Networking Today Archives: February 2007

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Home Financing Made Easy - Part Three

By Bruce Smith

Buying a home could possibly be the biggest investment you'll ever make. Your ability to position yourself for the best mortgage will help you pay down this investment early and assist you in becoming mortgage free. In Part Three of “Home Financing Made Easy,” we cover the topics of “Information Required at the time of Application” and “Additional Costs Associated with Buying a Home.” If you missed Part One click here or Part Two click here.

Information Required at the Time of Application

Good preparation means assembling all the documentation you may require to present to your mortgage broker at the time the application, or at some point subsequent to the initial meeting. In today’s environment, many applications are done online so scanned or faxed documents are acceptable. The most commonly requested documents are as follows:

Proof of person, photo ID, and social insurance number
Proof of income, employment letter, recent pay stub, three years tax notice of assessment
A list of assets and liabilities
Statement of mortgage(s) on a current home
Proof of down payment, three months of bank statements, gift letter
A voided cheque
Lawyer's information

Additional Costs Associated with Buying a Home

There are four different categories of home buying expenses outside of the mortgage.

The down payment: Paid at closing this amount will be whatever you agree to with the lender. There are $0 down and “cash back” options available to those who qualify.
Closing cost: Paid at closing, these include land transfer tax, legal fees, interest or property tax adjustments, lender fees, and legal disbursements. Lenders typically require you set aside 1.5% of the purchase price of the home to cover these costs.
Mortgage insurance premiums: Purchases with a down payment less than 25% require mortgage insurance. This insurance cost is added directly to the mortgage amount so there is no immediate payout required.
Pre-closing expenses: Paid prior to the closing, some of these expenses may apply:

Appraisal $250 to $450 if required by the lender.
Home inspection, $300 to $500. Optional, but recommended, so you're aware of any potential problems with your home.
Deposit money at the time of offer; $100 to $10,000, held in trust and credited toward your down payment at close.
Other information that may be requested, such as surveys or water samples, etc., may have additional costs associated with them.

Bruce Smith is a consultant with Future Group Mortgages and brings more than 20 years of business enterprise development and funding solutions, through an innovative and effective results driven approach. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Business Management Degree, double majoring in accounting/finance and enterprise development. Future Group Mortgages arranges residential, commercial, and construction mortgages. Contact Bruce at 519.649.2502 ext 3 or bsmith@futuregroup.ca.

Published in Networking Today, February 2007

Negotiating in a Three-Dimensional World

By David A. Lax and James K. Sebenius

Chances are you have found yourself—or expect to find yourself—involved in some sort of bargaining process. Maybe you’ve just been through a tough negotiation, and you have a sense that you could have done better. Maybe you are looking down the road, in your professional or personal life, and see important negotiations looming ahead. Most likely, you’re someone who’s involved in negotiations on a fairly regular basis, and you're simply on the lookout for new and better ideas. Consider the following thoughts.

Most negotiators focus on a single dimension of the bargaining process. They are “one-dimensional,” in our terminology, and the single dimension that they embrace is tactics. One-dimensional bargainers believe that negotiation is mainly what happens at the table. To them, preparation and execution is mainly about process and tactics.

All too often, this one-dimensional approach leaves money on the table. It is inadequate in the tough negotiations in which the other side seems to hold all the cards. It isn’t well-suited to common deal-making challenges such as multiple parties, tricky internal and external negotiations, and shifting agendas. It leads to suboptimal deals, creates needless impasses, and fosters conflicts that could have been avoided.

We have a better approach—one that encourages you to negotiate in three dimensions, not one. We’ve coined the phrase 3-D Negotiation™ to describe our approach, and to distinguish it from most of the negotiations that happen out there.

Tactics, our first dimension, are the persuasive moves you make and the back-and-forth process you choose for dealing directly with the other side at the table. Good tactics can make a deal; bad ones can break it.

Deal Design, our second dimension, includes more than the obvious face-to-face aspects of negotiation. Deal designers know how to probe below this surface to uncover the sources of economic and non-economic value. To unlock that value for the parties, they have a systematic approach to envision and structure creative agreements.

Setup, our third dimension, extends to actions away from the table that shape and re-shape the situation for advantage. In deal after deal, we’ve seen the same result: once the parties and issues are fixed, and once the negotiating table has otherwise been set, much of the game has already been played. Therefore, before showing up at the conference room, 3-D Negotiators take the initiative. They act away from the table to set up the most promising possible situation, ready for tactical interplay.

This means ensuring that:

*

the right parties have been approached
*

in the right sequence
*

to deal with the right issues
*

that engage the right set of interests
*

at the right table or tables
*

at the right time
*

under the right expectations
*

and facing the right consequences of walking away if there is no deal

If the setup at the table isn’t promising, this calls for moves to re-set it more favorably. A superior setup plus the right tactics can yield remarkable results that would be unattainable by purely tactical means, however skillful.

The 3-D Negotiation approach requires a different set of insights and skills about setup and deal design, as well as tactics. This new approach can help you in your next set of negotiations.

David A. Lax and James K. Sebenius are the authors of 3D Negotiation – Powerful Tools to Change the Game in Your Most Important Deals (Harvard Business School Press, September 2006). For more information see their book website www.3dnegotiation.com and their business website www.negotiate.com.

Published in Networking Today, February, 2007

7 Ways to Educate Customers in the Classroom & Simultaneously Build Brand Awareness

By Annmarie Edwards

The business world has long recognized the value of creating a recognizable and clearly defined brand. From top business executives to entrepreneurs striving every day in their communities, and from traditional corporations to the Internet, building brand awareness is the most significant marketing practice today. It always will be as consumers continue to seek out their favourite brands.

Your customers are navigating a bewildering range of channels and feverishly marketed products before making a purchase decision. We are so bombarded by product brands that we are barely conscious of them much of the time.

In order to compete in today’s cluttered marketing environment, businesses need access to America’s future customers. They need to start building brand awareness in the classroom before buying and brand loyalty patterns are set.

Here are my top seven ways to educate customers in the classroom and simultaneously build brand awareness.

1.

Distribute product literature and/or give free product samples to learning institutions. Learning institutions are usually open to learn about business products that would enhance and add value to what is being taught in the classroom.
2.

Establish information/demonstration booths in the classroom. The classroom information/demonstration booth will allow students to interact with your company’s product and provide ongoing information to potential customers as they develop their own buying power. Your conversion rates will be much higher due to the education that is available to the students.
3.

Give free training on the use and benefits of the product. This is a perfect opportunity to give students hands on training, and teach them about your product’s value.
4.

Encourage educators to include information about your product or services in a curriculum guide. This one tip has the potential to multiply your market base nation-wide.
5.

Offer a contest that empowers students to buy and use your product. . Sponsor a writing contest or a Future Business Leader of American competition and make one of the rewards a gift certificate. It’s a proven fact that most consumers spend more than the value of the gift card.
6.

Distribute logos to learning institutions. Instructors can use logos in the classroom to help students learn about branding and how companies use this concept to communicate their identity and market their products.
7.

Offer information on production of the goods and how profit is made. Students who are inclined to develop their own products or become business managers will find this of great value.

Customers who are familiar with a certain brand are more likely to remain loyal regardless of inflation. By demonstrating your corporate social responsibility and promoting worthwhile educational programs that bring the needs of educators together with your business needs, you can easily distinguish your product from other brands.

Education marketing helps empower customers to become long-term buyers. Using products in the classroom allows potential customers to interact with (and become conditioned to) your goods and services. By educating customers in the classroom, you will increase your brand awareness, build loyalty, influence spending patterns, and engage in viral word of mouth marketing all at the same time.

Through her writing, speaking, training, and development services, business growth expert, Annmarie Edwards, helps individuals and companies worldwide maximize their full growth potential. To learn more on how you can simultaneously increase your brand awareness, build customer loyalty, influence spending patterns, and engage in viral word-of-mouth marketing, go to: http://www.ariaresearchgroup.com/sponsorship.

Published in Networking Today, February, 2007

Networking in the Job Search World

By Barb Smith

Networking has gotten a bad rap. When I introduce the topic in a workshop, most of the faces looking back at me have assumed an “I’ll listen but don’t expect me to do it” expression. To be completely honest, there was a time when I felt the same way, but not anymore. Although building and using a contact network wasn’t easy, I could no longer ignore all the experts telling me that networking was the road to career success. Guess what? They were right!

The job market is made up of two sectors – the smaller (25-30%) visible market and the larger (70-75%) invisible market. If you compare the two in terms of saturation, here’s how it plays out. The visible market is popular with job seekers (probably due to ease of accessibility) so at any one time, it is safe to assume that most job seekers are spending time applying for those visible jobs. That’s 90 to 100% of job seekers in 25 to 30% of the market making it one competitive arena!

The invisible market is a different story. Here we have approximately 30% of job seekers in the invisible market at any one time. That’s 30% of job seekers in 70 to 75% of the market, a far less competitive scenario. So, how does one access opportunities in the invisible market? You guessed it – networking.

Still not convinced? Consider this: advertising a job opening can cost an employer thousands of dollars. If you are effective in your networking and identify an interesting position before it has been advertised, you have two important factors working in your favour:

1.

You have little, if any competition.
2.

If you win the position, you will be saving the company significant money, making you a favourable candidate.

Give networking a try

Start by making a list of everyone you know, and I mean everyone: your past co-workers, supervisors, the people from the gym, your barber/hairdresser, your lawyer, other soccer/baseball/hockey parents, school/college/university friends; anyone you can think of.

Once you have an exhaustive list, think about what you want to say when you call. You may want information about a company or you may want to let them know you’re in the job market and the kind of job you’re looking for. If it’s the latter, be clear and specific about your goal so your contacts can be effective in helping you find appropriate leads. And don’t forget the magic phrase for building your network: “can you think of anyone else I should be talking to?”

If it feels awkward at first, don’t worry. You’ll get better with practice. If you express your appreciation and look for ways to return the favour, you’ll find that people will help if they can. Wouldn’t you?

Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca

Published in Networking Today, February 2007

Attitude – The 7 Keys to a Positive One

By Nancy Friedman, The Telephone Doctor

Do you know the 7 keys to a great positive mental attitude? Here are the Telephone Doctor’s keys. There are obviously more, but we know that these seven are a great start to a Positive Mental Attitude. I invite you to try them.

Decide in advance what your attitude will be.

Resist negative tendencies.

Humor, energy, and enthusiasm.

Be grateful for what you have

Be a “whatever it takes” person.

Visualize success.

Embrace Change.

Let’s look at these keys.

Ñ Decide your attitude in advance: Yes you can! You, and only you, have complete ability to control your attitude. No one else can decide that for you; not even your parents, co-workers, boss, or neighbors. It is YOUR CHOICE, as you might have always heard. And listen up, there’s a big difference between a bad attitude and a bad mood. Moods are temporary. Attitudes are permanent. Yes, you can have a great attitude with a temporary bad mood. Whatever the situation, it’s the attitude that makes it good or bad. So, the next time you think there’s going to be bad traffic, or whatever the situation might be, plug in your ADVANCE DECISION button and decide to have a good attitude about it. You’ll be surprised at the outcome.

Ñ Visualize success: Keep in mind that what we visualize often becomes true. Why do you think those diet companies suggest you put a thin picture of yourself on the refrigerator? They want you to visualize success. Lance Armstrong, seen-time winner of the Tour de France, always saw himself crossing the finish line. Those who made it to American Idol will tell you they saw themselves on the show throughout the auditions. Visualize success!

Ñ Be a "whatever it takes" type person: Be a problem solver, not a problem giver. It has been said, "whether you say you can, or you can’t, you’re right." Think of ways to get things done. Don’t think of ways it can’t be done. One of my favorite poems by Edgar A. Guest, called It Couldn’t be Done, really takes on a life of its own. It’s all about "he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done, and he did it." I’ve memorized it and it has helped me numerous times.

Ñ Resist negative tendencies:. Ever have lunch or a meeting with Mr. or Mrs. Neggy? Nothing is ever good. They love to wallow in the negative: what went wrong, who failed, why it didn’t work and so on. Mr. & Mrs. Neggy love to have your ear, hoping they can bring you down. Don’t let them. Keep away from those types of people – the ones that complain all the time. Doesn’t matter what it’s about – could be the weather, a friend, their job, etc. They’re out to have you play on their team. Avoid negative people and tendencies.

Ñ Embrace change: My dad had multiple great sayings and one of them involved change. He used to tell me, "Nancy, the next time you change your mind, get a good one." Change is the one thing we can count on. It’s consistent. And in most, not all, but most cases, change is better. The great thing about change is that if we don’t like it, we can change our mind and try something else. So, change is a good thing. It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s needed in so many cases.

Ñ Humor, energy, and enthusiasm: My favorites. Life without these three best friends would be pointless. At least much more difficult. Surround yourself with those who have these 3 characteristics. Make sure you have the ability to laugh at yourself, as well as others. There is normally humor in everything. Granted, you may need to look harder in some places, but I guarantee it’s there. The energy you bring to your job or life is critical to the success of everything you do. Energy creates enthusiasm. So, these three guys are critical to having a great positive mental attitude.

Ñ Be grateful for what you have: A genuine positive mental attitude has no room for jealousy. Others may have more possessions, but positive people are always grateful for what they have right now. In some cases, it may not seem as though we have enough to be grateful for. Ask yourself: if what you have was gone, what would you be left with? Right now, the one thing I’m most grateful for would be my good health. What are YOU most grateful for?

There they are! How many keys do your possess?

Nancy Friedman is president of Telephone Doctor®, an international customer service training company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in customer service and telephone skills. She is a KEYNOTE speaker at association conferences and corporate gatherings and is the author of four best selling books. Call 314-291-1012 for more information or visit the website at www.telephonedoctor.com.

Published in Networking Today, February 2007

How To Get More Hours in Your Day

By Karen Susman

While it's technically impossible to get more hours in your day, here are some ways to get more day in your hours. We all waste time we can never get back. We waste time by:

Not planning.
Not prioritizing, thus spending big time on small matters.
Not delegating, thus spending big time on matters that others could do better than you.
Not listening, thus doing things wrong or doing the wrong things right or doing the wrong things wrong. This necessitates time-consuming repetition of instructions.
Not being timely thus necessitating time wasted being on hold explaining to the power and telephone company why your monthly bill wasn't paid on time.
Not doing it now.
Not creating systems to simplify repeated procedures.
Not knowing when good enough is good enough.

Over-commitment and procrastination give us a sense of getting a lot done while eating up loads of time. Don't confuse being busy with being productive.

What to do? Here are a few ideas:

Watch one hour less of television a day. That will give you an extra fifteen, 24-hour days a year.
De-clutter. Get rid of the mess, the extra copies, the past issues, and the books you don't read or have read and won't read again, extra pens, pencils and junk. Also, de-clutter your commitments, associates and habits that spawn stacks of emotional junk.
Don't wait to get all your ducks in a row before you get started.
Do the best with what you have and then go back and correct any errors. Writers, for instance, are encouraged to get something down on paper without stopping to check spelling, grammar, or syntax. All those interruptions of the creative process are like an acute case of mental hiccups.
Don't do meetings in person. Conference calls and email can save drive time and provide a concise beginning and ending to meetings.
Face-to face has many benefits, but isn't always necessary.
Break the seminar junky habit. Pick and choose conferences carefully. Factor in travel time and other costs in your decision.
Perhaps you can save time and money by purchasing the conference CDs and listening in your car.
Develop a list of five-minute tasks and ten-minute tasks. When you have a few minutes to spare, pick something from the list. Write quick tasks on strips of paper and put into a job jar. Instead of hanging on the refrigerator or cell phone, close your eyes, pick a task and work feverishly for five minutes.
Maybe you've got more energy than you're giving yourself credit for. We've all been exhausted and unable to do one more thing. Then the phone rings with an offer to go dancing or to the movies. Perhaps our favorite aunt is in town unexpectedly and wants to drop by in the next 30 minutes. Suddenly, we're energized, bustling and ready to boogie. So, next time you're convinced you're done for the day, take a big slug of water, stretch and scurry around. You'll harvest an extra hour or two of productivity.
Be hyper-aware of how, who and what wastes your time. Reduce those timewasters and you'll add hours to your day.
Don't forget to have fun. Fun is energizing and approaching life with a hardship attitude drags you down and wears you out.

Now get busy.

Karen Susman is a Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and Author of 102 Top Dog Networking Secrets. Karen works with organizations that want to maximize performance. Programs include Humour at Work; Balance In Life; Networking Skills; Presentation Skills; and Building Community Involvement. Order new guidebooks on humour, networking, time management, and community involvement by calling 1-888-678-8818 or e-mail Karen@KarenSusman.com. www.KarenSusman.com.

Published in Networking Today, February 2007

Staging Simplified…How Much Does it Cost to Stage a House?

By Catherine Brown

Since opening my Accredited Home Staging business two years ago, a question that I’m continually asked is “how much does it cost to stage a house.”

While 2006 was undeniably a record-breaking year for real estate sales, many Realtors admit to feeling a change in the air, one where staging to sell will become a strategic part of their marketing plan.

The goal of an Accredited Staging Professional is to create the appearance of a model home in a resale property, presenting a lifestyle image to the target buyer.

An Accredited Staging Professional who can rent furniture and decorative accessories from their own inventory and rental sources is filling a valuable niche in the changing 2007 real estate market. And the process is probably simpler and less expensive than you think!

Staged homes realize on average a 6.4% increase over the list price.

Part I: The Consultation

An Accredited Staging Professional addresses the roadblocks to a successful sale, such as pet odours, dated decorating decisions, or dingy floor coverings. Smart Realtors hire an ASP to handle these touchy conversations with clients before the house is listed. An experienced ASP is tactful and sensitive, but gets the point across; the Realtor avoids offending the client.

An ASP provides a personalized, individually-written report complete with photos, paint chips, and other samples tailored to the home. A “game plan” is provided so home owners can easily do the work themselves. If time is a constraint, an Accredited Staging Professional can recommend trades and obtain quotes.

Home Size Consultation Fee

Less than 1800 square feet $175.00

2000 square feet $200.00

2500 square feet $250.00

3000+ square feet $300.00

87% of people said that home presentation makes a difference in most sales.

Part II: Staging

After the physical concerns of the house (wall colours/condition and flooring issues) have been addressed, the property is ready for staging.

Staging often takes place in vacant homes due to the owner’s job relocation, old age, or death. Many homes do go on the market vacant, yet they shouldn’t if they want to attract maximum impact!

Many sellers mistakenly think that viewing an empty property gives buyers a better sense of available space, when actually it’s difficult to estimate the size of a room without furniture as a reference point.

An empty room allows buyers to focus on the negative details instead of getting a sense of overall space. In oddly shaped vacant rooms, buyers must use their imagination to visualize furniture layouts.

So, how much does it cost to rent furniture for one month?

Living Room

Microfibre sofa and loveseat: $125.00
1 coffee table, 2 end tables, 2 table lamps: $74.00

Dining Room

4-chair dinette suite: $108.00
Matching china hutch/sideboard: $88.00

Kitchen

Round table with 4 chairs: $74.00
Major appliances are also available – rates range

Master Bedroom

Double mattress/foundation: $74.00
Complete bedroom groupings: $127.00

Note: Average costs listed above are subject to change. Subsequent months, if required, are slightly lower as delivery fees are removed.

To complete the model home look, quality bedding, accent pillows, night tables, decorative bedside table lamps, and upscale decorative accessories are rented by Staged to Move at 20% of cost per month.

The one-time Accredited Staging Professional fee starts at $350.00 depending on the scope of the project. This includes researching furniture options, choosing furniture, arranging delivery and receiving, set-up and de-staging. This also includes delivery, set up, and de-staging of decorative accessories and bedding and window coverings, if applicable.

For a successful sale, buyers need to identify with the space and aspire to the lifestyle presented. The trick is to identify the demographic of buyers the property should appeal to, and then sell them the lifestyle they desire by using furniture and decorative accessories.

79% of sellers are willing to spend up to $5,000 to get their house ready for sale – working with the right staging consultant maximizes your return on investment.

Catherine E. Brown is an Accredited Staging Professional and owner of Staged to Move. Catherine is committed to helping clients sell their home for the best price in the least amount of time. She can be contacted at (519) 868-7171 or by email at catherine@stagedtomove.ca. Visit her Web site at www.stagedtomove.ca.

Published in Networking Today, February 2007

Money, Happiness and the Pursuit of Both

By Barbara Bartlein

Numerous studies are evaluating the connection between happiness and money. The following are conclusions from a number of research projects conducted by psychologists, economists, and social scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois, Princeton University, and others.

Money does not seem to make us happy.
Not only do we want what we don’t have, we aren’t always sure what exactly it is that we want.
Once we get it, it doesn’t make us happy.
People have interesting attitudes about money and what it can do for them and what they will do to get it.

In the book, Are You Normal About Money?, author Bernice Kanner outlines responses from a public survey posted on the Bloomberg Web site. According to respondents, sixty-five percent would live on a deserted island for a year for $1 million dollars. Sixty percent would even admit to a crime that they didn’t do and serve six months in jail for the amount; and ten percent would lend their spouse for a night. For $10 million, most of us would do just about anything; twenty-five percent would abandon our friends, our family, and our church. And for that amount of money, 7 percent—one in every fourteen of us—would even murder.

Part of the problem with money is that people want more. Thanks to fifty plus years of mass media pushing merchandise at us, we are convinced that more will make us happier. For decades, Lewis Lapham has been asking people how much money they would need to be happy. “No matter what their income,” he reports, “a depressing number of Americans believe that if only they had twice as much, they would inherit the estate of happiness promised them in the Declaration of Independence. The man who receives $15,000 a year is sure that he could relieve his sorrow if he had only $30,000 a year; the man with $1 million a year knows that all would be well if he had $2 million a year.” “Nobody,” he concludes, “ever has enough.”

While Americans have become more affluent, their happiness levels have not really increased. In a series of studies by the University of Chicago, the average U.S. family has become 60% richer in the last thirty years, however they are not significantly happier. In 1960, approximately 42% of Americans surveyed pronounced themselves “very happy.” A similar poll in 1990 found 43% were “very happy.”

What seems to matter most for your sense of well-being and your happiness level is how you stack up against your neighbors. People tend to use this yardstick of comparison to evaluate their money and circumstances. Even a millionaire will feel miserable in the company of billionaires.

An example, found in the wild financial years of the mid-eighties, when many New York investment bankers earning “only” $600,000 a year felt poor and suffered from depression, anxiety, and loss of confidence. On less than $600,000, they were unable to keep up with their neighbors, colleagues, and friends. As one broker described his lack of success, “I’m nothing. You understand that, nothing? I earn $250,000 a year, but it’s nothing, and I’m nobody.”

This is the problem with money and consumption. Each new luxury quickly becomes a necessity and then an even newer luxury must be identified. We become convinced that we need the flat screen TV, granite counter tops, and heated seats in the new car. From early on, we learn a pattern of consumption that is focused on “extrinsic values,” of obtaining more to make us happy.

There is increasing evidence, however, that the pursuit of affluence has damaging psychological effects, including severe depression and anxiety. In a series of case studies dating to 1993, Ryan and Kasser examined the effects of pursuing money and material goods. Focusing excessively on obtaining wealth was found to create a lower sense of well-being and self-esteem. Everyone who sought affluence as a goal had a lower score for happiness.

There was one point that all research on happiness seemed to agree; happy people do better than unhappy people in most realms of life; they have better social relationships, do more volunteer work, have better health and make more money. So, money may not make you happier, but being happy may make you more money.

Barbara Bartlein, CSP is The People Pro and president of Great Lakes Consulting Group which helps businesses sell more goods and services by developing people. She can be reached at 888-747-9953 or by email at barb@thepeoplepro.com. Visit her Web site at www.ThePeoplePro.com.

Published in Networking Today, February 2007

7 Ways to Educate Customers in the Classroom & Simultaneously Build Brand Awareness

Distribute product literature and/or give free product samples to learning institutions. Learning institutions are usually open to learn about business products that would enhance and add value to what is being taught in the classroom.
Establish information/demonstration booths in the classroom. The classroom information/demonstration booth will allow students to interact with your company’s product and provide ongoing information to potential customers as they develop their own buying power. Your conversion rates will be much higher due to the education that is available to the students.
Give free training on the use and benefits of the product. This is a perfect opportunity to give students hands on training, and teach them about your product’s value. Encourage educators to include information about your product or services in a curriculum guide. This one tip has the potential to multiply your market base nation-wide.
Offer a contest that empowers students to buy and use your product. Sponsor a writing contest or a Future Business Leader of American competition and make one of the rewards a gift certificate. It’s a proven fact that most consumers spend more than the value of the gift card.
Distribute logos to learning institutions. Instructors can use logos in the classroom to help students learn about branding and how companies use this concept to communicate their identity and market their products.
Offer information on production of the goods and how profit is made. Students who are inclined to develop their own products or become business managers will find this of great value.

Customers who are familiar with a certain brand are more likely to remain loyal regardless of inflation. By demonstrating your corporate social responsibility and promoting worthwhile educational programs that bring the needs of educators together with your business needs, you can easily distinguish your product from other brands.

Education marketing helps empower customers to become long-term buyers. Using products in the classroom allows potential customers to interact with (and become conditioned to) your goods and services. By educating customers in the classroom, you will increase your brand awareness, build loyalty, influence spending patterns, and engage in viral word of mouth marketing all at the same time.

Through her writing, speaking, training, and development services, business growth expert, Annmarie Edwards, helps individuals and companies worldwide maximize their full growth potential. To learn more on how you can simultaneously increase your brand awareness, build customer loyalty, influence spending patterns, and engage in viral word-of-mouth marketing, go to: http://www.ariaresearchgroup.com/sponsorship.

Published in Networking Today, February, 2007

Negotiating in a Three-Dimensional World

the right parties have been approached
in the right sequence to deal
with the right issues
that engage the right set of interests
at the right table or tables
at the right time
under the right expectations
and facing the right consequences of walking away if there is no deal

If the setup at the table isn’t promising, this calls for moves to re-set it more favorably. A superior setup plus the right tactics can yield remarkable results that would be unattainable by purely tactical means, however skillful.

The 3-D Negotiation approach requires a different set of insights and skills about setup and deal design, as well as tactics. This new approach can help you in your next set of negotiations.

David A. Lax and James K. Sebenius are the authors of 3D Negotiation – Powerful Tools to Change the Game in Your Most Important Deals (Harvard Business School Press, September 2006). For more information see their book website www.3dnegotiation.com and their business website www.negotiate.com.

Published in Networking Today, February, 2007

The Power of Choice

By Janet Christensen

I frequently encounter people who are on a quest to figure out their purpose in life. On a fundamental level, your purpose in life is to breathe and everything else is a choice. Once you acknowledge that, you can begin to fully appreciate the power of choice.

Sometimes you may think that you have no choices but in reality, this is not so. Even in dire situations you have a choice. It could be to act, or not to act, which are both choices. You may not always like your choices or options, and the best one may be a “no-brainer,” however, you always have choices.

You choose your values, thoughts, actions, attitudes, words, friends, who you associate with, how you spend your time. Even the things you may think are obligations in life are choices, such as getting up in the morning, feeding your children, going to work, paying your rent, stopping at a stop sign. These may seem obvious, yet they are not givens – they are all choices. They are based on the values you hold and the norms that society dictates. You make choices day-by-day and minute-by-minute, perhaps by default and on autopilot…not being fully aware that they are choices. How many times to do you say “I have got to do this or that?” While you may feel a sense of duty or obligation, these things are still choices.

If you find yourself weighed down by the “shoulds” and obligations in life, consider changing your wording. Instead of thinking and/or saying “I've got to do this,” say “I choose to do this,” which has a completely different energy to it. Sometimes you may find it difficult to choose because choosing means giving something up. This can paralyze you into not making a decision, not wanting to choose. You second guess yourself with doubt: “What if I make the wrong choice? What if I make the wrong decision?”

Consider approaching decision-making differently by seeing your options as a choice of Box A, Box B, or Box C each with its opportunities and experiences. Make the best decision with the information you have and commit. Don't second guess yourself and miss the opportunities and gifts that are in the box you choose by wondering what you may be missing by not choosing one of the other boxes.

Remember, every situation or circumstance is a learning opportunity, an opportunity to practice your values and this is where you find the gift. Choose to find the gift where you are, instead of focusing on what you might be missing by not being somewhere else. Life is all about choice.

You choose how to think, how to act, your attitudes, and your feelings. You choose your goals and then you choose whether or not to commit to those goals. And then, once you have committed, you make choices every day that move you closer or away from what you want to create.

Every situation, challenge, opportunity, and decision presents you with choice. Sometimes those choices seem obvious and easy; sometimes they seem confusing and difficult. Whatever choice you make has consequences and either adds to your personal power or diminishes your personal power. So, make your choices consciously.

This can seem like a daunting task, especially when a great deal depends on the choices you make. Here are three questions I invite you to ask yourself when you are faced with making a choice. Asking yourself these three questions will support you in creating what you want in your life.

How will I feel about myself when I have made this choice?
Will this choice enhance my relationship with myself?
Will I be walking my talk if I make this choice?

Whether the choice is a big or small, it is the consequences that count. Your “little” choices have a significant and cumulative impact over time. The power of a choice is whether or not it contributes to what you want to create, or whether it moves you away from that.

When you are clear on who you are, what you stand for, and what you want to create in your life, your choices become clearer. You have the power to make your dreams and goals become your reality by the choices you make. Choose wisely. Choose powerfully.

Janet Christensen’s passion is to empower people to live their full potential. Through her company, Dynamic Awareness Inc., she provides personal coaching, experiential workshops, inspirational speaking, and is a Reiki practitioner. To contact Janet, phone: (519) 434-5397 fax: (519) 434-8344 or email janet@dynamicawareness.com www.janetchristensen.com

Published in Networking Today, February 2007.

Networking in the Job Search World

You have little, if any competition.
If you win the position, you will be saving the company significant money, making you a favourable candidate.

Give networking a try

Start by making a list of everyone you know, and I mean everyone: your past co-workers, supervisors, the people from the gym, your barber/hairdresser, your lawyer, other soccer/baseball/hockey parents, school/college/university friends; anyone you can think of.

Once you have an exhaustive list, think about what you want to say when you call. You may want information about a company or you may want to let them know you’re in the job market and the kind of job you’re looking for. If it’s the latter, be clear and specific about your goal so your contacts can be effective in helping you find appropriate leads. And don’t forget the magic phrase for building your network: “can you think of anyone else I should be talking to?”

If it feels awkward at first, don’t worry. You’ll get better with practice. If you express your appreciation and look for ways to return the favour, you’ll find that people will help if they can. Wouldn’t you?

Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca

Published in Networking Today, February 2007

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Thursday, February 1, 2007

Home Financing Made Easy - Part Three

Negotiating in a Three-Dimensional World

7 Ways to Educate Customers in the Classroom & Simultaneously Build Brand Awareness

Networking in the Job Search World

Attitude – The 7 Keys to a Positive One

How To Get More Hours in Your Day

Staging Simplified…How Much Does it Cost to Stage a House?

Money, Happiness and the Pursuit of Both

7 Ways to Educate Customers in the Classroom & Simultaneously Build Brand Awareness

Negotiating in a Three-Dimensional World

The Power of Choice

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