Tuesday Toolbox
"What's in YOUR Toolbox?"
September 2, 2008
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FREE TICKETS!
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The HBAGTA Office has 2 tickets available for the "Country Music at Its Best" show starring Da Yoopers on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 7:30 pm.
The show will be held at the Lars Hockstad Auditorium located in Central Grade School.
The first person to come into the office to request the tickets will be given these tickets FREE!
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THANK YOU MCIM
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MCIM ANNOUNCES CREDIT
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MCIM has announced a new 2% Association Membership Credit!
- Policyholders who are members of MCIM endorsing associations are eligible for a 2% policy credit.
- Credit is effective September 1, 2008 on new and renewal policies.
Contact your MCIM Insurance Agent today!
For more information on MCIM endorsed Insurance Agencies call the HBAGTA at 231.946.2305 or 800.422.5166.
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DID YOU KNOW...
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The ICC Hearings on Sprinklers will be live starting Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 7:00 am EST. Stay tuned to your Tuesday Toolbox for your link to stay updated on this very important issue!
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Hello Friends, We are looking forward to seeing you and kicking off our first General Membership Meeting on September 8 at the Waterfront Conference Center here in Traverse City. The Builder Forum will begin at 5:30 with Kevin Endres of ThreeWEST presenting "The Grand Traverse Guide to Permitting and Zoning". Participants will receive a free cd copy of the 70-page guide. We are pleased to welcome to our meeting, keynote speaker John Paul (No, not the presidential candidate, but a very important person in his own right!). John Paul is the EVP and Director of The Bank of Northern Michigan and will present "Everything I Need to Know, I Did Not Learn in Kindergarten" during our plated dinner at 6:00 pm. A Member Orientation will be conducted at 5:30 pm and any member who would like a refresher or introduction to member benefits of the HBAGTA is welcome to attend. The September meeting is a very popular and well attended meeting. Please be sure to RSVP by September 4, 2008 to assure your seat and meal at this event! We are your resource for Codes, Licensing and Professional Development! Together we are building a stronger Association! Sincerely,  Kathleen G. Maisonville, Executive Officer Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. P: 231.946.2305 Toll Free: 800.422.5166 F: 231.946.1051 kmaisonville@hbagta.comwww.hbagta.com |
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| PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR
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The Professional Development Calendar is in place with the following NAHB University of Housing courses. Additional courses will be added as they become available:
- Green Building for Building Professionals (NAHB 2 day course): September 18-19, 2008
- Land Development: Site Planning & Zoning (NAHB): September 26, 2008
- Construction Contracts and Law (NAHB): October 10, 2008
- CAPS I - Marketing Communication Strategies for Aging & Accessibility (NAHB): October 22, 2008
- CAPS II - Design/Build Solutions for Aging & Accessibility (NAHB): October 23, 2008
- Business Management for Building Professionals (NAHB): October 24, 2008
- BAR - Builder Assessment Review (The First Step to CGB): November 5, 2008
- PREP - Professional Remodelers Assessment Profile (The First Step to CGR): November 5, 2008
- Finance Banking (NAHB): November 7, 2008
- Profitable Business through Quality Practices (NAHB): November 14, 2008
You must pre-register for these courses to ensure materials will be available for you.
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| LEADERS ATTEND FUNDRAISER IN MT. PLEASANT
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Association Leadership recently attended a fundraising reception held in Mount Pleasant, Michigan on August 27, 2008. The reception's purpose was to raise funds for BUILD-PAC.
The reception hosted special guest, Dave Camp from Michigan's Fourth Congressional District.
Left to Right: Kathy Maisonville, EO, Molly and Nick Agostinelli, and Scott Duensing, President of the HBAGTA.
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| HBAGTA TO OFFER PRE-LICENSURE EDUCATION COURSES IN SEPTEMBER
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The HBAGTA is proud to be a regional center for BEST of Michigan,
providing quality pre-licensure education opportunities to our state
and local community. The State of Michigan requires 60 hours of pre-licensure education before an individual can sit for their licensing exam.
The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area will be offering Pre-Licensure Courses through BEST of Michigan in September, specifically the weekends of September 13, 20, &
27th. Courses will include the required categories as stated by the State of Michigan requirements for pre-licensure education:
- Business Management, Estimating, and Job Costing
- Design and Building Science
- Contracts, Liability, and Risk Management
- Marketing and Sales
- Project Management and Scheduling
- The Michigan Residential code
- MIOSHA Construction Safety Standards
This series of courses will also include preparation for the State of Michigan licensing exam.
Contact Cathy Robinson at MAHB and BEST of Michigan for more information on this program or to enroll in the pre-licensure courses call 800.748.0732 or visit www.bestofmi.org .
BEST of Michigan - One of Michigan's few approved providers of continuing and pre-licensure education and a division of the MAHB will
continue to offer programs for the 60 hour Pre-licensure Education and
Continuing Education Courses throughout the state of Michigan.
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| INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN 15 SECONDS
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You're in the elevator and your friend John introduces you to Barbara who is the CEO of one of the companies you'd like to do business with. Barbara asks, "What do you do?"
Here is your chance to make a connection with a prime member of your target market. You want to get her attention, make a positive impression, and get her interested enough to continue theconversation. You've got about fifteen seconds to do this.
Whether you are in the elevator or on the phone, the way you start the conversation will
determine whether or not it will continue. You could tell anyone what you do if you had half an
hour, but with fifteen seconds you're likely to simply label yourself, as most people do.
Labels don't tell us much. Imagine you told Barbara in the elevator that you are a coach or a
consultant. Are you talking about working with high school kids, senior managers, or actors?
Few job labels tell your audience who you work with. Most labels are not only vague but don't
help to prompt the conversation to continue.
You could be more specific and tell your prospect you are a tax accountant or an automation
specialist. That gives people some idea of what you do, but still doesn't explain why your
prospect should care.
Instead of using a label, you could tell your prospect how you do your work, the processes you use. You might say, "We analyze light manufacturing companies to identify areas where the addition of a programmable logic controller could boost throughput." If she understands what you are talking about, you still haven't given her a reason to contact you.
Whether you are an executive coach, lawyer, accountant, or automation specialist, when you
start talking about the processes you use, eyes glaze over and minds shut down. While you may
have developed processes that no one else uses, prospects don't care about the process, at least
not initially.
One of the most common mistakes people make is assuming their message should be about
themselves. If you are in business to provide services and products to clients and customers, your marketing message should be about their needs and wants. Here's the difference:
· "I'm a marketing coach." (It's about me, and who really cares?)
· "I help independent professionals attract more clients and make more money." (It's about what I do for others and should prompt the question, "How do you do that?")
Your prospects' primary concern isn't you. They want to know what you can do for them and
how you can help them profit, financially, physically, or emotionally. They want to know if you
can solve a problem for them.
To get attention with a short sentence about the problems you solve, you might tell Barbara you
"help reduce manufacturing operating costs and increase profits." Cost containment is a continual
problem for any CEO and should pique her interest and prompt follow up. Stop shutting the door
to new business with your marketing message. When people ask you what you do, avoid using a
label or a discussion of process. Instead, quickly clarify who you help and what type of problems
you solve. One sentence should do the job.
Talking about what you do in a new way takes a little getting used to. The first couple of times
you stop yourself from saying, "I'm an executive coach or consultant" and replace it with a
marketing message that describes how you actually help clients, it will feel awkward. Keep using
and fine tuning your marketing message and soon it will not only give prospects a clear idea of
what you do but you'll be comfortable using it.
Once you have a 15 second marketing message that works you can use it in the elevator, in the
airport, on the phone, and at parties and watch your business grow.
Charlie Cook helps independent professionals and small business owners attract more clients
and be more successful. Sign up to receive the Free Marketing Guide and the 'More Business'
newsletter, full of practical tips you can use at http://www.charliecook.net
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Thank you for your membership and your participation in the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc.
Sincerely,
The HBAGTA Staff
Kathy Maisonville, Executive Officer
Kris Guyot, Business Support Services
Jenny Hanrahan, Membership Support Services
Judy Gowan, Receptionist / Administrative Assistant
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