3/27/14 - Sometimes Life is a Lot of Getting Up and Going to Bed

If you could get paid for doing what you love to do, what would that be? What do you do naturally or are passionate about that you can get paid to do?  What is it that you would do for free because you enjoy it so much? When you determine what that things is…do it.

Sometimes Life is a lot of getting up and going to bed, particularly as we get older and take on more responsibilities – career, marriage, children, aging parents, etc.  Often times, we don’t take time to do what we love (and get paid for it), because responsibilities get in the way and covering basic living needs and expenses does not allow room for passion.  Or does it?

This will be a milestone year for me in that I will be turning 50. But shouldn’t ALL of our years be celebrated as momentous? Starting today, choose to make a difference in your own life, first and then in the lives of others. You are akin to a snow flake, there is absolutely no one else created like you with your talents, gifts and abilities. You are made uniquely, complexly, divinely and non-replicable and that is your gift to yourself and you need to share that with others.

So what if what you do doesn’t get worldwide or even next door neighbor-wide recognition and it doesn’t make you a gazillion bucks. Does it make you happy? Does it make you smile? Does it make you want to celebrate you? Then do it. Do whatever it is that brings you great joy – but see if  you can get paid to do it.  At the end of the day, make sure it’s something that even if you figure out how to get paid for doing it – you would gladly do it for free because then it will always bring you an inner peace and smile that no one can take from you and they can never understand.

Make today at least one day this year that you just didn’t get up and go to bed.

Discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month. For more information go to: www.BeCrystalClear.net

  

written by: CL Reed

A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of

BCC - Small Business Management Services 

(Your Entrepreneur Concierge) Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business

www.BeCrystalClear.Net

Keep your eyes peeled for more business growth and networking informative tips on
A Suite Collaboration’s website coming soon.

3/20/14 – Shame On You!

I went to an event the other day and there were tons and I mean tons of vendors there. We won’t name names and give free promotion here, but I will say that there were the “Standards” and some new and Up & Comings. A lot of what I didn’t see in the bunch was…Attendees!  Whose responsibility is it to provide foot traffic to the event you are vendoring?

Would it be fair to say that the main objective of you carving out a full day or weekend on your calendar, stocking up on additional inventory and paying good hard earned money for quality booth space at varying events serves several purposes?  One, to get your name and product/services notoriety and two, sell your stuff and make money. No doubt. Let’s say the Event Host/Coordinator promoted and marketed the event to all of their contacts, friends, family and the general public through varying means (email, Facebook, Twitter, parking lot flyers, radio, print, texting and carrier pigeons) yet, there are a handful of key purse string holding individuals with golden connections that could take you and your business to the next level. These are people that the Event Host/Coordinator can’t seem to make contact with through their customary and extreme means of promotion.  Do I have to type out here who those individuals are that the Event Host’s promotions don’t reach?  Yup, you guessed it – YOUR contacts (or Rolodex as we used to like to say back in the day).

How much more foot traffic do you think would be generated if you PROUDLY told people where you are going to be and when and actually took the time to INVITE them personally? You are really being selfish toward the Event, Event Host and fellow Vendors when you don’t spread the word (and we all know what Karma is…). If your mind set is, “that’s the Event Host’s responsibility to promote the event, not mine.” Then you really don’t get the big picture and will always remain a small fish in a big pond…maybe even krill.  You really don’t want to make great Networking connections, long term personal and professional relationships or large sales.

Reconsider how successful all parties involved will be and the likelihood of you being welcomed back to the next grand event if you do more than just schlep your product out for display and HOPE for something magical to happen.  The next time you will be participating in an event, consider inviting people in your circles of influence and do it in a timely manner (not the day or two before) so that they will have time to put it on their calendar, purchase a ticket to attend and save enough money to spend at many of the Vendor booths – not just yours.

Shame On You if after reading this post you do not rethink your vendoring strategy and consider exactly whose responsibility it is to provide foot traffic at events.  Whose responsibility is it to promote the event?  The short answer…everyone’s!

Discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month. For more information go to: www.BeCrystalClear.net

written by: CL Reed

A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of

BCC - Small Business Management Services (Your Silent Partner)

Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business – www.BeCrystalClear.Net

Don't Leave Money On The Table!

3/13/14 – Don’t Leave Money On The Table!

Don’t leave money on the table! When was the last time you reached out to a previous client to do a follow up sale or to just touch base?  If your answer to this question is: It’s been a while or not at all – you are leaving good money on the table.

Even though you work daily to procure new clientele, it is also extremely important to put good effort into maintaining good, on-going relationships with previous clients.  I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how important it is to maintain a simple database of individuals you have been in touch with, all of their pertinent contact/personal information, product or services purchased, what type and when. A simple database will greatly assist you in managing and maintaining reliable and repeatable relationships and referrals.

If you have been out of touch with previous clients for some time, you are leaving the door open for another individual to promote their products or services to them because you have not made yourself the most prominent provider in their memory bank and just like the axiom says, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”.

Don’t delay, start today! Get in touch with previous customers.  Drop a quick, simple note to just say hello then follow up in a few days with a 10 minute phone call, brief email or quick text to remind them of who you are and what you do - DON'T TRY TO SELL THEM ANYTHING at this point. After that reintroduction, if they do not call you within a week or two to inquire about your products or services, follow up with them and let them know that you are STILL in business and would love to provide whatever products or services they may be interested in, at the best cost available, along with the best customer service around! Reach out and touch a previous client, today!

Discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month. For more information go to: www.BeCrystalClear.net

written by: CL Reed

A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of

BCC - Small Business Management Services (Your Silent Partner)

Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business – www.BeCrystalClear.Net

Keep your eyes peeled for more business growth and networking informative tips on A Suite Collaboration’s website coming soon.

Follow The Leader

3/6/14 – Follow The Leader

New to the area, environment, scene or event…follow the leader.  I recently experienced a networking event where the ground rules were laid out early, yet some people that came on time and those that came in later, did not follow the leader’s instructions and did some standard networking practices that were contrary to the event’s concepts.

It’s difficult enough if you are not extremely extroverted to smoothly incorporate yourself into a new arena but not following the rules of the game and insisting on pushing your own agenda is a sure fire way to alienate possible highly beneficial personal and/or professional relationships.  Remember, the whole concept of networking is not only to hopefully garner new business down the road, but to also help develop possible long-term personal and professional relationships that will garner greater possible business opportunities down the road and for the long-term.

If you continue to go in for the easy kill, quick dollar at each event and you’re in a small network, you’re going to find yourself mysteriously avoided at events.  If there is nothing else you take away from these brief blogs, take this: relationship, relationship, relationship.  Sincerely developing long-term personal and/or professional relationships will bring you the success you desire.

Yes, there are standard networking practices. But let’s be honest, those always give you the same results, right? A pocket full of business cards of people you can’t remember, that have given you their “elevator” pitch for a ride you wish you hadn’t taken.  Combine those things with a watered down over-priced drink, bad tasting appetizers with names you can’t pronounce and sore feet.  Whoo-hoo, sounds like an event to remember.  Next time, try Following The Leader and discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month. For more information go to: www.BeCrystalClear.net

written by: CL Reed

A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of

BCC - Small Business Management Services (Your Silent Partner)

Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business – www.BeCrystalClear.Net

Keep your eyes peeled for more business growth and networking informative tips on A Suite Collaboration’s website coming soon.