Connection Opportunities - Austin

Presented By: Gary D. Seale

Pain, Perseverance, Character & Hope

The Template / Pattern

Romans 5:3 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which he has given us.”

Connection Opportunities - AustinTime to go all out

It’s a full front war

Pain, Perseverance, Character & Hope

We all have a decision to make

Persevere, Avoid, Escape

Plan - Develop Options

“ Focus directly on the Lord, not the odds against you. People typically focus on their circumstances, on others, on yourself, or on the Lord. Any focus other than the Lord, we will drift and ultimately fail.” Chuck Swindoll

Pain, Perseverance, Character & Hope

Perseverance

James 1:4 “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”

2 Peter 1:6 “and to knowledge, self control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;”

Connection Opportunities - AustinGoal = Employment

Power of personal contact

How to have personal contact

Where to have personal contact

Use a CRM

Guerilla marketing networking tips – Cards, personal website

Connection Opportunities - AustinA face to face personal contact is worth five times a phone call or ten times an e-mail

Goal: Looking for direct employment opportunities

Goal: Looking for referral partner opportunities

Most people know between 8 to 18 people where they could refer you

Connection Opportunities - Austin

Connection Opportunities - Austin◦ Must Have; Personal Inexpensive

Marketing Tools

1. Clearly defined job goal /or Referral partner

2. Professional Quality Business Cards

3. Resume available – With accomplishments and skills detailed

4. Elevator pitch memorized w/tag line

5. Follow up process

Connection Opportunities - AustinHow to have personal contact

Schedule coffee, tea, breakfast, lunch with previous business associates and friends

Ask questions: How are they doing? How is business? What are the trends in your industry? Have you seen any opportunities that match my skill set? Can you refer me to someone else who might refer me?

Connection Opportunities - AustinHow to have personal contact

Attend networking meetings where employers and networking partners may be going

Arrive 30 minutes early and plan to stay 15-30 minutes over

Have business cards available, introduce your self to a minimum of 3 people, 5 is better

Ask for their card first before you offer yours.

Connection Opportunities - Austin

Connection Opportunities - AustinHave a 30-45 second intro talk memorized

Name, skill set with experience, looking for opportunities to serve in the ______ industry.

Be positive - don’t complain about your situation

Follow up with e-mail and paper thank you notes in 24-48 hours

Ask people that present the best referral opportunities for a meeting at their convenience

Connection Opportunities - AustinListen intently to the group introductions, take notes of potential referral partners

Approach them after the meeting if possible

Approach with a soft touch, ask for card and their opinion about the meeting topic, etc

Other ways to approach: Google, Linkedin, Facebook, Yelp, Manta, Organization members list, Company websites

Meetup.com/Austin

Business 25 Miles/Austin – 200+ Groups

BNI International

Area Chamber Meetingshttp://www.austinchamber.com/austin/

http://www.westlakechamber.com/

http://www.cedarparkchamber.org/

http://roundrockchamber.org/

http://www.pfchamber.com/www

http://huttochamber.com/

http://fourpointschamber.com/

http://georgetownchamber.org/

Austin Chamber of Commerce Website

Austin Business Journal

Connection Opportunities - AustinCategories to search:

Trade associations – Typically once a month

Business Incubators – Example: Capital Factory

Mixers – Get on the networking group’s e-mail list and surf Meetup.com or the website

Workshops that meet in person

Community service organizations: Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions

Connection Opportunities - Austin

Perseverance Quotes

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory or defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt

Connection Opportunities - AustinA follow up template

Initial personal contact – @ networking mtg – Day 1

Thank you / follow up note – 24/48 hours

Reach out with invite to connect. Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook – 2-4 days latter

Note w/business article about their area of business –(Linkedin – Pulse / Harvard Business Review) 5 Days

Phone call for personal one to one – 15 to 20 days from initial contact

Linkedin Connection Process

Profile Info – Use Caps – Have References

Join Groups (Under the Interests Tab) That may contain hiring managers

Join in posting – Contribute – Select members in upper right hand corner

Obtain snapshots – 1st level connections or 2nd and 3rd

CEO Search

Note Title, Company name, e-mail address, phone mumber

Personalized Invitation to Connect on Linkedin

New Connection Snapshots

Connection Opportunities - AustinLinkedin Follow up Process

Send a thanks for connecting e-note back via Linkedin

Set them up in a CRM

In 5-7 days send an article that relates to their business or job responsibility

Two weeks out; e-mail a personal intro and follow up with a phone call in less than 24 hours to introduce yourself

Connection Opportunities - AustinLinkedin Follow up Process

Establish your own group with an industry focus where you have knowledge

Invite people to join your group – 3-4 weeks out

Start asking for personal meetings with receptive individuals

Connection Opportunities - AustinExpertise Via Perseverance

Generally acknowledged to take at least 10,000 “touches” to be an expert

Example: Medical training and the age of specialization. Ten Years +

Thomas Edison – Invention of the light bulb “I didn’t find a way to make a light bulb, I found a thousand ways how not to make one.”

Empathize your experience and performance

ACT CRM – Personal Record

Connection PrinciplesCharacter

Philippians 3:5 “ But one thing I do; Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Put the past behind you

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” No vacillation

Pre-commitment to not compromise

There is power in having and executing a plan

Too many people succumb to the mistaken belief

that the ability to connect with others is a natural,

unteachable trait that belongs to only a lucky few. It’s

easy to fall prey to this misconception. In reality, this

ability is under your control, and it’s a matter of emotional intelligence (EQ).

How to Connect With Anyone – Travis Bradberry

Given that social connection is such a

fundamental human need, you’d think that

it would be easy to connect with everyone

we meet. Unfortunately, that’s not the

case.

Against our own self-interest, we get

bogged down by shyness, self-

consciousness, cynicism, pride,

competitiveness, jealousy, and arrogance.

If you can get that baggage out of the

way, you can connect with anyone—even

those who are still holding on to their own.

Here are some tips that will help you to connect instantly with everyone you meet.

Leave a strong first impression.

Research shows that most people decide whether or not they

like you within the first seven seconds of meeting you. They

then spend the rest of the conversation internally justifying

their initial reaction. This may sound terrifying, but by

knowing this, you can take advantage of it to connect with

anyone.

First impressions are tied intimately to positive body

language. Becoming cognizant of your gestures,

expressions, and tone of voice (and making certain they’re

positive) will draw people to you like ants to a picnic. Using

an enthusiastic tone, uncrossing your arms, maintaining eye

contact, and leaning towards the person who’s speaking are

all forms of positive body language that high-EQ people use

to draw others in. Positive body language can make all the difference in a conversation.

Be the first to venture beyond the superficial.

Our first conversation or two with a new acquaintance

tends to be pretty superficial. We portray a careful

picture of ourselves, and we stick to nice, safe topics.

We talk about the weather and people we know in

common and share the most basic details about

ourselves.

But if you really want to connect with somebody, try

upping the ante and revealing the real you. You don’t

need to get too personal, but it’s important to let the

other person know what you’re passionate about. Most

of the time, if you open up, the other person will follow your lead and do the same.

Ask good questions.

If the other person seems hesitant to open up,

encourage them to do so by asking substantial

questions. “What do you do?” doesn’t further

the relationship nearly as much as, “Why did

you choose your profession?” Search for

questions that will help you to understand what

makes the other person tick, without getting too personal

Learn from them.

In the course of his research, Lieberman

concluded that our educational system would be

much more effective if we tapped into the social

side of learning, rather than trying to squash it.

For example, the best way to help an eighth-

grader struggling with math would be to have

him get help from another student. Apply that

same principle to your life, and be willing to learn

from the person you’re trying to connect with.

Not only does that make them feel more bonded

to you, it makes them feel important. It also

shows that you’re willing to be vulnerable and

aren’t too proud to admit that you have much to learn.

Don’t make them regret removing the mask.

If your new acquaintance does you the honor of

opening up, don’t make them regret it. Sarcasm,

criticism, or jokes that might make the other

person feel judged for what they’ve shared are

major faux paus. Instead, empathize with their

approach to life, which you can do even if you

don’t agree with their beliefs, and then reciprocate by revealing more about yourself.

Look for the good in them.

Our culture can often predispose us toward

cynicism. We seem to focus on finding reasons

not to like people instead of reasons to like

them. Shut that cynical voice off, and

concentrate on looking for the good in a new

acquaintance. For one thing, that keeps you

from writing someone off too soon, but more

importantly, when you expect the best from

people, they’re likely to deliver it.

Smile.

People naturally (and unconsciously) mirror the body

language of the person they’re talking to. If you want

people to like you, smile at them during a

conversation and they will unconsciously return the favor and feel good about you as a result.

Use their name.

Your name is an essential part of your identity, and it

feels terrific when people use it. You shouldn’t use

someone’s name only when you greet them.

Research shows that people feel validated when the

person they’re speaking with refers to them by name

during a conversation. When you meet someone,

don’t be afraid to ask their name a second time if you

forget it right after you hear it. You’ll need to keep their

name handy if you’re going to remember it the next time you see them.

Follow the platinum rule.

We all know the golden rule, and it’s pretty easy to follow.

The platinum rule is harder to follow because it requires us

to treat people the way they want to be treated. Not only

does doing so make the other person more comfortable—

and therefore more likely to open up—but it also proves

that you’ve been listening and have really heard what

they’ve been telling you. And that shows extra effort on your part.

Don’t make it a contest.

We’ve all seen the stereotypical sit-com scene

where two guys in a bar spend the night trying to

one-up each other. The same thing happens when

you meet someone new. Their accomplishments and

life experience sneak up on you and make you feel

the urge to make yourself look just as good (if not

better). Doing so may stroke your ego, but it doesn’t

help you to connect with them. It keeps you focused

on yourself when you should be trying to learn about them and find common ground.

Turn off your inner voice.

One giant thing that keeps us from connecting with other

people is that we don’t really listen. Instead, we’re thinking

while the other person is talking. We’re so focused on what

we’re going to say next or how what the other person is

saying is going to affect us down the road that we fail to

hear what’s really being said. The words come through loud

and clear, but the meaning is lost.

You must turn off this inner voice if you want to connect

deeply with people. So what if you forget what you were

going to say or if the conversation moves in a different

direction before you have a chance to make your point. If

your real goal is to connect with a person, you have to shut off your own soundtrack long enough to

Gary D. Seale - MBA

https://salestx.wordpress.com/2016/02/06/708/

https://salestx.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/how-to-instantly-connect-with-anyone/