Students Of Success

If you have been in business for any amount of time, you go to networking
events. Did your body just seize up? Was there a swelling of nervousness in your gut? Are you about ready to stop reading? I encourage you to stay with me about networking. Let me ask: what’s the difference between someone who asks you at a picnic or at church, “Who do you know who …?” versus the reality that this is the same question being asked by everyone at a formal networking event? The difference is likely that phrase “networking event!”

Estimates are that we each know about 200 to 250 people. In this group of
people, this sphere or circle of influence, business happens informally and formally,
passively and actively and with success and without. Since I am an introvert, my take
on networking comes from a want to make the most of the event in the shortest
amount of time. My energy drains too fast in too much of a great event! Here are a
few pointers to put extroverted behaviors for the most introverted of us with high
success.

1. Go to a networking event with an intention.

What usually works is to set an intention to meet just three new people. Or, an
intention to get business cards from three new people. Something immediate and
small is usually doable for any of us.

2. Carry business cards everywhere

My business cards are with me everywhere. I always have one box of business
cards in my car, a few business cards in a jacket pocket and always in my business
portfolio. In the rare situation that I might not have one, then I ask the person I
meet for theirs. No one has ever refused to give me his or her card because I did not
have mine.

3. Communicate eyeball to eyeball.

As I wrote that I wondered, “Who sustains eye contact better, introverts or
extroverts? Maybe there is research on that. For me, eye contact is easy. I feel better
when I focus on the person I am talking with and not seeing all the hustle around
us. For a fact, we know that in general, most people have more positive feelings
from eye contact than lack of it.

4. Use people’s name: you’ll both be uplifted.

Doesn’t it
make you feel important when someone remembers your name? You don’t need a
memory course to do this better. The easier you make it the better, particularly for
an introvert. One, two, three: One, use a person’s name immediately when you meet
them: “It’s great to meet you Cindy Tracy. Two, then use their name in your
conversation when you ask a question: “How long have you been coming to these
events Cindy?” And, easy three, if someone else approaches the group you’re in,
introduce the person you just met by their name.

5. Stand out from the crowd with follow-up.

Even the shyest of us can easily reap results in this part of the process! Write a
short, simple thank-you note within about a week to those three new people you
meet. Thank them for talking with you and helping you learn about what they do in
business. Include your business card. I am amazed how few people continue to
make this part of their networking system.

6. Propel yourself forward with giving.Let’s just say that
everyone at this event is seeking a recommendation for something. Your best bet is
to discover what they are seeking. It could be anything – a good movie to watch, a
restaurant recommendation, where they can get a previously released music cd –
anything for any aspect of life. When you follow-up, ask about what they thought
about your recommendation. With your focus on how to help someone fill the
smallest need first, you’re still moving forward in your networking.

Right On!

Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, networking can be more
comfortable and confident when you come from the place of knowing that everyone
is seeking a recommendation at some time. The “networking event” just puts formal
dress on web weaving - connecting people with whoever or where ever will get them
what they want.

Pat Weber is a coach, certified telelcass leader, and corporate trainer. In her
business coaching, she works with small business owners, independent
professionals and salespeople to help them get more of what they want sooner than
later.

Visit her website at http://www.prostrategies.com. Sign up for her free
ezine.

The advent of the internet has given rise to a new avenue of sales for retail companies. The pervasive nature of a retail web site creates new opportunities as well as dangers for a business. Today, I want to discuss a concept I coined called “collective discount intelligence” (CDI). CDI refers to the discount power derived from the collective intelligence of the internet. Sites such as FatWallet.com and SlickDeals.net give rise to collective information sharing of discount information for various retail deals. This by itself is a good thing, as discounts are offered by companies with the intent to spur further sales.

Where this process goes wrong is when a hole is found in the system and a discount is used in a manner with unforeseen consequences.
The most immediate affect of CDI is a loss of expected revenue. A recent example of this can be seen where a company was offering $10 discounts for $50 purchases, but a glitch in the system applied the discount to each item in the purchase regardless of price, resulting in thousands of dollars of lost revenue . Another example involved $250 gift cards given to sign up for a yearly service that totaled $180. Customers signed up for 3 or more accounts and cancelled the contracts to pocket the $70 difference to be applied to the products of their choice.

In the past, these kind of activities might have been limited in nature. However, with the rise of CDI, any kind of loophole will not only be discovered, but will be quickly disseminated to a wider and wider audience. Many times, the discount abuses will start out being unintentional, as the individual customer may view the situation as an incredible bargain. As the discount information gets passed on to a central information hub, the discount is further analyzed by savvy customers who will manipulate the discount for maximum yield – this is usually the point at which CDI becomes abusive in nature. Retailers will often absorb the income loss, rather than risk alienating their customers.

Making matters worse, abuses like these can happen during the weekend or at night when detection and fixes can be very difficult to accomplish due to resource constraints. The 24 hour presence of a website also makes the monitoring of these types of abuses difficult and cost prohibitive.
Another consequence of CDI is drops in sales due to competitor discounts. When a retail competitor has a discount on a commonly carried product, CDI will hurt the sales for any companies not matching the discounted price. The price matching policy of various retailers further hurts profit margins on any discounted products, as CDI will force price matching whenever possible. As customers start purchasing more and more commodity items on the web, the consequence of CDI will need to be better anticipated by businesses.

As web businesses grow, the area of CDI will become more valuable. Dealing with CDI in a proactive manner will result in increased revenue and better customer satisfaction.

James Yang is president of Lattice Consulting Inc, a software development company. Please visit http://www.jcy.us to share and discuss ideas.

Among the many genres or types of podcasts there are some that are have moved beyond the entertainment or plain informational aspect of podcasting (which was very prevalent during its very early years). These new genres have a far more loftier aim – to inform AND help people. There is a whole new wave of podcasts that have adopted this goal and they run the gamut of topics from technology, science, economics, even home improvement. But by far, the podcast type that is seems to be experiencing a massive push in popularity among podcast fans are business podcasts.

Business podcasts are still in its infancy but when it comes to popularity it is considered as one of the most popular on the internet. There may be many reasons why business podcasts have achieved such a high level of popularity in such a short time. One very important reason is that most people (be it “casual” podcast listeners or more experienced businessmen) have a fascination on how to handle a business correctly. Most people have a belief that operating a business is a very hard task and they need all the help they can get in order to make their business run smoothly and successfully. And if they can get that information from business experts then all the better.

Another reason why business podcasts are quite popular is because of the need for self-improvement. There are people who think that since they will be investing some time listening to podcasts then it may as well be about something that will improve themselves personally or professionally.

Business podcasts are also entering the marketing mix of most companies and online businesses. Business owners and marketing professionals have realized that business podcasts are a great way to drum up attention for a business. A podcast about a business’ core market gives the impression that the business is a prime mover in the industry and a source of credible information. This will definitely increase the corporate equity of the business.

Some of the most popular business related podcasts on the internet right now include:

B-EYE-Network - Solution Spotlights – This podcast are all about one on one interviews conducted with some of the top software company executives in different sectors of the industry. The interviews usually revolve around the insights these executives give with regards to products, business and industry trends. The interviewees are considered as some of the most recognized experts and leaders in the industry.

Knowledge@Wharton – this podcast is actually the online research and business analysis journal of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. This program was launched in order to help bring out the knowledge and information that the school possesses to a wider audience.

Manager Tool – this is a very helpful weekly podcast that aims to give listeners the information, tips and advice in order for them to become more effective leaders and managers. Every week, a new tool or technique is discussed in depth so that listeners can be aided in achieving their management objectives.

Podcastblaster.com supplies podcasting software and provides information all about podcasting including video podcasting.

Walking is increasingly being rated as an excellent means of staying fit and healthy. It is natural form of exercise that we do every day to some extent. For those who consider it a form of exercise the risks of suffering an injury are low as long as you follow a gradual programme and don’t do too much too soon. All you need is a pair of comfortable shoes with adequate support and shock absorption and a watch with a second hand if you want to measure the intensity of your walk by measuring the heart rate. The benefits that you derive from walking are dependant on many factors that include, how frequently you walk, the distance covered and the intensity of your walks.

While a half-hour amble through the park might do wonders to reduce your stress levels, it would not do much in terms of weight loss. However, a programme of regular brisk walking (six to eight km), combined with an energy-controlled, low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet should cut some body fat.

Do’s

. Make your walks a priority. Unless you recognize them as an essential feature of your lifestyle, you will soon abandon them.

. Try to convince a friend to join you. You can motivate one another and chat while walking. Ideally, get your spouse to walk too.

. Invest in a good pair of walking shoes. Take the advice of well-trained staff at the shoe shop.

. Set yourself a goal and reward yourself when you achieve it. Positive reinforcement is strongly linked to success and sustainability.

. Monitor your progress, keep track of the distance walked, how long it took and what your exercising heart rate over a 10-second period is. Also measure your waist, hips and chest every month.

. Find an attractive variety of routes to avoid boredom. A food idea is to measure out a 3-5 km route, which you walk as fast as you can once a week.

. Read up on the benefits of regular walking, i.e. a decrease in your risk of suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, obesity, type 2 diabetes, anxiety and depression. This information will strengthen your resolve.

Must Read: Treadmill Directory: Treadmill workout, exercise and tips! at http://www.weightloss-health.com/treadmills_elliptical_trainers.htm

Don’t’s

. Don’t expect significant weight loss in the first few weeks. Walking 3-4 times a week at a moderate to high intensity can result in fat loss, if combined with high carbohydrate, low-fat meals.

. Don’t walk alone in the dark and wear a reflective belt/clothing at dawn or dusk.

. Don’t miss sessions early on in your programme. In a few months, you will probably be addicted to it.

. Don’t overdo it. Many people start off totally fired up and think that mote is better and add in extra sessions. this leads to burnout and is not sustainable.

The Starting Point-

. Men over 40. women over the 50 and those with either a chronic disease or risk factors musk seek medical advice.

. Purchase a pair of suitable walking shoes, a watch with a second hand and a reflective belt.

. Measure out routes ranging from 2-5 km in a safe and attractive suburb.

. Do some baseline measurements as well as your walking sessions.

. Warm up for five minutes before starting out on your walk.

About the Author:

Ashley Green: for http://www.weightloss-health.com/muscle_building.html your complete and most comprehensive guide on Muscle Building.

Look out for highly effective women muscle building programs at Weight Training for Women- Workouts and Tips

Relationship Constellations

Finding the hidden dynamics in relationship systems within
organisations

Dr.Eddy Kloprogge

Introduction

The word organisation comes from “organic”, a system that
organises (organism), following certain universal rules.

Either in the family, school or any other organisation,
individuals form different levels of relationships, which
themselves form regulating systems. Those systems determine a
large part of our daily lives. People are born within a system
(family, community etc) or choose to become a member of a
system, for example, when joining a club or starting to work for
an organisation. Once part of a system, regardless of your
opinion, you are also part of the dynamics within that system.

Unit of knowledge

When we take one cell from a person (one unit), science has
proven that that cell contains all the information of the total
body of that person. We call the information in one cell the
“unit of knowledge.”

When we take one person out of a system, that person contains
all the information of that system. That person contains the
“unit of knowledge” from that system.

One person contains different units of knowledge from different
systems.

Communication

When you have Person A, who needs to communicate with Person B,
to achieve a certain goal, it is obvious that both persons have
to negotiate the outcome of that communication.

Pure communication is a form of art that needs quite some
consideration:

When people meet for the first time, they use reference points
of understandings that are built from their own history of
memories, experiences and intelligence. Without these references
one cannot communicate (example: you have to understand the
meaning of the spoken words). However, those references are not
always that clear (the meaning of a certain word is subject to
interpretation). Understanding between life partners can be very
good, but it may have taken years before those partners started
to know each other. When you meet a person for the first time
(like a customer and a sales person in a shop) the communication
takes place on assumed (learned) understandings, which can be
misinterpreted by subconscious interference of reference points
(like somebody talks like one’s diseased dominant destructive
father). The negotiation of the outcome of the communication (a
sale) can be quite different when the interpretation of a
certain language was compared with unconscious interference of
reference points of a voice that resembles that of a very dear
loving friend. Then there are the hidden “agendas” of the
persons involved: person A wants to buy something, trying to get
some discount, while person B wants to sell not only the item,
but some other goods as well. During the communication all sorts
of levels of feelings will express themselves by intonation of
the voice, body language etc. Both persons will react on those
signals (transference), which will then give counter reactions
(counter transference) and therefore interfere with the “clear”
communication.

We can compare the communication process with a floating
iceberg. When we consider the “pure” communication (that is the
communication without all the interferences like transference
and counter transference) as the visible top of the iceberg (10
% that is above the surface of the water), then the rest of the
communication (90%) is not visible, but dominates the
communication process.

Relationships

Relationships, which are the building blocks of systems, are
based on communication. We believe that when we are dealing with
issues and problems within a system or organisation, we locate
those problems at the level of communication. We now can make
the hidden parts of the communication process (the under water
part of the iceberg) visible with a technique called: System
Constellation or Organisational Constellation.

Organisational constellation

The word constellation comes from the positioning of the stars
and planets in the universe. Organisational constellation is the
positioning of elements (people, influences etc) in an open
space, using subconscious knowledge of the participants.

A person sets up a constellation by placing people (including a
substitute for him or her self) intuitively in a specific
configuration that represents an issue they want to have a look
at. This provides a living map of key elements within a
particular situation. Rather than simply talking about, or just
looking at a ’snap shot’ of what is happening, participants will
be able to see clearly into the interaction of these key
elements.

Experience has shown that participants in the constellation
become aware of the meaning of their own place. The conscious
knowledge of this place and the position of others make space
for acceptance and meaning.

An unconscious level exists in all systems formed by man; this
can be interpreted as the system’s collective sub-conscious. The
members of a system are generally unaware of the dynamics
originating from this. The patterns that determine the dynamics
in systems are often complex and intangible for the people
participating in the system. For this reason they are also
difficult to trace by questioning the members of the system.

When we set up a constellation, verbal communication is
restricted to a minimum. The facilitator will interview the
person with the issue or question and discretely guides the
person to (intuitively) choose the representatives.

The experience of the participant

People tend to initially experience the constellation method as
something ‘magical’. A participant tends to get drawn to a
position that gives the feeling of balance and harmony. Being in
harmony means that by “recognizing what is” you eventually
experience a peaceful concentrated state of being. From this
state of consciousness you experience inner peace. You are
connected and at a distance at the same time.

While being in that state, when asked how your feel, intuitively
you are able to reflect the feelings and thoughts that describes
the part that you represent in the actual system.

Sometimes, very accurate and with quite astonishing preciseness,
wordings will emerge and contribute to the solution focussed
resolutions for the person whose issue has been constellated.

Relationship Constellations

It is not only those belonging to an organisation who
participates in the success or failure; others also play a role
- for example, the customer, the share holder, the users, the
competitors and perhaps foreign affiliates. Like a network, all
those elements are interrelated, they form relationships, they
create a powerful whole that is more than the sum of its parts.

Regardless of your position in your system, the application of
relational principles can give you insight into problems, help
you in making critical decisions and open new perspectives for
the development of the system as a whole.

Using Relationship Constellations, you can tap into the
informing field of your business. You can select what you need
from this network that receives all relevant information about
the web of relationships within and outside the company.

September 2005

References:

Emotional Intelligence (1997) D. Coleman; Bantam Books, New
York, ISBN 0-553-37506-7

Spiritual Intelligence (2000) D. Zohar and Dr I. Marshall;
Bloomsbury, New York, ISBN 1-58234-044-7

Invisible Dynamics (2005) K. P.Horne and R. Brick; Crl-Aur,
Heidelberg, Germany, 2005,

Acknowledgement What is (2001), B. Hellinger and G. ten Hoevel,
Phoenix; Zeig,Tucker & Co, Arizona

Constellations (Submitted for publication) (2005) Dr E.
Kloprogge, P.G. Gleeson and T.J. Francis.

The Therapeutic Relationships (2003), P.Clarkson: Whurr
Publishers, London. ISBN : 1-897-6357-7

©Mind Gliding Ltd. Registered in England & Wales, Reg. No.
5008800, All rights reserved

The perfect table setting decorating idea will be determined by three main things. First, by where the shower is being held. Second, by the theme you have chosen for your baby shower. Thirdly, by the tastes of the guest of honor and the guests you have invited.

Listed below are the items you will need for a successful table setting. Keep in mind that your own decorating idea/s will have a bearing on the table arrangement. Only you know the guests, the mother to be and family members. The items suggested below are only that, suggestions. They are to be used as hints to help you plan a successful baby shower.

• Table Cloths: Linen and/or lace tablecloths would be used for a formal setting. For an informal party use paper tablecloths, or sheets with a design that fits the theme.

• Napkins: Napkins can be personalized with the names of the guests written on them. White napkins would fit any theme. Or you could use colored napkins or napkins with designs matching your baby shower theme. You could wrap the utensils with the napkin for a nice look.

• Novelty Napkins: Baby cloth diapers folded in a triangle shape would be a nice touch. Personalizing them with the name of the guests is an option. Or leave them blank, and the guests can give them to the mother to be to use for her new baby after the shower. Baby bibs personalized or not, with different designs fitting the theme of the shower.

• Napkin Rings: Use regular napkin rings, or you could be creative. Pacifiers could be used, the ones with the loop on the end. Roll the napkins up and use different colored diaper pins to keep them rolled up. Another idea is to use baby rattles with a looped end.

• Tableware: For a formal setting, use glass or china plates, stemware glasses, and silver or quality stainless utensils. While an informal setting would use paper or plastic plates, cups, and utensils. If using paper plates, use sturdy ones that will hold up well.

• Placemats: Again, a baby cloth diaper would be a good placemat. Some merchants carry diapers with designs, which would be a nice touch. You might even be able to find some with designs to match the theme. You could use paper placemats, or for a more formal shower, plastic or cloth.

• Place Cards: Whichever item you choose, put the name of the guest on the item chosen. Plain white cards, or white cards with clip art designs matching the baby shower theme would be an excellent choice. You could make your own place cards out of construction paper, possibly adding some designs. Refrigerator magnets matching the theme if possible. Personalized decorated Cookies, which the guests could have for dessert. Personalized Teething biscuits and bibs are another idea for a table setting decorating idea.

• Novelty Decoratons: Suspended items you hang from the ceiling will enhance the table setting decorating idea. Small teddy bears, baby bottles, rattles, pacifiers, bibs, rubber duckies, baby socks, baby shoes, baby bibs, or other small baby related items. Giant peppermint sticks would be something different for a decorating idea.
  

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

You can check out more baby shower decorations or you can purchase and find free baby shower games. Currently full time owner/operator of several online businesses.