It is often said that it is not who you know that matters, it is who knows you. Well I would like to extend this statement by saying that it is not only who you know and who knows you, but how well do you know them and they you?

In business, networking is the ultimate form of promotion. It can help you to obtain new clients, a new job, or even help you to move up the corporate ladder. It is the process of building relationships. Any time that you attend a meeting, trade show, or a social function, you are networking whether you realize it or not. It is the relationship that you have with people, a prospect or a client that makes the difference between success and failure.

Often we fail to realize the reasons that we have for doing business with an individual or a company. In the case of products that we regularly buy, what helps us to make the buying decision? There are those that will buy a specific brand of product because they trust that brand to be of a high quality or durability. There are others that will make a buying decision based on price, although this is less frequently the case. Often we simply do business because we feel good about it. In fact most purchases or decisions to do business are based on two things. Trust and comfort. Trust is a very intangible emotion or feeling. How do you measure it? How do you develop it?

Trust is measured by the feelings that are generated by a process of letting someone get to know more about you than just product, features and price. I know a gentleman who provides a seminar on selling to C-level executives. He says that to sell to the C-level executive you have to be more than a salesperson selling a product or service. To sell to the executive level, you have to be more of an advisor. You have to find needs other than the ones that you can fulfill and help them to fulfill these needs. In doing this, you become a "trusted advisor". They feel "comfortable" that you have their interests in mind more than just making a quick sale and a commission.

In our daily process of seeking prospective clients, do we often just look for a person to pitch, or do we spend a bit more time getting to know them before we try to sell?

When we take the time to know a persons desires, dreams, and needs, and make an honest effort to help them realize that these things are important to us, we are really on the fast track to doing business with them. We are building the trust, confidence, comfort level, and most importantly the relationship that is needed to not only make the sale, but to create in them a resource for endless referrals.

As we go into the community meeting people who are prospective clients, we should keep the following in mind. The customer is a person just like me. The customer has needs other than the one that I can fulfill. Until I understand what the ultimate goal or dream of the prospect is, I cannot fulfill it with my product or service.

Selling and networking are about relationships. You sell in everything that you do whether you realize it or not. The time is now for more effective selling. Change the way you think about the prospect and the prospect will change the way that they think about you.

It's not that I'm really afraid, I know those things only happen in the movies and the Grim Reaper is not wandering around my living room looking for his next victim. The only reason I don't investigate the noise is because I know it really was just the wind. And I don't have to go to the bathroom that badly, it can wait until morning. Everything always seems better in the daylight. Besides, Nancy always gets up before I do.

Read More

When researchers examined two groups of people following prolonged sun exposure, those who were sporting a cream that contained vitamin E showed reduced signs of inflammation. Whenever a specific area of skin is inflamed, it typically hints at skin cell damage. Since vitamin E is able to protect skin from sun damage, it can preserve the look of your skin for many years to come.

Although vitamin E does have a good share of capabilities, it does have it's limitations. Since consumers are not fully informed of Vitamin E's capabilities, many scrupulous companies have begun making unsubstantiated claims about a number of their products which contain Vitamin E. Unfortunately, this has driven many to become skeptical about Vitamin E's capabilities.

Read More

You should understand how to have more success than your colleague and to work for success. Success doesn't come free or cheap, you have to pay for it. The price is not monetary but it is expressed in manners of time and effort, these being precious details that you can't get back once you give them away. Success is hard. Generally speaking to be successful you have to work hard, be educated and have a little bit of luck. Often you have to try many times until you truly reach success.

Not being successful is simple: you make all the wrong choices, you work without ethics, the lack of responsibility and of education. Although it is not obvious the lack of success is also a choice, but a choice that can be gained on the first try.

Read More

The best way to set up your work area for candle making is to divide it into three specific work stations for preparation, the melting process, and the cooling process. The preparation area doesn't need to be large, just a flat surface that is well organized. To make the process flow best, use a counter in close proximity to the stove. You will want to keep your utensils, thermometer, additives, and other candle making supplies in this area. It is a good idea to know what types of candles you will be making ahead of time so that you have all the necessary items ready to go.

Read More

It goes back to what the mind can concieve and believe the body can achieve. You have to think success to have success. You have to think winner to be a winner. No matter what you are doing in life, a runner, a business man, the common construction guy. If you don't believe you can do the job you won't.

Have you ever noticed that the people that grow up with parents that say you will never be anything! Their friends tell them that you can't do that. You know what? These people grow up with everyone putting limitations on them and in their minds they are limited. Then you get the few who believe. They will go on to do things far better than any of their family or friends.

Read More