Kathie Nelson, LLC

Essential Elements to Grow, Prosper, and Connect

Get Smart About Time

OK…I am going to let you peek behind the curtain here. Even with all the time I’ve invested, I am (like you) trying to figure out how to stay on top of social media and still get everything done.

Twitter: Twitip offers 13 Twitter Tips for Beginners This includes everything from how to set up your Twitter account to how to be useful on Twitter.

Blogs: Google Reader offers a great no cost solution for busy people allowing us to aggregate our favorite blogs all in one place. It is easy to set up. No more saying, “I don’t have time to keep up on this essential information resource.”

Reputation/Topic Monitor: Google Alerts is an excellent way to have information on topics of interest (including yourself) sent directly to your inbox. If you are not tracking your own name, start today!

Get Connected to Money

One of the things I love about networking is some of the incredible people you meet. I met Betsy Talbot, Everywoman’s Business Coach from Seattle, WA in Dallas, TX last Fall (read more in “Who You Hang Out with Matters” post) and have become acquainted with her work over the last few months.

One of the things I love about Betsy’s blog, website, and communication style is the way she articulates the fundamentals in ways that truly serve those of us who are “busy people”. Like her recent blog on budgeting. Here is a quick excerpt and link to her tools.

How to Set up a Budget - Budgets get a bad name. Most people associate them with being broke or having a spending problem. But budgets are really just coordinating your resources with your expenses. And if you want to design your own lifestyle, you have to get control of your money. So, let’s do it!

Busy People Networking Strategies to Work a Room

A recent teleclass on “Networking that Produces Results Every Time”  produced questions that I rarely get a chance to address except in a workshop or coaching session.  Here are some of the questions that came up.  Here are my thoughts…feel free to add your own comments! 

1. How many people do you talk to at an event.  Say there are 40 attendees (like a WEO meeting), how many new people do you speak to?  On average, how long do you speak to each person?

   My philosophy is that networking is about quality not quantity.  Time is still of the essence but collecting a handful of cards that have no meaningful connection is not the goal. 

   1. I set a goal to make 3 quality connections at every event.  I go prepared to ask questions that will help me create one of six potential successful outcomes.  (See blog post “Networking that Produces Results Every Time” ) 
   2. I plan to speak to each person 3-5 minutes and ask intelligent directed questions that will determine the next course of action
   3. I follow up with those 3 people.  I may meet more and hope to have significant conversation.  Depending on your business goal, you will determine what is significant for you. 

2. What are some nice ways to disengage and move on?

   1. If you’ve ever been stuck with a person who is self-promoting, selling you something, or in general, new to networking, this is your opportunity to model how good networking is done.  Some techniques that have been successful for me are…
      a.) I will ask (I may have to tactfully interuppt) who they would like to meet at the event and see if I can make an introduction.
      b.) If they are in heavy “sales” mode, I  will interuppt and gracefully let them know I am probably not a prospect for them.  Since I know they are at the event to network I will let them mingle with other folks.

We’ve all be stuck in uncomfortable situations networking.  My fellow networkers, what are some of your suggestions? 

“Stepping out of Line” Book Review

I had recent opportunity to meet author Nell Merlino a few months ago when she was in Portland.  After hearing her I was inspired to pick up a couple of her books.  You will find this book a fun read.  Nell’s voice comes through loud and clear.  

I found “Stepping out of Line – Lessons from Women Who Want it Their Way” an easy read on the flight from LA to Hawaii a few weeks ago. I loved the juicy nuggets she serves up. Here are a few:

1. Exercise the favor muscle.  
   Nell’s take on the “pay it forward” principle.
2. Changing systems is easier than you think.  
   Love how she points out our submission to what is…and how easy it is to change it.
3. Imagine our future.
   Nothing happens if not first a dream.  How much time do we spend imagining the future we desire?   
4. The ripple effect. 
   Every one of us effects the other.  When we step out, we create opportunities and provide permission for others.
5. Daily choices make the difference.
    Zinger!  Are we willing to make the choices that daily affect our outcomes?  Start today. 
6. The overall message…what are you waiting for? or better, what am I waiting for? Permission? From who? 
   Great food for thought.  Enough to stimulate me to action. 

This timely message resonated with me. Nell shares that statistically 50% of the women business owners earn less than $50k annually. Wow!

Women, including myself, have a hope, inspiration, or an idea that brings value to the marketplace. Why don’t we pursue it or fully leverage the idea? Or a better question might be, why do we stall out in our pursuit? What is it we don’t know? Nell is committed to connecting us to the knowlege and resources through her Make Mine a Million $ Business. www.makemineamillion.org.

I put this book down inspired and compelled to no longer settle for mediocre in my own business. I am joining the race. How about you?