The subject of time management has been around for decades. Managers with a penchant for micro-managing people and projects were quick to adopt practices that required people to be accountable for their time on the job . . . every minute of it. Productivity could not be sacrificed because of a measurable lack of respect for the value of a single minute.

Historically Speaking

Time was when there were no clocks. Time was when people rose with the sun’s rising and retired with its setting. Time was when the original alarm clock was more organic than mechanical. The drinking of a large amount of water before retiring, for example, would encourage early rising due to the need to empty an overly full bladder.

Time was when North America entered its industrial revolution by manufacturing such items as automobiles. The large assembly plants required a workforce numbering in the hundreds and sometimes even the thousands. They punched in and out on a time-stamp clock to keep track of each employee's exact contribution of time. That timing apparatus was an invention that resulted from the need to monitor the precise time spent on shift for a large contingent of labourers without having a human do the record keeping. Work hours could then be calculated, and the workers paid accordingly.

Do We Manage Tasks and People, or Do We Manage Time?

To be clear . . . it is possible to manage people, and it is possible to manage tasks or the production of products, but it is simply not possible to manage time. Time continues with or without management. It does not stop. It cannot be slowed down or speeded up. It was not possible to set the time stamp clock back if someone was late for shift.

Time is time. It can be measured in terms of its passing as in the amount of time that has lapsed. We can describe what took place in that period of time, and we can report on whether or not we employed the time as planned. But time itself is not manageable.

What Can we Manage?

• We can set boundaries on the length of time we are willing to spend doing something.
• We can devote time to a hobby or to learning something new.
• We can estimate the amount of time that a task will take.
• We can choose the number of months or years to spend working before taking retirement or finding greener pastures. 
• We can make choices about how we spend the next hour.
• We can donate our time by volunteering or performing acts of kindness. We can give of our time in support of campaigning for a cause or caring for a loved one.
• We can share our time with family and friends.
• We can celebrate our wins when we accomplish what we set out to do. Those wins might have been attached to a timeline; thus, we may also celebrate the completion if accomplished within the targeted amount of time.

Does Time Have Monetary Value?

If time did not have value, there might not be any such thing as an hourly wage or an estimated return on investment over time.

Is your time for sale? If you are being paid for your time, are you more easily motivated? Perhaps your time may be purchased as in contracting for your services with a payment agreement.

We can record our use of time by keeping a log and determining our hourly worth.

Spending Time Investing in Ourselves

Is there something you have wanted to learn? Taking classes is one way to invest in yourself, whether you are enriching your mind or expanding your skill set. Hiring a coach, watching how-to videos, and reading books are other ways to invest in your abilities and grow your knowledge.

Is it okay to squeeze the life out of every working minute of every day? Perhaps. However, using a portion of your time for leisure and recreation, too, can prove to be a valuable investment in your physical and mental health.

Active or Passive? 

Our time may be spent passively or actively. We can be bystanders or participants. We can be engaged physically or mentally, or both. Our level of engagement can vary. We can be present as silent observers or as active listeners without contributing a single word. We can partake in the discussion by asking questions and sharing information. Regardless of your participation, time will not be put on hold.

But Time Management?

It’s not about managing our time. It’s about setting our priorities. Prioritize. Decide what’s important. What needs to get done today? Now?

We can rent out our time. We can save time when we package activities. And certain projects can be completed faster with the right equipment rather than doing them by hand. That can save time, too.

How About Managing Your Use of Time?

I am reminded of the question, “What is the best use of your time right now?” Is that making a phone call to a friend or taking a nap? You get to decide.

You are the manager—the decisionmaker—regarding how you use your time. Is it necessary to have something to show for every minute and even every second of your time? Maybe so if you are a gamer testing a new avatar for release by a deadline or engineering the launch of a rocket within a window of good weather. Maybe your income per minute matters if your return-on-investment increases with every additional product you can manufacture in an hour.  Seconds can matter in the saving of a life. Fortunately, not every decision about the use of time is a life-or-death situation or threatens failure.

Making Changes

What are your priorities for the use of your time in the coming year? Will you read more? Will you play more? Will you start a new project? Will you be more physically active?

Will you pare down your “Things To Do” list or make it longer? I am reminded of the book The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. What is the one thing that, if you get it done today, will make everything else you do today a bonus? You might even try making a Things-To-Do list in reverse by writing down all the things you did today rather than building the list before the fact.

Time is a Gift

Time is a gift. We have but to decide what we do with it. We can choose to set priorities for our time week by week, day by day, or hour by hour. We can even schedule our time by the minute. We can choose how we will spend it and then carry out our plan.

Yes, time is a gift. It is passing by now as you read this article. It cannot be replaced or substituted. May you take command of your choices, and may your choices bring you satisfaction and fulfillment.

Donna Dahl, M. Ed., is more than an empowerment coach. She is a leading executive strategist and catalyst for change, working with leaders, teams, employees, and entrepreneurs. Through her neuroscience-based approach, she is well-poised to disseminate skill development, empowerment, and engagement. Her award-winning track record speaks for itself. She is the author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a five-star rated book designed to gently challenge the reader to consider a change. She welcomes opportunities to discuss your challenges. Check out her profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnadahl/

Networking is not a new way to meet. It’s been around for decades, but it's not for the faint of heart. There is some work involved. Originally face-to-face with a bunch of strangers in a room where one or two people would start to mingle and chat, like a high school dance, there were wallflowers.  Some people would be handing out business cards, everybody was trying to convey what they do, who they are, and where they're from.  Some were only there to meet new people, others to make connections, and then there was a misguided few who thought they would have a client jump out in front of them.

Whatever networking looked like changed in 2020. Groups moved online, others like CIBN were already there, and new ones popped up; the networking game changed. CIBN had face-to-face networking for years and went online almost three years before it became the place to be.  For networking group attendees, it was now about learning how to engage through a computer screen or phone. It was figuring out what to say and how to say it; everyone had to transition. 

Pros moved seamlessly from face-to-face to on-screen.   Others continue to struggle even years later.  My record in one week, at the start of 2020, was 16 networking events as I tried different options to find which worked for me. Along with CIBN, I now do a few weekly networking events with groups that have added value for me, and I am bringing value to them.

Networking isn't throwing “you know what” at the wall and seeing what sticks. It should be a plan in your marketing strategy. We only have so many hours in the day, make sure that they're used effectively.

Networking should be about more give than take. It isn't about expecting to find clients. Not to say you won't, but if your sole purpose of attending networking events is to find clients, you may be sorely disappointed.  What networking can do for you is provide an avenue to make new connections who move in the same circles as your clients or make great connections that can become strategic partners for your business.

Here are Five of the Ten Tips for You to Become a Pro Networker

Prepare Your Introduction and Practice It

You shouldn't be fumbling and humming and hawing when you tell people about what you do.  If you don't have confidence in what you're saying, they will not see you as an expert. Prepare what you were going to say ahead of time.  Write it out and practice it in front of a mirror and record yourself. Repetition is how you will obtain comfort in delivering your pitch.  Remember, practice makes perfect. Your words should slide off your tongue with ease every time.

Focus on One Thing

Don't try to be all things to all people.  People won't remember what you're saying, and there is no value for your listeners.  Pick one thing you want to discuss at each meeting and deliver that. You can create pitches for different areas of your business or expertise but don't try to deliver them all at once.

Layer Your Pitch

Networking events and breakout room time slots could be 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes. You will not be able to deliver the same information at every meeting.  Create stacking or layering of your details. Start with a 30-second delivery of the most important information, then add additional information depending on the group. When I'm in a group that only allows for my name and what I do, I start with this.

"Hello, I'm Michelle Ricketts, I am a business consultant in Vancouver, Canada, but I work with clients globally.  I guide entrepreneurs to scale their business, with a strong foundation, to become self-sustaining".

Then when I have more time in another group, I can add on or layer.

"...I work with individuals or in group training.  We start with a Business Strength Test to see where they are today"..., and so on, you get the idea.

Being able to stack or add additional elements to your pitch will ensure you are ready for whatever time frame you're offered and not sell yourself short when you have more time.

Paint a Picture for Your Listener

Don't ramble off a list of things you do, people like stories. Incorporate what you do into a story around your business or client experience, which will resonate with your audience. Paint a picture, this may put someone they know in view as a potential client for you.

Don't Expect to Land a Client

You may be fortunate enough to meet a client through a networking event, but it is more likely that you will meet someone who knows a potential client. When you realize the person in the meeting or breakout group is not a client, don't dismiss them. Stay engaged. You never know whom they know.  Treat everyone as if they are referral partners.

Join Michelle Ricketts next week as she continues to provide excellent information on how to make the most out of networking. https://thecibn.com/networking-pro-part-2/

Overall, health and fitness always played a part in Michelle’s life and continue to be part of her consulting approach today, differentiating her from others in the industry. Michelle guides business owners to develop a self-sustaining business, generate more revenue, and take back time to do things that excite them!

Raised by a strong, independent single mother, Michelle’s vision and values were instilled early. Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey started in the 90s in event planning and speaking. In addition to Michelle’s over 30-year Corporate career in Media, Logistics and Financial Services, her passions shaped Michelle’s experience, providing innumerable opportunities to give back as a volunteer.

Passionate about making a difference, Michelle is on a philanthropic foundation, “Board of Advisors,” building sustainable schools in developing countries and supporting Digital Samurai’s efforts, an entrepreneur focused on reducing youth unemployment in Africa through apprenticeships.

Michelle’s 35 years as an Account Executive spanned credit card processing and financial services, transportation, logistics, media, and consulting, with many projects including managing consultative alliances, live event management, and sales team leadership. In 2021 Michelle completed Wardell International Advisor training and had recently undertaken S.O.S. Sales Objection System group training with renowned trainer Joe Marcoux. Her career and entrepreneurial ambitions have taken Michelle outside Canada, providing extensive experience in multiple markets in North America and beyond.

You can find Michelle Ricketts on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/michellericketts 

There is Ground School for pilots in training, so could there be Ground School for geese? Is there even such a thing?

I enjoy being a student of the unexpected. I never know where the next gem of insight will show up. What I am about to share with you is something I learned on the fly . . .  pardon the pun.

I have learned that being open to the gifts that may arrive suddenly and by surprise provides space for opportunities to present themselves. On this particular occasion, I found myself drawn to watch the activity of a group of young geese.

I was having a game of golf and at the fifth hole was a pond of water longer than it was wide. I could not help but notice the considerable number of geese in the water.

“That’s rather odd,” I thought to myself. This did not look like one of those times when the parents of this year’s goslings were out for a swim with their brood. It appeared that all the geese, save for one, looked to be about the same size and likely about the same age.

After a little study, I noted that this was a flock of young geese appearing to be swimming in unison . . . well . . . more or less in unison . . . moving across the length of water. Some of the geese were fast, some were slow, and some needed extra time to get upright in the water after performing unintended head-over-heel style flips. Sound interesting? The synchrony of the geese swimming together . . . or trying to…caught our attention so much so that we joined the pairs of spectator geese that had now gathered around the pond, and we watched.

Without warning and without so much as a whisper, something interrupted the geese in the water. The geese began to gather at one end of the pond and then began to make their way across the pond to the other end. They appeared to be following an older lead goose and imitating what the lead goose was doing.

When moving in one direction, they seemed to be floating like hovercraft without moving their wings or creating a ripple in the water. When they arrived at the pond’s edge, some would simply turn around in preparation to go back the way they came. Some would attempt underwater somersaults . . . where . . . more often than not . . . they would tip over sideways, scrambling to keep their bodies upright with their feet in the water. It was funny to watch them trying to carve out a space for themselves . . . not unlike trying to make a space for yourself in a crowded tai chi class.

When the geese were in position in the water and comfortably separated back at the original end of the pond, the leader began flapping his wings and making noise until they were all following along. Then the class began to move across the water with feet propelling them as though they were getting ready to walk on water. When the lead goose reached the other end of the pond, the flapping stopped. The bodies of the goslings settled into the water as they simultaneously turned around and headed back to the other side of the pond in preparation to repeat the exercise. This carried on several times.

From where I was standing, it felt like I was on the observation deck during Goose Ground School training exercises. After all, a few minutes of distraction from playing golf couldn’t hurt.

It became apparent that there was only one explanation for what we saw. This had to be Goose Ground School. The geese born this year were being groomed for their long-haul flight. They were being trained in important goose migration skills like formation take-off, wind-direction assessment and wing muscle-mass development. When the instructor goose leading the pack thought the students had had enough practice for one day, flight class abruptly ended with all the young geese stepping out of the water to join their parents for grazing snacks.

I wish I had had my phone with me so I could have recorded the whole event. How many times have you said, “I wish I had . . .” or “I wish I would have . . .?”

It takes a particular mindset to be open to observing the gift or receiving the information that appears in only that one single moment. Being able to attend a lesson at Goose Ground School that day was an unexpected pleasure. No one minded that we took a few extra minutes at Hole Five to savor the sight.

What does Goose Ground School have to do with getting your business off the ground? For me, it all boils down to an attitude of being open to receiving unexpected gifts that may show up from time to time. Sometimes those gifts are in the form of opportunities happening right before our eyes. We have but to pay attention.

Opportunities to do business are everywhere. Sometimes you simply have to get in the water. Sometimes you have to take flight lessons to get your business off the ground . . . and sometimes you find ways to delegate certain tasks to others who are experts at what they do and who can lighten your load.

Sometimes in business and in life . . . that’s all it takes . . . a consultant, an expert, a teacher, a mentor, a coach—someone who will share their experience and enrich our abilities to take advantage of life’s unexpected gifts and achieve success.

By Donna Dahl

Donna Dahl, M. Ed., MNLP, is a leading executive strategist and catalyst for change. Through her neuroscience-based coaching, she is well-poised to disseminate skill development, empowerment, and engagement. Donna has an award-winning track record, and she is the author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a five-star rated book designed to challenge the reader to consider mindful change.  She welcomes discovery calls.

Do you have a coach? | Why have a coach? | Would a coach make a difference as you grow your business?

If you have a coach

• Is your coach someone you are developing a relationship with?
• Or is your coach more like your confidant. . .someone who is a professional listener. . .someone who is strong at asking those pointed questions that have you calling upon your experience with your blinders off and thinking?
• Is your coach good at helping you build confidence in your role?
• Is your coach someone you depend on for training in a particular skillset or mindset?

Coaching has significantly expanded over the past several decades to the point that it is now a multi-billion industry worldwide. From corporations to individuals, coaching has become a respected approach to facilitating change. No matter what you want help with, I can say with reasonable certainty that you should be able to find a coach to work with you.

Does Coaching Make a Difference?

Be you an individual, a solopreneur or an organization, coaching may mean the difference between success and failure. Coaching may make the difference between growth and stagnation.

What results might you expect? According to studies done on the impact of coaching in the business environment, three things are likely to improve: engagement, productivity, and results. Check out the article written by John Brubaker. He reports you are more likely to have strong business results when you work with a coach.

Who should have a coach?

Everyone should have a coach. That’s what Eric Schmidt said. Eric was the CEO at Google at the time. Eric thought so highly of his coach that he participated in writing a book about him.

What made Eric’s experience with his coach so positive? I can only guess but I believe that these four characteristics, as cited in an article by Stacey Alcorn, must have had a significant impact on his attitude and success. To her, good coaches are people with whom you build a relationship. Everything flows from there. She adds the following elements:

• In the first place, your coach should be interesting. If you are not looking forward to the time you spend together, something is terribly wrong. Are you enjoying the time you are spending with your coach?
• Secondly, do the ROI evaluation. What are you getting out of your coaching sessions? Are you fulfilling your purpose? That is, are you working toward accomplishing the objectives that you targeted for achievement?
• Thirdly, does your relationship with your coach go beyond coaching? Are you both experiencing other professional benefits such as referrals or introductions?
• And lastly, Alcorn asks if your coach is more than your coach. My clients tend to become lifelong friends. Do you regard your coach as your friend?

Should you DIY or Hire a Coach? 

Do you tend to be a DIYer? Are you the kind of person who likes to figure things out for yourself? Or are you the kind of person who seeks answers from reading books and articles? If you tend to be a DIYer who plays with your ideas by talking about them, would it be helpful to entertain your ideas out loud in a conversation with someone you know, like and trust? You can still be a DIYer with a coach. Your coach may be the mirror or the sounding board that keeps you from getting distracted.

As a leader in an organization of one or of many, no matter how many things you are being challenged to deal with at any given time . . . no matter how many areas you are focusing on, . . . a coach can be the bright light in your life to raise your spirits, challenge you to improve and increase engagement.

Your coach can be your cheerleader, your challenger and your champion. Your coach can challenge you to go beyond your pre-conceived limitations. Coaches can simultaneously be your accountability partner, your change agent, your strategy consultant and your professional listener. It’s the job of your coach to push and prod and poke and praise and help you achieve the outcomes you seek.

By Donna Dahl

Donna Dahl, M. Ed., is more than an empowerment coach. She is a leading executive strategist and catalyst for change, working with leaders, teams, employees and entrepreneurs.

Through her neuroscience-based approach, she is well-poised to disseminate skill development, empowerment and engagement. Her award-winning track record speaks for itself. She is the author of Lessons I Learned from the Tortoise, a five-star rated book designed to gently challenge the reader to consider change. She welcomes opportunities to discuss your challenges. https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnadahl/

Are you a speaker? A coach? Or an author? CIBN Connect is a networking and training organization for business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals and we have some excellent benefits for speakers, coaches, and authors.

We have:

• Large Facebook groups that our members can do their lives in and we even let you be an admin so you can use Streamyard and go live in our groups while you are live in your own channels.
• An interactive YouTube Channel CIBN TV where we can interview you and we may even be able to do the interview in front of a 76,000 Facebook group at the same time.
• A blog on our website that you can submit an article for.
• An Entrepreneur Book Club where you can be featured as an author.
• Dozens of networking meetings where you can do a 13-minute presentation.
• Special events where you can do a 30-minute presentation.
• Large summits three to five times a year where you can speak for 20 minutes to one full hour.
• Hundreds of other members who have podcasts, YouTube Channels and speaking platforms that we can introduce you to. Many of these only use other members from CIBN Connect.
• Methods of filling your webinars that you have never heard before that can easily put 20 to 40 people in chairs every time you do them online or in at in person events.
• A proprietary tool that we use regularly to fill online events that you can only get as a member of CIBN Connect and it is free for our members.
• Dozens of highly trained professionals available to help you miss mistakes and build your empire one brick at a time. They range in price starting at free and going up to thousands a month depending on what you need, and what kinds of results you are looking for.
• Do it yourself training worth tens of thousands for those who have more time than they do money.

All of this is available for only $77/month, but you need to wait until the portal is open twice a year to join, unless you fill out this application. Then you may be considered sooner. https://forms.gle/7qMgBrRBXsaVfVDy9

Meet Kerry, CIBN Connect CEO

Hello, I am Kerry George and I am the CEO of CIBN Connect. We are a global networking and mastermind organization promoting our members as speakers in our large Facebook groups, on podcasts, on our very active YouTube channel, in our meetups and as speakers in over 500 events per year. We have a variety of services that speakers and authors love. We have a large women’s summit coming up next that we are taking speakers for, and you can make an offer. If you want to reach out to me this is my email address kgeorge@cibnconnect.com and our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CIBNTVCIBNConnectWithBusinessOwners please subscribe.

My signature talk is Slay Your Dragons and Build Your Empire

https://calendly.com/kgeorge-2/one-on-one-discussion

As the CEO at CIBN Connect, Kerry George inspires business owners with vision and passion and allows them to thrive in every circumstance.

Kerry is a professional networker who has attended over 6000 networking meetings and has been a keynote speaker for hundreds of online and live events.

As you can imagine, a few things have gone wrong in running that many events. Kerry always keeps a sense of humor during the chaos, which has allowed her to continuously be in good spirits to help other entrepreneurs work through their stuff. (linkedin.com/in/kerrygeorge)

Golden Buzzer: World Taekwondo Demonstration Team Shocks the Judges - America’s Got Talent 2021

Picture and Video courtesy NBC America’s Got Talent

#AGT #AmericasGotTalent #GoldenBuzzer

Overall, health and fitness always played a part in Michelle’s life and continue to be part of her consulting approach today, differentiating her from others in the industry. Michelle guides business owners to develop a self-sustaining business, generate more revenue, and take back time to do things that excite them!

Raised by a strong, independent single mother, Michelle’s vision and values were instilled early. Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey started in the 90s in event planning and speaking. In addition to Michelle’s over 30-year Corporate career in Media, Logistics and Financial Services, her passions shaped Michelle’s experience, providing innumerable opportunities to give back as a volunteer.

Passionate about making a difference, Michelle is on a philanthropic foundation, “Board of Advisors,” building sustainable schools in developing countries and supporting Digital Samurai’s efforts, an entrepreneur focused on reducing youth unemployment in Africa through apprenticeships.

Michelle’s 35 years as an Account Executive spanned credit card processing and financial services, transportation, logistics, media, and consulting, with many projects including managing consultative alliances, live event management, and sales team leadership. In 2021 Michelle completed Wardell International Advisor training and had recently undertaken S.O.S. Sales Objection System group training with renowned trainer Joe Marcoux. Her career and entrepreneurial ambitions have taken Michelle outside Canada, providing extensive experience in multiple markets in North America and beyond.

You can find Michelle Ricketts on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/michellericketts 

Cheryl Erickson for CIBN

Overwhelmed and Stressed

Lack of Money

It wasn’t that long ago I was working 16+ hours, seven days a week, wishing I had help and definitely “needing” to find more money. I did not realize that my lack of money thoughts affected my abilities, confidence, and other areas. It just added to the pressure, and I made more mistakes. I know I need to focus on my clients, marketing and sales, or there is no business. It sounds strange since that is what I do for others. But focusing on lack of money was the only reason that prevented me from getting help.

Make Changes

Once I realized that I needed to change my focus from lack to having money flow freely towards me, I started to think differently, and my business changed.

No miracle happened where I had the money come to me, but adjusting my living expenses to accommodate an assistant allowed me to focus on what matters with my business so the money would flow freely.

Good Things Happened

I have been able to get the final part of my business up, more time for marketing and sales, and some me-time, which is very important for maintaining good health. If I am unhealthy, my business will be too. Best of all, my confidence grew, and I got my reasoning back for doing the things I do—this business isn’t about me.

When looking for an assistant, I had to ensure my values and standards were a part of it. I wanted to help someone starting out and hopefully from my networking groups. I knew this meant I would pay a bit more, but having that connection has other benefits.

Has the sacrifice been worth it? At this time, definitely. Time will tell if I do have the right individual, but I won’t go back to carrying the entire load myself.

Cheryl Erickson

Imagine having your emails/calendar handled efficiently, a professional presentation, and business-wide assistance.

As an Executive Assistant and Professional Organizer, Cheryl helps individuals protect and grow their business efficiently. With her broad range of skills and high standards, she is ready to handle the details freeing up your time.

Cheryl Erickson
Website: https://cherylerickson.ca
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/visionary-business-organizer/

What Is The Size Of Your Heart?

Lesson Learned:   Small groups can really pay off!

In my early days of networking, I volunteered to host a group that was taking place about two hours drive away from my house. I had to get up very early and drive on a remote country highway to get there.  In retrospect it was not the wisest decision that I ever made. The group started at 7:30 a.m. and I'm not a morning person so I'm not sure what I was thinking when I agreed to this. I guess I was so desperate for new business I was willing to do just about anything.

Once a month on a Thursday morning, I would get up before the roosters at 5 o'clock and I would sing to myself on the drive there so I wouldn't sound like a frog that was choking on hair balls when I started to speak. I even considered taking my coffee intravenously while I was sleeping to give me an edge. If you can imagine a stunned and grumpy woman trying to think through the fog, you may be starting to understand the obstacle course I had created for myself.

One morning in February I woke up earlier than usual to discover that a raging snowstorm was delivering the angriest of tantrums. There was a good two feet of snow on the ground already and it was coming down sideways in 3 inch chunks. I thought about not going very seriously, but I was the organizer and I was worried about my reputation, so I didn't want blow off my obligations even if it meant I might blow off the road. There was no way to send out a message to everybody to cancel the meeting because nobody was going to get that message so early in the morning. I reluctantly put on my heaviest sasquatch fur coat and trudged out into the blizzard to scrape the mountain from my car, and pry the frozen doors loose before I could even begin.

The drive there took an hour longer than usual and I arrived 15 minutes late with white knuckles and PTSD. I had been so ridiculously concerned that people might show up and not have my precious leadership, when in reality I was just overly invested. Imagine my horror to discover there were only four people in total who had braved the elements.

Of course my heart sank. One of the other four was another organizer, and I already knew that he was not going to be my client. I desperately needed new business. Finances were so tight that I did not even have the gas to spare. It would have been easy to sink into anxiety and to focus all of my energy on the negative. We could have even just sat around complaining about all the people who were supposed to be there that did not bother to show up. It's a good thing that I'm just not that person. I always try to focus on the positive, and besides the other organizer was a mentor of mine, so I had to keep my chin up.

The positive of this story is that we had four people who were basically locked in together for many hours with no place to go. We got to drink all of the coffee and eat all of the donuts ourselves.  We also had way more meaningful conversations then normally would be had at any networking meeting.

We were able to talk more extensively about the services that we could provide each other. We were able to tell stories, and give examples. In those days I was selling online marketing services, and this was a great environment for me to share the outcomes of previous clients. Within a couple of hours two of the attendees signed up for my services. Then one of them had the idea to call a friend of theirs who only lived a couple of blocks away. They surmised that this person was likely snowed in and possibly would be willing to walk over to where we were.

As it turned out, their friend was indeed willing to trek through the snow. They were stuck at home bored with themselves. In total I was able to write $70000 worth of annual business that morning.

Imagine if I had stayed home and gone back to bed!

More importantly I learned a valuable lesson that day and I have never forgotten it. Many times I have heard people complain that a networking meeting had too few participants. Many times have I heard people talk about how they prefer only large networking meetings. These people do not know the lesson that I learned that day.

The size of the meeting does not matter. It is the bigness of your attitude that will win out in every circumstance. I kept my attitude in a good and happy place, and I was therefore positioned to capitalize from the experience. I did not give up. I kept going. It was the size of my heart that made this a success, not the size of the meeting.

This is a lesson that has served me well in networking and as an entrepreneur.

What is the size of your heart?

Do you truly have a heart for networking?

Kerry George
CEO, CIBN Connect

As the CEO at CIBN Connect, Kerry George inspires business owners with vision and passion and allows them to thrive in every circumstance.

Kerry is a professional networker who has attended over 6000 networking meetings and has been a keynote speaker for hundreds of online and live events.

As you can imagine, a few things have gone wrong in running that many events. Kerry always keeps a sense of humor during the chaos, which has allowed her to continuously be in good spirits to help other entrepreneurs work through their stuff.

Is your business pretty shaky right now? You would not be the only one struggling with a shaky business during the last few months. Business owners all over the planet right now are suffering at an unprecedented rate. Revenue is down, and everybody is on a huge learning curve trying to do things differently than they have ever done things before.  So who can you go to when times are tough to get a different perspective on where to start?

The Business coach

Keep your eyes open for a good business coach. How do you know that they are a good business coach for your shaky business? You want to look for somebody who has some level of success. He want to would deal with somebody who has clients already who are prospering. He should not have a shaky business. This person should be able to supply you with fresh ideas, but also time tested strategies that will work in the current economic crisis. They will help you with things like changing your mindset, rethinking your marketing, building systems that work, and restructuring your life and business for success.  Business owners who use a business coach are 10 times more likely to succeed than the 80% of business owners who go out of business in their first 5 years. One of the things that most of the failures have in common is that they do not seek advice from professionals who could assist them. 

The Accountants and/or Bookkeeper

Do you know how much money is coming in? Do you know how much is going out? Do you know what you're spending it on? Do you know the things that you're spending money on that are giving you a return? Are there things billing out on your credit card that you haven't even checked on? What area of your business is the most profitable? What does it cost you to acquire one customer? Do you know the answers to these questions? If there is anybody who may be able to help you decipher them it is your accountant, or your bookkeeper. Not only will they be able to narrow down what is profitable in your business by looking at the numbers, they will also have other clients who are being profitable right now in this economy. They will know some of the things that those clients are currently spending their money on that is making a difference for them so they do not have a shaky business. You need to make an appointment with your accountant, or bookkeeper today and find out what they think you need to do in order to become more profitable.

The Networker Or The Connector

Do you know somebody who did does a lot of networking? Do you know somebody who is a natural born connector or who is connected to a lot of people? This person is someone who goes to a lot of networking meetings, and they are widely known in your city, not just in one industry but in many industries. A real connector is not somebody who is famous within just one niche market.  A connector is known in multiple markets by many people from several industries. They know who does a good job in marketing, who can help you get the best investments, where to find that amazing accountant, and what is working right now on social media. They know this because they are connected to many professionals and they glean that information from their network. 

A connector will save you money by introducing you to fairly priced professionals who get the job done right the first time. A connector will make you money by introducing you to clients who are interested in your products and they have the budget to start spending today when a well earned referral is given.

If your shaky business is struggling right now you need some professionals to get back on track. You may have to cut costs by stopping payment on services that are costing you money. Yet these jobs that they are doing still need to be done. Who will do a good job and give you a better price? Who knows they answer to that question in your city? The connector does. Maybe you need some updates to your website or you need a new website so that you can move more product online right now. Where you gonna find this person? You must know already that it is unprofitable to hire your nephew who suddenly finished marketing. Yes, he can make something pretty but he can't make something profitable because he's never had to earn a dollar in his life. You must know by now that if you risk hiring somebody from the internet that you have never met then you risk forfeiting your deposit. The person who knows the people you need to know is the connector. He has met a website designer that he has seen do regular business with an accountable group of people over a long period of time. If you make a deposit with the person that he refers to you, you are way more likely to have a finished website that produces profitability in a timely manner.

The networker who has been doing it for years knows places that you can cut corners and save money. He knows about government programs that you could qualify for because he has heard other people in his network talk about them. He knows a business coach that won't bleed you dry and actually produces results. He probably knows people you should talk to about cutting your household expenses and the cost of your mortgage as well.

Where do you meet this person? You meet him in a weekly networking meeting where business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals get together to give each other warmed up leads. Find out who is in the room who's been doing networking for years. Get to know that person first. The Connector will be a great asset to you and your shaky business.

Join CIBN Connect and we will be happy to introduce you to all three of these people immediately.

There are many excellent coaches in our network. Here are a couple members you might consider using: Shawna Quigley (https://www.quigleycoaching.com/) and Nicki Chang (https://nickichangpowless.com/)

As the CEO at CIBN Connect, Kerry George inspires business owners with vision and passion and allows them to thrive in every circumstance.

Kerry is a professional networker who has attended over 6000 networking meetings and has been a keynote speaker for hundreds of online and live events.

As you can imagine, a few things have gone wrong in running that many events. Kerry always keeps a sense of humor during the chaos, which has allowed her to continuously be in good spirits to help other entrepreneurs work through their stuff. (linkedin.com/in/kerrygeorge)