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Happy New Year. I trust that you had a good break over the holidays and have returned this week feeling renewed, refreshed, raring to go...and only a few pounds heavier! 

It was during the Christmas holidays in 2008 that I first decided to start work on a regular e-zine and Connecting is not Enough was born on 22nd January 2009. So we're now heading into our eighth year of regular e-zines. You can see the whole archive on our Resource Centre of the website or click on the image below to see how it all started. 



I've often used the start of a new calendar year as an opportunity to check we're still on track and that you enjoy what comes into your inbox every three weeks. Many of the changes that have been implemented over the years have come from such feedback and from the ideas you've emailed to me throughout the year. 

Once again this year, I'd like to beg your indulgence and ask for a few minutes of your time to complete a short survey. There are eight questions, mainly multiple choice selections, to help me look both at the way this e-zine is received and to look at how you perceive our business overall. 

Thanks for your help and I look forward to reading your feedback and comments. I really appreciate it. 

In the meantime, I hope that 2016 has started with a bang and wish you every success for the year ahead. 

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Time for a new book to kick off your new year? Close friends and mentors of mine, Jo Geraghty and Derek Bishop, have teamed up with Cris Beswick to publish Building a Culture of Innovation. 


In the modern competitive and fast changing business environment, innovation is more important than ever and an increasing number of my clients talk to me about their need to be more innovative and to encourage more collaborative thinking to that end. 

I have a huge amount of respect for each of the authors and have recommended their work on a number of occasions. This book is no exception and worth checking out. 
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I hope you enjoy the newsletter and look forward to your feedback. Please do check out the blogs listed on the right hand side of the page for lots of extra ideas, tips and thoughts. 
 
Let me know what you think. 

 
If you're serious about developing a networking and referrals strategy that can take your business to a new level, or you are interested in booking me for a speech or training session for your team, find out more details on our website or you can contact me on:
  
Tel: 07930 417833
Skype: andylopata   

I look forward to hearing from you.
     
Andy 

� All material copyright H & A Lopata ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Video Tip: The Holy Quadruplicate

In this extract from my recent talk at the Ambition 2015 Conference, I explain why complacency prevents many businesses from getting as many referrals as they could from obvious sources.

Why businesses with a similar client base to yours don't refer you
Why businesses with a similar client base to yours don't refer you

The A to Z of Networking: P is for... (Part 2)

 
As promised, we continue taking the Ps out of networking (sorry!) in this continuation of our latest A-Z instalment. I have a sneaking suspicion that it might be harder to get ideas for Qs, so get your thinking hats on and prove me wrong! 

In the meantime, here is P part 2...

Passion
If you don't have passion for your business or for your own abilities, how can you expect anyone else to? Believe in yourself and believe in what you are trying to achieve. 

Express yourself with a passion that not only engages people but completely wraps them up in helping you achieve your goals. And show the same passion for helping everyone around you. 

People
Take the targets off people's backs, put down their business cards, stop scanning attendee lists and forget focusing on name badges. Networking is about people, each one an individual. 

Focus on those individuals, get to know the person behind the job title and then you will find that they will not only be more willing to help you when they can, you'll also recognise more opportunities for them to do so. 

P is also for...

Positivity
Keep a positive outlook, even when times are tough. That doesn't mean masking your challenges, it means having faith that your network provides the right solution. 
Proactive
You can either wait for things to happen or be proactive and make them happen. Take responsibility for your success and that of people in your network. 
Presumptions
One of the biggest networking mistakes and it comes from not getting to know the people behind the job titles. Don't presume to know how relevant someone is to you, or you to them. Get to know them first. 
Presence
I'm not talking about being the centre of attention but it is important to stay 'in sight, in mind'. Maintain a strong presence with your network by staying in touch and being willing to help and support others. 
Panglossian
Extreme optimism - maybe have a healthy dose of reality but it's good to see the best in people when you first meet them. 

Thanks for all of the contributions across the two parts of P. Thanks for all  your suggestions David McQueen, Roger Vanstone, Tony Westwood, Phil Williams, Andrew Horder, Rohit Talwar, Lee Warren, Birgit Neu, Jane Swift, Tracey Marie Smolinski, Stefan Chmelik, Gordon Tredgold, Nigel Risner, Jo Simpson, Maurice Watts, Julian Woodward, Rhiannon Evans, Ian Steel, Mark Lee, Liz Sorton, Eithne Treanor, Shelley Jenner, Will Kintish, Vanessa Vallely and William Buist.

Just for Fun: Driving Mr President
 
Jerry Seinfeld had a special guest for the most recent episode of his YouTube show 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee'. 

Anyone who has seen Barack Obama's routines at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner (which I'm sure I've featured here in the past), will understand how the President qualifies. 

What follows is a very entertaining insight into the man behind the seal of office.

 
   
 
Andy Online
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What people say...
"A great example of a true professional in action. Yes Andy Lopata took the stage at a business expo in Cardiff and unfortunately a power outage meant no slides and no mic which, considering this was in an exhibition hall, you can imagine the noise. 

But being a true professional Andy delivered his keynote pitch perfect despite the lack of slides and poor acoustics and kept the audience in their seats for the full 45 mins. "
 
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Business Loan Services
  
  
 


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