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BUSINESSLINK NEWSLETTER
SME BusinessLink Community Newsletter 27 December 2011
HTTP://SMEBUSINESSLINK.COM
December 27, 2011
Authored by: Phillip Chichoni
http://smebusinesslink.com
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BUSINESSLINK NEWSLETTERBUSINESSLINK NEWSLETTERBUSINESSLINK NEWSLETTERBUSINESSLINK NEWSLETTER
SME BusinessLink Community Newsletter 27 December 2011
ContentsContentsContentsContents
READERS FEEDBACK .................................................................................................... 2
ACCELERATE YOUR GROWTH IN 2012: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 15TH DECEMBER SEMINAR ... 3
SIX THINGS YOU MUST DO BEFORE STARTING A BUSINESS ................................................. 5
PROFESSIONALS INVITED TO JOIN BUSINESSLINK COMMUNITY NETWORK AND GET BUSINESS 6
SME BUSINESSLINK COMMUNITY REFERRAL NETWORK TO GENERATE $2 MILLION IN 2012 ... 7
SUCCESS SYSTEMS - ABUNDANT KNOWLEDGE ................................................................ 8
SME ASSOCIATION SET TO TRANSFORM THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN 2012 ................... 9
9 THINGS THAT MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES MORE THAN MONEY ............................................ 10
ENTREPRENEURS: CONTROL YOUR OPTIMISM ................................................................ 12
RULES OF THE ROAD: THE QUICK GUIDE TO BETTER NETWORKING ..................................... 13
14 EASY WAYS TO GET INSANELY MOTIVATED ................................................................ 15
BUSINESS IDEAS: FOREVER LIVING– A GOOD BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN ZIMBABWE? ....... 16
SME BUSINESSLINK ................................................................................................ 17
This free weekly newsletter is sent to subscribers on the BusinessLink mailing list. If it has been sent to you in error, or you no longer wish to receive it, please reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line. To subscribe just reply with SUBSCRIBE on the subject line. Please pass on this newsletter to those in your network.
Coming up in January: State Procurement Board Tenders at the SME BusinessLink Community website
Http://smebusinesslink.com .
Don’t miss out on opportunities to grow your busine ss To list your profile and / or advertise your produc ts in this newsletter and on the
BusinessLink Community website, please see the back page.
Let’s grow the BusinessLink Community together
Please send me your thoughts and feedback by email or post your comments at www.facebook/smebusinesslink or on our website. Invite your friends and contacts to subscribe to the free newsletter and also participate in our activities and accelerate each one’s growth! Best wishes in 2012. Phillip Chichoni -Publisher
Copyright © 2011 Admiral Business Systems (Pvt) Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Readers Feedback
Let’s hear from entrepreneurs in the Diaspora
Hi Phillip, Thanks for the interesting newsletter. Keep up the good job. However, I wish you
would include some experiences from Zimbabwean entrepreneurs in the Diaspora, how they are doing in their businesses, both success stories and lessons learnt from failure. I would put it out there to the business Community in the group to see who would be interested in getting the ball rolling. As an entrepreneur in the Diaspora, it is always good to hear how others are faring, and how they are building their brand back into Zimbabwe not just limiting themselves to where they are.
I would be interested in getting the ball rolling for you. What is your circulation like of this newsletter, how many people receive the newsletter? Mufaro C CEO Maritime Centre for African Dance MCAD Inc
Thanks Mufaro for your email. I would urge all those doing business in the Diaspora
to share their stories. Entrepreneurs never stop learning, so your experiences will teach others a few things. Stories and feedback from those living in Zimbabwe will also be greatly appreciated. Please let’s make this newsletter a two way traffic and together we shall achieve more.
Please Mufaro get the ball rolling by sending me your story so I can publish it soon. My mailing list is currently just over 2,000. I wish to see this reach at least 20,000 in
2012, with every reader’s help. All you need to do is to forward this newsletter to people in your group, or simply ask 10 of your friends who are in business or interested in SME issues to subscribe for free by sending me an email with SUBSCRIBE on the subject line ([email protected])
Interact with us We want to know your thoughts and ideas to make this newsletter more exciting and relevant. Please tell us by email to [email protected].
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Accelerate Your Growth in 2012: Highlights from the 15th December seminar By Phillip Chichoni
Business owners from mining, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, manufacturing, Internet and service sectors converged at the Holiday Inn in Harare for the SME BusinessLink “Accelerate Your Growth in 2012” seminar. Delegates came from Harare, Norton, Chinhoyi and Ndola, Zambia.
The DVD of the seminar will be available from the 2nd of January (See below). Here are the highlights for those who couldn’t make it.
The event started with introductions by the MC Evel yn Gondo. Well, Miss Gondo was kind of surprised that the majority of the business owners were quite young, unlike the picture she had in mind of big bellied and elderly gentlemen and ladies. Well, that’s the new economy; people of all ages are starting businesses in this country. It’s only a matter of time before we have a top-ten list of the youngest self-made millionaires in Zimbabwe; watch this publication.
The first presentation was by Farai Mutambanengwe, a business advisor, director of Adway Financial Servi ces and columnist on entrepreneurship in the Financial Gazette. He
spoke about the need to prepare your business structures for growth. This involves preparing your operational, accounting and financial systems, management and capital structures for growth. The systems and structures you had when starting up a small business will not be adequate for a growing business.
The second presentation was by William Makava, a Social Media and E-Business Consultant. He is also the Chief Executive of Likwena Limited, a Seychelles International Business Company. William has helped set up many online businesses and is a Director at the following firms:
www.angelistacakeshop.com; www.forlandigital.com; www.dzimbaonline.com; www.jobvacs.com. William is also avid Inbound Marketer and helps businesses sell more using inbound marketing and social media. William spoke about how the internet has drastically reduced the costs communication and marketing, which is a good thing for SMEs who want to grow their businesses but with low budgets. Social network and inbound marketing costs very little but have the potential to bring you lots of eager customers.
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After the tea break, Patience Magodo, the Head of Credit at CABS spoke about the SME Finance package that was specially designed for small to medium businesses .The affordable loan and employee benefits
package is for businesses with at least 5 employees on its payroll who want to grow their businesses, build capacity and expand to the next level. Mrs. Magodo pointed out that many applicants are not providing true and realistic information and are being turned down. She has worked with entrepreneurs for decades and can notice cooked up financial statements and unrealistic business plans. You will find full requirements for the package at our website or at the nearest CABS branch.
My presentation covered the step-by step process of developing a strategic plan for growing your business. You will find the full process explained in my book, “Developing a Three Step Strategic Plan to Grow Your Business”, available at Innov8 bookshops and from our sales department.
The reigning ZNCC Entrepreneur of the Year, Mr. Sam uel Mudavanhu , spoke passionately about his tribulations as he struggled to set up business, failing several times before finally succeeding. He runs a number of businesses, including Apollo Wholesale, Build Zimbabwe and other real estate projects. His dream business, Maranatha Junior and High Schools, is fast growing, with an enrolment of over 1,000.
The next to present, after a scrumptious buffet lunch at the Vumba Restaurant, was Gabriel Chipara, an accountant, business consultant and entrepreneur . He spoke on the importance of marketing if you want your business to grow. Marketing is what lets customers know about your product so as to buy it, and is the essence of all business. He emphasized networking as a great way of building contacts that can help you in marketing and selling your products and getting business partners.
At the end of the seminar, participants said they benefitted a lot from the presentations and want more such programs in the New Year. One business owner put it clearly: “Entrepreneurs need to be learning all the time. Such platforms help us learn new things, benefit from others’ experiences and provide great networking opportunities.”
True, networking makes life easier in business; you don’t have to struggle to solve problems, you just ask for help from someone in your network. The more contacts you have the more solutions and help you can access.
The next SME BusinessLink networking event is the Breakfast meeting on Friday 28th January 2012. The venue and guest speaker will be announced in the coming weeks. If you wish to be a guest speaker at future meetings, please send me your details by email.
The DVD of the full seminar will be available from 2 January, at a price of $5.00 for those who attended the seminar and SME BusinessLink Gold Club subscribers, and $15 for non-subscribers. See the back page for contact details of our sales team.
Please email your feedback and comments to [email protected]
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Six things you must do before starting a business By Phillip Chichoni
Will your great new idea succeed in this slow economy? With many SMEs struggling to survive due to a lack of affordable finance, slow demand and an unfavorable business environment of high tariffs, intermittent utilities supply and competition from cheap Chinese and South African imports, is there a way of knowing if your new business can grow and be profitable? Some may think you will never know until you try, so you should just go ahead and do it. But there are ways to prepare yourself before actually launching a new business. Here are six things that if you do, will enhance the chances of your new business succeeding. 1. Understand your industry The first thing to do when thinking of starting a business is to get to know your industry. Or, if you haven’t yet decided on a specific idea, you should find an industry that fits your talents, knowledge and skills. There is no shortage of opportunities in Zimbabwe, even for people with a small budget. When focusing on your chosen industry, be sure to research it thoroughly. Talk to industry veterans, read industry journals, seek information from industry associations and business experts. You might also make valuable contacts while doing the research. With adequate knowledge, you will reduce surprises that can sink your new venture. 2. Understand the competition One of the mistakes new entrepreneurs make is to under-estimate the competition. The truth is there is no profitable business that does not have competition. Study the competition, visit their businesses and their web sites, and examine their products and services. To succeed in business, you must have a strategy amidst the competition. For example, you could differentiate your offering and make your business unique, or offer better value or unbeatable service. 3. Have a plan You definitely need a plan, because failing to plan is planning to fail. A business plan will provide guidance on where you want to go with your business and how you will get there. It will also provide milestones or targets to help you stay on the critical path to your goals. Without a plan, you will be groping in the dark and you will greatly disadvantage yourself. Business planning resources are available for downloading on my blog, http://chichonip.wordpress.com 4. Understand the importance of marketing Most entrepreneurs, especially those from a technical background, do not understand the importance of marketing. Some assume that because their product or service is so good, people will naturally queue up to buy it. In real life, many firms with excellent goods and services have failed because of a poor marketing strategy. An entrepreneur must understand marketing and selling. One piece of advice I like is from the book “Cold Calling Is A Waste of Time: Sales Success in the Information Age” by Frank Rambauskas. He says to “never waste time with a prospect who has no need for your product; cannot afford your product; has just bought from the competition or will
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only buy in the distant future.” Knowing such rules of marketing will help you spend your efforts on strategies that work. 5. Seek advice from friends and mentors The key skills of business are not written in books and cannot be learned in a class. They are imparted, person to person, by those who have done it and succeeded in the field. A mentor is someone who will help you with expertise and business advice, motivate you, and help you bolster your networking efforts or help you balance your work and life relationship. You can look for mentors among family, friends, the business community, the academic community or people from your church. Because he has already experienced the challenges of business, a mentor will impart such knowledge to you so that you do not necessarily have to learn from the school of hard-knocks, that is, personal experience. Pick a mentor that you are comfortable working with, and who is accessible and approachable when needed. 6. Do a test run Testing your product or service is a good way to learn if customers want it. Their feedback will help you improve your offering and meet their needs more closely. The idea is to get to know your customers more intimately so as to be able to thoroughly satisfy their needs. You could start by testing your product among family, friends and acquaintances. That way you can make necessary corrections and adjustments before your product reaches the general public.
Please email your thoughts to [email protected]
Professionals Invited to join BusinessLink Community network and get business By Phillip Chichoni
We are constantly receiving enquiries from SMEs requiring services in different aspects of business, including accounting, auditing, human resource systems, operational systems, IT, Internet, web design, marketing and selling, strategic planning, branding etc.
If you are an expert in any service that is needed by SMEs this is your opportunity to expand your customer base and grow your business by listing your profile at the BusinessLink Community. Please email your profile to me [email protected] for consideration.
The SME BusinessLink Community is growing very fast and many of the business owners require professional services and advice in order to improve their businesses so as to move up to the next level. Having your profile among the BusinessLink suppliers and service providers will open many opportunities for you as a professional to expand your business, while providing many networking opportunities so you can expand your list of useful contacts. Rush now and send me your profile and start accelerating your growth.
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SME BusinessLink Community referral network to generate $2 million in 2012
SME BusinessLink online business referral network s et for serious business
The purpose of the network is to create new business opportunities for members so as to accelerate their growth. This will be achieved by the BusinessLink team sourcing business from companies, institutions, SMEs (members and non-members) and government departments and sharing it among the members. The Community provides a platform for exchanging business among members. The team will market the Community so as to grow it into the largest referral business network for SMEs in Southern Africa. We aim to generate business worth at least US$2 million for our members during 2012. (Example: 500 consulting assignments worth $4,000 each = $2 million, or 1,000 x $2,000 jobs =$2m) This will generate referral commission of up to $400,000 for those who refer business. Suppliers are listed on the Zimbabwe Suppliers Listing directory at the website http://smebusinesslink.com.
Those participating in the rewards program have the sticker below on their profile
If you find a customer who needs any product or service, search for a supplier on the directory, or send an email to [email protected], and we will link you with a supplier.
All suppliers are SME BusinessLink Gold Club members and are committed to provide the highest level of service at fair prices and to act with integrity at all times. Those who breach this commitment will be removed from the Gold Club.
Suppliers who wish to join the Gold Club and benefit from referral business may contact [email protected] to obtain a subscription form. Hurry and subscribe now as profiles are listed according to date of subscription and there is a limit of ten suppliers per profession, service or product.
Between October and November, nearly $22,000 of business was referred to SME BusinessLink Gold Club members, earning the referrers about $4,500 in commission.
As a year-end promotion, the first 10 people to refer customers between now and 10 January 2012 will get free Gold Club membership for one year (valued at $100) in addition to the commission. 15% commission for non-subscribers, while subscribers are entitled to 20%. The more customers you refer, the more commission you earn. If you need more information on this, please visit the website or send me an email ([email protected])
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Success Systems - Abundant Knowledge By Milton Kamwendo
Imagine a world with no books and all
information and knowledge can only be transmitted orally - reading is taboo. How fast would business move? How deep would learning and study be? What would that world look like? What would be the nature of the churches of that day? What would your life be like?
A key to greatness is abundant knowledge and better put: abundant reading. Anyone who does not read has no advantage over a person
who cannot read. Read Daily
For reading to be an important success system you must read daily. Habit is stronger than knowledge. What you do daily determines what you become permanently. If you read daily you will become mentally strong and if you read casually you risk mental casualty and a weak mind. Reading stimulates areas of your brain - it is vital mental exercise and stimulation.
Read widely The person of one book is dangerous and poor. Read widely. No one person has monopoly over wisdom, ideas or revelation. When you read widely you begin to see the full beauty of the world and of ideas. Imagine a house with only one elevation. Imagine a garden with one plant. Now imagine a bookshelf with only one book. Most to be pitied is a mind that can only fit one idea! Read widely and your world will be ever expanding. Visit a Bookshop Weekly A bookshop is not some form of jail. Visit a good bookshop every week at least. Even if you do not buy, a good bookshop will have plenty books that you can just browse. Browsing books is not an idle act but a very useful mental exercise. It stimulates your imagination and it challenges your knowledge gaps.
A good bookshop will have a good array of books that covers all ages and book ranges. It will have something new every week at least. It will not look or feel like a prison but a friendly place that is welcoming. The bookshop staff will be friendly and knowledgeable. They will have an interest in you and in the books they sell. At Innov8 Bookshop we are trying to live up to these ideals. Let me know how you feel we are doing? May I invite you to our community of inspired people at: www.innov8motivation.ning.com and I will appreciate your follow on Twitter: @MiltonKamwendo.
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SME Association set to transform the business environment in 2012
The recently formed SME Association of Zimbabwe is going to be a transformative organisation for the Zimbabwean economy in 2012 and beyond.
For too long, small and medium sized businesses have operated without an active representative and lobby body, unlike other sectors of business such as big companies that have the CZI and ZNCC and miners (Chamber of Mines) etc.
As a result, SMEs have borne the brunt of the difficult economic environment and suffered from unfair business terms and laws and regulations that are not friendly to small business.
According to the founder of the association, Farai Mutambanengwe, this group is going to change things and create an environment that is friendly to small
business growth. Of course for this to happen, SMEs themselves have to come together and work hard to get results.
The association is set to get into serious business from January. Currently, the group is working on getting registered, opening bank accounts, setting up a website and coming up with membership fee structures. Once these things are sorted, then the real businesses of coming up with priorities and action plans will begin. In the meantime, those interested in contributing ideas can post them at the association’s facebook page, www.facebook.com/SMEAZ.
We will keep you updated on the association’s activities through this newsletter.
Share your stories and words of advice Share your business stories, experiences and words of advice with other entrepreneurs. Success or failure, we can also learn from you. Please send your contributions to: [email protected].
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9 Things That Motivate Employees More Than Money Don't show 'em the money (even if you have it). Here are nine better ways to boost morale.
By Ilya Pozin | @ilyaNeverSleeps
The ability to motivate employees is one of the greatest skills an entrepreneur can possess. Two years ago, I realized I didn’t have this skill. So I hired a CEO who did.
Josh had 12 years in the corporate world, which included running a major department at Comcast. I knew he was seasoned, but I was still skeptical at first. We were going through some tough growing pains, and I thought that a lack of cash would make it extremely difficult to improve the company morale.
I was wrong. With his help and the help of the great team leaders he put in place, Josh not only
rebuilt the culture, but also created a passionate, hard-working team that is as committed to growing and improving the company as I am.
Here are nine things I learned from him:
1. Be generous with praise. Everyone wants it and it’s one of the easiest things to give. Plus, praise from the CEO goes a lot farther than you might think. Praise every improvement that you see your team members make. Once you’re comfortable delivering praise one-on-one to an employee, try praising them in front of others.
2. Get rid of the managers. Projects without project managers? That doesn’t seem right! Try it. Removing the project lead or supervisor and empowering your staff
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to work together as a team rather then everyone reporting to one individual can do wonders. Think about it. What’s worse than letting your supervisor down? Letting your team down! Allowing people to work together as a team, on an equal level with their co-workers, will often produce better projects faster. People will come in early, stay late, and devote more of their energy to solving problems.
3. Make your ideas theirs. People hate being told what to do. Instead of telling people what you want done; ask them in a way that will make them feel like they came up with the idea. “I’d like you to do it this way” turns into “Do you think it’s a good idea if we do it this way?”
4. Never criticize or correct. No one, and I mean no one, wants to hear that they did something wrong. If you’re looking for a de-motivator, this is it. Try an indirect approach to get people to improve, learn from their mistakes, and fix them. Ask, “Was that the best way to approach the problem? Why not? Have any ideas on what you could have done differently?” Then you’re having a conversation and talking through solutions, not pointing a finger.
5. Make everyone a leader. Highlight your top performers’ strengths and let them know that because of their excellence, you want them to be the example for others. You’ll set the bar high and they’ll be motivated to live up to their reputation as a leader.
6. Take an employee to lunch once a week. Surprise them. Don’t make an announcement that you’re establishing a new policy. Literally walk up to one of your employees, and invite them to lunch with you. It’s an easy way to remind them that you notice and appreciate their work.
7. Give recognition and small rewards. These two things come in many forms: Give a shout out to someone in a company meeting for what she has accomplished. Run contests or internal games and keep track of the results on a whiteboard that everyone can see. Tangible awards that don’t break the bank can work too. Try things like dinner, trophies, spa services, and plaques.
8. Throw company parties. Doing things as a group can go a long way. Have a company picnic. Organize birthday parties. Hold a happy hour. Don’t just wait until the holidays to do a company activity; organize events throughout the year to remind your staff that you’re all in it together.
9. Share the rewards—and the pain. When your company does well, celebrate. This is the best time to let everyone know that you’re thankful for their hard work. Go out of your way to show how far you will go when people help your company succeed. If there are disappointments, share those too. If you expect high performance, your team deserves to know where the company stands. Be honest and transparent.
Ilya Pozin Ilya Pozin founded his first company, Ciplex, at age 17. The digital marketing and creative agency caters to small businesses and start-ups. Ciplex, which has received the Inc.500/5000 award for two consecutive years, is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Jerusalem, Serbia, and Germany. In 2010 Ilya hired a new CEO and moved into the President/CMO role so that he could focus on building new ventures. Originally from Russia,
he currently resides in L.A. with his wife and daughter.
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Entrepreneurs: Control Your Optimism Even in tough times, entrepreneurs are incurable optimists. But too much optimism can blind you to the obstacles ahead. By Norm Brodsky | @normbrodsky | From the December 2011 issue of Inc. magazine
Consider a recent survey of Inc. 5000 CEOs that appeared in the magazine's October issue. Eighty-five percent of respondents described their companies as "strong" or "very strong"; only 25 percent felt the same way about the economy as a whole. Even the worst economy in 80 years can't get a business owner down.
That said, if you happen to be an entrepreneur—especially a first-time entrepreneur—you would be wise to keep a leash on your optimism. I'm not saying you should stop being optimistic. Optimism is great. You wouldn't have a business without it. But unless it's balanced by realism, optimism can blind you to obstacles and lead you to take unwise risks. In the start-up phase, over optimism usually takes the form of unrealistic sales projections, which lead to inaccurate cash-flow projections, which in turn lead to incorrect estimates of the start-up capital needed, which then lead to running out of cash. Overly optimistic sales projections can also cause trouble during the expansion phase of a business, but the greater danger there is that you won't take into account everything that could go wrong with your growth plans.
I speak from experience. Back in 1988, my over optimism landed my messenger business in Chapter 11. The key mistake I made was to use the credit of my healthy business, Perfect Courier, to prop up a very sick business, Sky Courier, which I had recently acquired. It never crossed my mind that I might not be able to make Sky Courier successful. But it failed, bringing Perfect Courier down with it. The latter's demise happened only because I had tied the fate of the two businesses together. It took me three years to work my way out of Chapter 11, which gave me plenty of time to think about what I had done wrong and why, and how to avoid doing it again. Part of the problem, I realized, was over optimism, which led me to make crucial decisions without thinking through the pros and cons.
So I came up with two rules. First, if you have a viable business, protect it. Don't do anything that would jeopardize it. Above all, walk away from any opportunity that could bring the main business down if things don't go as planned. Second, never make a major decision about your business without first taking a shower. That's right—a shower. Not only do I do my best thinking in the shower, but I never have time to take one during the day. So I'm actually telling myself to put off the decision at least until the next morning. In the beginning, I had a hard time following this rule, but it eventually became second nature. I can't say I haven't made any mistakes since adopting it, but I've at least managed to avoid making big ones. Plus, I'm cleaner than ever.
From Inc.com
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Rules of the road: The quick guide to better networking By Tom Searcy
Here's a secret: I hate networking. Really. Truly. It's not something I'm proud of, but there it is. Yes, I train sales professionals and advise on sales leadership and large account selling for a living. And yet, no, I do not enjoy the act of networking. But instead of hiding from it, I've embraced it. I've collected advice from a few experts through books, workshops and friends, and I've compiled them here for you. Let's be honest: when you can't fight it, you have to learn how to survive it. Here are a few tips to help. 1. First and foremost, it's not all about you. Keith Ferrazzi's book, Never Eat Alone, taught me a lot about networking, and the most important point is that it's not about you. If you spend your time meeting people and trying to see if there is a way you can be of help to them, you put your mind in the right order, and it is easier. Why? Because you may not be a great networker, but you are a great problem solver. If you can help someone else with an issue, idea or contact, you are working in the sweet spot of your skills. Along the way, good things will happen for you, too. 2. Set your goals. When I attend an event, I typically have between one to three people I specifically want to meet who I've picked out in advance. If they are not there, or they are completely encumbered, I go to my back-up goal. Set a number of new people, let's say five or 10, who you are going to meet, ask two questions, and swap cards with. Once you have hit your number, you are off the hook. You met your goal and you can go home, see a movie, catch the end of the game at the bar, it doesn't matter. You set a goal and you hit it. These networking events are not a prison-sentence if you don't make them one. 3. Ask good questions. "What do you do?" "Tell me about your company" and "How long have you been with your company/this industry/this association?" are all typical openers and they get typical answers. Boring. Try a few other questions instead: -- "What business problem does your company solve? What is the best example you have of how you are doing that?" -- "What has been the biggest win for you/your company in the last six months? What do you think it will be in the next six months?" -- "What is the most interesting initiative you have planned at your company this year? How will that change your company the most?" The point is that you want to pose questions that provoke and initiate conversation out of the normal routine. These questions should help you achieve that. Once people have answered your questions, you have just one more to ask: "That's great. Is there some way I can help you?" 4. Exit gracefully. I watched a real pro work a room at a cocktail party the other night. She would introduce herself, ask a question or two, ask if she could help, and then she would simply put her hand out to shake and say, "It has been so nice to spend a few minutes getting to know you. I hope you have a great spring." She would smile graciously and just move on. She took the initiative to introduce herself, controlled the
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conversation with a few questions, and then she left. There is a courtesy to be observed at a networking event that involves not monopolizing someone's time. The rhythm she set was at just the right tempo to accomplish what a networking event should do. More expert advice on networking Business networking without looking desperate: 5 rules. When it's all over, you should come away from every networking event with these things: -- Business cards of contacts with any commitments you made written on the back of the card for you to follow up on the next day -- A few new prospects or industry contacts -- More information about your industry, competitors and clients than you had on the way in Lastly, here are just a few important reminders: -- Take your business cards to the event -- Smile -- Be the first to put your hand out and introduce yourself -- every time -- Send a quick email to every person you have a card from the next day. Thank them for their time and the opportunity to meet them. (This has ridiculous ROI.) -- Don't complain. Just because this isn't your thing, no one wants to hear that you hate it, the food is bad, the place is loud or the people are weird. You're there: do your job and go home. For some people, all of this is natural and I envy them. For others, like myself, if I have a process and some guidelines, it helps take some of the stress out of networking and I even learn to enjoy it...kinda.
Let’s Network and grow our businesses Networking is one of the most effective ways of marketing your products and services at a low cost. Join the SME BusinessLink Community at Facebook and Linked and increase your contacts. Look for SME BusinessLink at Facebook and Linked, join the groups and start posting your comments, thoughts and ideas.
http://smebusinesslink.com
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14 Easy Ways to Get Insanely Motivated These simple strategies will keep you energized through the holidays and well into the New Year. By Geoffrey James | Dec 19, 2011
It's getting toward the end of the year, so with the holidays in sight, I thought it appropriate to give you all a little gift: a column that I guarantee will make you more successful in the coming year. Here are 14 quick strategies to get and keep you motivated: 1. Condition your mind. Train yourself
to think positive thoughts while avoiding negative thoughts. 2. Condition your body. It takes physical energy to take action. Get your food and exercise budget in place and follow it like a business plan. 3. Avoid negative people. They drain your energy and waste your time, so hanging with them is like shooting yourself in the foot. 4. Seek out the similarly motivated. Their positive energy will rub off on you and you can imitate their success strategies. 5. Have goals–but remain flexible. No plan should be cast in concrete, lest it become more important than achieving the goal. 6. Act with a higher purpose. Any activity or action that doesn’t serve your higher goal is wasted effort--and should be avoided. 7. Take responsibility for your own results. If you blame (or credit) luck, fate or divine intervention, you’ll always have an excuse. 8. Stretch past your limits on a daily basis. Walking the old, familiar paths is how you grow old. Stretching makes you grow and evolve. 9. Don't wait for perfection; do it now! Perfectionists are the losers in the game of life. Strive for excellence rather than the unachievable. 10. Celebrate your failures. Your most important lessons in life will come from what you don't achieve. Take time to understand where you fell short. 11. Don’t take success too seriously. Success can breed tomorrow's failure if you use it as an excuse to become complacent. 12. Avoid weak goals. Goals are the soul of achievement, so never begin them with "I'll try ..." Always start with "I will" or "I must." 13. Treat inaction as the only real failure. If you don’t take action, you fail by default and can't even learn from the experience. 14. Think before you speak. Keep silent rather than express something that doesn’t serve your purpose. The above is based on a conversation with Omar Periu, one of the world’s best (and best known) motivational speakers. Copyright © 2011 Mansueto Ventures LLC. All rights reserved. Inc.com, 7 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007-2195.
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Business Ideas: Forever Living– A Good Business Opportunity in Zimbabwe? By Max Soutter
Max, "What kind of business can I start in Zimbabwe ?”
It's one of the business questions I get almost daily. “And what if I
only have a start-up budget of $1000? Or $500? Or $300?”
Throughout 2011 I’ve offered a few answers, and usually I make it
clear that no industry guarantees success…it comes down to a few
factors, not least of which is your marketing. Today though I want to
show you what I believe is one of the best small business
opportunities available in Zimbabwe and how to get in while there’s
still money to be made!
Forever Living Products - Network Marketing
First, here’s what you DON'T NEED to make this business happen for you;
1) A big budget – you can get started with as little as $240
2) A full day – You can start off part-time and gradually ease into it
3) Years of business experience – Even if you’ve never run a business before
4) Any impressive qualifications – You need ANY academic qualifications at all
5) A fancy office – Work from home…or your car if you want to!
It's the beauty of some of the network marketing (multi-level marketing) opportunities that
have become available in Zimbabwe in the last 2 or 3 years. They're all easy to get into and
Forever Living is the easiest.
Now to be clear, you do need to work, hard and smart. There is no success for the lazy in
ANY business. So what is Forever Living and how does it work?
First you should understand that it's designed to function within a Network Marketing
structure. Network marketing is the kind of marketing that relies on you building a network of
people to sell product for you - a sales team. In the case of Forever Living, you're selling some
really extraordinary Health products, proven world-wide to produce excellent results.
Now your sales team could consist of your friends, family, co-workers – whoever. Each
person joins your network and the Forever Living family as a business owner and a sales
person and you are rewarded with a percentage of profits from any sale made by one of your
sales recruits!
Over time, as your Forever Living sales team grows, you start to build a source of semi -
passive income, because you're making a profit off of their efforts. This together with the money
you make from your own sales can eventually add up to a decent, even extraordinary income,
far above what most jobs and some small businesses in Zimbabwe could ever offer you.
Interested in joining Forever Living? Visit my website http://bizsetup.wordpress.com.
http://smebusinesslink.com
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SME BUSINESSLINK
Contact the SME BusinessLink Team Phillip Chichoni [email protected] Mobile 0777 774 007 Christine Mangwanya [email protected], 0772 854 301 Simbarashe Kambarami [email protected] 0772 450 157 Resources available from SME BusinessLink to help accelerate your growth
1) Business Planning Simplified handbook
Print edition $18 CD version $10
2) The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business in Zimbabwe
Print edition $6 Part of Business Starter Pack CD($9)
3) High Impact Low Cost Marketing Strategies for SMEs
Print edition $8 Part of Business Starter Pack CD ($9)
4) Developing a Three Step Strategic Plan to Grow Your Business
Print edition $12 Part of Business Starter Pack CD($9)
5) Accelerate Your Growth in 2012 Seminar (15 Dec 2011) DVD
DVD $15
6) Audio books- any three books of your choice per CD. Includes John Maxwell, Brian Tracy, Robert Kiyosaki and Zig Ziglar; see the full list of the books at our website or send us an email request and we will send it to you.
$8 per CD with 3 books
To list your classified advertisements in this newsletter for free, please email a maximum of twenty words to [email protected]
Select one of the classified headings below: 1. For Sale 2. Wanted to buy 3. Consultancy and business services 4. Accommodation and business premises
