| Greetings!
Trick or Treat!
Did you just do what I just did? Did you look at your calendar and say. "Holy crud! (or some other expletive) It's October already?!? Where did July go? "
If you're anywhere near as busy as most of my clients the year has zipped by and you're looking at the fourth quarter of the year.
You're either happy (because you're on track to meet your goals) or you're not - because, well, you're not.
The good news is that it's not too late to get on track. This month we focus on some simple strategies to get even the most reluctant networker get out and make new contacts just by talking about what you do.
This month, I am privileged to have a guest article by my own business coach, Janie Neff. Janie is incredible. She has been instrumental in helping me find the path to success. Don't miss her article "Using Your Mind as Your Map to Success"
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Special Guest Article - Using Your Mind as Your Map to Success
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By Janie Neff, PCC, CPCC, ORSC
Have you
ever asked yourself questions like: "How do I get from where I am now to where
I want to be? How can I be successful? What if I fail? How can I make lots of
money and enjoy what I'm doing? Or, have you ever heard yourself say thinks
like: "I can't___, I'll never__, I should__, I shouldn't__, what if__, if only__, I
always__ " (you fill in the blanks). I know I have and every client
I have coached has spoken these words in one form or another.
It's been
my experience, personally and professionally, that the way to success lies
within the power of using your mind. To answer the questions above and tame the
negative self-limiting beliefs is to look at, become aware of, and change the
way in which you think.Your mind is in fact your map to
success.
My simple
unscientific theory of behavior manifestation looks like this. You demonstrate
a behavior that is supported by an attitude or emotion that has been prompted
by a thought that comes from a belief that has been birthed from an experience.
And, underneath all of that is the TRUTH - pure, unadulterated truth that comes
from your Creator.
Behaviors (come from)
Attitudes/Emotions
(come from)
Thoughts
(come from)
Beliefs
(come from)
Experiences
And, underneath all of this lies:
TRUTH -
pure, unadulterated TRUTH that comes from
your Creator -
YOUR TRUE ESSENCE!
I assert
that if you begin to look at your unwanted behaviors and track it through my
manifestation theory, you can get to the truth of who you are without the negative experiences,
beliefs, and behaviors. The Truth is that we all have potential, strengths,
talents, attributes, passions, dreams, and hopes. We are all capable of love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Peel
away the layers of negativity and fabrication and you'll find your authentic
self, your True essence. You are a magnificent being!
Need more
evidence? Look at this information provided by Jamie Walters, founder of Ivy Sea Online, regarding stress.1
- Harvard's
Mind/Body Institute reports that 60 to 90-percent of physician visits are stress-related.
- People
become stressed when they dwell relentlessly on the problem instead of finding
a solution.
- Stress
is triggered by your perception of danger/fear. Are you expecting to please
everyone? Are you overreacting, viewing minor things as critical and urgent? Do
you always need to be right? Work at adopting views that are more moderate. Put
the situation in perspective. Don't wallow in negative thinking, or going over
and over things that have already passed.
- Reality
- and stress-relief - can be found in our perspective and actions in the
present. Think about it. Most of the time you feel stressed out, fearful, or
angry, what are you thinking about? Where is your mind? Chances are, you're in
the past or out into the future, rather than focusing on what's in front of you
at the moment.
How does
this relate to your business success? Your most basic insecurities and fears
not only impinge on your personal life but also your professional life. If you
begin to stand in your True splendor and believe in yourself and your life's
mission, you will begin to succeed. Can you see yourself being successful? What
does it look like? Feel like? What is your energy like?
Can you
believe in yourself and your success? Who
are you "being" when you know you are successful? What qualities, traits,
and values are you honoring? You are powerful from this point of reference and
I assert the way you got here has been your mind. Mind-Power teacher, Karim Hajee, affirms that, "In order
to create the things you want in life you must first take control of your mind.
It doesn't matter what else you do. If you don't learn to work with your mind
-- nothing else will work." 2
Your
mind is in fact your map to success!
Envision. Believe.
Achieve.
1. http://www.ivysea.com/pages/ct0699_1.html 2. http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles.html Janie Neff
is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation, a
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach through The Coaches Training Institute,
and has advanced training in Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching.
She founded Next Step Coaching in 2002 and is co-founder of the newly formed
training company Transformation-Training.
As a personal and business coach,
she empowers individuals and relationship systems in organizations and groups
to create a vision and mission, which in turn propel strategies, actions,
and fulfillment. She has written and presented many programs and seminars on
enhancing leadership qualities, managing stress and time, and improving
communications skills, in addition to team building, mission and vision
development, strategic planning and goal setting, lifestyle balance, and wellness
programs.
Her life purpose is to help professional women let go of
their negative, self-limiting beliefs so they can enjoy fulfilling lives, based
on authenticity, passion, and purpose. She is passionate about working with
clients to help them achieve personal growth and professional aspirations. A
main focus of that work is helping individuals develop better balance between
their personal life, work and play. Click the link below for a FULL Scholarship to: Transform Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life (2 Day Intensive Workshop)
www.transformation-training.com
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Miss Karen's Musings:
Csix, Lies and Way Too Much Travel
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When I look back on September, I realize I probably should have planned things better and said "no" more often. You've probably had those moments when you said to yourself. "What the heck was I thinking when I scheduled all that?" Can you relate? In addition to all of the other stuff I was doing all month you can see - my life at a glance:
September 20th - 23rd A frenzy of daily craziness, starting with a trip to Detroit for a hockey tournament. This was my first official "away" tournament as team manager. Clearly I must have been out of my mind to agree to be responsible for 17 - 12 year old boys. Yeah, you're laughing now - and maybe I will too someday, but I've learned that there's a reason that their parents put them in ice hockey. - Can you say overabundant prepubescent energy? At least I had some time during study hall to get ready for my first Expert session!
Monday - You Are An Expert officially launched. Even though my brain was still on Detroit time, we had an unbelievable first session and my Experts are so excited about the rest of the program. (For more info about the Expert program, check out the article at the end)
Tuesday - A speaking engagement with entrepreneurs and job seekers at Csix in Cupertino. I had no idea that there was a networking group for job seekers! Csix is an excellent educational and networking forum in the Santa Clara Valley with over 3000 members, and It was a privilege to speak to their members.
Wednesday - My last day as BNI president of my chapter (whew!) and my last 90 minute workshop in September. I love it when people walk out of my workshop and really have a new outlook on networking!
Thursday - Helped Co-present at the Member Success Program for BNI in Pleasant Hill (Hey at least it was close to home) I've been having a blast teaching their version of how to write an infomercial and do a 10 minute presentation. It's a different take on the same topic. I also love to meet new BNI members because they are jazzed and ready to rock and roll with their membership.
Friday - Did you know that there is a national park in Richmond? Neither did I, and it was dedicated this weekend. It's the Rosie the Riveter National Park and Monument. On Friday, the Northern California Chamber Ambassadors held their rally at the site (the old Ford assembly plant) and it was my honor and privilege to present a version of "How to Write Your Infomercial" to the ambassadors. In spite of it being cold (58 degrees outside and there was no heat) and noisy (they were still doing construction to get ready for the gala dinner that evening), it was a great crowd. I want to give a huge thank you to Julie Parker who arranged for me to speak there. The owner and CEO of her company Michael Parker delivered the Key Note Speech in the morning, and their cameras were there to cover the event. Check out her company at Stellar Enterprise
In fact you might just see Miss Karen on their site Wednesday as they release their coverage of the rally.
Saturday - The one day workshop with my special guest Greg Norte. Holy cow. Greg is clearly a master at what he does and he "wowed" us with his presentation. Greg hinted that he might be willing to come back for an encore at a future one day workshop - I am soooo excited!
Sunday - What did I do? What any exhausted, brain dead speaker would do - spent the whole day watching HDTV!! Now, I've got to call my friend Tambra Harck (Soulful by Design) cuz I have all these ideas....
Life experience - It's a great teacher. My lesson - woman with too many activities must learn to say "no" - and anti gravity dogs are more enjoyable when you're not trying to rest!!
Til next month.
Miss Karen
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| Case Study - How Being Specific Can Get You What You REALLY Want
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For nearly a year, a man (who was a member of a one person per profession networking group) stood up on a weekly basis and said, I am a caterer, I am looking for brides. And for nearly a year, no one gave him a referral to a bride.
Did he have a credibility problem? Did no one in the group know a single person getting married?
The answer to both was "no". Bob is excellent at what he does. He has a company that does high end weddings. His food is simply amazing and he is personable and attentive. Not only that but he also contributes to his networking group by participating in leadership. What is wrong with Bob?
Bob was not being specific enough. After working with my system, he learned that unless he got over his fear of being very specific AND learn to ask for people who knew lots of his target clients, he simply won't get the results he was looking for.
On what he later called a "total leap of faith" on his part, he stood up one week, did his regular infomercial but instead of asking for brides, he asked for a wedding planner who specialized in fairy tale weddings. An amazing thing happened. Not only did someone in the room know an event planner like that, but several other people offered to connect him to "regular" event planners.
By being specific, Bob was able to connect to more than one person who could refer him to many many brides. Was Bob happy? You bet! Now Bob is working out just how he can accommodate all of the additional clients he is being referred to.
Would you like to be like Bob? Do your homework! Figure out who would be able to refer many clients to you. Then, be brave, be specific and don't be afraid to ask for what you want.
If you want help with that, the 90 minute workshop is for you. Can't get to a workshop? Check out ebook. Link is in the article below.
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October Calendar |
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90 Minute Workshops:
Tuesday, October 9th 9:30am - 11:00am - Pleasant Hill
Tuesday, October 16th, 8:30 - 10:00 - Brentwood (sponsored by the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce
Wednesday, October 24th 10:00 am - 11:30 am Walnut Creek
One Day Workshops (locations subject to change):
Monday, October 22nd 10:00 am - 5:30 pm "ish" Walnut Creek
NOTE THIS IS A NEW DATE!!
Saturday, October 20th 10:00 am - 5:30 pm "ish" Walnut Creek
Please RSVP to attend one of these workshops.
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| Network Your Way To Success
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At last Miss Karen's electronic book is available!
Network Your Way to Success is Miss Karen's 30 Seconds to Success
Workshop in an easy to read, informative book. If you:
- are on a shoestring budget
- are not
sure if networking will work for you
- can't make it to a workshop
- and you need a
system for networking that really works
this is book is for you!
Let Miss Karen teach you just how easy it is to increase your results while networking - without being pushy or "salesy"
Why did I create an electronic book? I "get" that not everyone wants to or is able to attend a live workshop. Sometimes an affordable, easy read is just the ticket!
I'm passionate about transforming networking
from a "stalking people and collecting business cards" thing to
something that helps people connect to what or who they need to know
next.
Click on the name of the book below to read more or to purchase this electronic publication.
| Link to Network Your Way to Success |
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Are You An Expert?
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One way to raise your professional image and attract clients to you is to be an expert at something. Being an expert is also a great way to generate passive income via info products.
Did you know that last year alone, an estimated $500 million was spent on the internet to purchase informational products? It's estimated that next year the figure will top $2 billion.
While real estate continues to remain a great investment, those who are on the cutting edge realize that informational products are the next "big thing" and are educating themselves on how to create and sell info products and workshops based upon information they already have inside their head!
Whether you have a great system for businesses, know a ton about vintage living, or just have a unique outlook on life, you ARE that expert and your audience is hungry for the information you have in YOUR head!
Imagine, you could create an electronic book and sell it for $1 to a million people. Or you create a home study course and sell it for $300 to 3,334 people. Bam! You're an instant millionaire! Considering how many people are on the Internet and how many of them buy information, this is completely do-able.
How much would you be willing to spend to learn how to create a buzz about what you know. What would you be willing to invest in yourself if you knew that when you were done your financial future would be secure?
Curious?
I only have four spots available at the introductory price in my "You Are an Expert" program.
I encourage you to pick up the telephone and call me at 925-407-4716 EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA what your product will be. I can help you to decide and teach you the process. Or you can email me at karen@misskarensproductions.com. I would love to have a conversation with you about how this program can help you stop trading your time for money.
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| Do You Want to Advertise in This Newsletter? |
If your target market is business owners who want their businesses to grow using word of mouth marketing and strategic alliances, you may have something they need to be more successful. Email me at karen@misskarensproductions.com to find out more about advertising in this newsletter. | |
Karen Frank founded Miss Karen's Productions
over three years ago. What began as a one-person operation providing content for
websites and elevator speeches has blossomed into a multifaceted company
specializing in spoken word communications. From workshops that teach business
owners what to say and how to say it - to effective scripting for fundraising
videos, Miss Karen's Productions is becoming an industry leader in verbal
communications information and training.
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Networking
Tip of the Month
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Are You Walking Your Talk?
Would You Do Business With You?
If you've been out networking and made plenty of contacts without getting many appointments, these might be important questions to ask yourself.
Everyone needs to remember that, whether we like it or not, people are making decisions about us all the time. When we're in business for ourselves, people will decide whether or not they want to spend their money with you based upon your credibility and whether or not they like you.
You may not be able to control whether or not they like you BUT you are in complete control of your own credibility.
If, for example you are a personal organizer, do you seem organized yourself, or are you over committed and harried? If you are a personal coach, do you present yourself as a successful person, or are you just "who you are" looking to attract whoever will work with you? If you're a public speaker, do you speak confidently and articulately when you meet people?
Think about it. People want to work with people who appear to be successful at what they do. You are constantly a walking advertisement for who you are.
Would you do business with a mortgage broker dressed in jeans and a Spngebob T-shirt? How about a therapist with a nervous tick? Of course not! (and if you said yes, raise your standards!!) Believe it or not, I've seen people like this at networking events. The sad part is. they don't understand why people won't set appointments with them.
Always, always, always be the example. The higher your professional image (how you dress, how you speak, how you are) the more likely people will want to do business with you and the more likely you'll have the success you are looking for.
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Does your group need a speaker?
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Every business needs to promote itself to grow and be successful, and yet many struggle with what to say and how to say it.
If your group is looking for a fun interactive presentation, Miss Karen will fill the bill!
She will entertain and educate audiences of any size on topics such as "How to Network" and creating an effective elevator speech. Call 925-407-4716 to schedule Miss Karen for your next event.
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