Be Prepared to create stronger networking connections. Be Prepared is not just the Boy Scout motto. It’s the way to get the most out of your networking efforts.
Whether you aim to do personal or professional networking, Meetup.com is a great site for enlarging your network. Here we’ll share a couple of tips to use at Meetup.com and other networking sites to help you make stronger networking connections.
Before you go to your networking event or Meetup, take a look at who else will be there. At meetup, just click on their names and you’ll be taken to the profiles of attendees. Make a list of two or three (or more) who you’d like to meet. Have a question or two in mind for when you meet them. Include “I noticed on your Member profile that your ideal prospect is “X” – can you tell me more about that? Or, your profile says you’re also a Member of “X” groups; how do you like them?
The first time I shared this tip with a member of Wisconsin Business Owners, just before a Meetup, she was looking at the list of attendees online and exclaimed, “Welcome, Theresa” as the new member who’d registered walked through the door. Theresa was pleasantly surprised to be so warmly greeted by name, and a light bulb clicked on for the member who greeted Theresa. Both got off to a strong start for the day.
A few of our Members, great advocates of helping others create stronger networking connections
Jamie Shibley
Wisconsin Business Owners sponsor, Jamie is the owner of The Expressory. See her video at her page here…a clear expression of the importance of a personal touch!
Stacy Kaat
Former Organizer and long-time member of Wisconsin Business Owners, Stacy helps people with pictures at Stacy Kaat Photography.
Bill Sargent
Long-time regular, Bill Sargent is also a photographer, specializing in natural light photography (among many other things!). View portrait samples here.
There are a number of ways to create personalized, memorable and stronger networking connections. Ninety percent of success is showing up. Ninety percent of the remainder is your attitude once you show up!
In a tech-obsessed culture, it can be difficult to build genuine relationships with people, especially in the workplace. Robert Reffkin shares his tips and tricks for establishing authentic connections on the job.
Robert Reffkin is on a mission to help everyone find their place in the world.
Why you should listen
Robert Reffkin was inspired to enter the world of real estate by his mother, Ruth, a longtime agent who now proudly works at Compass, the real estate company Reffkin cofounded in 2012. After completing a bachelor’s at Columbia University in less than three years, Reffkin worked at McKinsey, Goldman Sachs and as a Fellow in the White House before returning to Columbia for his MBA. He ran 50 marathons in 50 states to raise $1 million dollars for charities — including for New York Needs You, the non-profit he founded to serve young people living below the poverty line who are the first in their families to go to college. Reffkin lives in Tribeca with his wife Benis and their three children.
Wisconsin Business Owners provides us all with the opportunity to talk with everyone!
FAST-PITCH SPEED NETWORKING 2020 TO START YOUR YEAR OFF RIGHT!
Practice your “elevator speech” because you’ll want to have time to share, and to listen, to 30-second commercials…as many as 20++…at this event! Practice listening, too…so you can hit that pitch out of the park!
Speed Networking 2020 – FastPitch Networking – aka “Business Speed Dating” – image by Steven Pisano at Flickr
We’ll be starting promptly at 9:15, so get there early to register and to enjoy the coffee (and Danish and Juice and Water) bar.
9AM Confirmation of online registration and organizing attendees into groups.
Attendees will be in Group A or B.
Group A will be on one side of the tables. Group B on the other.
Starting at 9:15am, you’ll have just over 4 minutes to:
A) Give your 30-second commercial
B) Give your 30-second commercial
A) Ask questions
B) Answer questions and ask your own
A) Answer Questions
A+B) Decide if you’d like to pursue a deeper one-on-one another time (or perhaps sit together if / when you stay for our Lunch & Learn).
All the “A” people get up, move one chair to the right, and we start again!
We’re hoping to get each of us together with as many as 20+ other people for a great, personal exchange of ideas and info in two hours, plus networking time before and for an hour after the Event!
***Come Join Us!***
Click on the “I’m going” button to start your registration now.
You will be able to network with other authentic relationship builders. Bring plenty of business cards and brochures to share!
***ITINERARY Friday, January 31, 2020***
9am – MEET AND GREET/Confirm and Organize Groups
9:15 Speed-networking begins!
11:00 – ENDS
BUT STICK AROUND! OPEN NETWORKING FOR ANOTHER FULL HOUR BEFORE OUR NEXT EVENT – OUR LUNCH & LEARN, FEATURING A DYNAMIC DUO OF SPEAKERS
***YOU MAY BE VIDEOTAPED or PHOTOGRAPHED AT OUR EVENTS***
Your attendance at Wisconsin Business Owners means you may be shown on tape…and you’re okay with that!
Please contact Keith or Maggie (“Contact the Organizers” button) with suggestions or questions, anytime.
***SPEECHES MAY BE VIDEOTAPED or PHOTOGRAPHED***
Your attendance means you accept being shown on tape +/or in photos.
Regards,
Keith Klein
Owner, OnYourMark, LLC https://www.OnYourMark.com
Organizer, Wisconsin Business Owners https://www.WisOwners.com < Register & Create Your Free Profile today
Author, WebForging,
A Practical Guide to the Art of Forging Your Web Presence
Phone: 262-853-7900
keith@OnYourMark.com
Generational Shift – What Does it Mean to Your Business?
By Brad Herda
Generational shift – we have all heard the news stories, media reports, and have our own experiences and biases for every generation. The issue is no matter what you think as a Business owner, the generational shift will impact you and your business.
It will not matter if you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or a Small Business with no employees. The shift in the market will impact you. So, the question is what does this mean for your business?
In this interactive workshop we will look at the 6 generations in the workforce through your experiences. Work to create impactful understanding of each generations needs and desires through your words. We will then work to understand the dynamics of communication across the generations. If you have employees, 1099’s or strategic business partners, knowing how to better communicate across generations will be a critical component to your business’s success.
At the conclusion of our event we will have created an opportunity for looking at your employees and business partners in a different light. As an avid golfer the following is so true “A bad attitude is worse than a bad swing.” — Payne Stewart. We need to ensure we have the proper attitude for every generation we work with.
Brad Herda, Presenting Generational Shift
MEET OUR EXPERT: BRAD HERDA
Brad Herda is a Certified FocalPoint Business Coach and has spent his life learning how things work including people. He has over 200 hours of behavioral and communication training from Northwest Partners Inc. while with Bucyrus International. Brad has been required to build teams, develop suppliers, and be part of one of Caterpillar’s largest integrations after the acquisition of Bucyrus in 2011. At the root of all his success has been communication and being aware of other’s perspectives. He has been a FIRST Robotics Mentor at Sussex Hamilton for 8 years and has seen how communication has changed across generations firsthand. Communication is one of the foundational elements Brad works on his client with as it is foundational to an origination’s culture and setting up expectations and accountability.
Come Join Us!***
RSVP at https://www.meetup.com/wisconsin-business-owners/events/265157113/
Click on the “I’m going box” to register now.
You’ll reserve your seat to network with other authentic relationship builders. Bring plenty of business cards and brochures to share!
***ITINERARY Friday, Oct 25, 2019***
9:00 Registration & Open Networking. Full Coffee Bar, including juice, water and bakery included
9:30 Presentation by Brad Herda
11:00 Open Networking for an hour, followed by our
Lunch & Learn at Noon:
Learn how the new tax laws impact Your Business
register separately at https://www.meetup.com/wisconsin-business-owners/events/265155447/
***SPEECHES MAY BE VIDEOTAPED or PHOTOGRAPHED***
Your attendance means you accept being shown on tape +/or in photos.
Regards,
Keith Klein
Owner, OnYourMark, LLC https://www.OnYourMark.com
Organizer, Wisconsin Business Owners https://www.WisOwners.com < Register & Create Your Free Profile today
Author, WebForging, https://www.webforging.com/
A Practical Guide to the Art of Forging Your Web Presence
Phone: 262-853-7900
keith@OnYourMark.com
“Business Speed Dating” ~ Welcome to Fast Pitch Networking, Wisconsin.
Here’s your opportunity to talk with everyone!
Practice your “elevator speech” because you’ll want to have time to share, and to listen, to 30-second commercials…as many as 20++…at this event! Practice listening, too…so you can hit that pitch out of the park!
We’ll be starting promptly at 9, so get there early to register and to enjoy the Coffee (and Danish and Juice and Water) bar.
***ITINERARY for Wisconsin Networking, Friday, April 26th, 2019***
8:30 AM REGISTRATION: CHECK-IN (detailed directions and free parking instructions at Meetup.com where you RSVP)
9 AM Three minute introduction of our Hosts, Dennis Hill, Ph.D., and Wendy Frausto, both of EXACTA Corporation.
9:03 The fastpitch Wisconsin Networking begins!
Attendees will be in Group A or B.Group A will be on one side of the tables. Group B on the other.
Starting at 9:03, you’ll have 4 minutes to:
A) Give your 30-second commercial
B) Give your 30-second commercial
A) Ask questions
B) Answer questions and ask your own
A) Answer Questions A+B) Decide if you’d like to pursue a deeper one-on-one another time. We encourage 1:1 meetings between our Meetup events for more Wisconsin Networking.
If appropriate and agreed upon, set up multiple follow-ups!
All the “A” people get up, move one chair to the right, and we start again!
We’re aiming to get each of us together with as many as 20 or 25+ other people for a great, personal exchange of ideas and info in two hours, plus networking time before the event and any arrangements to enjoy one-on-one meetings after our Wisconsin networking meetup!
Author of WebForging, A Practical Guide to the Art of Forging Your Web Presence https://WebForging.com This 242-page guide is written in non-geek speak especially for small business owners. Copies are available for half off ($20) if Keith signs yours at the event!
We aim to extend the value of the enhanced relationships built in our Wisconsin Business Owners Group, in person and online. Extend the value of your deepening relationships with our LinkedIn Wisconsin Business Owners Group.
FAST PITCH NETWORKING – aka “Business Speed Dating” – TO START 2019 OFF RIGHT!
“Business Speed Dating” ~ Welcome to 2019!
FastPitch Networking – aka “Business Speed Dating” – image by Steven Pisano at Flickr
Wisconsin Business Owners provides us all with the opportunity to talk with everyone!
Practice your “elevator speech” because you’ll want to have time to share, and to listen, to 30-second commercials…as many as 20++…at this event! Practice listening, too…so you can hit that pitch out of the park!
We’ll be starting promptly at 9, so get there early to register and to enjoy the coffee (and Danish and Juice and Water) bar.
8:30 AM REGISTRATION: REGISTER ONLINE, CONFIRM OUTSIDE THE BANQUET ROOM from 8:30a
9 AM Attendees will be in Group A or B.
Group A will be on one side of the tables. Group B on the other.
Starting at 9, you’ll have just over 4 minutes to:
A) Give your 30-second commercial
B) Give your 30-second commercial
A) Ask questions
B) Answer questions and ask your own
A) Answer Questions
A+B) Decide if you’d like to pursue a deeper one-on-one another time (or perhaps sit together if / when you stay for our Lunch & Learn).
All the “A” people get up, move one chair to the right, and we start again!
We’re hoping to get each of us together with as many as 20+ other people for a great, personal exchange of ideas and info in two hours, plus networking time before and for an hour after the Event!
Author of WebForging, A Practical Guide to the Art of Forging Your Web Presence https://WebForging.com This 242-page guide is written in non-geek speak especially for small business owners. Copies are available for half off ($20) if Keith signs yours at the event!
We aim to extend the value of the enhanced relationships built in our Wisconsin Business Owners Group, in person and online. Extend the value of your deepening relationships with our LinkedIn Wisconsin Business Owners Group.
Jamie is the owner of The Expressory. See her video at her page here…a clear expression of the importance of a personal touch!
