 Part time $40,000-$50,000 Full Time Who needs a Relocation Consultant? • a single parent who has a demanding job with working hours that directly conflict with apartment or home rental research, would find the services useful. • Workers who have been replaced or who are going to be relocated. • People who are returning to work from an extended stay away, due to an injury or illness. • Companies who are expanding or relocating. • Companies who have traveling employees. • People living in heavily populated cities. What does a Relocation Consultant do? A Relocation Consultant's duties consists of locating neighborhoods, apartment and home dwellings, childcare services, religious organizations and selecting a moving company for individuals, families, and employees for relocating businesses. More specifically, as companies continue to downsize and or relocate, there's a growing need for the services provided by a Relocation Consultant. Often, companies contract with Relocation Consultants so that the consultant's services are readily accessible in the event that an employee or numerous employees are relocated. The Relocation Consultant will match an employer or an employees', living requirements and requests as closely as possible. Additionally, a Relocation Consultant's services are solicited for individual's who are relocating for reasons other than employment. Many individual's seek the services of a Relocation Consultant due to time restrictions which prevent them from locating desired living arrangements. Getting started in the Relocation Consultant Business • Advertising your Business Run Classified ads and 1-2 inch ads in newspapers and magazines in both the Metro areas as well as suburban areas. Good examples are Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York.... Internet Classifieds work well also. Consider leaving brochures at various Hotels and Motels. • Tips for running a Successful Relocation Business One of the keys to success in this business is your ability to network with others around the country. Successful Networking will provide you with the ability to thoroughly examine an area prior to running advertisements. So...it's important to develop business relations the country. Of course, the internet and email provide the perfect vehicle for this type of relationship building. Understand that your learning curve NEVER ENDS. You will need to regularly develop your business skills. Don't be fooled into thinking that "a good product sells itself." "Consumers buy you" is what I used to teach to my telemarketers. I've listed on my site, a few Home Business Courses to get you off to a good start. Don't stop there. Continue to research and develop skill. For example, I dedicate at least 5 hours weekly toward increasing my personal business building techniques. • Visit the Relocation Council. This Organization has been in operation for a number of years. They have a Newsletter and other training materials to help you to develop your skills. On their site, you'll notice that there is an option to become Certified. In the event that you decide that you want to expand your part time business into a full time career, having employees...you can prepare for your certification with the Relocation Council also. erc.org 1-202 - 857- 0857 Note: When you are ready to begin larger ad campaigns, visit, Standard Rate and Data srds.com SRDS has a database of media rates for at least 100,000 publications. The Relocation Consultant Work At Home Business is a very inexpensive Business to start. It's fairly straight forward and it has the potential to create a full time income while working part time. This one is Really worth considering. • If you decide that this is the Work from Home business opportunity for you, continue reading our Ezine for continued Home Business Start-Up's since there will be ideas and information in each issue that you can tweak a little to benefit you within your Business of Choice. To eliminate some trial and error, in our Ezine, also provide you with ongoing Small Business support...deals on business tools, marketing research information, and more. • You will need to create a Business Plan if you are serious about creating a profitable Home Based Business. I found a good Business Plan workbook that you will find quite useful. Writing Business Plans can be frustrating... I won't lie. Thus Using a workbook and/or software is by far the popular choice for those who don't want to pay $700-$1,500 to have one professionally prepared. • Ensure that you take your business to the internet. I've evaluated a few web hosting Companies and I've listed their advantages as well as their disadvantages. You'll also find discount computer hardware locations. You may find that marketing your business using RSS is an unthinkable opportunity to overlook. You're right. I've listed free RSS readers and software that you can use To get your feeds up and going WITHOUT the need of studying all the techie stuff. Just visit our Resource Page. If you have not read AND STUDIED, the World's Famous, "Think And Grow Rich", you can receive it Free: This is a must read. Creating a proper mind-set is critical. In addition to your studying your business, you will need to develop a mind for business. Wealth is NOT about Money. Download it And see for yourself. Bridging the GAP between Opportunity and Success, Copyright 2005 Shawn Price Other articles by this author »
About Shawn Price
Shawn Price, Author of OwnABizToday's Ezine, due to her son's severe medical needs was forced to leave the job market and enter into the world of self employment. Experience has taught Shawn that one can NEVER predict future circumstances and thus one should if at all possible , become financially independent. In an effort to lead people toward self employment, Shawn and her partners, regularly evaluate home business start up's as well as small business resources and tools. Bridging the GAP between Opportunity and Success RSS: http://www.ownabiztoday.com/ownabiztoday.xml Ezine: subscribe@ownabiztoday.com Related
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