tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75022645474763689672023-11-15T08:15:11.938-08:00Effective Networking and Success Tips by Scott BradleyA blog about the power of networking...giving you the skills and methods to be a better networkerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-8247172166529954052010-07-11T18:59:00.000-07:002010-07-11T18:59:04.991-07:00Scott Bradley's New BlogHi there.<br />
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I want to let you know that I have launched an entirely new site where I will be blogging from now on.<br />
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You can find my new site located at..<br />
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<a href="http://www.scottbradley.name%20/">http://www.ScottBradley.name </a><br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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-ScottUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-25328618187670486392007-12-03T07:14:00.001-08:002007-12-03T07:18:01.275-08:00I have moved my blog to Wordpress! Last post for this feed and blog!!Hello Friend,<br /><br />Thank you for subscribing to my blog.<br /><br />To keep updated with new content that I post please subscribe to my newly redesigned blog on Wordpress.<br /><br />You can view and subscribe to the blog at <a href="http://www.networkingeffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a><br /><br />Your comments about the new design would be greatly appreciated! I look forward to continually providing you with worthwhile content!<br /><br />Have a great day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-4730868362925032322007-12-03T06:33:00.000-08:002007-12-11T07:39:18.601-08:00On-Blog/Off-Blog Networking<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aiWIx_ufMmI&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aiWIx_ufMmI&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />I was just featured on one of <a href="http://personalbrandingblog.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/personal-branding-tv-episode-9-on-blog-off-blog-networking/">Dan Schawbel's</a> episodes of personal branding TV. We spoke about networking, and how you can take online relationships that you have developed and move it to an off-blog or off-line relationship as well!<br /><br />This movie is packed with awesome content and will be very valuable to helping you reach your networking goals, whatever they may be!<br /><br />Enjoy the video, and feel free to leaver your comments!<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-10563998291234510742007-11-23T17:10:00.001-08:002007-12-11T07:39:01.933-08:00Networking Tip: Remember Your Contacts Birthday! (Yes...Today is my 22nd Birthday!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6EAB1FFMVj4/R0d_rj4U_cI/AAAAAAAAAAo/fLmneBOhsj0/s1600-h/cake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_6EAB1FFMVj4/R0d_rj4U_cI/AAAAAAAAAAo/fLmneBOhsj0/s320/cake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136214286381940162" /></a><br />One important thing to networking and building know like and trust relationships with people is remembering their birthdays.<br /><br />Out of all the days in the year, a persons birthday is the day that each individual likes to BE REMEMBERED for being on this planet one more year.<br /><br />Think about it, how awesome do you feel when a close friend or contact calls you up and wishes you a happy birthday, or in this web 2.0 world writes on your wall wishing you a wonderful day. I feel so blessed to have contacts like that who take the effort to make it happen!<br /><br />Today, November 23rd 2007 it is my 22nd birthday, and the birthday wishes that I have gotten from people in my network have been a joy to receive. The simple messages of "Happy Birthday Scott" to full blown "Happy Birthday Scott, you are going to have one kick a** year" are some of the many wishes I have received from my circle of contacts in all industries!<br /><br />Other exciting news that I have to share is that this week I also accepted a job to work at the Macy's home store in NY upon my graduation from Boston College! I will be starting on June 23rd and am so pumped. I am looking forward to being on their "buying track" for the home store in the future.<br /><br />Ok...back on topic, sending people cards, giving people phone calls, and writing on peoples walls are things that I do to keep up to date with everyones birthdays. What is it that you do?<br /><br />With todays technology keeping up with peoples birthdays is as simple as creating reminders in a google/yahoo calendar, setting alerts on your cell phone, and using facebooks feature to let you know when your friends birthdays are approaching.<br /><br />Just remember...The more rapport you build with your contacts as time passes, the more likely they will be willing to do you a favor in the future...recognizing their birthday is just one of the many things you can do to keep that relationship strong!<br /><br />Have a great day and I hope you didn't eat too much turkey yesterday!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-83168682576424392352007-11-04T12:37:00.000-08:002007-12-11T07:38:47.111-08:00Networking On An Airplane...Good StoryI wanted to share a networking story with you that happened to me on Friday night.<br /><br />I was coming home from a second round interview that took place in MN. The plane ride home to Boston was going to be somewhere around the line of 2 hours...and I was looking forward to getting home after the long day that started at 6AM. <br /><br />As I boarded the plane, I was the first one to sit on the aisle seat of my row. I was there for about 5 minutes when another person came and sat in the window seat of the same row and side I was on.<br /><br />He seemed like a cool guy so I said something around the lines of, "Long week this week?" He said, "Yes...aren't they all?"<br /><br />I then went on to say "Yeah I had a pretty busy week myself," then asked him what he did. He mentioned he was in sales with a company that helps high school students find their path after graduation. He is one of the salespeople that facilitates in implementing the curriculum to the various schools around the country. <br /><br />I was intrigued with his answer and asked more about it, and how and why the CEO started the company. I learned that the CEO started the company because he realized how there are very few resources for high school students to figure out what they want to do after graduation...beyond the normal college path everyone is bombarded with in school. <br /><br />After explaining more, he mentioned that they are always looking for college kids to contribute to make their program better. <br /><br />After learning all of this I was thinking "How can we somehow work together to create a win/win situation between us and the company?"<br /><br />This is what went through my mind...<br />1) I would love to contribute any way that I could to help the program be better<br />2) I would love to bring the CEO of the company to speak to the Boston College Entrepreneur Society, and give them the opportunity to have an article in our student newspaper<br />3) With the book that I wrote, we could possibly figure out a way to somehow integrate that content into the program somehow, so they benefit just as much as I do.<br /><br />So after that went through my head I simply laid it out for him.<br /><br />I first mentioned that I would love to contribute to helping make the program better, and then went on to say that as the President of the Boston College Entrepreneur Society that we would love to have him and the CEO come and tell their story to the members.<br /><br />After some discussion regarding that I then dropped the bomb about the book I wrote regarding my athletic recruiting experience from high school to Boston College. The way I did it was by first asking if they have anything for "student athletes" in regards to helping them get recruited, and then when he said they didn't I simply said..."Oh well I wrote a book about my experience, but haven't done anything with it yet...I have always had the intention of getting it out there to help people with their process, but just haven't gotten around to it with all of the busy activities I take part in."<br /><br />I then went on to say "I don't know if your CEO would have any interest, but I would be willing to talk about it further if you feel he would want to speak about it possibly." <br /><br />After saying that, with wide eyes he said, "Yeah I am sure he would love to talk with you about it! Let me have your information and you can have mine...and then we will go from there."<br /><br />As the plane took off I handed him my card, and he handed me his card. When the plane landed we parted ways with the intention on connecting this week regarding working together somehow. I sent him an e-mail yesterday and am looking forward to hearing back from him!<br /><br />I wanted to share this story with you to show you that you never know who you are going to meet...and when it comes to networking...when putting yourself out there in the "randomness of the world" only good things can happen...if you are willing to take the small risk and put yourself out there.<br /><br />I live by a quote, "The greatest risk in life is not taking one." As a matter of fact it is the same quote I have for my high school senior yearbook. <br /><br />I mean...Not everyone you are going to meet will work out this perfectly...but even though that is the case, that does not mean that you should not take any action at all.<br /><br />A good way to explain that is from a quote I learned from my mentor, "I cannot lose what I do not have...I operate only in gain." <br /><br />What this means is...I could have easily not said anything to this gentlemen and then never would have had the opportunity to help their company and help myself. But...since I was willing to put myself out there I was putting myself in the position to gain something, it turned out to work out well...but at the same time even if I put myself out there and it didn't amount to anything...I still see that as a positive because I didn't lose anything...because I never had anything with him and their company in the first place...Simply...No matter what I did...I had NOTHING TO LOSE and all to gain!<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed this story, and hope that it inspires you to keep putting yourself out there when it comes to networking, building your business, and further building life-long friendships. <br /><br />Have an awesome week!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-13878423978642469352007-11-01T14:35:00.000-07:002007-11-04T12:36:12.056-08:00Personal Branding Magazine Issue #2 Released!I just thought I let you know about issue #2 of Personal Branding Magazine.<br /><br />I have written an article for the magazine and will be working with the sponsorship team coming up for the next issue! If you would like to advertise in the magazine just let me know.<br /><br />Be sure to check this new issue out! It has a plethera of awesome information!<br /><br />Here is Dan explaining the details of what you will get when you buy the issue!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S_gnUYvriHE&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S_gnUYvriHE&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Have an awesome day and get your copy of Personal Branding Magazine at <a href=http://www.personalbrandingmag.com>http://www.PersonalBrandingMag.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-65715608878310186372007-10-30T21:15:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:38:26.256-08:00New Networking Interview with Mari SmithMy internet marketing friend, <a href=http://www.whyfacebook.com>Mari Smith</a>, just recently did an interview with me about networking on facebook.<br /><br />Let me know how you like it!<br /><br />Your feedback is appreciated! Feel free to leave a comment!<br /><br />Have a fabulous day!<br /><br /><a href=http://marismith.com/facebookinterviews_scottbradley.htm>Link To Interview</a><br /><br />Best,<br />Scott<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-78952400614435547402007-10-26T11:03:00.001-07:002007-12-11T07:38:11.750-08:00David Mullings Article for Entrepreneur SocietyHere is the Article that was written about David Mullings and his brother's speaking engagement at the Boston College Entrepreneur Society!<br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href=http://media.www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2007/10/25/Marketplace/Realvibez.Creating.A.Caribbean.Vibe.On.The.Web-3055225.shtml>David Mullings Article</a><br /><br />Best,<br />Scott<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-91830714363975363282007-10-25T06:45:00.003-07:002007-12-11T07:37:21.617-08:00Networking Case Study - David MullingsLast night David Mullings and his brother Robert Mullings, who are the co-owners of the company <a href=http://www.realvibez.com>Real Vibez</a>, spoke last night at my Boston College Entrepreneur Society Meeting.<br /><br />David and Robert's company has a unique business model. Their business simply creates content around the Caribbean music scene, and distributes it freely over the internet through music videos and the like. They make their money through advertising, but also are looking to implement other income streams in the future with their Real Vibez brand.<br /><br />Initially, I met David Mullings through facebook. In the video below I am going to show you what I did, and how I did it, to find a co-CEO of a company that is only 6 years old. After meeting him, like I did in the movie, we stayed in touch through the facebook messaging feature, and also shared content through our blogs. <br /><br />We built up a great rapport between us, so when he came to visit, it was just like old time friends meeting up again. The relationship with David began around last May, so I have been building a relationship with him for awhile before I decided to invite him to speak to my members!<br /><br />David Mullings and his Brother have relationships with Sean Paul, and other powerful Raggae artists! Who knows where that relationship can go. No matter where it does go, we will always look to create win/win situations between us every time.<br /><br />I can't stress enough how important it is to take the time to network on facebook...It is far more than a place to connect with friends...But rather...A place to find future partners, investors, and life long friends. <br /><br />Just be willing to put yourself out there into the "Randomness of the world"...You never know what will come from it!<br /><br />Here is the video I recorded on Jing to show you how I met David Mullings! Feel free to leave your comments!<br /><br /><a href=http://www.screencast.com/t/xayIKqEqGPs>Link To Movie</a><br /><br />Have an awesome day!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-39461971801505843252007-10-17T06:47:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:36:56.172-08:00Using Facebook Applications To Help Your Networking Endeavors in the Web 2.0 World!I would like to apologize for not writing at all last week as everything has been super busy. <br /><br />The reason why I was not able to put any new beneficial content up for you is because the Network Marketing company I am partnered with is in the process of pre-launching a brand new energy drink into the marketplace. <br /><br />The energy drink is going to be launched into the 10 Billion dollar energy drink market and is innovative in its design and ingredients. <br /><br />Simply stated the energy drink is in a simple pocket packet that you dump into water then shake up. It is going to be cheaper than other energy drink brands on the market today ($1.50/drink) and gives you longer lasting energy with no headaches, jitters or crash. <br /><br />If you want some more info about this drink either send me an e-mail to let me know that you want to be an energy drink tester (my e-mail is in my profile), or go to <a href=http://scottbradley.cravebigmoney.com>http://www.CraveBuilder.com</a> to get a free website to get yourself a position to take advantage of this opportunity. After downloading the website I will give you a call and give you the next steps to go from here.<br /><br />Ok...Enough of the shameless plug...<br /><br />Here is what I wanted to share with you today...<br /><br />I ended up doing an interview with one of my Internet Marketing friends again, <a href=http://www.lassetips.com/blog/5-most-effective-facebook-applications-which-are-facebook-applications-to-have-in-your-profile-podcast/>Lasse Rouhiainen</a>, and we spoke about how you can use some of the facebook applications to help you build your business, and/or help you make those connections stronger through this powerful medium.<br /><br />Here is a direct link to the interview I did with him: <a href=http://coachp.cachefly.net/scottlassefacebook2.mp3>Link To Interview</a><br /><br />Enjoy the interview and have a great week!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-70857812715299737162007-10-04T06:38:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:36:36.696-08:00Great "Ice-Breakers" When Networking<b>Great "Ice-Breakers" When Networking</b><br />Copyright © Scott Bradley<br /><br />Knowing how to start a conversation is just as important as knowing how to carry on one.<br /><br />Out of all the things to do when networking, starting the conversation is one of the most important things, because it is the very first action you take towards communicating with an individual. Typically, this initial exposure either warms the other person up to you, or turns them away...Depending on how you come off...<br /><br />There are many things you can do when meeting people at networking events or public places. <br /><br />Here are some things that have worked for me when meeting people for the first time.<br /><br /><b>At Networking Events...</b><br />1) Walk up to a person and introduce yourself by extending your hand out for a handshake and say, "Hi my name is Scott Bradley and I __________________ (fill in the blank)...what business are you in? <br /><br />When you fill in the blank you can say something like...and I am the President of the Boston College Entrepreneur Society....or and I am in the Marketing Research field....or an I am an Entrepreneur...or and I graduated from Boston College. Be sure that whatever you say (in the blank) matches the surroundings you are in at the time.<br /><br />Make your brief introduction something that is unique and memorable for the other person, so when they go back home they are able to look at your business card and say..."I remember him/her, he/she is __________."<br /><br />After the short introduction then you can start working with the <a href=http://scottgbradley.blogspot.com/2007/04/keys-to-networking-effectively.html>Three Key Questions</a> that I typically ask next.<br /><br /><b>In Public...</b><br />1) Ask someone what time it is, and then after that comment on the weather.<br />2) Ask someone about the weather and talk about how good or bad it is.<br />3) Give someone a compliment about something they are carrying or they are wearing, and then ask a question about it (I learned this one from one of my mentors and it works VERY well)<br />4) Ask someone a question about something they are carrying...EG...A new iPhone, A new iPod, Headphones...You can ask, "How do you like ______________."<br />5) Ask someone about the store they went to if they are carrying a department store bag...EG..."How busy was the apple store today?...What did you end up buying?"<br />6) You can use this..."I really like your ____________, where did you get them?"<br /><br />These Ice-Breakers should help you get the conversations started, and once you get them rolling just weave in those "3 Key Questions" and you will be all set!<br /><br />Have a fabulous day!<br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-53546784566282504122007-10-02T06:05:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:36:07.829-08:00Great Questions To Ask When NetworkingNetworking has always been a joy of mine.<br /><br />Meeting and getting to know new and interesting people is always a lot of fun, because it is like a box of chocolates...when you walk into the room "You never know what you are going to get."<br /><br />When talking and communicating with someone I have found that there are some questions and language techniques that foster good conversation and others that stunt it and make it feel like it is a chore when talking to the other person.<br /><br />As far as making the conversation a chore, I have found from my experience that when you ask people Yes, or No questions it turns into a very one-sided interrogating exchange. It is almost like you are questioning them about each and every little thing about their life, without giving them the opportunity to share how they feel about something, or understand why they think about things the way they do.<br /><br />Questions to avoid...<br /><br />Do you like__________ (Fill in blank)?<br />How old are you ______?<br />Have you ever__________?<br /><br />When conversations flow, I have found through my experience that when you ask open-ended questions, giving the other person the opportunity to share the way they feel about something, or further help them out with a problem they may be having...it helps you build more rapport with them, which will lead to a better relationship down the road. Knowing that "You never get a second chance to make a first Impression" -Cuban...It is essential that we really make the other person feel like we want to genuinely get to know them more...and from what I have found asking open questions do the job extremely well.<br /><br />Here are some good open ended questions that I typically use when networking. I always remembered my father saying..."Remember Scott, Who, What, Where, When, Why and How"<br /><br />Good questions...<br />What projects are currently working on?<br />Why do you think _____________ (fill in blank)?<br />What books do you like to read?<br />Why do you like __________ (fill in the blank)?<br />Why did you choose ____________?<br />Tell me a about yourself...<br /><br />I can go on and on with these questions but I think you get the point. The key is that when you ask these questions, let the person answer and then give them the opportunity to ask you the same question...Naturally due to the nature of these open ended questions they will give you more than a yes or no answer.<br /><br />You can use this technique when networking with other people...Ask the other person the questions you want them to ask you...naturally if the other person doesn't know what to ask next during your exchange, they will naturally revert back to the initial question you asked them.<br /><br />Like I have mentioned before when speaking with someone...imagine it like a tennis match...You bounce the ball over, and they bounce it back...If they don't bounce it back they are either not interested in getting to know you more, or they are not worth your time.<br /><br />Another tip that you can use during conversation are phrases and different language that will help the other person articulate what it is they are thinking.<br /><br />Phrases like...<br />Tell me more about ____________ (fill in the blank)<br />Could you elaborate more on ______________...I found that interesting.<br />You mentioned earlier that _________________ tell me more about that.<br />I am having trouble understanding ____________...what did you mean by that?<br />What do you mean when you say ___________?<br /><br />I hope you find these questions and tips beneficial to your networking endeavors. Again let me know if there is anyway I can help you and feel free to subscribe to my personal mailing list on the side panel to stay up to date with cool content and info I come across.<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-43681520234133948312007-09-25T07:16:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:35:49.130-08:00Networking With Forums Part 2I hope you all enjoyed the interview I did with my internet marketing friend Lasse. If you didn't get a chance to listen to the interview we did about facebook and networking <a href=http://coachp.cachefly.net/lassescott.mp3>Click Here</a> to listen in.<br /><br />As far as networking with forums I wanted to give you some of the forums I like to participate in. I have found these great places to network with people and participate in the many discussions.<br /><br /><a href=http://forum.richdad.com/forums/>Link to Rich Dad Forums</a><br /><a href=http://www.wahm.com/forum/>Link to WAHM Forums</a><br /><a href=http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/forum/>Link to Young Entrepreneur Forums</a><br /><a href=http://www.warriorforum.com/forum/>Link to The Warrior Forum for Internet Marketers</a><br /><a href=http://www.blogtrafficschool.com/forums/>A Favorite Blogging Forum</a><br /><br />As far as networking goes. The first thing that I have learned is to go in there and participate in the discussions. After setting up your account, take some time to look at all of the threads that are there.<br /><br />Open the thread and then start posting. <br /><br />After you build up some credibility in the forum then try reaching out to those in the forum who you want to get to know better. You can do this through a PM (Personal Message) or by sending them an e-mail.<br /><br />After that it is all up to you to see where you would like to take that relationship!<br /><br />I hope you enjoy using forums to network.<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-64285656143203482842007-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:35:34.887-08:00Blogging: Affect Your Career One Post At A TimeI thought I share an article with you all that I just recently wrote for my school newspaper here at Boston College.<br /><br />The title of the article is Blogging: Affect Your Career One Post At A Time.<br /><br /><a href=http://media.www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2007/09/20/Marketplace/Entrepreneurial.Edge.Blogging.Affect.Your.Career.One.Post.At.A.Time-2979468.shtml>Here is the link to the article</a><br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />Have a great day!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-65156737862782633802007-09-20T05:41:00.001-07:002007-12-11T07:35:20.686-08:00Tap Your Inherent Relationship Building Skills by Guest Blogger Jason JacobshonJason Jacobsohn of <a href=http://www.networkinginsight.com>Networking Insight</a> is the latest blogger who has just written a guest article.<br /><br />Tap Your Inherent Relationship Building Skills<br /><br />Whether you know it or not, you were born with the natural ability to meet people and build relationships. Even if you don’t spend much time proactively building relationships, you should be able to point to numerous examples of relationship buildings such as with friends, co-workers, doctors, etc. We are all born with the ability to connect; just some of us utilize this skill more than others.<br /><br /><i>Don’t Be a Hermit</i><br /><br />As long as you are not a hermit, you interact with people every day such as a bus <br />driver, person at the dry cleaners, and clerk at the local convenience store. However, you may not have a solid business network to draw upon. This is okay because it is never too late to start and chances are that you probably have more people in your network than you think you do.<br /><br />Take a trip down memory lane and think about the relationships you have built with friends, co-workers, etc. What did you do to develop these relationships? I bet much of it had to do with commonalities such as living in the same neighborhood, going to the same school, working at the same company, or playing the same sports. For many people, building relationships starts by identifying these common elements and building upon them. Having something in common with another person provides a great foundation to build. Relationships are built with people who make us feel comfortable.<br /><br /><i>Focus on Commonalities</i><br /><br />So, if you struggle to get yourself out there and build relationships, then find people to interact with that have something in common. Attend networking events that are focused in your industry, hang out with friends of friends, or interact with fellow alumni. Whatever you decide to do, keep an open mind and try to develop some of these encounters into new relationships that you can integrate into your network.<br /><br />At the same time, have the confidence that you can meet people and build some solid relationships. You have done it before and continue to do it with new friends. Seek to be friends first with any new contact and then talk business later. You want to build comfort and trust so when business comes up you it is a smooth transition.<br /><br /><i>Practice Talking to Strangers</i><br /><br />If you are still not comfortable carrying on a conversation with new people in a business environment, then practice talking to people when you go to the store, work out at the gym, take a taxi, or stay at a hotel. This activity will get you more comfortable talking to complete strangers in all situations. You have a voice so you need to exercise it. Professional athletes and musicians need to constantly practice before they can perform at the big game or performance.<br /><br />Keep in mind that people attend networking events to meet other people. So, don’t ever feel embarrassed to go up to someone and start a conversation. Chances are this person feels uncomfortable so he/she will be thankful that you started the dialogue.<br /><br />So, tap into your inherent relationship building skills and have the confidence that you can continue to meet new people and grow your network.<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-14811139878513428352007-09-15T09:48:00.001-07:002007-12-11T07:34:58.039-08:00Effective Networking Using Forums Part 1<b>Effective Networking Using Forums Part 1</b><br />Copyright © Scott Bradley<br /><br />Have you ever been on an internet forum? How did you use it? Did you have much fun participating in the many topics and discussions at hand?<br /><br />Utilizing the various internet forums to network is something I really enjoy doing. Not only is it a place to share ideas and talk about the industry you are in, but also it is a great place to meet targeted people in your particular niche. <br /><br />I first heard about internet forums my sophomore year in high school, and used it initially to seek other people out to talk to. The forums that I first participated in were the Rich Dad Forums. Sure enough my first post was something around the lines of "Have A Screen Name?" <br /><br />In the post I mentioned that I was looking to talk with other people who read Rich Dad Poor Dad. At the time I really had no idea I was "Networking" so to speak, but I really just wanted to talk with other people I could relate to. <br /><br />I ended up finding someone, and met for coffee with him where we played Cashflow (The game created by Robert Kiyosaki) with all of his buddies from work. It was a great time. I still keep in touch with him today!<br /><br />So fast forwarding these forums a couple years forward to today, I have a really cool story to share with you...<br /><br />About 5 or so months ago I was in the Rich Dad Network Marketing Forums and saw a post from a person who was promoting some "Secret Program," going along with "The Secret" movie. We went back and forth in the discussion and ended up connecting on <a href=http://www.skype.com>Skype</a>. He lived out of the country so we would intermittently connect with each other every so often due to the 6 hour time change. <br /><br />After talking and getting to know each other a little more, I learned that my friend was an internet marketer, and had built other network marketing business's in the past. We really had a great time speaking, and he shared with me some of the things he was doing to help him build his business. <br /><br />Well...Just recently he started doing internet marketing courses to help other small business people grow their business using the internet. When he mentioned that, I said to him...check out facebook...It is a networking paradise! Initially, he didn't listen to me, but after he started hearing from other internet marketers how powerful a networking tool it was, he came to me and asked me... <br /><br />"Scott, you have been networking on facebook building great relationships with others, and also have been using it to help grow your business. I would like to do an internet podcast interview with you about Facebook, to help other small business owners experience the same benefits you are...using facebook." <br /><br />When he asked me, I was floored and excited all at the same time. Here was my friend who I met through a forum, got to know him over a 6 month period, and now he was going interview me about something I love using! It was great. <br /><br />My friend who I met is named <a href=http://lassetips.com/blog/power-of-facebook-what-makes-facebook-so-different-podcast/>Lasse Rouhiainen</a>. On his blog you can get some great FREE information on internet marketing as well as hear the audio interview that he did with me!<br /><br />Because of meeting him through the forum, and with the relationship we have built, he is also looking to do more nitty gritty things for facebook with me, which will only help more and more people with their business. <br /><br />Creating these win/win/win situations is awesome and can be achieved through the use of forums. <br /><br />In tomorrow's post I will share with you the steps you can take to start building relationships in forums on the internet!<br /><br />Enjoy the audio and have an awesome day!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />P.S. Go Boston College! Beat GA Tech!<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-77829108653554272122007-09-05T05:36:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:34:17.772-08:00How To Effectively Stay Consistent<b>How To Effectively Stay Consistent</b><br />Copyright © Scott Bradley<br /><br />The other day, someone left a comment on my "Growing or Dying" post about how she has a hard time staying consistent. I myself have been in that position before and know how discouraging it can feel. One minute you are doing one thing, and the next minute you are on to something else with no intended plan on where you are going and why you want to get there.<br /><br />Because of this...I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you what I am doing to help me stay consistent with my self- growth activites as well as my business building activities. I will then provide a solution for you to help you be more consistent in your lives with any activities you want to do on a weekly and monthly basis.<br /><br />In the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" Stephen Covey talks about the importance of managing your time in one of the chapters. He even gives you an entire time managment sheet to use to help you be more consistent with all of your daily, weekly and monthly events.<br /><br />After reading this book I created the same exact spreadsheet on an excell document and would be willing to share it with you if you asked. Just e-mail me...My e-mail is in my profile on the right.<br /><br />Anyway...When I first created this spreadsheet I thought it was awesome because I could break down my life into daily, weekly and monthly chunks. I could put things in there during the week I could set in stone and carry around the schedule with me wherever I went, reminding me when things were, and giving me the flexibility to schedule appointments at whim for meetings and what not.<br /><br />So going forward...like one of the women who commented about being consistent...I ran into a problem...I was getting overwhelmed, and unintended things would come up etc etc...<br /><br />So this year, before my school year started, I took about 30 minutes one day and asked myself. What consistent things do I want to do during the week, and how many times do I want to do them?<br /><br />I wrote down all of the intended activities I wanted to do for myself to not only grow my business, but also myself in the process. <br /><br />After that I then took my organizer...I call it the "Covey Organizer" and did 2 things. <br /><br />I first put in the things that were set in stone and would never change...For me it was my class schedule and other Resident Assistant Meetings that were mandatory...for you it may be your work schedule, the required times you have to bring your children somewhere, or something else that I am not addressing right now.<br /><br />After that I then put the activities that I wanted to do around the things that were set in stone and made sure I had enough "breathing room" so I was still able to be flexible. Since I initially told myself how many times I wanted to do it a week...I just worked it into the weekly schedule. <br /><br />For instance...Say that I wanted to make sure I read 3 times a week. What I did was I looked at the schedule I had, analyzed the other "Set in Stone" priorities I had...and put throughout the week, 3 blocks of time where I was going to stay committed and get my 30 minutes to 1 hour of reading in. When you see the sheet you will understand the bigger picture.<br /><br />Here are the steps broken down for you.<br /><br />1) Figure out what you want to do during the month on a consistent basis to help you reach your yearly goals and objections...just make a list<br /><br />2) Then look at each one of those activities and decide how many times a week you would like to do that particular activity<br /><br />3) Take the "Covey Organizer" that you requested from me by e-mailing me with the subject like "Covey Organizer"...and put in the "Things that are set in stone"<br /><br />4) Take the activities that you want to do on a weekly basis and plug them into the schedule...giving you enough flexibility for some "breathing room" between the activities and your "Set in Stone" priorities<br /><br />5) Print out this document from your computer either once...or every single week and carry it around with you...keeping you right on track with everything you would like to accomplish during that week, and the particular day<br /><br />6) Stay consistent with it and continually take focused action, and if you like…track your progress with your daily, weekly and monthly activities...so you can see how many times you did things throughout the year<br /><br />This is one of the easiest things to put together, and the best part is that it keeps you focused. It is almost like this sheet is your "Plan" for the week...and more so your life…By doing the small things each and every day, it can build into something you never thought possible, which will in the end help you reach your goals.<br /><br />I hope you find this post useful in managing your time and please don't hesitate to contact me by sending me an e-mail requesting the "Covey Organizer." <br /><br />Have an awesome day!<br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-74909971876539689062007-09-04T06:00:00.001-07:002007-12-11T07:33:58.122-08:00Are You GROWING or DYING?<b>Are You GROWING or DYING?</b><br />Copyright © Scott Bradley<br /><br />Do you ever think about the activities that you do on a daily basis? What do they include? Are they activities that are benefiting you and bringing you closer to your goals, or are they taking you farther and farther away from your intended path? If the latter is true, what are you doing to get back on the right track to achieve what it is that you want?<br /><br />I learned a long time ago that no matter where we are in our life, or what age we are, we are either growing as a person or dying as a person. Now we know we are all going to die, but when I talk about "dying" in regards to this post, I mean "Doing things that are not advancing us forward as an individual, and for that matter keeping us in the same place day in and day out emotionally, physically mentally and spiritually." <br /><br />When it comes to this principle of "Growing or Dying" there is no inbetween...or gray area for that matter. The things you are doing are either growing you from the inside out as a person, or are keeping you sedentary making you piss your life away with your feet in cement. <br /><br />We all are going to die sooner or later, but from what I found, those that live the most fulfilling lives were the ones that made a conscious effort to grow themselves each and every day. They stayed consistent at it, and before they knew it they became and still are someone that they never thought they would become. By growing themselves from the inside out, they were able to not only accomplish what it is they were seeking, but for that matter feel like a million bucks each and every day.<br /><br />You may be sitting there wondering? How do I grow myself? What activities can I do to help me grow from the inside out as a person? Is there something that I don't know about that I should be doing?<br /><br />Well I am going to say that you should only do something if you really want to do it. There are no "shoulds" in life because we have an unlimited amount of choices to choose from. There is no pigeonholed "One Size Fits All" box you can put someone into marked with the phrase "Things you should do in life." Instead it would be best to first focus on what it is that you truly want by first educating yourself to what is out there, and then finding the people that have what you want, learn everything you can from them, and then take action. <br /><br />When it comes to taking action on helping yourself grow to something you never thought you could become you can do a myriad of things.<br /><br />1) Make a dreamboard of the goals that you want to achieve in life. Look at it each day and think about how awesome it is going to feel when you have achieved what is on the board. <br /><br />2) Write out a vision for yourself. What does your life look like? How does it feel to have achieved what it is that you want? How are you making a difference in this world and in your communities?<br /><br />3) Read self-growth books. This is by far one of the most important steps to growing yourself. I would highly recommend the following books: "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey, "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill...That should get you started<br /><br />4) Hang around people that have what you want, and who you share the same interests with. As they say, your net worth is the average of your 5 closest friends? Who are your 5 closest friends and do they have what you want? Do you need to make new friends? <br /><br />5) Realize that your income and value to others is limited by how much you have grown yourself as a person, because if you have grown a lot, you can help and benefit more people realize their dreams and their aspirations.<br /><br />6) Do some sort of physical activity each and every day. The better shape you keep yourself in, the longer and healthier life you will live. <br /><br />7) Always keep learning, and going over the stuff you have already learned...Try to learn something new each and every day! By continuing to engage your mind it allows it to stretch beyond the monotonous day to day activities we are all used to. If you stop using your brain, and stop thinking…it will shut down on you. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that 90 year old people who stay active physically as well as mentally are still very well capable to keep up with their 40 and 50 year old counterparts. I love meeting these people because it gives me the reassurance that if I stay on the path that I am...the chances that I will end up in a nursing home will be very slim.<br /><br />Personally, after reading the book Rich Dad Poor Dad my sophomore year in high school, my life has been one awesome ride thus far, and I look forward to my ever blossoming future. Currently, right now to help grow myself, I am reading Richard Branson's Autobiography "Losing My Virginity," and it is really sucking me in. I am 54 pages in and am having trouble putting the book down. His story is so inspiring and has the little bits and pieces that I can relate to my own life. <br /><br />By reading books like these it continues to reaffirm to me that I am on the right track to where I want to go. Do you feel you are on the right track?<br /><br />Whatever you do...do something each day to grow yourself! You won't regret it!<br /><br />I want to hear from you...If you actively take the steps needed to grow yourself what is it that you do on a consistent basis? What changes have you seen in your life since you made the decision to start growing yourself?<br /><br />I am looking forward to your comments!<br /><br />Have an awesome day!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-68780267233951251462007-08-28T12:16:00.000-07:002009-09-23T16:18:38.034-07:00Effective Networking Management System<b>Effective Networking Management System</b><br />
Copyright © Scott Bradley<br />
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Do you feel overwhelmed when it comes to keeping up with your network?<br />
Between your <a href="http://www.facebook.com/"> Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/">Myspace</a>, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a> profiles...is it just too overwhelming keeping track of everyone you know?<br />
Are you still using an old address book...finding that you have to change it every year because people keep changing their info on you?<br />
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If you answered yes to any of these questions you are probably not alone!<br />
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Keeping in touch with your network as it continues to grow is crucial to your long-term success as you move through life. If you make a contact, hit it off great in the beginning but don't contact them ever again, it may be difficult to pick up where you left off. <br />
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Most of the old methods of keeping in touch with your network are just not as efficient these days due to the massive inflow of information we all have to deal with on a day to day basis.<br />
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With the web 2.0 boom, networking with someone has become automatic and commonplace...and because of it...the network you build can grow at a rapid pace.<br />
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Moreover, due to the web 2.0 nature of the social networking sites like facebook, myspace and youtube...although there are many more...keeping in touch with your friends that you make on there is getting more and more difficult as they grow their networks as well.<br />
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So you are probably thinking...Ok Scott...What is the solution?<br />
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Well before I share with you what things I am doing to change the way I manage my network, I would like to make clear that when networking, it is always important to continue building that relationship with your network of contacts. <br />
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Whether you decide to call your entire network one day every month, send each individual person an e-mail, or send them funny jokes now and then...you are building that relationship. <br />
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Although this theory is one that can definitely work...What is going to happen when you have a network of 100 people who you are really close to but you don't have time to call each one of them, or send each one of them a personal e-mail? What are you going to do then?<br />
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Well...I started facing this dilemma about 2 months ago. I felt like my mind was racing...trying to keep track of who I knew...how I knew them...and what they did. Me being one who enjoys the relationship building aspect of networking, was starting to feel overwhelmed with all of the information I had to manage in my head, through my social networking profiles and other communities.<br />
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With this being the case, I began to creatively think of a way I could manage my network where it all could be in one place...and where it would give me the freedom to send personal e-mails to them and keep them up to date with what was going on with my life.<br />
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To solve the problem I decided to create my own personal mailing list using the autoresponder service <a href="http://www.getresponse.com/">Get Response</a> as well as using the website builder service <a href="http://www.websitewizard.com/">Website Wizard</a>. If you haven’t created a personal mailing list for your network…I would highly encourage you to start! It is never too late, and you have so much to gain!<br />
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What the autoresponder allows you to do is put a form on the bottom of a website and collect a persons information and then when you do, you can e-mail that person whenever you want in a broadcast fashion...With all the e-mails customized to the person’s name. As a customer of the service you are able to have your own back office and can see anyone of your contacts all at once. With this being the case you never have to input another e-mail or person in your list again! They do it themselves!<br />
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The page I have built to start building my Exclusive Mailing List can be seen by going here... <a href="http://www.scottsmailinglist.com/">http://www.ScottsMailingList.com</a><br />
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What I am planning on using the list for is to keep in touch with everyone who wants to hear from me. I am planning on sending 2 e-mails out a week to everyone on the list so they are continually building that relationship with me, and contacting me to let me know how they are doing. These e-mails will be beneficial to my network, and hopefully will add some variety amid their day to day activities!<br />
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The type of content I am planning to send out is on the website, so check it out and subscribe if you feel moved to.<br />
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The power in creating a website and list like this is that it gives everyone on the list a personal connection with me, and also gives them the freedom to remove themselves from the list if they never want to hear from me any longer. <br />
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Also, the power in creating a list like this is having the freedom to be able to send an e-mail out to the list asking something around the lines of...Would you happen to know anyone who ___________(fill in the blank)...I am looking for someone in _________(that field) because I am working on a project...and within minutes you can be creating new relationships with anyone in your desired field just through your personal networked contacts! If you have been doing a good job keeping in touch with them by sending beneficial content their way I can almost guarantee you that they will be willing to help you out...like any networking scenario. <br />
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If you didn’t have this system…You would have to call each person up one by one...which would take a lot of time...so this list will also leverage your time as well!<br />
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I don't know about you but I am super excited to see where this goes. I am going to start sending content out to my exclusive list during the first week of September so definitely get on the list so you don’t miss out on any content!<br />
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If you would like to learn how to build your list like I am doing I would be happy to put something together to help you, but the only way for me to know if you want to do it would be for you to contact me! So let me know! If I get a lot of responses I will make a post about the steps you need to take to build the system I have set up. I am looking forward to your replies!<br />
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I hope you found this post beneficial, and will be building your mailing lists as soon as you can! You’ve got nothing to lose and all to gain!<br />
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Have a great day and an awesome week!<br />
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Best,<br />
Scott Bradley<br />
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******************************************************************************<br />
I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />
I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />
Click <a href="http://www.networkingeffectively.com/">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />
******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-45812395017787534122007-08-06T17:30:00.001-07:002007-12-11T07:33:22.486-08:00Got a Business Card?<b>Got a Business Card?</b><br />Copyright © Scott Bradley<br /><br />Have you ever been at an event...someone asks for your business card...and you have to say..."I don't have one?"...How did that make you feel? Unprofessional? Un-prepared? Frustrated?<br /><br />For me I would personally feel a combination of all of those feelings because that is just the way I am.<br /><br />When you think about it...your personal business card is the "Cherry On Top" to your personal brand. Why not take full advantage of the opportunity to leave your mark on the new person you just spoke with?<br /><br />You now may be thinking three things...<br />1) Where can I get personal business cards for myself, and what should I put on them?<br />2) How can I effectively use these business cards to build my brand in the marketplace?<br />3) How do you effectively give out your business cards?<br /><br />The Answers...<br />1) You can either get business cards professionally designed...OR...you can get them FOR FREE by going to <a href=http://www.vistaprint.com>http://www.VistaPrint.com</a> <br />If you get your business cards professionally done be sure that it sticks out by being on nice cardstock paper with a flashy background. On the front of the business card be sure to have the usual information on the card...Name, Number, Blog Address, Website, E-mail...and then on the back of the card make the text "raised" so when you hand the card to someone they will feel the raised text and naturally turn it over. When they turn it over have the back split up with the things you do by saying..."Specializing in...______ _______ _______" This will be a great branding tool not only helping yourself build your brand, but your business as well.<br /><br />If you want to get the FREE business cards by Vista Print...just pick the background that works best for you, and then do the best you can to put all of the information that you feel is important to go on the card...remember less is more. <br /><br />2) You can use your business cards a myriad of ways!<br />-At networking events<br />-Career Fairs<br />-Parties<br />-Organizational Meetings in your local area<br />-Trade Shows<br />-As marketing tools if you create a "sizzle card" directing traffic to a phone number or website<br />-Professional seminars on real estate, stocks, network marketing, entrepreneurship<br /><br />3) Now you may be thinking...Ok I have the card set up, I have the places to hand them out...but what is the most effective way to hand them out?<br /><br />Most would think that at networking events you just go up to people and give them your card and walk away...<br /><br />If you think about it...how effective is that? Why would you just go up to someone and give them a card without building some sort of rapport with them?...I don't know about you but if I was on the receiving end of that...I would feel like I am being treated like a number...and people don't like being treated as a number.<br /><br />To effectively use your business card to help you and not hurt you here is what I would recommend.<br /><br />1) Introduce yourself to the person you want to speak with. "Hello my name is Scott...What brought you to the event today?"<br />2) Ask them the questions that I have spoken about in other posts on "Networking Effectively"<br />3) Make some other conversation around the answers that you receive and share a little bit about yourself....BUT...don't "barf" over your new friend with an overload of information.<br />4) Before ending the conversation politely ask. "Do you by chance have a card?" If they do say, "Great, here is mine! It has been nice talking with you." <br /><br />Until next time!<br />Have a fabulous day!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-17274326690482499862007-08-01T06:49:00.000-07:002007-09-08T22:27:43.733-07:00Personal Branding Magazine LAUNCHED!My friend <a href=http://www.personalbrandingblog.wordpress.com>Dan Schawbel</a> just launched a magazine about personal branding. He is a great friend of mine, and met me by coming across my blog! He himself has his own blog on personal branding which I truly enjoy reading.<br /><br />He created this magazine not only to educate others about the importance of their brand, but to also raise money for the American Cancer Society. He is giving 100% of the subscription money to the society to furthe help the organization in the future. <br /><br />Here is a video of him briefly talking about the magazine. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8Ng2kmuWqyY"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8Ng2kmuWqyY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Also, one other cool thing about the magazine is that he asked me to be one of the authors! It is great to be a part of something that is so positive!<br /><br />I hope you all get yourself a copy not only to educate yourself about the importance of building your personal brand, but to also help out the American Cancer Society. Get your copy today by going to <a href=http://www.PersonalBrandingMag.com> http://www.PersonalBrandingMag.com</a><br /><br />Have a great day and enjoy the Magazine!<br /><br />Best,<br />Scott BradleyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-67018606518384203492007-07-22T10:56:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:33:07.139-08:00Short Term Pain...Long Term Gain<b>Short Term Pain...Long Term Gain</b><br />Copyright © Scott Bradley<br /><br />Has there ever been a time in your life where you took the easy route in the beginning but regretted it later?<br />How did it make you feel knowing that you could have prevented the disaster just by starting and doing things right to begin with? Why weren't you committed to doing the little things right up front?...was it because they were too "painful?"<br /><br />On the flipside...<br /><br />Has there ever been a time in your life where you put your nose to the grindstone in the beginning of a project, doing all of the difficult and time consuming things correctly...which then led to enjoying the fruits of your labor when all was said and done? How awesome did it feel? <br /><br />During my sophomore year in college, I was introduced to this concept of "Short Term Pain...Long Term Gain" and on the flipside "Short Term Gain...Long Term Pain" in a class I took. As you notice...the words can be switched to read either positively or negatively. <a href=http://www.hcp.com/content7650.html>Peter Bell</a>, the used to be CEO/Founder of Storage Networks, Entrepreneur, and now Venture Capitalist for Highland Capital Partners taught the class and shared this concept with us. <br /><br />At the time, the concept came up in class when we were analyzing the WorldCom Scandal. <br /><br />The way the class ran was we would have 2.5 hour class with the first half being a review of the case we had to go over that week, and then the second half of the class featured speakers in their network that they had awesome relationships with. They would give presentations about their experience and provide us with lots of guidance. If you are able to take this class at Boston College I would Highly Recommend it, the experience was awesome!<br /><br />So back to WorldCom...Keeping this as simple as possible...Peter spoke about how by WorldCom touching up their books initially, which at the time was not a good thing to be doing with the state of the industry they were in...helped them and their stock price and earnings in the "short term"...but by starting that snowball rolling down the hill, the initial "gain" in the "short term" wasn't worth the effects in the "long term"...which we all know the result of. <br /><br />The bottom line...The initial gain of fudging the numbers in the beginning wasn't worth the end result...even though initially the "short term gain" seemed worth it at the time...but the "long term pain" was the worst possible thing that could happen for the company.<br /><br />This concept can also be applied to Enron...Which we all know what happened there...If you don't I would recommend watching the movie <a href=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413845/>The Smartest Guys In The Room</a> <br /><br />So on the positive side of the phrase "Short Term Pain...Long Term Gain..."<br />It has taught me, and hopefully has shown you the importance of doing things right from the start, so you don't have to feel the brunt of the negative situation on the backend. Keeping this principle in mind as you go out to do anything you set your mind to is crucial.<br /><br />Here are a few examples I can think of regarding this issue:<br />1) If you are looking to build a website...don't just go with the first designer who raises their hands...Take time to search out someone that is right for the job...because initially if you just choose someone up front, without checking out all of your other options...you may end up dissatisfied with your finished product.<br /><br />2) If you are a business and are looking to promote your product...don't spam people, forums, Myspace, Facebook with your messages because...while on the front end you may get a few sales...your reputation on that backend can be severely tainted...To fix that...instead of spamming people up front, research ways to effectively market your product to your targeted audience, which will open up an never-ending stream of new customers and business…and then take action to implement it.<br /><br />3) Always be ethical no matter what you are doing, or what you are participating in. You only have one reputation to protect, and while you may scam a person once...and get the short term gain from it...all that person has to do is tell everyone in that industry and your reputation is done, never being able to recover from it ever again. The reason that is, is due to people not being able to trust you…in business this is one of the most crucial elements to creating win/win situations. <br /><br />You have to consistently think about how the actions and things you participate in today, will later effect you and your reputation in the future. Is what you are doing today giving people in your network an asset to go to for help, or pushing them further and further away from you, making them look elsewhere for help and resources?<br /><br />In closing here are a couple quotes that embody this ideology that I came across:<br />"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly before it can be done well"<br />"Rome wasn't built in a day"<br /><br />What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you have situations in your life that you would like to share regarding this topic?<br /><br />Have a fantastic day!<br />Best,<br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-11047400720491818502007-07-07T18:22:00.001-07:002007-12-11T07:32:53.121-08:00Be A Resource To Your Network<b>Be A Resource To Your Network</b><br />Copyright © Scott Bradley<br /><br />Have you ever networked with someone only to later discover that they were networking you just to use you for their means to an end and couldn't care less about your personal situation? How did it make you feel? Did it encourage you to want to help that person in the future?<br /><br />In the world that we live in networking is essential to get to where we all want to go...but when networking we must keep the other persons best interests in mind. <br /><br />What do I mean by this? <br /><br />I mean that when networking...aside from utilizing the other person for their personal network or their services, don't forget to let them know how you can be a resource to them as well...to further create a synergistic bond between you and them.<br /><br />You can be a resource to your networked contacts many ways...Here are a few: <br />1) Freely sending referrals to people in your network<br />2) Talking about them on your blog...about the services they provide or their business...and how it helped you <br />3) Giving them a way to advertise their services in a personal newsletter of yours<br />4) Doing a joint venture with each of your mailing lists<br />5) Throwing an event that gives yourself as well as your networked contacts the ability to grow each others business's<br />6) Letting everyone know that you can help them by directing them to other people in your network who specialize in other fields<br />7) Letting them know how you can personally help them with your personal services you offer<br /><br />As you get good at this, and the more of a resource you are to your network...the more you began to serve them and be a resource to them...more likely than not...if you did a good job making connections...they will return the favor to you... <br /><br />As your network grows not only is it beneficial to you, but rather just as beneficial to your entire network. Because one of your contacts can come to you and ask… “John do you know someone who…(fill in the blank)?”<br /><br />As we all have heard before...you must give before you recieve and in networking this universal law is illustrated as well. The more you give the more you get. <br /><br />Here is one of the many stories that have happened to me on my networking journey.<br /><br />1) <a href=http://ben.casnocha.com>Ben Casnocha</a> who I wrote about on an early post...the 19 year old CEO who started his company at the age of 14...is someone who I initially met on facebook. After meeting him we began chatting and really hit it off. To do him a favor I invited him to come to the <a href=http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/svp/st_org/entre/>Boston College Entrepreneur Society</a> to speak and promote his book that just launched recently. After his return home...to return the favor he sent me a FREE copy of his book as a token of his gratitude for having me invite him to come and speak. I have just started to read it and it is awesome. It details how a 14 year old like him built his business from the ground up...sharing all of what he did on the way! <br /><br />So remember when networking...aside from thinking how you can utilize the other person as a contact...don't forget to think...How can I create a win/win situation to help this person get to where they want to go...and further be a great resource to them for their future?<br /><br />Have a great day!<br />Best,<br /><br />Scott Bradley<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-30819365692314479722007-06-28T18:21:00.000-07:002007-12-11T07:32:27.326-08:00Are You On Linked-In Yet?I wanted to keep this post short and sweet.<br /><br />As you know I love networking and I was thinking the other day...to keep this blog rolling and to change things up a bit...I should share a website with you that will help you with your networking efforts. That website is called Linked-In. <br /><br />With this website you can connect to other professionals in your line and field of work, as well as with personal friends you met in high school and college. <br /><br />The power in this website is that when you connect to your friends...you can see your friends contacts and see what professional positions they hold and what industries they are in. <br /><br />Imagine being able to check out all of your friends professional contacts to see if they can help you before you have to ask your friends and business people for help. <br /><br />If you saw someone that you needed for your business in one of your friends contact lists...you could simply ask your friend to introduce you to them. I think I have about 27 contacts frontline to me...and just with those 27 contacts have over 300K people that I can have access to...3 levels deep...Pretty powerful stuff.<br /><br />Here is how my network is currently structured as I write this<br />Me---frontline (27)---2nd level (1800)---3rd level (390,000)<br /><br />Anyway...I would HIGHLY RECCOMEND that you get on this site and link yourself with all of your friends and their professional contacts so they are all in one place and easy to manage. <br /><br />Feel free to send me a "friend request as well" I would be happy to connect. When you connect with me you will be able to have access to my professional networked contacts which I would be happy to introduce you to if you would like to speak to any of them to help you with your future business or networking endeavors!<br /><br />You can easily find me on Linked In by searching for "Scott Bradley Boston College". I am the only one that comes up when you search that!<br /><br />Here is the link to get started! I am looking forward to all of your linked in requests.<br /><br /><a href=http://www.linkedin.com> http://www.linkedin.com</a><br /><br />Have a great day!<br />Best,<br />Scott<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502264547476368967.post-66070347579201483052007-06-22T18:45:00.001-07:002007-12-11T07:32:09.347-08:00How To Network Effectively Using Instant Messaging<b>How To Network Effectively Using Instant Messaging</b><br />Copyright © Scott Bradley<br /><br />Aside from using social networking sites to meet people, I also like to use Instant Messaging to meet and network with like-minded individuals as well.<br /><br />I learned this craft from a man who built his network marketing business using instant messaging. After going through his course, it made me feel like I had the world at my fingertips...and to be frank...the contacts and friendships I have built using instant messaging have been life-changing.<br /><br />The man who taught me how to do this is named Max Steingart. He is a veteran network marketer and is teaching people how to meet people online, and further teaching people how to build those know like and trust relationships with people using the power of instant messaging.<br /><br />Initially when I heard about this I was skeptical...but when I started applying these techniques to meet other like minded individuals...a whole new world opened up for me.<br /><br />So you are probably sitting there thinking...Ok Scott...Spill the beans already!<br /><br />Here are the steps I was taken through for this to work.<br /><br />1) Figure out a chatting service you want to use...be it...AOL, MSN, or Yahoo.<br /><br />2) When you decide on a Instant Messaging Platform...then your next step is to figure out a screen name you would like to use. <br /><br />3) Design your profile<br /><br />4) Figure out the people you would like to chat with<br /><br />5) Take action and start putting yourself out there<br /><br />So to elaborate....<br /><br />1) When you decide on a chatting service to use...I initially began working on AOL...but soon switched to yahoo due to the member directory being all screwed up...What was happening was when I was searching for people "online" it was giving me people “offline” at the time I was searching. I would recommend that you choose Yahoo to get started. All you have to do is go to yahoo and get an account set up...its pretty easy.<br /><br />2) The next fun step is to figure out a screen name for yourself. Remember...you never get a second chance to make a first impression...so make it unique to you and one that will not only attract other people to you, but also give people a good feeling about you when you initially send them an instant message. Mine for AOL is CaliforniaEagle and for Yahoo is CaliforniaEagle23. The reason I chose this screen name is because I am from California, and my school mascot is an eagle. I will always be able to take this screen name with me wherever I go and will always be able to say "I am from California and went to Boston College...the mascot was an Eagle."<br /><br />3) After creating a screen name...then you get to design your profile. Make your profile genuine and full of content about you. You want your profile to be a direct reflection of who you are so when people you initially IM look at it...they get a good feeling about you. I am not saying to be a liar...but rather be honest, genuine and up-front. Be sure to include a positive quote.<br /><br />4) Know what audience you want to talk to...Do you want to target lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, network marketers, sales people, business owners....do you want them to share an interest with you....how old....what state.....what age....and so on...Know who you want to be speaking with. This is crucial...because while there are a lot of junky people to talk to online, there are also the awesome ones....you just have to know how to sort them out and how to find them.<br /><br />5) Once you have all of that set up...then TAKE ACTION. Go to the member directory, and go to the "advanced search". In yahoo just utilize the boxes from the keywords down....Set your demographic, and target....make sure to check the "I only want to see people online" and then let the search run. If you did it right....you will find between 5-20 quality people ready and waiting to hear from you...<br /><br />Now....before contacting these people...you want to open up their profile to take a look at who they are.....THE BEAUTY OF THIS is that you get to get a good feeling about a person before ever initiating any sort of communication with them. The first thing I was taught to look at in a person's profile is if they HAVE A POSITIVE QUOTE.....If they don't…move onto the next one.<br /><br />When you find a good one...then it is time to initiate the conversation....<br /><br />Say for instance you were searching for people with the word "exotic cars" in their profile. This is an intro I would use...<br /><br />"Hello John my name is Scott. I was searching the member directory for people who are interested in exotic cars and noticed your profile. What is your favorite exotic?"<br /><br />After sending that message they will most likely go to your profile...check you out....and then respond....This is why your profile and screen name are so crucial to your success in people responding to you. <br /><br />After this...he would probably say something back....and once this happens....focus the conversation on him and only him...ask him the three questions....What do you do? How long have you done it? and What did you do before?<br /><br />At one point in the conversation he will feel like he has shared too much and wants to learn more about you....and then he will reciprocate....<br /><br />Imagine this like a tennis match back and forth....you put the ball over...and then they put it over to you...<br /><br />One thing to make sure that you do, to keep the conversation flowing is to always always always after you say something ask an open ended question....for instance....say that he says..."I like ferrari's...." Then I would respond with..."You do? I love ferrari's as well. When did you last drive one?"<br /><br />This will keep the conversation going, and keep you going down the road of building rapport and a relationship....<br /><br />Now obviously what I have shared is the perfect world...and as we all know...nothing is perfect....<br />You will get people who ignore you....<br />You will get people who won't give you the time of day....<br />You will get people who just drop off...<br /><br />BUT (notice the bigness)...the ones who you continue to build relationships with over time...can lead to some really cool things.<br /><br />For me I want to share some of the awesome stories I have had building networks and relationships on the net<br /><br />1) I was on AOL and was searching for people with the word Robert Kiyosaki in their profile because I love his books....Turns out I meet this guy who is a business owner. I will keep his name anonymous...but after building a relationship with him for over a year he has turned into an awesome mentor...he is also a real estate investor and has contacts to billionaires....aside from continuing to build a friendship with him...I use him as a bounce board for what I am doing and such. He has also expressed interesting in investing in business’s I start in the future.<br /><br />2) For my second story I was looking to meet people down in San Diego for a conference with one of the MLM's I was building at the time. I came across this profile after searching for people with an interest in "numerology". I sent a message to this lady and really hit it off with her...We started talking about numerology and such...learned what she did...and so on...find out she is a Real Estate Investor....and has turned out to be an amazing awesome friend....and another mentor....Both of us can talk to each other for hours about anything... What is really awesome about this friend is that she referred me to a company who was thinking about implementing one of my products I was promoting through and MLM at the time....with over 15K people in the entire company....I would have made more than enough from the deal....but turned out the lady never got back to me...but that being said....huge things can happen when you least expect them.<br /><br />3) When I was utilizing this method to build my business I came across a profile from a person who was in network marketing. I later found out she was a master distributor in a company at the time. She taught me so much and really helped me hone my network marketing skills. She then started talking to me about how she was going to be a master distributor in another company that was going to be launching....and she wanted me to be on her frontline to help build the company...I decided not to do it for personal reasons, but the fact that I had that opportunity from building a relationship with someone through instant messaging is just amazing. <br /><br />4) This last story is inspiring and touching all at the same time. At a time I was in a "spiritual" chatroom....and as I was just about to leave the chatroom...all of a sudden I received an IM that said..."Why do you have question marks in your profile?" Little did I know there were question marks in my profile. I went to change them and started chatting with this woman. We hit it off right from the start. We then over time moved our conversation to the phone and further shared with eachother and how to make our lives better. We talked all about the Art of Allowing, Law of Attraction...life, nutrition, motivational material and the like. I learned from this woman that she was one who battled cancer and beat it her first time with no drugs and all with the power of her own mind....At the time I met her she was doing therapy and was in remission....We always talked at every opportunity we were online....To make a long story short her cancer came back and she passed away last year right before I came home from school. <br /><br />This story makes me realize how powerful building relationships with people online can be...and further how awesome it is when you do find worthwhile people to connect with and stay in touch with.<br /><br />As time goes forward I will continue to meet people online using web 2.0 as well as through Instant Messaging because it has truly opened up so many more doors for me than I ever thought possible. <br /><br />While I only had space for these 4 stories there are many others I could share with you. <br />If you would like to reach out to me feel free to either IM me or Call me. Don’t worry I don’t bite…LOL<br /><br />Yahoo: CaliforniaEagle23<br />AOL: CaliforniaEagle<br /><br />Have an awesome day!<br />Best,<br />Scott<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br />I Have Moved My Blog To Wordpress.<br />I will no longer be posting to this blog.<br />Click <a href="http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com">http://www.NetworkingEffectively.com</a> to visit the new blog<br />******************************************************************************Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3