This year, I’m going to do this, this year I’m going to do that, this year I’m going to make some real money!  Blah, Blah, Blah! That’s how it starts. Every year, you resolve to be different. The problem with resolutions though, is that they are tradition and command no real commitment!! They are often misdirected & they seldom involve any change of the one  important thing… and that’s YOU!!

 Now there’s nothing wrong with making resolutions but we must remember we have to create an action plan that will make your resolve stronger. I don’t understand how people think just by going into a new year that everything will change when they still have the same tired, broke busted and disgusted mentality! Here are  3  resolutions to remember in 2010 that will help you achieve the goals that most people only dream about.

Resolution 1: I WILL “be” the change that I seek

You want the change that Obama promised you? The truth is that you have to create it. And that begins with changing your frame of mind. Everything visible manifests first in the invisible. The intangible makes the tangible.

 Resolution 2: I WILL “stop” treating people like transactions

 The worst thing you can do is to treat people like transactions. Do you ever wonder why people don’t seem to respond to your phone calls or emails? Most likely it’s because you only contact them when you need something. No one wants to be a part of a single sided relationship.

 Resolution 3: I WILL “give” value first

 Make it a point to help someone else! But here’s the kicker…don’t ask for anything in return. Think I’m crazy? There is something called the law of reciprocation that begins to work in your favor. Having a mindset like this will help you gain valuable allies that are the key to your success.

 Ok so now that you have the mindset covered, we can work on building your network!

 5 Secrets to building a Spartans type network

1.      Be a Friend- Jeffrey Gitomer says it best in his quote “All things being created equal people want to do business with their friends.” Instead of buiding more customers build more friends and watch your business sky rocket!

2.      Be Strategic- Do your research and create a plan. Find out things like what they are passionate about and give them ideas, resources you’re your connections if it will help them fulfill it.

3.      Be Patient- Wise people know that it takes time to establish trust. You have to be honest and consistent for a while… sometimes 6 months or even a year to get most influential people to trust you.

4.      Add Value First- Find ways to solve problems for people in your network. Be the problem solver and overtime you will become a connection that your colleagues can’t afford not to know.

5.      Follow up- The fortune is in the follow up. Be consistent and focus on building a long lasting friendship and overtime you will reap big rewards.

 Three Advantages of Building Your Network Like this:

• Private Information- this is key in most business transactions. Having a connection on the inside can only help you get to your goal faster.
• Access to Diverse Skill Sets- People you network with can bring a variety of         knowledge and information to the table. It’s like a Thanksgiving buffet of information!
• Access to Power- The people you have access to will open doors you didn’t even know existed!

This blog is my present to you for 2010 to read this meditate on this for the rest of the year and really try to internalize this message! I guarantee you will thank me later.

Leave me a Comment and Let me know your ALIVE out there!

Your visual presentation is important! In the initial stages of connecting the first thing that is observed is your wrapping. All of your talent, skills, etc are inside of the package. First impressions are how you get your foot in the door. The way that you look, speak and carry yourself really sticks with people. What are you presenting? What impressions are you making? 

John Molloy, the author of “Dress for Success, writes that 90% of how you present yourself is visual. Your appearance and demeanor communicate who you are, your level of self-assurance, and your ability to interact. 

The way that you present yourself determines whether people will be drawn to you or want to run from you. As much as I try my hardest not to judge people by how they present themselves, I do. We all do. It is very important to me because it tells me a little bit about the person. I tell myself if it’s not important for them to look like business people, I’m not certain that they’ll take my business seriously. Make sure that you know your stuff if you make the mistake of not dressing like the great person that you are. When you open your mouth, you should be so knowledgeable and articulate that they forget what you’re wearing.  

Zora Neal Hurston once described character saying, “He walked like he knew where he was going.” You must be confident and be aware of yourself, your target audience and your surroundings. Self-awareness is a must if you want to become an effective connector.

 Check me out on facebook and you can see even more pictures of me dressing to impress! LOL. Post a comment in the box below and let me know if you agree!

I know that it is all relative but if you if you want to get money, then dress like money, walk like money and talk like money! 

I’m dressed like a couple million bucks. How about you?

“Leap and the net will appear. There will be a thousand unseen bands waiting just for you.” –Joseph Campbell

I was recently cutting the hair of a friend who is a sophomore in college at Ohio State University and he was very troubled about networking. Now here’s a guy that had made over $100k at the age of 16 by doing computer consulting for companies, so by no means does he lack intelligence. His challenge, however, was his social skills. He told me that he didn’t feel like he had interpersonal skills because he was either on the computer 8 hours a day, or studying for the 23 credit hours that he was taking this semester. He told me he found it hard to keep conversations going past the “Hi my name is ____ and I’m a student at Ohio State” point.

 His dilemma is very common for most people in society today but is very simple to master. If you want to become effective with communication just master the art of asking the right questions.

 The best opening questions are those that encourage people to speak about themselves, or their work, passions, family, or experiences. Remember people love talking about themselves. Making the conversation about them in the very beginning lets you see what kind of person they are and also can help you to find some common ground

 Here are 8 great questions to build rapport in social or business settings:

• As the owner of a business, what do you find to be the two or three greatest challenges you face?
• How do you relieve the stress of your work?
• How did you get into your line of work?
• Who are your role models?
• When did you decide on this career path?
• How has your year been?
• What is your goal for next year?
• Where would you most like to live and work?

 So with this being said if want to know how to keep the conversation flowing MEMORIZE these questions. Don’t just glance at these and take notes but make it a conscious decision to know these like you know the back of your hand. I guarantee these will get you past the quiet awkward moments. Lastly, remember to be “Yourself.” You never know if the person on the other end has had (or is having) the very same conflicts you have!

 Please comment, tweet or digg this if you got something out of this! Thank you!