JFD Performance Solutions

7 Steps for Effective Networking

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:50:00 -0500

Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, feel like you have the gift of gab, or just don't know how to make small talkânetworking know-how is very important for your business success. There is a notion in business that I believe most of us subscribe to that says all things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those they know, like, and trust. And the key to this is obviously being able to develop relationships.

Think of networking as the cultivation of mutually beneficial, win-win relationships. In order to be win-win, there must be GIVE and take (notice the emphasis on give). Networking shouldn't be viewed as events where you go to sell your business. When effective networking is taking place, the parties involved actively share ideas, information, resources, etc.

Okay, so you know that you should be networking because it is one of the most cost-effective lead generation activities when used wisely, appropriately, and professionally. But, maybe that seems easier said than done. Here are seven steps to really get going with networking for your business.

Book Summary: "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:20:00 -0500

I have struggled for a while with whether or not to write a summary of this classic literary essay for fear of not doing it justice. However, my desire to introduce this writing to as many people as possible motivated me to proceed. This booklet, a seminal piece on the power of thought, is a mere 22 pages, yet it is so dense and packed with wisdom that it could have easily filled 500 pages had the author desired. James Allen was a British philosopher and writer as well as a pioneer of the self-help movement in the late 1800's and early 1900's. This work "As a Man Thinketh" is likely based on the Biblical verse Proverbs 23:7 which states: "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

Take Control of Your Future â Strategically

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:30:00 -0500

Over the years, businesses have embraced the fact that defining and having a strategic plan is an important component to long-term success. If you do not plan your direction, you cannot take control of your future. Many businesses are starting to be more aggressive in their strategic timetables. In addition to looking ahead three to five years and deciding where the organization needs and wants to be, more and more companies are becoming very aggressive in their short-term strategic analysis and review. With all the economic changes and uncontrollable outside distractions, looking through the short-term strategic lens more frequently is required.

Why Businesses Succeed

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:20:00 -0500

If you search Google for "why businesses fail" you will get about 6.9 million results. Many of those articles will talk about the pitfalls and numerous reasons why businesses go out of business. Our stance is, instead of the focusing on what went wrong, focus on planning and building for success. Outcomes that are focused on are typically the outcomes that are generated. If you want to build a successful business you need to focus on success.

We can learn a great deal from businesses that fail and apply that knowledge to actions step that propel a business toward success and away from failure. Here are some important elements of a successful business to consider.

Book Summary: "How To Delegate" by Robert Heller

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:10:00 -0500

Delegating is an essential element of any manager's job, and it frequently comes up as an area of question and frustration for my clients. When done properly, delegating provides real benefits for everyone involved. Done poorly, or not at all, it can make an ineffective situation even worse.

So, what is delegation? Delegation involves entrusting another person with a task for which the delegator remains ultimately responsible. Although delegating takes time to organize, prioritize and manage, the manager who avoids it will seem disorganized, will work excessive hours, and basic processes can be undermined by poor quality of work, bottlenecks, and missed deadlines, impacting his overall performance.

The Driving Force of Personal Goals

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:10:00 -0500

Unfortunately, many people go through life without ever identifying what they want, where they want to go, or who they want to become. They wonder why they feel frustrated, never achieving anything significant. What they should realize is that the difficulty is in finding something you've never visualized, or returning from somewhere you've never been. People who have no goals, have no direction. They are almost always very busy, but rarely achieve what they want to achieve.

How to Survive Being Overwhelmed

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:56:18 -0500

Everything seems to go faster these days, leaving people feeling overworked and overloaded. And this is the time of year that we often feel especially busy...that there's too much to do...overwhelmed! Well, never fear. My friends at Resource Associates Corp. have some tips on how to survive being overwhelmed.

Whatâs It Like to Have a Coach?

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:30:00 -0500

Having a coach is like having your own personal navigator for your life's journey.

The coach helps you chart your course and reach your destination. Imagine having someone in your corner who is totally committed to your success. Someone who always encourages the powerful part of you, who sees how big you can be, and constantly holds up that big image for you even when you can't hold it up for yourself.

Imagine a relationship that places the total focus on you. A relationship with someone who helps you clarify your dreams, aspirations, passions, and values. Someone who helps you celebrate your victories and learn from your setbacks as you press on toward achieving your goals together.

Consider the benefits of having regular conversations with a skilled, trained professional who really listens to you and not just your words but to your emotions, your energy, and even the spaces between your words.

Ready. Set. Goals. 2012.

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:40:00 -0400

Every successful individual or organization has a plan. You need to know where you are today and what you want to accomplish in the future. However, just knowing what you want to accomplish is only the first component of a successful equation. The balance of a successful life is achieved by developing the specific plan and action steps necessary to accomplish that plan.

Sound easy? Maybe yes, maybe no. If it was that easy you probably would have done it already. Does it take time and effort? You bet. But as the subtitle to this picture states: Trying is not failing. Failing is not trying. Similarly, it's better to have a bad plan than no plan at all.

If you want things such as:

more focus
to make better decisions
fewer distractions and a better use of your time
less stress
better relationships
improved effectiveness
and more success in general, both personally and professionally...

then consider taking the time to work with me to create a clear blueprint for yourself and your future.

It's helpful to have someone on your side to help you move forward ... someone with lots of experience, someone with sensitivity to your situation, someone who will listen to your unique needs, give you lots of individual attention, help you answer your important questions and guide you along a path to the next level of success.Â

I see people all the time who are too busy to plan their life and lack the focus to work on what is most important for their future. Often, before they realize it, they have veered astray and aren't sure how to get things back on track. So whether you have never created a plan before for yourself or your organization, or need to refresh and update the one you have, let's talk.

Are you ready to accomplish far more than you ever believed possible? Do you want to learn more or perhaps you are ready to get started?

Either way, call or email me. I'm excited to speak with you!

Book Summary: "Our Iceberg is Melting" by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:40:00 -0400

I came across "Our Iceberg is Melting. Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions" when looking for a book on organizational change. I was then pleased to see that the forward was written by Spencer Johnson who authored "Who Moved My Cheese" and coauthored "The One Minute Manager," both very popular books.

The authors use a fable about a penguin colony in Antarctica that has lived on the same iceberg for many years. When one curious bird discovers problem signs in the iceberg, few penguins want to listen to him. They are fine the way things are and don't want to change. The story is analogous to the common situation where people don't want to face up to difficult problems at home or at work.