#AskHerMore was a popular topic on the red carpet for Sunday’s Oscars.
“This is a movement to say we’re more than just our dresses,” Reece Witherspoon told Robin Roberts Continue reading
#AskHerMore in Business, too!
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Serious About Comedy: What We Can Learn About Success from Joan Rivers
I admired Joan Rivers. Yes, she was crude. Yes, she was rude. Yes, she had way too much plastic surgery. She was also a trailblazer and a hard working woman with much to teach us about life and business. I’ve watched her for years and saw the documentary of her life which gave an inside view of the woman behind the character. As the world pays tribute now in the days after her death, here are some things I learned from observing Joan Rivers that many of us can apply to our own businesses. Continue reading
Doing good! McElhaney Pub Team Races for Research on Sept 20th
Phil McElhaney
“We’ve found a mass on your brain…” I will never forget hearing those words in the emergency room with my husband. From that moment our lives changed. Forever.
As you may know, Phil died of a GBM brain tumor in June of 2009 at the young age of 51. Can you believe that’s been five years now?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if no one ever had to hear those words again? If no one had to face that diagnosis? What if there was a cure? Or at least treatment that would give patients a long quality life and time with those they love? The Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation believes there is hope. Continue reading
Star for a day!
Have you ever wanted to be a movie star? Or feel like one for a day?
Recently I had a video shoot for a new demo to promote my speaking business. I felt like a star! I was in hair and makeup a 7:00am. I like the sound of that. “I’m going to hair and makeup!” Continue reading
Relax! It’s a thing.
“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”
–Sydney J. Harris, Author “Winners and Losers”
Wispy Clouds
“Just relaxing.”
This is the answer I sometimes get when I ask one of my male friends what he’s doing or what he’s been up to. On the other hand most of my women friends are likely to say something like Continue reading
Ode to Mama
Can you believe I finally found a card to “Mama?” Not “Mother” or “Mom”?
Myra and Mama
Several years ago I was frustrated trying to find a birthday card for Mama on her birthday. I wrote a poem for her instead. Later when I published the small gift book, “Mama Always Says…” I included the poem and story of why I wrote it. She loves it! In fact, if you go by the store where she works, she may pull out a copy and do a book signing for you right there!
In honor of Mother’s Day I’m reprinting the “Ode to Mama” and poem from the book. Although I finally found a card to “Mama” this poem explains why I love my Mama. I think you’ll agree, they just don’t make cards for Mamas who are strong, sassy and bold! Continue reading
Tips for Creating Connections to Build your Business
- Identify your ideal client. Now identify who has access to them in a non-competitive but complimentary way. For example: I was once a member of a closed networking organization. (A closed networking organization is one that allows only one member per profession and is exclusively for the purpose of referring business.) There were three members there who continuously referred business to each other. One was a Real Estate agent. One was a mortgage banker. The other was an insurance broker. They were not competitors but all three had the same target customer. These relationships were greatly beneficial to the business of each.
- Identify organizations or events where you will meet potential clients and/or the people you’ve identified that share your target market. Visit several of these organizations and events. Join the ones you like best. It’s better to be involved in fewer organizations and make a contribution in each than to be a member of many.
- When networking, get people talking about themselves. Hearing their stories and what they do will give you an idea of whether they’ll be a good contact for you and whether they are likely to refer business. The more you know about them the easier it’ll be to determine the best way to follow-up.
- Follow up with good contacts by linking on LinkedIn, sending a “nice to meet you” type email or a personal note. Then create a plan for keeping in touch with them periodically. Stay in touch with people you like. If you don’t genuinely like them and only care about what they can do for you it’ll show through. Even if someone you connect with isn’t clearly a prospective client you never know who they may be able to refer you to! Besides, it’s more fun to work with people you like!
- Think in terms of an emotional bank account. Each positive encounter makes a deposit. Each negative interaction or asking for a favor is a withdrawal. Systematically make deposits by giving (paying it forward) by sharing meaningful articles, congratulating them on promotions or appointments, commenting on their social media posts, making a referral, etc.
- Avoid asking for a referral or a favor before you’ve ‘earned the right’ by building a solid relationship. The long-term value of a relationship with a prospect or associate can bring many clients into your business over time. Asking for the business or a referral too soon can be offensive and keep you from developing a meaningful relationship.
- Remember the old adage, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” If you come across as someone who is only focused on what people can do for you it’ll be difficult to develop supportive relationships where people feel comfortable making introductions and giving referrals.
Like a Mutt at Westminster
“Surround yourself with people who are going to lift you higher.” Oprah Winfrey
Sallie Krawcheck with leadership team of
85 Broads Atlanta Chapter
Did you ever hear the one about the farmer who took his mutt to the dog show? As the story goes, this old farmer heard that a highfalutin dog show was coming to town so he started cleaning up his old mongrel to take to the show. A neighbor saw him making preparations and asked, “Now, come on! Do you really think that ole dog is gonna win anything?”
“No,” replied the farmer. “He won’t win but, Man! Won’t he be in good company!”
Learning to ski
I love to ski. That’s amazing since failed beginner ski class twice.
When I married in the early 90’s my husband and his friends had a well-established annual ski trip. I couldn’t go because the timing interfered with the job I had at the time. Finally when I left that job I had the chance to join the trip. Less than enthusiastically I said, “I’ll give it a try.” I wanted to be a good sport and I wanted to please my husband but let’s face it. I don’t like cold and I’m not athletic. I did have visions of sipping hot cocoa by the fire and reading a book while the guys skied. Continue reading
Resolutions, Visions and Goals
“Another year over; And a new one just begun,” John Lennon; Lyrics from “So This is Christmas”
As one year ends and another begins it’s the perfect time to reflect on the previous year and make plans for the new one. New Year’s resolutions are traditional ways of making plans for a better year.
This year I’ve seen many articles on why people don’t maintain their resolutions and why setting goals is better than making resolutions. As I see it, resolutions and goals are both focused on tasks and doing or not doing specific things.
I prefer a vision. I like to look at my whole life—work, relationships, recreation, health/wellness—and create a vision of how I want my life to look and feel in the New Year. Continue reading
Enjoy Life and Do Good! 