Liz Lynch – The Smart Networking Blog

How to Look for a Job While You're Still Employed

2010-09-01T15:16:24Z

Hate your job? If you're thinking about leaving and wondering:

What should I do first?
How can my network help?
When should I tell my boss?

You'll find the answers to those questions and more in the following interview I did on CNN last week on "Stealth Job Hunting."

P.S. I'm working on some follow up topics too, so let me know what questions you have on job search, career and networking. Thanks!

Advice from the Heart

2010-08-26T19:41:12Z

As I wrote in my last post, I learned some very powerful lessons from the life-changing experience of caring for my dying father and I wanted to share some of them here.

I admit it's an exercise that's equal parts (1) grief therapy, (2) creative tune-up, and (3) compulsive teaching (I'm always looking for ways to connect the dots through story and example).

But it's also an exercise that comes from the heart. Caring for my father opened a doorway to my heart and now it wants to be more involved in everything I do.

Over the past few weeks, as I've been paying more attention to what my heart has to say, it's telling me that after a long dry spell, it's time to get back to writing. Even if I still don't feel like it, I know it's right, so here I am.

I found that listening to my heart is actually a good thing. Like many entrepreneurs, I spend a lot of time in my head. Thinking about strategy, planning next steps, tracking my progress, and making adjustments. Do you do the same thing?

Even though most experts say we make decisions emotionally, then try to back into the logic, I believe that the inner voice I hear in my decision-making most of the time still comes from my head. Why do I think so? Because when I specifically ask my heart for advice, it sounds and feels very different from what I'm used to.

I did some work a few weeks ago with Randall Krause, a colleague of mine who runs Hym-la (Himalayan Yoga Meditation Society of Los Angeles). Over the phone he took me through an amazingly simple but powerful exercise for directly asking my heart for advice on an issue I was struggling with (or rather, my head was struggling with).

Within minutes, an answer came to me that I hadn't thought of, yet felt really good to both my heart AND my head. Confusion gone, ready to move forward.

When your heart is engaged, you can often get a more complete picture of what you need to do. It's like getting a second opinion from someone who can evaluate the situation through another perspective.

What areas in your business are you struggling with right now? What are you confused and feeling stuck about? What decisions are you holding back from making?

Take the situation out of your head for a moment and ask your heart to chime in. It might seem strange to think your heart could have an opinion about your business, but if you're stuck, what's the harm in asking? It's no different really than phoning a friend or business contact for advice, then listening to what they have to say. And because your heart wants the best for you, you might get some really interesting and relevant answers.

You may have to put yourself in a different environment (outside in nature, for example) and/or get help from a coach or teacher to connect with your heart. But there isn't any real magic to it except the true willingness to do so. Be patient, be still and wait for the answers to come.

My Disappearing Act Explained

2010-08-23T17:53:33Z

So it's been more than 4 months since my last blog entry and I thought I owed you an explanation. I've gotten several emails from people wanting to know if I was okay. Had I abandoned the Smart Networking blog? Had I gone into witness protection? What was going on? Well, here's the story...

Where I've Been

In April my father was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. He had never smoked, but according to Uniting Against Lung Cancer, 10-15% of cases occur in "never smokers." And because no reliable early detection mechanisms have been developed - unlike mammograms or colonoscopies - the mortality rate is higher than any other cancer.

With no options except chemotherapy, and with a very small chance it would reverse the disease anyway, and knowing how excruciating it had been for my mother who passed away in 1995, my father declined treatment and chose to live out his remaining time - the doctors said six months -- at home under hospice care.

It took me a while, but as soon as I could delegate, fulfill, or put on hold all of my business obligations, I flew to San Francisco in May to take care of him full-time. I knew there wasn't much I could do except keep him comfortable, but it was important for me to do SOMETHING.

I am so blessed to have a spouse who fully supported my decision. While I was away, we spoke every night, texted all the time, and saw each other every other weekend when he made the cross-country trip to be with us. The hospice chaplain said I was an angel for my father. Well, my husband Chris was definitely an angel for me.

I was prepared to be in California for the whole summer, expecting a slow and steady decline, but nothing I couldn't manage. Before I left home, I even suggested to one of my Platinum Level coaching clients that we could meet out there for her one-day intensive session, which appealed to her since she had never been to San Francisco.

What I wasn't prepared for was my father's rapid deterioration, and the accompanying physical, emotional and mental toll it would take to be a primary caregiver in such a dire situation. When he passed away the day after Father's Day, just two months after the diagnosis, not six, I was too exhausted and still had too much to do to really grieve.

It wasn't until a week later, when I was back home in Delaware, that all the emotions hit. A piece of music, a thought, an image (like the one on the right of him carrying me as a baby that I found in an old album) would trigger a rush of tears. It was obvious I needed to devote some time to my own healing.

But I also felt compelled to figure out where I go from here. I felt forever changed by this experience and it just didn't feel right emotionally or intellectually to simply jump back in and pick everything up where I had left it in May. I had discovered gifts I never knew about and I wanted to re-examine what I had been prioritizing in my life.

For example, some things I made time for because I had a deadline even though I felt no joy in doing them. While other things I was more passionate about I tended to push off or neglect altogether because of lack of time, and lack of urgency (i.e., no deadline). That's a totally upside down way to live!

Where I'm Going From Here

So that's why I've been laying low here on the blog and on my email newsletter these past few months. I did remain active on Facebook as I found it escapist and therapeutic to interact with my online friends, even for just a few minutes each day.

After thinking through a lot, I've put some goals on paper for the coming months, and while I haven't figured out everything I want to do or how everything fits, I feel I've gotten back on the path at a really good spot. One I can feel totally happy about as I look ahead.

Some things in my business I'll be re-starting, some things I'll be dropping, some things I'll be changing up, and some new things I'll be creating.

I learned many lessons both during the experience and in the aftermath that I am bursting at the seams to share in the hopes of helping those wanting to leap to the next stage of their business and personal growth find their strength, their motivation and most of all, their truth.

Stay tuned...

Market Your Business w/Facebook - Liz Lynch Interviews Dave Kerpen, CEO of theKbuzz (Live Teleseminar)

2010-04-04T18:12:13Z

If you think Facebook is just for connecting with family and old high school friends, you're missing out on the incredible impact this community of 300 million loyal users can have on your company. More than any other social media site, Facebook can be an incredibly powerful tool for building your business on a shoestring budget.

Join me in the Smart Networking Inner Circle on Tuesday, April 6th at 1pm Eastern, when I'll be interviewing Dave Kerpen, CEO of theKbuzz, a social media and word of mouth marketing firm. We'll talk about how ANY BUSINESS can create a compelling Facebook presence that builds your brand, engages prospects, partners and customers, and helps you make more money.

You will learn:

The difference between your personal profile, public profile and a group page, and which you should use for your business
What types of content engage your fans and how often you should post
How to build your fan base
The right way to respond to comments -- both positive and negative
How to leverage social ads without losing your shirt
The must-have applications you should utilize on your page
And much, much more!

This teleseminar is FREE for members of my Smart Networking Inner Circle group. Members also have access to the recording as well as the transcript.

Not a member yet? Learn how to get the first month for only $9.95 (new members only, please) and get access to monthly calls with top experts, monthly Q&A calls, recordings and transcripts of the calls, one-on-one laser coaching opportunities and other fabulous members-only benefits.

About Dave Kerpen

Dave Kerpen is one of the leading experts on social media and Facebook marketing. Dave and his work have been featured on CNBC's "On the Money", ABC World News Tonight, the CBS Early Show, The New York Times, and countless blogs. This past year theKbuzz has expanded with new offices in Boston and Chicago, and new clients including Heineken, Neutrogena, Cumberland Farms, Uno Chicago Grill, Verizon, 1800Flowers.com and Stride Rite. Dave now manages the presence of over 150 brands on Facebook and other social media sites.

Dave is proud of theKbuzz's 2008 and 2009 WOMMY Awards from the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) for excellence in Word of Mouth Marketing, but prouder of his two little girls at home -- Charlotte and Kate.

CLICK here to learn more about the Smart Networking Inner Circle program and get access to this call, the recording and the transcript to add to your Success Library.

It's "Success Week" at Smart Networking!

2010-03-09T13:58:10Z

As you may have heard, I started broadcasting my Smart Networking Radio show on a daily basis for the last month.

I've been under the radar testing out the different technologies that I needed to learn to get the show running completely online and synching it up to Ustream so we could have a video simulcast. On the show, I've been answering questions about networking and marketing, sharing advice and interviewing incredible guests (who have all been great sports in this experiment).

I think all the kinks have been worked out just in time for what has coincidentally turned out to be "Success Week" here at Smart Networking!

I'll be interviewing a number of guests who have different approaches to getting through the mental blocks that hold people back from setting big goals and reaching them. Well cover the full spectrum, including EFT (emotional freedom techniques), LOA (law of attraction) and NLP (neuro-linguistic programming).

This is a great prelude to my Business Strategy & Marketing Mastermind event I'm hosting in Naples, Florida on March 20-21 where I'll be working closely with a small group of entrepreneurs who are ready to STOP dabbling in their business and START seriously boosting their earning power. Success does begin in your mind first.

Here's what on tap for "Success Week." Hope you can join us for one or more of these interviews!

Tuesday, March 9th, 3pm Eastern: On Smart Networking Radio and Smart Networking TV, I'll be interviewing advanced EFT practitioner Loren Fogelman of Oregon-based Mindset for Marketing Success. If something is keeping you from taking the necessary steps to grow your business, then you don't want to miss this show. Loren created the Mindset for Marketing Success System, a series of 7 important steps to create a winning approach to building your practice with confidence. She'll discuss the strategies she uses to help her clients break through their self-imposed glass ceiling and get to the next level of success.

Tuesday, March 9th, 7pm Eastern: In the Smart Networking Inner Circle, I'll be interviewing master coach, speaker and recognized authority on the Law of Attraction Eva Gregory. She's the author of several programs and books including The Feel Good Guide to Prosperit y. For two decades now, she has been practicing the Law of Attraction, using the principles to enrich her life and her businesses. She has instructed tens of thousands in person, on the radio and in dozens of teleconference training seminars and workshops on how to deliberately create a life by design using LOA principles.

This is a private call for my Inner Circle group, but membership is just $9.95 for the first month, and you'll get the audio recording and transcripts (not to mention loads of other member benefits, including a 25% discount to my Mastermind event). Join us!

Thursday, March 11th, 3pm Eastern: On Smart Networking Radio and Smart Networking TV, I'll be interviewing international speaker and author Barbara Hofmeister. She's a certified NLP Master Practitioner and Certified Master Peak Performance Coach. She's also a fellow host on BlogTalkRadio. We'll talk about the strategies she uses to help clients live a life of choice -- their choice!

Listen to and learn from these brilliant women and leap to the next level of success! By the way, if you miss any of the radio interviews, you can listen in later using those same links.

Career Success Tip: How to Answer the "Weakness" Question During a Job Interview

2010-02-25T14:24:59Z

"Tell Me About Some of Your Areas of Weakness" ....

Oh....that dreaded question; the one we know they ALWAYS ask. Why do we find this question so tough to answer? Many people really trip on on answering this question.

A couple of ideas:

Focus on a weakness that might actually be viewed as a strength, e.g., I tend to work long hours, I tend to be a perfectionist, I tend to push my team really hard to accomplish their goals, etc.

We all have weaknesses. Some could be fatal weaknesses with respect to the job at hand, but many are likely not fatal weaknesses. Choose a non-fatal weakness -- one that's been part of your personal history BUT one that you've also focused SIGNIFICANT TIME and effort on improving. Discuss all the things you've done to improve upon that weakness -- be specific. Talk about how you HAVE improved -- give examples.

I tend to lean toward the second of the two ideas above. The second approach demonstrates that you (1) understand your weaknesses (self knowledge is a desired trait in an employee-to-be) AND (2) have the motivation and self-direction to work hard to either overcome them or significantly mitigate them (another highly desired trait for a potential employee).

Learn to answer this question with CONFIDENCE. It WILL be asked sometime during the interview process. PRACTICE your answer -- ask others for feedback. Be prepared for this question and you'll do a MUCH better job of addressing it.

Original post on Career Success! Partners

Author:

Andy Robinson (@AndyInNaples) is a leading authority on career success and 15-year career coaching veteran whose passion in business life is "helping people love what they do for a living and achieve incredible career success." Andy is CEO of CRG Leadership Institute and co-host of Career Success Radio Show.

Career Success Memo: Do You Have a MEMORABLE Brand? - 8 Things a Powerful Personal Brand Can Do for You

2010-02-18T23:06:31Z

We're in a whole new world of employment -- one that has continued (and will continue) to evolve and one that is MUCH different from the employment world of our parents and grand-parents. The days of joining a company that you stay at and retire from are LONG GONE and will likely never return again. Job changes occur more and more frequently and career changes are more common than ever before.

We are no longer "Who we work for." Tagging your identity strictly to a company and "co-branding" your work-life with a company name are strategies that have less meaning and are impossible to sustain as a PRIMARY means of your identification. Companies come and go through mergers and dissolution -- even BIG names lose their "wow" factor and brand identity .... think of names like Enron, Arthur Andersen, NationsBank, Eastern Airlines, and countless small and mid-sized businesses.

The better strategy and one that we all must embrace if we're going to enjoy lasting career success is to firmly establish our Personal Brand. We have much more control over our own Personal Brand, and it's the "thing" that stays with us regardless of where we're "physically" employed or who we work for.

Our Personal Brand reminds people "who WE are," it becomes "what WE are known for," and it represents the "market" perception of our value proposition and personal competitive advantage. A highly effective Personal Branding Program is key to continuously communicating our Personal Brand "to the world" and constantly "pinging" our contact network with highly useful content that reminds them of who we are.

So, what are some of the key benefits of a compelling Personal Brand -- i.e., exactly what does it do for us? A compelling Personal Brand is a HUGE BENEFIT -- without question. Consider the following indicators of a Powerful Personal Brand:

Always on the Radar Screen and "The Short List." When an opportunity comes up in your field -- a job opportunity, a new business opportunity, etc., you're on the list that gets called or contacted. Having established yourself as a "thought leader" or expert, and having constantly broadcast that expertise to your network, you remain on their mind when something important comes up.

Frequent Calls for Speaking Opportunities. In situations where an expert is needed to speak on an important topic or in an important role (e.g., keynote speaker), you are often contacted and at least presented with the opportunity.

Frequent Calls from Leading Executive Recruiters in Your Area of Specialty. Leading recruiters in your field KNOW YOU and are very comfortable with presenting you as a candidate for a new job opportunity, or call you frequently to ask you if you know someone how might be a good candidate. This is a great place to be in from a career management standpoint.

Frequent Requests for Interviews and Articles in Trade Publications. The press and and PR professionals reach out on an ongoing basis requesting interviews for articles in your field of expertise. You're frequently asked to submit articles or you proactively submit articles for publishing.

Opportunities Appear "Out of the Blue." A new client "appears out of nowhere," a business deal drops in your lap, you get a call from someone you don't know well with an incredible business opportunity, you're the first one called for an amazing job opportunity, you're asked to speak at a major convention .... the list goes on. Think it can't happen to you .... Why not?

Visibility to Leading Influencers. You're known by leading influencers in your profession and area of specialty. They may not KNOW you, but they KNOW OF YOU because of your proactive and memorable personal branding efforts. People with influence can help you accomplish big things, and are usually willing to do so because YOU have consistently given to THEM in some way -- information you shared, referrals you've made, etc.

Frequent Engagement with Other Thought Leaders. You have frequent conversations with other thought leaders -- some who share your specialty and some who are thought leaders in other related areas. You help CREATE the next direction and are a member of the "R&D Team" for your field of knowledge.

Network Gravity. You have incredible network "gravity." People are drawn to you, opportunities attract themselves to you, you become a magnet for all kinds of good things.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You do NOT have to be a "CELEBRITY" to achieve the above, but you DO have to put conscious thought and EFFORT into the process of developing and communicating a compelling Personal Brand. It's up to you to CREATE THE PERCEPTION in the marketplace of what you WANT to be known for and what you represent.

Personal Branding is a PROCESS, an ongoing process .... and IT WORKS MAGIC for you if you do it with passion and sincerity. MAKE IT HAPPEN .... Start TODAY.

Original post on Career Success! Partners
Author:
Andy Robinson (@AndyInNaples) is a leading authority on career success and 15-year career coaching veteran whose passion in business life is "helping people love what they do for a living and achieve incredible career success." Andy is CEO of CRG Leadership Institute and co-host of Career Success Radio Show.

7 Steps to Attracting Money Making Affiliates

2010-02-17T11:16:18Z

By Kathleen Gage

[Note: Keynote speaker, business advisor and Internet marketing expert Kathleen Gage is today's Guest Blogger on Smart Networking. She'll be here all day, Wednesday, February 17th to respond to your comments and questions on her post. Join in the fun!]

If you've been around the Internet for any length of time, you have likely heard you can make money through Joint Venture partnerships and affiliate programs. You may already be doing so, but not at the level you know is possible.

Without a doubt, partnering with the right people increases your market reach, credibility and revenue stream. It's a great way to do business. Unfortunately, many people attempt to do so without really understanding how to gain the greatest benefit for all concerned.

There are numerous types of affiliate and joint venture partner arrangements and relationships. There are those where as an affiliate you simply search out products and services that you think your market wants or with very little interaction between the you and the affiliate. Conversely, you have those who seek out your products and services for their market, but have very little interaction with you.

There are affiliate programs where no one really knows who is behind the product, you just know you might be able to make money by selling it; whatever it may be. Usually a widget of some sort.

Then there is the type of relationship where you do know who you are dealing with and your reputation resides in the quality of products and services you bring to your market. This type of relationship is quite appealing to many entrepreneurs. You do business with the affiliate because you know them, like them and trust them.

For the purpose of this conversation, we will focus on the relationships where either you bring an expert's information to your market or they bring your expertise through products and services to their market.

One of the most important things you must do is determine how you can make the relationship a win/win/win. Win for you, win for your affiliate or JV and win for the end user - the customer.

In the context of this discussion, developing affiliate relationships takes more than simply posting something on your website or blog where people can click and immediately become and affiliate. Sure, you can occasionally find great affiliates this way, but to really optimize the potential there is much more that needs to be done.

Conversely, don't assume that simply because you think what you have to offer is the greatest thing since sliced bread affiliate marketers will too. Your job is to search out those affiliates who have a great market match for your product and/or service. This can take time, effort and money to position correctly.

Here are some simple guidelines you can follow that are sure to open many doors for you.

Know what your market wants when you offer affiliate products.
Understand the needs of the experts you approach when offering your product/services for them to take to their market.
Do your homework when it comes to commission rates. A very simple way to do this is join forums where other affiliates hang out. Which forums you select depends on your industry. You can also do research at locations such as ClickBank. As one of the largest locations to find affiliate products to sell and to post your own products you want others to sell, you can easily determine what you need to offer and what to look for when you are selling for someone by spending time on ClickBank.
Nurture the relationships with those who are your top performers. Truth be told, only a small percentage of those who become affiliates actually do much of anything to sell your products and services. Then there are those who will sell and sell and sell. Rather than trying to get the low performers to raise their own bar, do what you can to support your high performers. This could be in the way of higher than average commission rates (sometimes even 100% commission for some products), surprise bonuses, a phone call or thank you card that is delivered by other than email, and special acknowledgements.
Find out your high performers preferred method of communication. If you know they are on Twitter a great deal, sending direct messages to them through Twitter is better than a standard email. If you know they like to talk on the phone, take the time to occasionally pick up the phone to call them. If they like Facebook, private message them this way. If they like public recognition, blog, tweet and post on their Facebook wall to give them praise. You will be amazed at how far this can take things.
Make being your affiliate an easy process. Provide the tools they need to promote your products and services. In other words, give them blog postings, articles, tweets, samples to give to their market, etc. Develop a private affiliate page where they can access this information. This can make all the difference in the world.
Be a good pay. Don't ever, ever, ever shortchange your affiliates. Pay them when and how you say you will pay. And pay with gratitude. It's amazing how someone will be thrilled to get affiliates but when it comes time to pay them, there is resistance to writing the check or sending their commission to their PayPal account. Energetically, you are shutting down the flow of future sales if you do this. Pay with extreme gratitude.

The bottom line is treat your affiliates and joint venture partners how you want to be treated. With the right partnerships you can build an extremely viable revenue stream and business a lot faster than if you try to do it all on your own. In today's world of business collaboration is the way to go.

About the author
Kathleen Gage is an Internet marketing advisor who works with spiritually aware speakers, authors, coaches and consultants who are ready to turn their knowledge into money making products and services. Find out how you can learn from Kathleen on how to build a successful business using the Internet through her Street Smarts Marketing VIP Club.

Building a Magic and Magnetic Personal Brand

2010-02-12T16:36:12Z

On Smart Networking Radio this week I interviewed Career Architect Cindy Yantis who had so much valuable insight to share about:

Why EVERYONE needs to have a strong personal brand -- whether you're an employee or entrepreneur
How focusing your personal brand around your core values lets you put your own unique stamp on what you do AND gives you a clearer vision and sense of purpose
How to take the right actions to support the goals of your brand
How to own the room at a networking event or interview
And much more!

You'll want to listen to EVERY minute of this content-packed interview.

You'll also hear about a great opportunity to work with Cindy on building your own magic brand. If you don't have all the business referrals or job leads that you can handle, then it's time to do something about it.

Check out Cindy's signature program Five Weeks to Building Your Personal Brand which starts next week. It's already VERY attractively priced for the amount of training you'll get, but listeners of Smart Networking Radio can take advantage of a generous $50 discount with a special promo code revealed on the show.

Career Success Memo: 5 Tips - The Art and Skill of Saying "No" Effectively

2010-02-11T11:54:28Z

We all get bombarded with requests and demands for our attention and our time. Learning to say NO in a way that is respectful but firm is a KEY SKILL that you can develop to handle those requests that you simply do not have time for or the knowledge to do effectively.

I recently re-read the book, "The Power of a Positive No," written by William Ury. His book offers great advice and tips for how to say "No" with grace and effect.

In his book, William offers the following specific phrases you can use to say NO to the demands of others in a manner that is respectful and that flows naturally and sincerely:

A simple "No" or "No Thanks." Directness has its place, but it can also be expressed gracefully. Adding the work "thanks" to your "No" shows respect and care for the relationship.

A statement that "I Have a Policy." Examples include, "I have a policy to never lend money to friends or family members." ....or "I have a policy to never make significant purchases without first speaking to my wife (or husband, or partner)."

"I Have Plans." (or "I Have Another Commitment"). A great concrete everyday phrase that can affirm your interests as well as you power without spoiling your relationship is "I already have plans," or "I have another event I've committed to that evening."

"Not Now." Maybe another time. Softens the blow of a "No" and leaves the door open to a future request. "Not Now" should only be used in those cases where there does exist a real possibility for addressing the others' needs in the future.

"I Prefer to Decline Rather Than Do a Poor Job." When you decline rather than do a poor job, you are not only affirming your own interests but also paying attention to the relationship. You would BOTH be worse off -- and so would your relationship -- if you say "Yes" and then a job that turns out to be much less than satisfactory.

Know your limits and acknowledge them freely -- spend your time doing what you do well and what is truly best for you. Both you and the other will be better off in the long run.

Original post on Career Success! Partners

Career Success Memo: Want to Accelerate Your Career Success? Then Sharpen Your Listening Skills

2010-02-04T11:01:07Z

Hey, listen up .... Want to really accelerate AND sustain your career success?

Then, you've GOT to be a highly effective listener. As a leader, LISTENING skills are MORE IMPORTANT than your speaking skills .... No question.

Here are 10 ways which can help you become a better listener...

Listen for ideas and central themes. Search for the speaker's central theme or main points instead of getting lost in, or reacting to, the supportive details.
Judge content, not delivery. Focus, to your best ability, on what the speaker is saying and try not to be unduly influenced by their way of saying or delivering the message.
Search for areas of interest. It is extremely easy to tune out from a speaker, so work on sharing his or her enthusiasm. Search for new ideas or insights which might be beneficial to you.
Don't jump to conclusions. It's easy to assume that you know the rest of a sentence or message after hearing the beginning. Avoid prejudging a message, so you can receive and evaluate the whole message.
Take notes. By taking notes you sharpen your reception, understanding, and, of course, retention of the information.
Concentrate and resist distraction. External distractions include non-related things you can see or hear, or which may be impacting your other senses. Internal distractions occur when your mind wanders into unrelated memories or shifts its focus to worries, plans, or anticipations. Stay focused.
Use the fast pace of thought to your advantage. Most people can think three or four times faster than they speak. Don't let your quick mind indulge in all sorts of thoughts unrelated to the conversation. Capitalize on your thinking speed by actively sensing, interpreting, evaluating, and summarizing the messages being received.
Check your emotions. It has been said that the intellect is the slave to emotions. Be sensitive to things that trigger your emotions and increase your efforts to focus on a clear reception and understanding of what is being said.
Exercise your mind. You can turn away and tune out from complicated or difficult subjects, or you can intellectually wrestle with complex information so that you will have a chance to grow and strengthen your own intellect.
Work at listening. Be an active listener. Follow the above suggestions. Ask questions and seek clarification. Actively share in the speaker's efforts to improve your level of understanding, whether or not you think you agree.

Original post on Career Success! Partners

Want to Live a Rich Life? You Need to Get Rid of Your Head Trash First

2010-02-02T11:29:18Z

If you've been following me a while or been on my teleseminars, you've probably heard me mention my good friend Noah St. John on more than one occasion.

He wrote a great book last year called "The Secret Code of Success" in which he describes an amazing technique he developed for helping people get past the mental blocks that keep them stuck. Noah calls this "head trash," and one of his techniques for sweeping away that head trash is called Afformations, and it's so simple, yet so powerful.

I talk about Afformations a lot in my programs and with my coaching clients because it really works. I'm a big fan of Noah's (so is Jack Canfield who wrote the Foreword to the book) and I know you'll be too once you learn more about what he does.

He just released a cool new (short) video and I wanted to pass it along. But be sure to watch it before Thursday, 2/4. Enjoy!

Take a look at Noah's video

Communicate with Impact On Stage, One-on-One and Everywhere in Between - LIVE Teleseminar with Diane Diresta, author of Knockout Presentations (Wednesday, February 3rd, 1pm Eastern)

2010-02-02T11:06:42Z

Whether you're presenting to a crowd, giving a sales pitch one-on-one, or leaving a voicemail for a very important prospect, opinions of you are being formed based on how well you communicate. And you may not get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Join me in the Smart Networking Inner Circle on Wednesday, February 3rd at 1pm Eastern, when I'll be interviewing Diane Diresta, author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz. We'll talk about why life is a presentation and how to put your best foot forward every time, everywhere.

You will learn:

Why speaking is the new competitive weapon
The biggest mistakes presenters make and how to avoid them
The critical role listening plays when giving a presentation
How to leave a compelling voice mail
Secrets for communicating effectively across diverse cultures
And much, much more!

This teleseminar is FREE for members of my Smart Networking Inner Circle group. Members also have access to the recording as well as the transcript.

About Diane DiResta

Diane DiResta, Founder and CEO of DiResta Communications, Inc. is an international speaker, and consultant to executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs. As a top Speaking Strategist, she shows clients how to communicate with greater impact and project a more powerful presence. Her clients report bottom line results-getting promoted, increasing their visibility, raising their speaking scores, increasing sales, and getting hired.

She holds a Masters degree from Columbia University and is a certified and licensed Speech Pathologist. Diane began her career in the New York City schools and has trained people across diverse industries ranging in age from four to eighty-four. As a former training specialist for Salomon Brothers, she delivered management training programs and as Assistant Vice President of Drexel Burnham Lambert, she recruited and trained MBAs for the Institutional Sales and Trading Training Program.

Diane has spoken in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and South America. She taught speech and listening courses at Cornell University and NYU, and was a guest lecturer at Fels School of Government, UPenn. She's been featured on CNN, Good Day NY, Bloomberg radio, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Entrepreneur magazine, Selling Power magazine, Enterprising Women, Fast Company and Investors Business Daily. She's a former facilitator for Women President's Organization, a think tank for women entrepreneurs.

Diane is the author of Knockout Presentations, a popular book used in business and in colleges. To learn more about Diane, visit http://www.diresta.com

CLICK here to learn more about the Smart Networking Inner Circle program and get access to this call, the recording and the transcript to add to your Success Library.

Secrets to Getting More Referrals - Part 1

2010-02-01T20:50:58Z

Assessing Your "Referability" Factor

Do you need new customers or clients but can't seem to get enough of them? People generally want to make referrals when they can. It feels good to be able to connect those who can help with those who need that help. But, you need to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. We're all busy, faced with too much on our plate and not enough hours in the day, so the more painless you can make it, the greater your chances of getting the referrals you want.

Here are four key questions to ask yourself to test the strength of your "referability."

1) Are contacts able to reach you?

Before LinkedIn, it was easy to lose touch with people as they moved around and changed companies. And despite the fact LinkedIn has over 50 million members, there are still a great number of professionals still not on it.

Last year a friend asked for a recommendation to a commercial banker in New York City for a real estate deal he was putting together. The only one I knew had worked at one bank but had subsequently moved to another. Although he did send out updated contact information, it never made it into my address book. When I couldn't find him on LinkedIn, I couldn't make the referral.

Being easily reachable is a necessary, but by no means sufficient, condition. Your business card in someone's desk drawer or a connection to them via social media is not enough. The next three questions are even more crucial.

2) Can they describe what you do?

Is your elevator pitch clear? Do your contacts really understand what you do? Not what your title is, but what problems you can help solve? By leading with your title as opposed to your solution, you lose people because they have either no idea, or an inaccurate idea, of what it means. Instead, focus on relaying the benefits of what you do so nothing gets lost in the translation.

3) Do they know whom to tell?

Have you clearly described your target customer? This is where job titles may come in handy. Talk specifically about the kinds of people who are involved in the decision to hire you as well as the kinds of companies. Give examples of both job titles (e.g., "I usually work with the vp of marketing") and company names (e.g., "Consumer technology companies like Dell, Iomega, and HP)

4) Will they?

Once they have all of this information, the big question is will they act on it when they see an opportunity? This comes down to two things. First is their belief in the quality of your work. Because your contacts put their reputations on the line when they make recommendations on your behalf, they have to know that you're the best person for the job. Second is the strength of your relationship. Have you developed enough rapport so they'd want to take the time to help you?

I've said in Smart Networking that you don't need a huge Rolodex if you have aresponsive one. In next week's post we'll talk about more about point #4 and how you can build closer bonds with people you meet right from the start of a relationship so when opportunities come along, they think of you first and make the referral.

Career Success Tip: LinkedIn - How to Effectively Use LinkedIn's Group Feature to Grow Your Network

2010-01-28T11:54:30Z

The "Groups" feature of LinkedIn has continued to grow in popularity and utility. Groups are a powerful tool for expanding the depth and breadth of your LinkedIn network. Many Groups treat members similar to FIRST DEGREE connections -- allowing you to make direct contact with a Group member without a referral or "Inmail".

I am currently an active member in over 30 Groups (LinkedIn allows you to join up to a maximum of 50 Groups). I highly recommend finding AT LEAST 10 Groups to join -- AND becoming ACTIVE in. Activity is key; simply joining gives you some benefits but being active in Group news and discussions is where the real value and leverage is.

Some of the things you can do as a Group member, all of which help you to GIVE VALUE TO YOUR NETWORK and expand your network reach and network quality include:

Share great content and information as "News Items" in Group forums -- blog articles that you find online that would be of interest to Group members and other useful content online - news, events, book referrals, etc.

Cross-post YOUR own blog articles -- ones that YOU write -- to as many relevant Groups as possible. I will very often cross-post my blog articles to five to ten relevant Groups -- significantly increasing exposure of the article and maximizing the number of people who could benefit in some way from the advice and information contained in the article.

Participate -- in a meaningful way -- in Group forum discussions. Make insightful positive-minded comments; add value to conversations; give advice when asked; answer questions.

Utilize the "Jobs" feature of Groups. Search for jobs or post job openings. Groups are an excellent source of "niche" jobs and should be used by anyone actively engaged in a job search.

Connect directly with other Group members. Search for people to connect with -- someone who shares a common interest, a common employer experience, a common educational experience. Groups are an excellent source for expanding your network of direct connections in LinkedIn.

Start your own Group! Create your own "community" and serve as the moderator of Group activity. Moderating and Group "ownership" gives you great exposure and strengthens your "brand" or area(s) of expertise.

Give consideration to the following ideas when searching for Groups to join:

Industry-specific Groups - Examples include Retail Industry Group, Health Care-oriented Groups, Travel Industry Groups, etc.
Trade and Professional Organization Groups -- There are Groups for scores of trade and professional organizations. Join those relevant to you.
Employer Alumni Groups. Many of the Fortune 100+ companies have alumni Groups for their former employers. This is a great way to reconnect with former colleagues.
College/University Groups. Most major colleges and universities of Alumni Organization Groups on LinkedIn. Another excellent means for reconnecting with "long lost" contacts and friends.
Job/Career-Related Groups. There are hundreds of Groups in the job, career development, career management areas. If you're in a job search, you'll definitely want to check these out.
Social Media Groups. There are Groups for Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn where you'll find forums for discussion of tips, techniques and very useful advice relevant to most major social media tools.
Peer-level Executive Groups. Check the various CEO, COO, CIO, CFO, etc. specific groups. A great way to connect with peer-level professionals and sharing useful information.
Functional/Technical Specialty Groups. There are scores and scores of these. Find a Group or Groups relevant to your ares of functional or technical specialty (sales, marketing, accounting, IT, supply chain, etc., etc.)
Personal Interest Groups. An avid cyclist? ...there are Groups. A devoted football team fan? ...there are Groups. A great way to share with people of like-minded interests.
New Business. Find Groups to join where there are members who are highly likely to be a source of business for you -- potential customers, clients, buyers and "influencers." Look for ways to add value to these Groups through discussion and sharing of information.

Begin expanding your Group involvement and participation today. Another GREAT way to tap the power of LinkedIn!

Original post on Career Success! Partners

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