Free Resource! Micromentoring. July 8, 2008

Micromentor.org matches entrepreneurs with mentors to create short-term (3 month) relationships. It works somewhat like a dating service: you create a profile of your business, and after you go live on Micromentor.org, you can connect with mentors to request mentoring, and mentors looking for proteges can also send you connection requests.

After a match is made, you are asked to spend three hours per month working with your mentor (usually via email) and then another 3 hours each month implementing your mentor’s suggestions.

I’ve just signed up, so i’ll post updates on how it’s going, but it sounds promising. I’m very excited.

Free Resource! Online business course. July 8, 2008

My Own Business is a site designed to help you no matter what stage you’re at in your business.

They offer a free e-course that covers all the steps, from researching your market to projecting cashflows to expansion. Quizzes and business plan templates also included. Might be worth giving a whirl! I know I will be.

http://www.myownbusiness.org/

Using The Law of Reciprocity to Increase Sales May 14, 2008

Excerpted from an article by Tom Ninness, Vice President/Regional Production Manager for Cherry Creek Mortgage in Denver, CO. Ninness is the creator of the “The 90 Day Journey to Your Sales Success”, a powerful 90 day action plan for the sales professional. To learn more about The Journey and all what Summit Champions has to offer, go to www.90dayjourney.com or email Tom.The Law of Reciprocity. The Law of Reciprocity means to give and take mutually, to return in kind or even in another kind or degree. The law of reciprocity simply means that when someone gives something, you feel an obligation to give back. Stephen Covey, author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, uses the phrase “emotional bank account” to describe the principle of reciprocity and the corresponding credit-withdrawal process in relationships. Using the metaphor of a financial bank account, the emotional bank account describes the trust that accumulates in a relationship. Like the financial bank account, you must make deposits before you can make withdrawals.

How do you turn down business you don’t want? May 9, 2008

An interesting discussion I brought up at a networking lunch today. How do you turn down business you don’t want?

I don’t mean, “I’m too busy to take you on, here, let me refer you to someone else.”

I mean, “I don’t want to work with you–I don’t get along with you, I’ve heard too many bad things about you, I don’t like how you operate,” etc.

Dress for Success, but do it your way. April 30, 2008

I had a great discussion with a fellow entrepreneur recently about dressing for success. He wears a suit to practically every networking group. I wear fashionable jeans. So how are we both perfectly capable of running a professional business?