The 10 Commandments of Networking from Jane Foster (My last installment in MBN Symposium Series)

This blog entry is part of my series called "The 2011 MBN Symposium". To read other posts in this topic and gain more valuable insight into the presenters at the 2011 Symposium, see the series here: Missoula Businesswomen's Symposium
 

I had no idea what I was in for when I found my seat in Jane Foster’s presentation at the MBN Symposium! Suddenly, there was chocolate flying everywhere and we were all laughing our heads off! It was truly a fun meeting and I was so happy about the topic discussed. Jane Foster of Stevensville’s Foster and Foster Financial describes the act of making a personal connection a “lost art”. In her presentation, she explained that we need one-on-one contact to develop business relationships to the fullest, and she imparted some tactics to succeed in this age of technology and depersonalization. Jane stresses the importance of following up, and even suggests a handwritten note or phone call. Refreshing, huh?

Most of all, I'd like to share her 10 Commandments of Networking, which I found to be particularly great advice. It reads like an action plan, and sometimes I think that’s just what we need, to be inspired to take action instead of just simmering on broad ideas. Don't you think? Here they are:

1. Make a “Must Meet” list of people and find out where you can meet them. If you can find an organization to help you meet those goals, choose the one with the best bang for your buck.
2. Once you choose the group or event to meet those people, bring your best smile, attitude, impression, business cards and a great handshake. -- In class, we did an exercise on the proper handshake, if you weren’t there for that, look for a handshake tutorial coming out soon on my blog!
3. Gravitate to people you don’t know. Remember: Women move as a pack.
4. Be early and have consistent attendance.  If you’ve paid to be a member of the organization, then make your dollars work harder by meeting more people! The only one who can make that choice is you.
5. Remember personal space. (18 to 24 inches) -- We did another exercise here where we had to get right up in our neighbor’s faces!! Oh well, at least there was candy on our breaths!
6. Know who you are and know who you are talking with, and act accordingly. Using the DISC method can help with this. If you are provided a nametag, always wear it!
7. Listen, with your ears, you eyes, and your body!
8. Ask thought provoking other-oriented, open-ended questions. They don’t care about what you know unless you show that you care about what they know! When you create value for others, you create value for yourself.
9. Be present and engaged. Put all your little “tools” away- the smartphone, the laptop, put it away! On smart comment is more memorable than small talk!
10. Be DISTINCTIVE! You want to be memorable, but in a good way! Make sure you have a way to help you remember the people you meet. Ask for everyone’s card, make notes on the back of them, do whatever you have to do.

An important topic from this meeting was “DISC method”  from the book, Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships That Last (Third Edition) It divides us into 4 different networking types and is a powerful tool in understanding yourself and others to make networking work for you! I may discuss this further in another blog post, so if you’d like to hear more on that, just comment to let me know.

I've got to say, if you weren't at the MBN Symposium, you really missed out on this one! With all the candy and laughs, the endorphins ran high and made it a very memorable experience. You can learn more about Jane and her business here at Foster & Foster Financial Services. Jane is a member of the Stevensville Main Street Association, Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce, IDEA Mt, and Missoula Businesswomen's Network, where she serves as Chair for the Women's Empowerment Group in the Bitterroot Valley.

Well, this is it! I have completed my series on the Missoula Businesswoman’s Network Symposium for 2011. I hope it was helpful for you, and I encourage my readers to review past installments in my MBN Symposium Series to make sure you didn’t miss anything!

This blog entry is part of my series called "The 2011 MBN Symposium". To read other posts in this topic and gain more valuable insight into the presenters at the 2011 Symposium, see the series here: Missoula Businesswomen's Symposium

Announcing my "I Love My Job" blog series!

I've been up to something! In a very sneaky fashion, right under your nose, I have sent secret interview invitations to local women whose work I admire. These ladies ROCK! I can not wait to share their experiences, challenges, and advice with you in the coming weeks. They come from all walks of life and have faced many unique challenges, but there is one thing they all have in common. Each one can say, "I Love My Job!"

The series so far:
April 4th: Elena Ulev
April 18th: Julie Burns
May 2th: Jackie Priess
June 16th: Jami Shipp
 

I know there is much to be learned from these interviews and I hope you'll stay tuned and savor each one with me. Do you know someone who would like to be interviewed on my blog? I am offering one month free of ad space on my blog to qualifying female business owners in Missoula, MT just for answering five questions. Email me at mslaurasimpson@gmail.com for more information!

Entrepreneurship- a Sign of Desperation?

Hi everyone! I just returned from a nice family reunion in Las Vegas. While I was over there, I was thinking a lot about local economies and their effect on Entrepreneurship. Yes, I know- I'm a bit of a dork. But I did whip up some observations I think are worthy of sharing, and I hope I can start some conversation on this topic!

In the most recent InBusiness Monthly, I read that a floundering economy has an inverse effect on small business formation. In other words, when times are good, we work at a set pay on a set schedule, we have a boss, and we humbly seek the occasional raise or bonus. The opposite is also true… when the going gets tough, we get our own businesses going! 

Think about it: what truly motivated you to start your own business? Were you fed up with your poorly qualified boss? Discouraged with the inherent difficulty of climbing the corporate ladder? Or maybe you're a natural born leader, a self-starter. For the average Missoulian, chances are it was simply the inability to secure a job that suited your skill set while still bringing in enough money to survive. And so, you went it alone.

So tell me, Missoula. Are we self-starters, or just desperate?

Not long ago, I read that a living wage in Missoula, Montana was around $11.24 an hour. That means in order to meet our basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) we need to have full time jobs that pay no less than $4 over minimum wage. Ironically- here in Missoula, finding employment that pays a living wage seems to be a pipe-dream.

I arrived in Missoula, Montana last Summer with my marketing background, strong resume, professional recommendations, and a penchant for networking. Reluctantly, I took my first job in town as a grocery store cashier, hoping for something more. I soon came to understand the gravity of the Missoula economic situation... I was working alongside several bright individuals who had earned Master’s degrees. How frightening it was to find that some must forego the career path they have spent years etching out, only to become a grocery store cashier. It savors of full resignation!

In conversation with a woman from Nevada, I learned that this isn’t just a localized problem. After 40 years of service in a government job, she’s in fear of losing it all in the face of extreme budget cuts at her place of work. I cannot imagine being let go and having to reinvent myself after four decades of service. But that’s her lot- and she’s already thinking about starting her own business. A family member may seek to expand his small NY business to a national level and she has the right experience and connections to help him with that growth.

Entrepreneurship, with its ultra-high stress and risk levels, is most people’s plan Z. So why are so many in Missoula self-employed? We’re all out of options! Perhaps Missoula's greatest source of pride is merely a symptom of its greatest shortcoming. What do you think?

Ready for St. Patrick's Day!

Admit it, everybody wants to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day! Today I'm proud to declare that I'm 1/8th a lucky lass, thanks to my Irish heritage through the Faulk line. There are signs of Leprechauns guarding popcorn gold at the end of a confetti rainbow at my kitchen table today.

I am reminded of my childhood, leaving "leprechaun" notes for my little siblings, they were just young enough to fall for my ruse, and I was just old enough to revel in their curiosity with endless enthusiasm and creativity. Using a thick washer tied to a long rope, I created "footprints" on the roof of the snow-covered gazebo beneath my little sister's window, and then tossed red glitter out onto it. She wondered in amazement that magical Leprechauns had come to visit her.

My little table setting celebrates that time and the Christian evangelist, St. Patrick, who used the shamrock as a way to teach the concept of the Trinity.

My floral arrangement includes white hydrangea and a funny puffy green plant called tricillium which I purchased from Habitat Florial Studio !


The "pot o' gold" was a great find from Missoula 3:16 Thrift Boutique

I made the "confetti rainbow" from a single strand of Kristina Marie's confetti garland. Check out her etsy shop for more fun colors!

The St. Patrick's Day parade is behind us but I'm sure we will all find our own ways to celebrate this special holiday. P.S. Don't forget to wear green!