Category: Articles

Hello Social Media – Buh Bye Networking Groups?

Disclaimer: I am a traditional networker who has been studying social media heavily for the last six months only. And, I am still learning more and more daily. My expectations and feelings about this phenomena change just about as often. As such, certainly what follows is merely my perceptions on this topic at this specific snapshot of time. There will quite likely be those who will read this and say “That idiot just does not get it yet!”. To which I would respond…. “O.K.” (smile). I also enjoy playing “devil’s advocate” and the devil in me just loves to “stir the chili”.

Let’s see now, traditional networking groups have been around since ……. well, a real real long time. Dinosaurs were around a long time too. And now? They be gone (smile). Evolution is a funny thing. So are the axioms “survival of the fittest” and “only the strongest will survive”. Therefore, with the explosion of Social Media, Business-Social Media, Internet Networking, whatever you want to name it, how does that bode for the traditional networking group? It’s gonna’ “bode” one way or another. The question becomes ….. will it bode well, bode badly, or have little or no affect? Continue reading “Hello Social Media – Buh Bye Networking Groups?”

What Do You Do To Invest In Your Success?

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all have a money tree? Well, maybe you can. But, you first have the plant the seed and water it regularly. These are the investments that you make in order to ensure your success. The question is, how many of us are willing to make that investment and the effort in so doing? I’m constantly amazed by folks who think that this all just happens magically. It’s hard work and sometimes you need to invest some funds in order to reap even greater returns. Sorry, life is like that. Continue reading “What Do You Do To Invest In Your Success?”

Business-Social Networking Groups

I’ve spent a considerable amount of time lately in looking at networking, or “leads”, groups around the country and kind of evaluating what they are doing and how that might work in with some of the things we might wish to do with NetWorks!. Certainly, there are a lot of different formats to choose from and most of those can be found right here in Boise, Idaho. I thought it might be beneficial to discuss the varying anatomy of such groups. Continue reading “Business-Social Networking Groups”

Turning Email Into A Tool Not A Chore

I’ve been reading a lot of articles lately talking about the impending doom of email, at least as we know it. Love it or hate it, I believe that some form of this communication medium will be with us for many years to come. Certainly, products like the soon to be released Google Wave may change the way we look at, and use, electronic messaging. For now, for me, email is indispensable.

A little background may help. I work out of my home and have two positions. Standing and sitting (smile). I am an independent sales contractor for Lytle Signs and, while they have an office here in the Boise area, the company headquarters are 125 miles away in Twin Falls, ID. 90% of all design, estimating, manufacturing, and accounting takes place in Twin Falls. Also, at least 50% of my client base is not located in the Boise area. Consequently, almost all of my correspondence is done via email. As is a large percentage of my general communication. Continue reading “Turning Email Into A Tool Not A Chore”

Communication Style Flexing

It’s Sunday night, my to-do list is done, tomorrow is a holiday, and I’m bored to death. What to do? What to do? I’ve got it…..blog (smile). Time for a diversionary post. Time to talk about something that I actually understand and that would be communication styles. This does involve talking, listening, and watching so please put your thumbs away (smile).

My training involves working with what is called the DISC system. There are a lot of programs out there that are actually using this same model but they will assign different names to the personality (communication) styles. What they do have in common is that they recognize four distinct personalities and the ways that these folks typically prefer to communicate with others. But, I get ahead of myself. Let’s first set the stage. Continue reading “Communication Style Flexing”

34 Customer Service Good Words/Bad Words

I was moving some books around my shelves this morning and an index card fell out on the floor. I have zero idea of where it came from. That being said, I figure that God wanted me to see it and that he wanted you to see these words too (smile). So, here they are. They are marked as:

Words to Use (for extraordinary customer relations) and……

Words to Avoid (for extraordinary customer relations)

Words to Use:

  1. Are you willing?
  2. Will you?
  3. What have you considered?
  4. What are the options?
  5. Which do you prefer?
  6. What are the alternatives?
  7. How can it be corrected?
  8. How can I help?
  9. What do you want me to do?
  10. Here are some options.
  11. I made a mistake
  12. I understand.
  13. I understand your concern
  14. I apologize for (specific action)
  15. however
  16. will/willing
  17. able
  18. unable Continue reading “34 Customer Service Good Words/Bad Words”

NetWorking – Striking Your Balance

If you have never been to this site before, let’s just say that I am a traditional networker trying to find his way in a new fangled electronic world. Most of this blog is devoted to that journey. And, make no mistake, I am a huge believer in networking and close to 100% of my client base is connected in one way or another to creating, nurturing, and building these types of relationships. Now, more than ever, there are a lot of ways out there to connect with others. So, how to strike a balance?

Business-Social Leads Groups (business emphasis): Perhaps the traditional networker’s most widely recognized tool of trade. I have been involved in these since the early 90’s and still maintain relationships that began that same long time ago.  I am not making this up, I have sold millions of dollars worth of signs as a direct result of relationships that began in these same groups. Relationships that continue today. I am such a huge believer in these organizations that I created one that meets my exacting specifications for the leads group fueled by steroids …. NetWorks! (smile). NetWorks! fulfills what I like to call the business-social segment of networking. We are social but, the focus is on business. Just this week, I was presented with a ground floor opportunity to further present the sign aspect of my business to a very targeted and lucrative market. The offer came from a gentleman who was a member of my leads group some 16 years ago. This type of networking is best designed for those of us who are comfortable with being considered as carnivorous by nature (smile). Continue reading “NetWorking – Striking Your Balance”