Workplace Wisdom... Discover Fulfillment in Life and Work with Michelle Y. Drake
The ability to embrace what inspires us in life and work and the tools to live in fulfillment exist in all of us.
Are you sleepwalking through your life and career?
Wake Up!
And Emerge as the Leader You Were Born to Be!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Take a Risk with Your Career!
Taking a risk with your career may seem counter-intuitive amid our economic crisis, but according to this article I found on Yahoo! HotJobs, I think it could be a fantastic idea!
"4 Career Risks Worth Trying" by Denene Brox features four "calculated" risks that could mean a brighter future for your career.
"RISK: Going Back to School"
I know this can be a huge investment in time and money, but with all of the online programs now available to us - where we can pay less for a quality education, and come and go as we please from the comfort of home or even the office - it can be an excellent stepping stone to success. As the article states: "...determine if going back to school helps you achieve this goal [a raise or changing career paths] by talking to your boss and mentors." In my business, I've always encouraged my employees to never stop the learning process, and like my company, many organizations will even foot the bill (or at least part of it) if it will add to your value and the value you bring to work.
"RISK: Changing Careers"
I've said this time and time again: do what you love! And the article agrees: "With increased company layoffs, no one is immune to losing a job. Finding work that you love should be a priority in your career." This decision is a biggie, so make sure you carefully examine the pros and cons of a career move, and dig down deep to figure out what you really want to do. Is it something you're GOOD AT as well as enjoy? Consider this carefully because as many of us know, just because we love doing something, that doesn't necessarily mean we're skilled at it (see: "American Idol" contestants during the try-out weeks!)
"RISK: Saying 'No' to Added Responsibility"
At first you might think, "Are you crazy?! Saying 'no' at work?! That's the surest way to a pink slip!" In some cases, you may be right, but the article makes a great point: "If your boss is saddling you with more responsibility with a project or promotion, be sure you understand exactly what that will mean for your success. Not all promotions are created equal, and you can quickly become the office doormat if you constantly take on projects that may not have high enough visibility to move your career forward." I'd like to add a note to this and say, if you do turn down a project, make sure it's for the RIGHT reasons. Too many of us turn down opportunities to advance our careers because of fear - fear of failure, fear of putting our ideas out there, etc. - and that's definitely NOT the right reason. When offered more responsibility, think about it carefully and honestly before accepting or refusing.
"RISK: Starting a Business"
As an entrepreneur, I know firsthand the trials and tribulations (and satisfaction and rewards) of starting a business. It takes total commitment, a willingness to sacrifice, and a LOT of hard work. If you're not ready to say "yes" to all of that - and more - starting a business probably isn't right for you. But if you're ready to dive into the world of entrepreneurship, my best advice is the same as the article's: "Do your research (including health care options), save money, and build contacts in your industry while you're still working in your current job."
Check out the full text of the article here, and thanks to Denene Brox and Yahoo! HotJobs for posting such helpful advice. I recommend that you carefully digest this food for thought if you're stuck in a rut at your current job, if you're ready to take on a new challenge, or if you're wondering where to go next in your career.
With the economy still in its current slump, ask someone to define "job satisfaction" and I guarantee you that most of them will say: "Having a job. Period."
There is definitely some truth to that, I admit. But I am still a firm believer in doing what you love for a living and finding happiness and satisfaction in your job - no matter what the stock market says. After all, we spend most of our waking lives at work...don't we deserve to enjoy it just a little?
So if you're currently in a job that makes you happy (at least for a good portion of the time), then I congratulate you. Stick with it and thrive!
But if you're waking up every day wishing you could call in sick and then grudgingly trudging off to work, maybe it's time to start taking a peek into the job market.
Now, I'm in no way advocating that you should chuck your current job and set off into the world, searching for your next career. That would be madness during ANY economic time, but especially this one. Rather, I'm suggesting that while you continue to work at your current job, start thinking about what kind of work would satisfy you.
What kind of experience do you have? (And can you translate that experience into another field or industry? You'd be surprised to find out how universal some of your experience can be.)
What kind of skills do you have? What are you truly great at, and do you love doing it?(This is so important! You might be great at, say, accounting practices, but you might not really like crunching numbers all day. On the flipside, you might love being a salesperson, but fail to close a lot of deals. Both of these situations need to be taken into account so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your checkbook.)
What do you like about your current job?(Be thorough in your evaluation and get to the root of what you like. On the surface, it may seem that you like answering phones, but really, it's the contact with the clients that you like.)
What don't you like about your current job?(Again, dig deep to the root of the matter. You might think you hate dealing with expense reports, but really, it's the fact that you have to hunt them down from your co-workers that drives you crazy.)
If you could be anything you wanted, what would it be?(I know this seems like a "kid's" question, but I love it. It's been the starting point of many a successful career!)
Remember: don't just answer these questions from a "work" standpoint. Answer them from your personal life as well. How can you parlay your fascination or skill with a hobby into a great career (and subsequent satisfaction)?
I came across an article that can get you started on where to find job satisfaction:
In this article, Ms. Cowan cites a study by the University of Chicago called "Job Satisfaction in the United States." She writes: "The study says the occupations where people report being happy overall, not just in terms of job satisfaction, involve helping others, technical and scientific expertise, or creativity."
That's some food for thought to keep in the back of your mind when you begin to evaluate new career opportunities!
Ms. Cowan goes on to list the top occupations (as found by the study), and they include:
"1. Clergy 2. Firefighters 3. Transportation, ticket, and reservation agents such as travel agents 4. Architects 5. Special education teachers 6. Actors and directors 7. Science technicians 8. Miscellaneous mechanical and repairing occupations 9. Industrial engineers 10. Airline pilots and navigators"
Go ahead and read the article here. It might be just the catalyst you need to find your own source of job satisfaction!
As I was perusing The Wall Street Journal website, I came across an interesting article that introduced me to a new "business speak" term: "manage up."
Elizabeth Garone writes in her article "What It Means to 'Manage Up'" that "when someone tells you that you need to 'manage up,' what he or she is really saying is that you need to stretch yourself. You need to go above and beyond the tasks assigned to you so that you can enhance your manager's work, says Rosanne Badowski, co-author of 'Managing Up: How to Forge an Effective Relationship With Those Above You.'"
Communication above all else is the key. Do you know your boss's communication style?If not, find out! You may be more comfortable talking about the big picture, but he or she may prefer bullet points of facts and figures...and if you can't present your ideas in that manner, it's likely that they're falling on deaf ears.
The article goes on to list other ways to "manage up" - there's a lot of great info so I suggest you give it a read-through. I want you to ride out our economy's current crisis on a wave of success!
I was having a coaching session with a client on the phone the other day while I was at home trying to recuperate from two whirlwind weeks in California attending the WITI Women and Technology Summit and meeting with clients and colleagues. She's a new employee trying to establish herself as a vital part of her new team, but she's having trouble dealing with one of her teammates.
"Every new idea that gets brought to the table is shot down by her," my client said. "We're facing some issues that demand solutions. We've had several meetings and are no closer to resolving anything. It's so frustrating!"
That's a tough one. We've all known our fair share of "Debbie Downer" types; they always something negative to say, always want to poke holes in our ideas, always playing "devil's advocate."
But are they being pessimists...or realists?
I found a great article on this subject on The Wall Street Journal website:
In this article, Ms. Schaefer likens these people to the office Eeyore :) and she give some great tips on how to alter your way of thinking without sacrificing your personality or completely refraining from offering a differing opinion.
After all, sometimes it's the devil's advocate or the hole-poker who keeps us from making major missteps at work. It's important to balance being positive with challenging your team and your company to strive for greatness and profitability.
Have you ever wondered how some people seem to always get exactly what they want? All they seem to have to do is snap their fingers and *poof* they've got the job they want, the home they want, the car they want, that gorgeous pair of shoes they want, even the soulmate they want. It's maddening, isn't it? Especially since most of us are floundering around, feeling inadequate, always wishing for things that never seem to materialize. And then we get resentful and even jealous. That's no way to go through life!
So today, I'm going to share with you the 6 secrets to getting what you want, no matter what it is! (And it's a heck of a lot simpler than you think!)
For more FREE tips on advancing your career and navigating the workplace, sign up for my FREE e-zine "Lipstick Leadership" at LipstickLeadership.com today! And check out the products I've developed to guide you toward the success you deserve!
Remember a few weeks ago, I alluded to a brand new program that I was developing to help people get over their fear of public speaking (the #1 fear of most people!)?
Well, it's ready to roll, and I'm so excited about it!
Knowing how to speak in public is VITAL to your success personally and professionally. Most executives that I know wouldn't be where they are today if they couldn't express themselves to their teams, their clients and their bosses. And the fear of opening your mouth in front of an audience - small or large - can be crippling to your career and your relationships.
My "Get Over Your Fear of Public Speaking!"video program shares my best tips for banishing those public speaking demons forever. As a professional speaker myself and someone who has met other amazing speakers, I've gathered a world of experience, tips, and tools that I want to share with you through this video program.
(The response to this program has been astounding! Don't miss your opportunity to tap into my professional speaking expertise and learn how to communicate confidently in front of any audience!)
My apologies for staying away from my blog for so long, but between working with clients, traveling to Salt Lake City for a conference about SendOutCards.com (you've GOT to check these guys out - their system is amazing and so much fun!), and getting my sons back off to college (the house is mine and my husband's again - woo hoo! But seriously, I love my kids and miss them, too), I've been using my few minutes of downtime to, you know, breathe.
And I've also been staying up way too late to watch the Olympics! I'm so proud of our fellow countrymen and countrywomen; they've been outstanding all around in their events. According to Yahoo! this morning, the USA has earned 101 medals so far (8 of which are the incredible gold medals won by record-breaker Michael Phelps - congratulations to him!).
While I love the thrill of the competitions, I'm truly amazed by the Olympians themselves. To paraphrase a comment made on "Project Runway" during their Olympic challenge, they are as close to real-live superheros as we can get. They are at peak performance levels, and they've trained endlessly to achieve their goals. Let's follow their example!
Today, I challenge you to commit to your career like an Olympian commits to his or her training. I want you focus on kicking your career into overdrive (especially if lately it's been chugging along like a golf cart), and I want you firing all cylinders as you work towards your career's peak performance level.
And as your coach, I'm going to give you the benefit of my knowledge with these 10 tips for advancing your career!
1. Create a "life skills" line: Record everything you know how to do - from birth until the present - and all the skills required to do them. What have you excelled at? (And they don't have to be just work-related...you'd be surprised how the skills you have in your hobbies translate into success into the workplace.)
2. Make a "life activity" line (layer it right over your "life skills" line). Identify the activies at work and at home that you enjoy doing. If your skill is problem-solving, activities you might like are troubleshooting at work or working on your car's engine. A career that is satisfying and challenging with incorporate some of those skills and activities.
3. Rate your enjoyment and aptitude of each entry on your line: 1 if you're excellent at it and love doing it; 5 if it's one of your weaker areas or if you wouldn't want to do it for more than a few hours. And with this info, you're going to then...
4. Create a clear picture in your mind of your next 5 career moves (they're not set in stone!). They could be in order and progressing up through your organization, or they could be lateral moves into other organizations or industries. Plotting out these career moves starts to set you up with a strategy for career advancement (and we all know how much I LOVE strategy!).
5. Map out opportunities within your organization. You got those 5 career moves in your head - where are they in your organization? Create a "treasure map" that you can follow, leading you to each of those 5 career moves. Who's holding those jobs now? What are your chances of earning that position? If there's a star blocking your route of advancement (think Don Draper of "Mad Men") who shows no signs of budging, then you should first do everything in your power to succeed and prove your worth in your current position (a shift all the way up line might occur) or you might want to consider moving to another company, which leads me to...
6. Map opportunities outside your organization. What organizations are the leaders in your industry? Are they looking for highly-skilled people like you, and if so, what could they offer you? Look for industries that are complementary to yours. There may be opportunities to not only bring your insights into a new industry, but also for you to be invigorated by a new set of challenges.
7. Assess people in higher levels of your organization. Give them a report card. Who does a great job? Who might be on his or her way out? Who might be open to talking to you about their position? What are their skills...and do you have them?
8. Make a list of people who would help you if they knew your career aspirations. While it's a good idea to be tentative about who you share your career plans with (especially if they include chucking your current job for another), you have people in your sphere of influence that can help you attain your career goals if you talk to them about those goals. Be selective in who you share your dreams with, but make sure you share your dreams with someone!
9. Use an interview as an excuse to go and speak to someone who has the job that you want. Does your company have a newsletter or a website that highlights employees and bosses? If so, go to the head of these departments and ask if you can do a profile on the person who has the job you want. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to have some of the burden taken off them, and I'm sure that the person you interview will be flattered that you're so interested in them and their job. Asking for an interview is a non-threatening way to do your research and gather information.
10. Join an industry organization. This is a primo networking opportunity just waiting for you to reach out and grab it. Learn about other companies in your industry, other positions you may be qualified for, and loads of other inside scoop that can help you strategize your next career move.
Now go out there and earn a gold medal in career advancement!
Well, after last week's whirlwind posting marathon during "Lipstick Leadership Week", I decided to lay low for the past few days.
In the interim, I've been swamped with coaching clients who are begging me to help them with their public speaking. Apparently, that old saying about public speaking being an even greater fear than death is true!
Now, I admit: even a professional speaker like me gets butterflies in her stomach before taking the stage and staring out into that sea of people. But then my adrenaline kicks in and my naturally talkative personality takes over. Unfortunately, that's not the case for most people.
I've heard horror stories from clients, colleagues and friends about how they froze under the spotlights (or even speaking to a smaller group in a meeting) and tripped and stuttered their way through their presentations. My heart goes out to them. (I feel the same way when faced with a situation where math is required!)
So a few days ago, I had one of those "aha" moments Oprah's always talking about:
- People need help with their public speaking. - I'm a professional speaker who can also be considered something of an expert in getting over fears.
Why not figure out some global way (as opposed to one-on-one coaching...there's only so much of my time to go around!) that I could help people overcome their fear of public speaking??
Eureeka!
I'm now in the process of developing a fantastic new video product and loads of special bonuses to go along with it. I can't wait to unveil it, and I'm hoping to have the finishing touches put on it next week!
Keep your eyes open, loyal readers, because you're going to be one of the first people I offer it out to. I'll post more details soon!
...all of the fantastic entries I received will live on here at my blog!
If you missed out on last week's event, feel free to scroll down or click on the "lipstick leadership stories" tag at the bottom of this post to enjoy all of the anedotes and insights that made "Lipstick Leadership Week" a smashing success!
I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who sent in stories - they were all truly amazing and inspiring. I only wish I could get to know each of these incredible role models personally!
And it's a great feeling to know that this network of "mother's wisdom" you all helped me create is only the beginning! I can't wait to get started on the next book in the "From the Kitchen to the Corner Office" series - you've proven that there's limitless inspiration out there and plenty of moms and mom figures to draw experiences from!
In the meantime, I've got a lot of other pots full of ideas bubbling on my mental stovetop, and you'll be the first to hear about them here on my blog and through my free eZine "Lipstick Leadership" (Haven't signed up yet? You're missing out on a lot of great info! Sign up here or at LipstickLeadership.com).
Lipstick Leadership: Independent Woman - Christina Lemmey's Story!
"My mother is very independent and led by example that women could do anything we wanted to do. She was a stay-at-home mom and was not a business person, but she took art classes at the community college, and she would travel at least once a year by herself to visit her brothers across the country or her best friend. We didn't have sit-down conversations about all the things I could accomplish, but sometimes seeing a living example is just as powerful as hearing the words. I've heard from many friends how they are surprised I would drive 3 hours with my kids to visit an out-of-state friend by myself. I also decided on my own to start my business and figured out myself what steps I needed to take to learn more from coaches to increase my business.
While I do not consider myself a risk-taker, the independence that I learned from my mother has definitely helped lead me on the right business path."
Lipstick Leadership: "What Are You Wearing?" - Vicki Flaugher's Story!
"My mom and I have an inside joke about visualizing your success. We both believe that to reach a goal you have to really see it like it's already accomplished and if you do, it will come to you. So, when I would tell my mother about a project I was working on, or a dream I wanted to fulfill as an entrepreneur, she would always ask me, 'What are you wearing?' She would want me to describe my clothes and my hair style and everything that would be happening at the moment I achieved my goal, right down to the color of my dress and lipstick. She'd ask how I am celebrating my victory and who is with me. It's a little game we play and it really helps me to get clear about the end I am seeking. My mom has a great way of helping me see myself as a success. I just ask myself, 'What are you wearing?' and my confidence rises. I have to give her at least partial credit for helping me in that area. Together, we are stronger!"
- Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman, SmartWomanPublishing.com
Lipstick Leadership: Setting an Example of Success - Carrie Lauth's Story!
"For many years during my childhood, my mother, in addition to being a full-time stay-at-home mom, was also a leader in Direct Sales. For several years, my family drove a Tupperware van that my mother earned because of her sales and recruiting achievements. Seeing her do something and succeed at something she obviously enjoyed had a real impact on me. I've always had an entrepreneurial streak for as long as I could remember. Now I earn a full-time living on the Internet and am able to raise my 4 children.
Entries for "Lipstick Leadership Week" have been pouring in, and soon the wait to share them will be over!
Next week (July 28th - August 1st) I'll be posting the submission stories here on my blog all day, every day. So make sure you bookmark me and keep coming back to read more!
I guarantee you won't be disappointed - the stories are a mix of the funny and the poignant, and all have important lessons that can be incorporated into our professional and personal lives to empower and inspire us.
The struggle between having a career and raising kids is a battle for the ages. Speaking from experience, I know that when I decided to re-join the workforce when my kids were little, I was in a constant state of guilt. When I was at work, I felt like I was missing vital time with my children. When I was at home, I felt like I wasn't giving it my all at my job - and that's just not my style! There just didn't seem to be an optimal way to fit both pieces into my life back then.
But thankfully today the working world is FINALLY starting to catch on that there are plenty of mommies out there who want to put their skills to work AND have the flexibility to raise their children!
I came across this article on CNN.com, "Moms Find Balance as High-Skilled Temps" by A. Pawlowski, and I said, "Amen!" According to the article, staffing agencies like Mom Corps., On-Ramps, Flexible Executives, Flexible Resources and FlexWork Connection have cued into the fact that the "Mommie Talent Pool" is an amazing untapped resource, and the companies' mission is to "connect career-women-turned-stay-at-home moms with employers."
These agencies are giving moms the opportunity to be successful both in their careers and in their personal lives by providing them with the flexibility they need and deserve. At the same time, they're giving companies a double whammy: highly skilled employees AND women who are enriching the workplace with their unique perspective as mothers. My book "From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom's Wisdom on Leadership" is all about that! All of the stories I tell in that book are drilled down to a "simple truth from Mom"; the case studies (real-life business examples) show how that wisdom can be applied. And with staffing agencies like the ones mentioned in this article, even more women will be able to benefit organizations with the gifts of their knowledge.
Everybody wins!
This is what "Lipstick Leadership Week" is all about: sharing the knowledge. By sharing stories about the incredible women in your life and how they've influenced you (and judging by many of the submissions so far, they've influenced your professional success just as much as your personal success!) we're creating a wisdom network that can help everyone advance their careers - and again I say, "AMEN!"
Hope you enjoyed the long 4th of July weekend! There's still a hint of barbecue smoke in the air here, and I'm already craving another batch of potato salad!
I'm off to Boston today to meet with a coaching client, but I saw an interesting article on Yahoo! HotJobs that I wanted to share with you.
Now you might be wondering why this topic would pique my interest - or yours, for that matter, if you don't have college-bound kids - but when I read it, I saw it from a new perspective: professionals contemplating going back to school and making a career change.
If making more money in a new career is your goal, check out what this article has to say about which education path you might want to look into.
Boston, here I come!
Oh, and if you haven't already, don't forget to submit your stories about how your mother changed your life and made you into the successful career woman you are today on my site at KitchentoCornerOffice.com! "Lipstick Leadership Week" is rapidly approaching and I don't want you to miss the opportunity to be a part of it!
This question came from my friend Anna and was accompanied by a worried frown. Anna lost her job recently (cutbacks, cutbacks, cutbacks) and had a promising opportunity in the works. I was prepping her for an interview this week, and we'd finally gotten around to the salary question.
"Well, what's the salary range for a position like yours?" was my counter-question.
"I don't know," came her response. She knew what she had been making, after several years of being with the company she worked for, but didn't have a clue what someone in her position should/could ask for coming into a new company. And being isolated from the job market, she didn't know the salary trends for her industry.
Since I know that Anna isn't the only one who's unsure of the answer to the big salary question, I thought I'd do a little research on the subject of salary ranges and post a quick tidbit of salary info here on my blog.
Here's a quick list of salary resources to get you started:
* My personal favorite is www.Salary.com * Job posting sites can be a great resource: sites like craigslist often have salary info along with job descriptions, and sites like CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com have salary calculators and wizards. * Tons of salary info here: Economic Research Institute - www.erieri.com * The good 'ol government site: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - www.bls.gov * Professional and trade organizations often have a slew of info and some even have message boards where you can post your questions and get answers from other professionals like yourself. * Don't forget your research! Check out the company's website and tap into your personal network and ask around. First-hand knowledge direct from a reliable source can be valuable.
I hope this info helps all of you job seekers out there and even the non-job seekers, too. It's always a great time to make sure you're getting paid what you're worth!
The week of July 14th through July 18th, 2008 is Lipstick Leadership Week at KitchentotheCornerOffice.com! That means we want to hear YOUR stories about how your mother changed your life and made you into a successful career woman.
What lessons did your mother teach you that turned you into a leader? Did a Sunday afternoon of baking turn into an opportunity for responsibility? Did a Thanksgiving meal become a metaphor for organizational structure? Tell your story in writing or request to send an audio or video. To contribute, just submit your story to me here. You can read your submission and others' right here on my blog during Lipstick Leadership Week!
My new book, From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom's Wisdom on Leadership, chronicles the lessons I've learned from my own amazing mother and other female role models. I'll be sharing those stories - and the stories of women I've interviewed for this book - during Lipstick Leadership Week - and I invite you to join me in this celebration of maternal wonders!
Hi, it's Michelle, and I'm in Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado at an amazing, very rustic resort. Well, it's rustic on the outside, but on the inside, it's stunning.
This place made me think about how quickly we make judgments of our teammates the workplace, how we look at someone and we immediately make an assessment, never taking the time to look a little bit deeper to see all of their talents, intelligence and skills.
As managers, we need to make sure that we're not rushing to decisions when it comes to our team members, whether we're assigning tasks or deciding who to downsize. We need to make sure that we're taking the time to evaluate everything that each of our people have to offer: their skills, their attitudes and their contributions.
In so many ways, people bring different unique elements to the workplace; for instance, some people help with keepu up morale more than they help with the actual work of their projects. That doesn't mean they aren't important!
And so this morning, I'm going to practice reserving my own judgments about our itinerary - I'm going fly-fishing! Can you belive it? - and keep an open mind to the experience. Today, take the time to think about people in your workplace and the talents they have that you may overlook and discover the unique value they bring to your team.
In the face of our flailing economy, I've been on the lookout for articles that offer tips on how to weather this recessional storm so I can share the info with you, my readers. In my own life, I've been through some tough financial situations with my family in the past, and I know firsthand how difficult it is to stretch that dollar to keep food on the table, a roof over our heads, and clothes on our backs. It seems like just yesterday I was ripping up my husband's old shirts and sewing them into shorts for our little boys (now grown college men) to wear during the hot summer months. Thankfully, those days are behind us now, and we've found great success in running our company, the Cove Group.
So today as I was perusing the headlines, I saw a few great articles from Yahoo! that listed jobs and industries where people can earn good money and find some stability in this shaky economical time.
The first article is entitled "10 Hot Jobs That Start at $50K+" by Cherie Berkley at PayScale.com (read the full article here). If you're unhappy in your current job or are just looking to branch out into a new field, here are 10 jobs that you might want to look into, according to the article:
Interesting, huh? I thought so, and even though most of these jobs require a certain level of education, I fully believe in always being willing to learn - especially when that education can lead to a lucrative career like these. Thanks to Cherie Berkley, PayScale.com and Yahoo! for writing such a great article!
The other article I stumbled across was even more appropos: "Recession-Proof Jobs in 2008" by Larry Buhl for Yahoo! HotJobs. Mr. Buhl saved us the trouble of searching for strong industries during these tough economic times, and he's listed them here in his article. Here are the highlights:
* Education * Energy * Health Care * International Business * Environmental Sector * Security
I hope these articles help if you're in a place in your life where a new career is on the horizon. Seize the opportunity to start a fresh career path and reach a brand new level of success in your professional life!
I have a special treat for you! An invitation to a webinar that can help you develop deeper relationships with existing clients and co-workers...which translates into more business and money!
Marketing experts David Frey (MarketingBestPractices), Annette Bau (MillionaireSeries) and Debra Dinnocenzo will be joining me, Michelle Yozzo Drake, to share our top marketing and referral strategies (some of which are new to me, and I plan to implement them into my business).
This webinar will not be repeated so clear your calendar and register today. In this webinar, you will learn new referral and client retention strategies that you can start using immediately. If you are still accepting new clients and want more referrals, this is a webinar you can't afford to miss.
In this webinar, Annette will also be sharing how to double your referral strategies with affluent women.
"Referral Marketing Strategies" Webinar for Business Owners, Entrepreneurs and Executives June 19th, 12:00 p.m. PT & AZ/ 1:00 p.m. MT/ 2:00 p.m. CT/ 3:00 p.m. ET
(If you want to hear Annette, David, Debra and my best referral ideas, join us at 11:45 a.m. PT/ 2:45 p.m. ET)
Use VIP Code 46539 to attend FREE and receive bonuses! Let me share how exciting and beneficial this is for you...
In this webinar, you will learn...
The 5 Elements You Need to Succeed
How to Create the Ultimate Referral and Client Retention Machine
How to Systematize and Automate Your Referral Machine
The strategies that top entrepreneurs and executives use for attracting referrals and retaining their current clients.
If your office is operating like the Ultimate Referral & Client Retention Machine and you have more quality clients than you desire and are working less hours than you imagined possible - keep doing what you have been doing.
Use VIP Code 46539 to attend FREE and receive bonuses!
The strategies you will learn include:
* Recognition Strategy * Pinging Strategy * 250 Strategy * Sign & Billboard Strategy * Shelf Life Strategy * Affluent Women Strategy * Connector Strategy * Birthday Card Strategy * Let's Do Lunch Strategy (how to have lunch with the wealthiest people in your community) * Let's Share Referrals Strategy (how I have gotten some of my largest clients) * Ask Strategy
This webinar is designed to grow your business and help you make more money so you can't afford to miss it. You will also learn concepts and strategies which have gotten the best results as well as a system to automate the strategies. The webinar will also include a demonstration of a system you can begin using immediately to help you build credibility and put your referral marketing and client retention strategy on automatic pilot.
Use VIP Code 46539 to attend FREE and receive bonuses!
Here's what other attendees had to say about this webinar:
"My Referrals are Outpacing My Advertising By a 10 to 1 Ratio!" "A few months ago I was introduced to your referral system through your seminar. While I was skeptical, I went ahead and tried it. Our referral rate increased by 39% within just 6 weeks saving me thousands in ad costs." - Dr. Paul Graden, CEO, Accelerated Learning Center
"Tripled My Business!" "Wow! I knew we were missing some business by not having an effective referral program..." "But I had no idea how much. With this program, I know that I can double or even triple my business. This program was OFF THE HOOK and I can't wait to get these referral strategies in place and make us more $$ money." - Jon Wentzell, Advisor, Stockton, GA
"Marketing genius. Inexpensive...you will make more money, that simple." "You have created a system to help you build your business with massive referrals. Since most business grows by referrals. These referral methods help small businesses more than any other advertising method. And, it's so inexpensive. I drove from California to Arizona to see the presentation and was glad I did. You can't afford to miss this presentation. You will make more money. That simple." - Jeanette Fisher, JoytotheHome.com
"The Best Referral Strategies I've Ever Heard In 25 Years" "Great material! I've been in sales 25 years including: insurance, car sales, home repairs and spas. Absolutely the best referral strategies I've ever heard. I can't wait to get more information. Thanks." - Larry Daniels, Billings, MT
"This Referral System is the Best Marketing Tool I've Ever Used!" "We are using just one of your referral systems that I learned at your seminar, and it is the best marketing tool I have ever used. That comes from over 25 years experience as a marketing professional and consultant." - Doug Hudiberg, CEO, Fire Mountain Marketing
"Amazing, Unique Ideas!" "You presented some very unique ideas in a totally understandable manner. It amazed me on his ability to hold the attention of the participants. I came away with some really helpful ideas on how to grow my business. Thank you for the opportunity to attend and I am looking forward to using the system." - Kathleen Cassidy, Mesa, AZ
"Going to Increase My Sales 100%..." "Your referral program gave me so many new ideas, I am confident I am going to increase my sales 100% while reducing my advertising expense dramatically. SO many great ideas that make good sense and utilize my greatest resources - my customers and partners! I can't wait to get back to the office and supercharge my referral programs!" - Olaf Krop, San Francisco, CA
"Simply the Best Referral Seminar I've Ever Attended!" "In my business, referrals are everything. I thought I knew a lot about creating referral systems until I attended this seminar. We've implemented just one of his simple referral strategies and have tripled our referrals." - David Carleton, SVP, Dimension One Spas Inc.
