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Hospitality relates to the Latin term philoxenia, or “the love of strangers.” And stranger is defined as “someone with whom you have not yet been acquainted.” Therefore, your objective as a builder of organizational front porches is to extend love to those with whom you have not yet been acquainted.

The effectiveness of any organization’s front porch is a function of its hospitality – that of its members, its staff and the group itself. In this article we’ll take a closer look at approachability as it pertains to the connectedness of groups – namely, The New Guys; because those are the individuals who benefit from it the most.

When I began wearing a nametag all day, every day, the type of people with whom I most frequently interacted was strangers. (They still are) And I love it! It’s a blessing to extend my front porch to new and interesting people, all the while making them feel comfortable because of the level of approachability. What’s more, what an accomplishment it is to combat the coarsening of our fear-laden culture by opening up to new people.

But when I started my business a few years ago, I joined several organizations, clubs, groups, etc. and began to feel the reciprocity of that same hospitality. As The New Guy – not to mention the young guy – existing members welcomed me with open arms. They gave me the inside track on the organization. Some even offered to take me under their wing! And I was grateful. I was comfortable.

Most importantly, I felt welcomed.

To solidify the approachability of you and your organization, here are the Attitudes of Awesome Hospitality™.

AWESOME ATTITUDE #1: Beyond Hello
People often believe that a quick greeting, a handshake and a mutual offering of Fruitless Questions and F.I.N.E’s equals hospitality.

False.

Hospitality is more than just saying hello. And nobody understands this element of hospitality better than a Ritz Carlton employee – especially a doorman; especially my coworker DeWitt.

The first time I met DeWitt was on a crisp fall morning on the front drive. I introduced myself and he gave me a solid handshake, a cheeky smile and pat on the back. He started telling me all about hospitality and Guest Service at the Ritz, and gave me some great tips to make the guests feel welcome.

After a few hours of check-ins and getting to know each other, DeWitt said something I’ll never forget:

“Scott, I want to sell you a boat.”

“You…want to sell me…a boat? Oh-kayyy…what kind of boat…?”

“Well, it’s actually not really boat. It’s more of a ship: Friendship, Fellowship and Relationship. What do you say?”

I’ll take it.

That is the essence of Awesome Hospitality. Not just saying hello. Not just introducing yourself, but offering a new person your friendship, fellowship and relationship.

AWESOME ATTITUDE #2: How to Treat Others
Hospitality is also an expression of the Golden Rule, which as you know is “treat others as you want to be treated.” Everyone knows this phrase. It’s been ingrained into our minds and souls by our parents, our teachers and our mentors.

But does everyone practice the Golden Rule?

Here’s another way to look at it: do you remember when YOU were The New Guy? Did people extend themselves? Did you feel welcomed? If so, you probably connected with new people immediately, took an active role in the organization and felt proud to be a part of it. If not, you probably never came back to another meeting again.

So you can put this phrase into practice by empathizing with the new people, the visitors and guests. Think how great it felt to be welcomed in. Remember: you used to be The New Guy.

AWESOME ATTITUDE #3: The Member Mindset
It’s impossible to talk about any organization without using the word member. Think of the groups of which you are a member – what does that mean to you?

You might say “Being a member allows me to be part of the group,” or “Being a member means I get to go to all the meetings.” But most people see membership as entitlement:

  • Members are entitled to…
  • Here’s what you get with your membership…
  • These are the benefits to being a member…

    I looked up member in several dictionaries and none of them said anything about entitlement. They didn’t say anything about paying dues so you could get exclusive benefits. They simply defined it as “one that belongs to a group or an organization.”

    When did this Member Mindset evolve into “What stuff do I get when I join?” People forget that being part of an organization has more to do with serving others, and less to do with being served by others.

    AWESOME ATTITUDE #4: Who Are Your Greeters?
    If there’s any group of individuals who extend their organizational front porch by serving new people, it’s the Greeters. During one of my speeches at a Hospitality Conference, I asked my audience of 300 people to stand up if their position was “Greeter.”

    About 25 people got up.

    I thanked those who stood and asked the remainder of the audience to give them a hearty applause.

    When the clapping died down I said, “Without Greeters like these, building front porches in any organization would be tough.”

    I then said, “But what if The New Guy – let’s call him Terry – came to your group. He walked in the door, looked around for a minute and felt a bit lost. Then Janet, an existing member, noticed Terry’s behavior and decided to approach him. She struck up a conversation and they connected immediately! And all the while, Janet made Terry feel welcomed, comfortable and part of the group.

    A few minutes later, Terry asked, ‘So, Janet…are you one of the Greeters here?’

    And Janet said, ‘No – I just wanted to welcome you to our group.’”

    I just wanted to welcome you to our group.

    I then repeated my original request to the audience:

    “Now, let me ask you this one more time: please stand up if you are a Greeter for your organization.”

    300 people got up out of their chairs. And I reminded them that everyone is a greeter.

    EzineArticles Expert Author Scott Ginsberg

    © 2005 All Rights Reserved.

    Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, “The World’s Foremost Expert on Nametags” and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

  • Professional business cards are a must if you want to network at social events, trade shows or business meetings. You know about handing someone your card and saying, “Call me,” but is that all there is to it? No. There are some proven ways to make the most of your business card networking, including:

    1. Always carry more professional business cards than you think you need. Many opportunities have been lost because someone forgot to bring along just one extra business card.

    2. Attach professional business cards to any written correspondence between you and a current or prospective client. Having a business card handy will increase the odds they’ll think of you when thinking of the service you offer.

    3. Make sure you have the best quality business cards you can possibly afford. Your business card will speak for you in your absence, and having great quality business cards ensures you always make a good impression—even when you’re not there.

    4. Hand out more than one card at a time. Often the person you’ve met might lose the card afterwards. Or better still, they may know someone else that might use your services, and having an extra card ensures they can pass one along and still have one for them.

    5. Make your cards unique. They should not only provide relevant information, but they should catch the eye immediately and be stylish without going overboard.

    By following these simple tips, you can help make the most of any business opportunity. Happy networking!

    Jonathan Bowalsky handles news and information for Jontal Printing. For more information on business cards or custom postcards, visit http://www.jontalprinting.com.

    How’s your relationship?

    I’m not prying into your personal life, so no need to worry. it’s
    just that lately I’ve noticed something about most network marketers
    which got me thinking.

    Let me start with some background on these thoughts I had.
    One of the reasons an internet business seems so attractive is
    because of the ease with which you can communicate.
    This lends itself well to marketing, and in particular network
    marketing.

    With me so far?

    So we all jump into network marketing and mlm style business opportunities
    online to seek our fortunes, but this is where it all seems to go wrong.

    The thing I’ve noticed myself and a lot of others doing online is just
    promoting our businesses.

    We don’t build relationships.

    Network marketing is about networking with others, and I have heard it
    referred to as relationship marketing.
    But are we doing enough to build those relationships?

    A recent example was a new style messaging system I was introduced to
    at http://www.profitmessaging.com/invite.php?f006bcd3bb . There you can
    invite “buddies” to message you, and add other buddies from the system
    to your buddies list. Then you can send them all a message safely from
    within the system.
    An Ideal opportunity to build a relationship or two.

    Instead of getting to know each other, almost everybody jumped in and sent
    each other an advert for their business.

    The result?

    No one reads any messages.

    No new relationships are formed.

    It becomes another wasted opportunity to form relationships.
    There were one or two more savvy marketers who attempted to build relationships,
    but their efforts got lost in among the hundreds of
    “make more money than you can spend” ads.

    In our personal lives we create many relationships, but for some reason
    once we start an online business, we forget to speak to people and instead
    send ads through the machine.
    We stop building relationships with people.

    This has got me thinking, and I am going to try to break some habits, and start
    marketing myself, instead of the opportunities I am involved in.

    I’m going to start building relationships.

    It won’t be easy, almost every other article, or ebook seems to be about
    how to promote your website, or your business, but rarely how to promote
    relationships. But it is possible, and we have all the tools to start
    building relationships.

    For starters, we all have email addresses whhich could be used to start a
    conversation with someone. We have instant messengers, Yahoo, MSN and AOL
    to name a few, you can even use the software from Imvite
    http://www.imvite.com/dougyt which has a payment plan built in and can
    access most of the other networks anyway. And then there’s Skype
    http://www.skype.com for voice chat which is as clear as a telephone, and
    free to download.

    So we have the tools to form relationships, lets start doing it.

    It can only be good for business to get to know each other and form
    friendships, partnerships, and trust. In the offline world you wouldn’t
    dream of greeting a new potential customer by saying “Earn Millions Today”
    so lets stop doing it online.

    Doug Titchmarsh
    Online marketer, and real life person.

    Doug Titchmarsh runs several sites including
    http://www.cashinonline.info and
    http://www.titchmarsh.com
    He also publishes an e-zine for marketers
    online and off which you can get by sending
    an email to
    douglastitchmarsh@getresponse.com

    Looking for somewhere online to meet new people, discuss hobbies, plan events, or just have fun chatting? Internet forums have been around for some time on the web and often are free and easy to setup. Forums are basically online discussion web sites where people share information and chat grouped around a set of topics. One example might be a local photography club. You could setup topics around types of cameras, locations for shooting, local events and meetings, printing tips, etc. Often there are administrators and moderators that help to keep the discussion orderly and on topic.

    Some items to consider when starting an online forum include.

    Cost - Often you can find them for free. There will probably be some advertising on the site, but don’t most sites now a days?

    Features - Does the forum support avatars, private messages, user levels, themes, etc.

    Security - Is it possible to create forums that only register users can post in? Helps to avoid those spammers.

    I cannot stress the last one enough. You should be completely able to control who is in your forums. One bad apple spoils the
    bunch. On that same note, it is common for a forums to have moderators. These are people that help enforce the rules in the
    forum. Make sure your choose your help wisely. When it comes to administrators, there should only ever be one. Administrators
    have the keys to the city and can set your forum ablaze.

    Finally to make a forum a success you need to attract people to it to join. Obviously if it is for a church or some other established group, this is relatively easy. Tell your friends, family, club members. If you are starting from scratch, do the same. Tell people, show people, invite people. Check to see if your forum site is listed in search engines like google. Once you get past that initial setup and recruitment your will soon be on your way to having a forum that you and your friends can enjoy.

    George H has a masters degree in software engineering has been building and running web sites for more than a decade. Visit
    http://www.AtTheForum.com/ to get started with your own online community today.
    Article Submission Service by rcplinks.com

    I’ve been shooting Digital video for 3 years.
    Got by just fine without editing any of it.
    By keeping the video clips short to very short.
    I don’t need to edit. Just don’t play the video,
    if there is nothing there or offensive.

    Anyway I made many many good points, for why editing
    home video should be avoided.

    Just to get Censored, by the group that is always
    screaming about freedom of expression etc etc.

    Hit a raw nerve obviously.

    It would be good to know what finally set them off.
    I was the one under attack, by those belligerent SOBs

    They should be a little more open, to the future of video, than that.

    Shoot a lot of video, you get good with the camera.
    Shoot a lot of video, when you are good with the camera, then look out.
    The editing can come later, much much later.

    Video editing is expensive and time consuming.
    I could easily walk thru a museum or gallery,
    add a tour guide and have riveting video.
    On an inexpensive DVD, right away.
    That’s what, they should be doing some more of.
    Editing less.

    Unedited video, with good content is a refreshing
    change from the chopped & remixed product we see on
    TV and at the movies.

    Come follow me on the trapline and other outdoor adventures
    Bring your camcorder and shoot, shoot, shoot.

    I’ll just have to find a couple more forums,
    to continue on the fight.
    Hopefully, some of those not banned, blocked or suspended
    will carry on the discussion at the other sites.

    I have always dreaded networking in the past. Since I worked for large companies and wasn’t primarily responsible for business development, it was something I could effectively avoid for the 18+ years of my career. When I decided to go into business for myself, I have to tell you that I dreaded getting out there and networking.

    I knew that networking would be critical to the establishment of my new business and was a major part of my strategic sales and marketing plan. Since my business is entirely targeted to women, I researched women’s networking groups in my area and just started showing up with business cards. Something surprising happened. I started making connections at these meetings with women I truly enjoyed, respected and admired. I attribute this positive result to the fact that instead of going out and bombarding people with my message, I entered the room determined to find out more about these other women. Naturally, in the course of our conversations I was able to discuss my company and the services I provide, but it goes deeper than that.

    To effectively network, you need to take an interest in the other person, listen to what they are telling you and, eventually ask for what you need. So many people write off the person they are speaking to within a couple of seconds but keep in mind that you are not just communicating with that person, you are communicating with their entire network…likely more than 200 people. Who knows who their sister, business partner, brother, husband, etc may be. Perhaps the one person who can take your business to another level?

    The best networkers truly want to help their contacts. It’s not a manipulative thing. You don’t feign interest to get what you want. You truly engage and try to match make in a business sense. After all, most valuable business people are well known for their broad and diverse network of resources. It is very valuable to be the one person people think of to call when they need a marketing research company, a professional organizer, a talented graphic designer, an awesome speaker, a top-notch meeting planner or a great attorney.

    A phenomenal woman I know, Neen James is a dynamic, funny and truly gifted speaker and an expert on helping people increase their productivity. She also happens to be one of the authors of a fabulous book called, Network or Perish: learn the secrets of master networkers.

    According to Neen’s book, there are some effective ways to find the right network and to get the most out of networking:

    • Choose the right network for your business
    • Organizations can be expensive to join. Visit the meeting twice before joining
    • Commit to the events
    • Get involved—volunteer for a committee or to do a job during the meeting itself
    • Never hand out cards with crossed out information. Always present a positive image
    • Schedule a follow up time and a 20-minute coffee meeting
    • Appear confident – even “fake it till you make it”
    • Be aware of your body language—stand up straight and tall
    • Don’t fidget
    • Introduce yourself first
    • Shake hands
    • Use a person’s name several times when you first meet
    • Have some prepared questions planned
    • Listen intently

    Here are some of my own tips:

    • Have a :30 “elevator speech” prepared for when someone asks what you do
    • Work to think of connections you can make for the person to whom you are speaking. People will naturally want to connect you with prospects as well
    • speaking about what you do, focus on the benefits your customers receive as a result of working with you. For example, “as a result of my services, my clients achieve reduced stress and overwhelm, increased self confidence, increased earning potential and the ability to spend more time with their family without sacrificing work”
    • Be sure to express your positive thoughts about the person’s business. So many times we assume successful people know that they come across effectively, look fabulous or have created an amazing business. When you admire someone, tell them. They will truly appreciate it
    • Remember, networking is a process. Chances are you won’t meet 10 potential clients at the next event. Your goal should be for others to get to know you, the resources you possess and the services you offer. People want to do business with people they like. Realize that these events allow people to become acquainted with you and eventually utilize your services or recommend you to someone else
    • Just get out there and enjoy yourself!

    Karyn Pless is the creator of The Beyond Balance Home Study System™ and President of a U.S. company called Beyond Balance which conducts corporate training, keynote speaking, seminars and executive coaching.

    For 18 years Karyn built her career in marketing working her way up the corporate ladder to Vice President of Marketing of a U.S. retailer and then Vice President, Marketing and Creative Services of a U.S. promotional agency while also juggling two children and a husband. After turning to a personal coach herself to reduce the chaos in her life, Karyn decided to become trained and certified as a professional coach and pass on all she has learned to effectively guide business professionals who want practical, real-world, work/life integration tactics that actually work in the business world.

    Please visit our website at http://www.WorkLifeExpert.com

    Copyright 2006 Sharon Housley

    Associations and trade organizations are great places to meet individuals. Usually organizations have a common theme, and it is an understood implication that all members participate to improve themselves and their businesses.

    Whether it is a chamber of commerce or a trade association, members have common problems, issues and concerns. By sharing issues and resolutions, members can benefit by the experience of others. Many business owners participate in organizations, not only to network, but also to hopefully circumvent some of the pitfalls encountered by other small businesses–learning from others.

    Networking Tips.

    Many trade organizations provide forums for networking. In some cases, these might be private online newsgroups, casual meetings, or even professional events with speakers. In order to take full advantage of these networking opportunities consider these tips.

    Who You Know.

    It is often not who you know, but who they know. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen someone put-off someone who is clearly a beginner only to learn that the “beginner” is the brother or friend of a contact they’ve been trying to meet for weeks.

    Honesty.

    Be honest. Pretending to be something that you are not, or implying you can deliver a product or service that is outside of your abilities, will foster an environment of distrust and potentially harm your reputation. Keep in mind that networking is viral?vital? and if promises are not kept, word will spread. Establishing yourself and firm as an honest, reputable company.

    Professional.

    Keep conversations to strictly business subjects. In a business environment, it is important to focus on safe non-emotional topics. The last thing you want to do is alienate or offend a potential client because of an outspoken view on a controversial topic. There is a time and a place for everything and discussing political views or cultural issues is not a generally accepted business topic. Bearing that in mind, it is also important to be aware and sensitive to cultural differences. The Internet has opened doors to a global market and respecting cultural differences is critical to establishing strong business relationships in the global marketplace.

    Socialize.

    Now is not the time to be a wall flower. Whether you participate in social business events, or monitor trade forums, it is critical that you participate. Participation will help you distinguish yourself in your industry. Attempt to remember individual personal details and foster introductions among others in the industry.

    Positive.

    Stay positive. It sounds simple, but it will really impact how others view you. If you are constantly negative and pointing out the flaws in others, it will reflect on how others view you. Presenting the best and positive business experiences will enhance your image.

    Help.

    Provide genuine assistance to others. Whether or not they are able to reciprocate, networking is viral?vital?. Helping others will establish you as a useful member of your business community and will endear you to others. If you are unable to help an individual, attempt to refer them to someone who can.

    Research.

    A little research goes a long way. Be sure to research people and companies in your business community. Knowing their common goals and interests will build topics for discussions.

    Acknowledging the need to connect with others to grow and expand a business may seem like common sense. Cultivating business relationships and interact with other small businesses is often mutually beneficial and should not be underestimated.

    Networking is about building relationships and mutual interaction benefiting both parties. Being proactive and following up, you can have a network of contacts that you will be able to access quickly when you need them. Whether by more traditional means, such as in person or over the Internet, personal networks are essential for furthering your business. Relationship networking is give and take, be sure to help others in your quest for help.

    About the Author -
    Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

    Bulletin boards and forums are all over the Internet. There are general discussion boards and specialized ones as well. Can they benefit you?

    Yes, the can. If you know how to “mingle.”

    You have to take them for what they are, though. Bulletin boards and forums are simply discussion forums open to anyone. Typically, they require a membership although many allow guests to post as well.

    If you Google “bulletin board +” a keyword related to your area of interest you are sure to find a specialized forum on which you can post messages. The purpose for most of these forums is to serve as a meeting place for professionals with similar goals and interests to discuss their challenges and ways to overcome them.

    Each bulletin board or forum has its own rules, but more than likely you will not be allowed to post advertising messages on the boards. Some boards allow this, but the better ones do not. The reason is simple: they want to protect their members, who are there to share ideas.

    To be successful in posting on bulletin boards and forums you have to understand what they are there for and why you are there, but more importantly, why others are there. If you have a large amount of knowledge in a specific area then you can make contacts by answering the questions that others have. Many people go to bulletin boards and forums specifically to learn about the topic of interest. Share your knowledge. In doing so, others will get to know you and trust you, then they may very well be interested in doing business with you.

    Instead of posting links to your url every time you post a message, put your link in your bio. When you become a member of a board you typically are asked to sign in as a member. By doing so you can fill out a bio, which allows you to post a photo, tell a little about your background and many even allow you to post links to your web site or promote a book you’ve written. It’s an excellent place to do so. Then, every time you post a message your name and bio information will appear so that people know who posted that message. That’s a low-cost way to advertise your business and to advertise it to your target audience.

    If you have a web site on a particular area of interest, you can include a forum on your web site. This makes you the moderator, an instant expert. After you have enough traffic visiting your bulletin board or forum then you can advertise to get other moderators or facilitators for your bulletin board discussion groups. People will gladly volunteer for this because it gives them instant credibility for their business. By taking in business partners this way you help yourself and others, giving the appearance that you are a credible source for your topic.

    Another way to make this work for you is to include a chat feature on your web site. But that’s a topic for another article.

    Allen Taylor is an award-winning journalist, freelance writer and copywriter. He specializes in world-class marketing for small businesses. For more information about how to make your business shine visit http://www.taylor-and-associates.com Be sure to check out Allen’s ghostwriting services and sign up for the free e-mail newsletter.

    If you expect to succeed as a professional solution provider - coach, consultant, etc., you first have to last. Just last long enough and you’ll be the only person who got started when you did, who is still around.

    After all, 80-90% of the folks who got into coaching or insurance or whatever when you did, will fail and leave the business and it will all be yours.

    So while you are busy outlasting the others - there is one thing you must do if you want to ever develop a sustainable business.

    You have to identify a client type for whom you are ideally suited. And it is not a complicated process!

    There are two most likely causes of failure - before you last long enough to convince the world of your brilliance. Ironically these two issues are also the two keys to your ultimate success.

    The first is a lack of capital. You run out of money before you generate regular revenues sufficient to support yourself.

    And since most people have limited savings, it is the lack of an income stream that causes the greatest trouble for most people. So, don’t quit your day job - too soon.

    Instead, figure out what is leveragable about the job or profession you already have. What is relevant to the development of your target audience. Use this as an opportunity to develop a teachable point of view - and generate current revenues while you build the framework of your marketing.

    A friend of mine was a successful chef for over ten years. But he was tired of the long hours away from his family, no time for vacations and when everybody was relaxing during the holidays, he was working harder than ever.

    He loved the restaurant business, he had learned a lot - knew successful chefs all over the country and was respected by purveyors throughout the industry.

    While he still put in a full schedule at the restaurant he became a well trained business coach. And for 18 months he coached restaurant supply companies who were challenged when it came to dealing with their customers, mostly chefs.

    By the time he hung up his apron for good and opened his coaching business formally - he had food service industry clients in several states.

    I’ve heard dozens and dozens of struggling professionals complain that they have not been able to find their niche - as if it required a magic wand.

    Finding your niche is a two fold process one of which I will address here. The other part, creating a benefit statement around what valuable service - something people will pay for, will be in the article entitles, Develop Your Benefit Statement and Enlist a Cadre of Fans to Promote You, which is posted on our web site.

    Here are a couple of suggestions to help you identify for yourself who your ideal prospects are.

    Leverage your past. Like my friend the chef, who built a business around the elements of his past profession that he had the greatest proficiency in and the part he enjoyed the most. All the stuff he loved but with none of the long hours. On holidays he is a customer instead.

    What was the most enjoyable part of what you were doing before you started doing what you are doing now? You know the industry, you know who the players are, and you know the problems and opportunities faced by your previous contemporaries.

    Plus you know the political landscape, who’s friends with whom etc. I know a Dentist who is now a consultant specializing in practice development for Dentists. I know a pharmacist who is a insurance professional specializing with retail pharmacies. You get the idea.

    Leveraging your past can be a natural way to focus your practice and become the go-to person in your industry.

    Another idea - monitize your passion.

    I know a very successful business coach who is a nut for vintage sports cars. He has one that he brings out of the garage only on sunny weekends. When he isn’t at a vintage sports car rally he is sitting at a sidewalk cafe on Amsterdam Ave. in New York City - happily basking in the glow of his vintage MG TD sitting at the curb.

    He loves to hang out at the car shows, talking with owners of restorers and body shop owners who specialize in vintage sports cars. He has created quite a niche since there are several thousand such companies across the US and they all seem to know or know of each other.

    He has spoken (the first non-industry speaker) at their trade association and has helped business owners find buyers for their companies at no charge - he knows everybody.

    He owns his niche, monitizing his passion for vintage sports cars. He regularly visits clubs in a 100 mile radius of his home (nice networking with the top down), attends meets, contributes articles to their magazines, and knows the landscape better than any of his competitors ever will.

    What are you passionate about? I am sure there is an association or professional society of them. If you don’t believe me go to the library and check out the Gales Encyclopedia of Associations.

    You could limit your practice to one single niche, you’d become the expert, the insider - you’d have all the business you could handle.

    That is if you can demonstrate that you understand their unique challenges and articulate the bankable benefits they can expect from your services.

    There is another benefit of identifying your niche. All of your friends and relatives will be relieved. In fact if you told them that you specialize in say, restaurant owners with multiple locations, they will hit the streets drumming up business for you.

    They will be relieved, no sales pitch, and they will begin to find prospects for you, tell you about their restaurant owner friends and tell them about you.

    Let them know what you do, describe your value proposition, your benefit statement. They will become your raving fan club.

    Their recommendations - based on their credibility, their prestige, and their lack of financial connection, will be a powerful force in driving business your way.

    It may not cause the phone to start ringing off the wall but it will turn a universe of cold calls into warm receptions - when you cross paths with these ideal prospects.

    These prestige recommendations - people who will see you become someone they respect has asked them to, will put you in the frame when they are ready to buy the services you offer.

    So, first identify the types of folks you want to specialize in - do business with.

    Don’t worry about whether of not they need your services today. Take my word for it - they do, if not now tomorrow - whether they know it or not.

    No matter the niche, no matter your profession - they will need your services directly or indirectly.

    Directly - they have a problem and need your help.

    Indirectly - they have a friend like them who has issues you are uniquely equipped to address.

    Determining your special niche is one of the most important things you can do. Make the decision based on who you are and who you want to be proud to have helped, when you look back on this in ten years.

    Wayne Messick is sharing the secrets of his success, well over two decades helping business owners position themselves for the future. No longer working with individual business owners, he is leaving you his legacy of transferable ideas and strategies at http://www.ibizresources.com/effectiveness_resources.html And for cutting edge leadership strategies for your business visit http://www.ibizresources.com/doright.htm.

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