Top 10 Networking Books

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Wayne

Networking is an essential part of doing business and furthering your career, but it is not something that comes naturally to many people. If you’re not comfortable in crowds, or good with small talk, carrying conversations with strangers at conferences and parties can be a challenge.

The good news is that networking is a skill that anyone can learn. Someone who is shy may find it harder to learn than someone who is naturally outgoing, but anyone can get used to talking to people, making contacts, and building lasting relationships. Here is a quick look at some of the best books on the subject of networking.

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie

http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/1439167346

How to Win Friends and Influence People (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dale Carnegie wrote this book in 1936, as a response to the Great Depression, but the content of the book is still relevant today. Carnegie offers advice on how to get the job they’ve always wanted, improve the job they already have, and make the best of bad situations. He also explains how to make people feel valued, instead of manipulated. Applying the principles in this book is a great way to get ahead in your career.

2. Confessions of an Introvert, by Meghan Wier

http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Introvert-Meghan-Wier/dp/157248697X/

Introverts have a harder time with networking than most. In this book, Wier explains how she conquered her networking fears and became a successful networker. The examples in the book come from her own experiences, and may not apply to everyone, but there is a lot of good advice in this book. If you feel trapped by your daily routines, and find yourself making excuses to avoid networking then this title could offer you the motivation and confidence boost you need to come out of your shell.

3. Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz

http://www.amazon.com/Never-Eat-Alone-Secrets-Relationship/dp/0385512058

Cover of "Never Eat Alone: And Other Secr...

Cover via Amazon

Keith Ferrazzi is a master networker. Early on in life he learned that one of the things that differentiates successful people from the majority of the population is the way they use the power of relationships to help everyone, not just themselves. In Never Eat Alone, Ferrazzi explains his approach to networking, including how to maintain relationships with a large contact list, how to network so that everyone wins, and how to avoid the worst fate for a networker – invisibility.

4. The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation in Any Situation, by Debora Fine

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fine-Art-Small-Talk-Conversation/dp/0749926740

Small talk comes naturally to some people, but for the rest of us it can be a tiring and awkward way to pass the time. If you find yourself babbling and making a fool of yourself at social occasions, or spending the entire evening standing by the buffet table, then this book could help you. Fine teaches you how to start a conversation even if you don’t think you have much to say, how to avoid awkward pauses and how to calm your nerves in busy social situations.

5. Networking Like a Pro: Turning Contacts into Connections, by Ivan Misner

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Networking-Like-Pro-Contacts-Connections/dp/1599183560

Cover of "Networking Like a Pro: Turning ...

Cover via Amazon

Carrying a conversation at a networking event is just one part of building a strong network of connections. Once you have made that initial contact, you need to build on that relationship and turn that person into a valuable business connection. That is exactly what Misner explains how to do in this book. Networking Like a Pro teaches you how to follow-up on initial contacts, turn your contacts into your strongest advocates, and track your networking success.

6. Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships that Last, by Lillian D. Bjorseth

http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Networking-Building-Relationships-Second/dp/0964883937

The idea of a job for life is something that is dying out, and it is becoming increasingly normal to move from company to company every few years. This book explains how to make yourself memorable, and maintain relationships with your contacts, even if you have a fairly large network.

7. Make Your Contacts Count, by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon

http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Contacts-Count-Networking/dp/0814474020

One common mistake that novice business-people make is treating networking like a game of Pokemon, trying to build up the biggest Rolodex (or Outlook/Gmail contact list) they can without having any idea of why they’re talking to all these people.

A big contact list is useless if you don’t know how to work with those contacts in a mutually beneficial way. Make Your Contacts Count explains how to cultivate your contacts, avoid common networking turnoffs, and put together a plan for long-term success.

8. The 29% Solution, by Ivan Misner

http://www.amazon.com/The-29-Solution-Networking-Strategies/dp/1929774540

Everyone knows that networking is important, but few people have mastered the art of maintaining their existing relationships while also cultivating new ones. This book is divided into 52 lessons – one per week, that help you build your networking skills.

Networking is a subject that is rarely taught in business schools, so Misner wrote this book as a self-study course to help people who need to improve their networking skills. Each week the reader is presented with a lesson, and a challenge or test. Not all tests will be relevant to your job or interests; one challenge, for example, requires writing a press release. There is a lot of valuable general information in the book, however.

9. Work the Pond, by Darcy Rezac, Judy Thomson and Gayle Hallgren-Rezac

http://www.amazon.com/Work-Power-Positive-Networking-Forward/dp/0735204020

Work The Pond offers an interesting take on networking, suggesting that you have to “kiss a lot of frogs” in order to find your “princess”. The authors of Work The Pond aim to re-define networking. Instead of looking for people who can make a difference in your life, you should focus on figuring out what you can do for other people. Darcy Rezac uses a simple seven-step approach to networking, which he believes will help readers to avoid frogs, and make quality connections more easily. Some of the advice is common sense – such as “Never leave home without business cards”, but there are some interesting strategies in there that will help to make networking more efficient, and fun too.

10. Highly Effective Networking, by Orville Pierson

http://www.amazon.com/Highly-Effective-Networking-Right-People/dp/1601630506

The sub-title of this book is “Meet the Right People and Get a Great Job”, but this book is not just relevant to job hunters. In Highly Effective Networking, Pierson offers a fresh take on networking. Instead of a book aimed at salespeople or powerful executives, this book is aimed at people earlier in their careers. Pierson explains how to use a small network to reach a much larger group of people, and how to get comfortable talking to your direct and indirect contacts.

A Conference Survival Checklist for Attendees

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Wayne

Conferences can be great networking opportunities, educational, and a lot of fun, but they can also be stressful and tiring. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Bing, Google e Yahoo! BTO 2009 (Photo credit: BTO – Buy Tourism Online)

When the Conference is Announced

In the ideal world, you’d know which conferences you were going to attend well in advance, and you would be able to get your tickets and book your flights and accommodation at your leisure. Of course, we all know that it doesn’t work out like that, and you’ll probably end up being sent on lots of last-minute trips this year, but if you have notice you should take advantage of it.

Apply early for conferences that interest you: Early-bird discounts can sometimes save you hundreds of dollars compared to the on-the-door price.
Track flight prices and be ready to book: Sign up for price notifications from Skyscanner, Farecast or a similar service, and keep a mental note of costs. As soon as flight prices drop below your booking threshold, buy your ticket.
Book accommodation early: If you have a preferred hotel and a special rate through your company, book as soon as you get confirmation you’re going to the conference. If you’re booking through the conference organizers, watch their accommodation page carefully. You don’t want to miss out on discount accommodation because you didn’t know the booking page was available – as happened to many E3 2013 attendees!

Weeks Before the Conference

Take advantage of the time leading up to the conference to network, plan, and generally make sure that you get the most out of your trip.

Follow the conference hashtag and social media pages: Set up Tweetdeck, Hootsuite, or whatever tool you use to follow the conference hashtag. Don’t just follow the official one, search for a few others (there’s almost always some confusion as to which is the “right” one to use) so that you don’t miss anything.
Network: Find out which of your business contacts are going to the conference, and start setting up meetings. Calendars inevitably fill up quickly, so if there’s someone you really want to meet, schedule something with them as early as possible.
Plan some free time: Try not to over-fill your schedule. It’s easy to get carried away trying to take advantage of a rare opportunity to network – especially if you’re travelling a long way for the conference. Give yourself some time to rest, eat, and look after yourself during the conference. You’ll be glad you did.
Order your business cards: Place an order for a large batch of business cards well in advance of the conference. Order more cards than you expect to need. If you don’t use them all during this conference, you can always take them to the next one. Choose matte cards, with plenty of whitespace so that people can make a note of what they spoke to you about on the card.

Business card origami (and kirigami) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Few Days Before the Conference

It pays to start packing early. Even if you’re a conference veteran, there’s a good chance that during your preparation you’ll discover something that you’d forgotten to charge, replace, or purchase.

Sort out your wardrobe: Choose something smart but comfortable to travel in, and pack your business clothes. Pick some shoes that fit the dress-code, but that you can comfortably walk in.
Leave space for swag: Take a messenger bag in your luggage, and use that to carry the mouse mats, pens, notebooks and other odds and ends that you’ll inevitably end up acquiring during the conference.
Count your converters: If the conference is in a foreign country, make sure that a)You’ve packed the right converters for that country, and b)You have enough of them to charge your essential gadgets. You don’t want to end up being the person who missed the all-important keynote (or meeting!) because you couldn’t charge your phone so the alarm didn’t go off.
Print a copy of the calendar: Yes, you’ll be given a booklet with the calendar, and there’s probably an online tool too – but there’s no substitute for having a paper copy on hand with the sessions, stands and workshops that you want to visit highlighted for easy reference.

A Conference Packing List:

Exactly what you take to the conference will depend on your industry and your reason for attending, but there are some things that everyone should bring:

Your smartphone
A tablet PC (for taking notes)
A pen and paper (it never hurts to have an old-style backup!)
A wireless dongle (because conference WiFi never works)
A small multi-way adapter (so you can charge your phone and share the plug with other attendees – they’ll love you for it)
Hand sanitizer / wet wipes (to freshen up after a long day)
Painkillers (even if you don’t need them, by day two, someone you know will!)
Business cards, stored in a smart holder
Chewing gum or mints – garlic breath after the conference lunch is never fun

On the Day

The most important thing to remember once you get to the conference is to relax. There’s a good chance that some things won’t go as planned, but you can still have a successful trip. Try to go with the flow, you’ll get more done that way.

Arrive early: If badge pickup is available the day before, and you’re in town that day, take advantage. If not, aim to arrive fairly early on the first day so that you have plenty of time to pick up your badge and make it to your first meeting or talk. Don’t bank on turning up later in the day to skip the queues, there’s a good chance that a multi-day conference will have a steady trickle of people checking in on the first day.
Check for schedule changes: Once you’ve picked up your badge and a copy of the programme, go grab a cup of coffee and check the back of the programme for notes about schedule changes. Update your calendar if appropriate.
Make time for food and drink: Even if you’ve remembered to build breaks into your schedule, it’s easy to end up filling those breaks with visits to random booths, or walking around the expo hall. Take advantage of the free food and drink that’s provided, and make sure you take a few minutes out of the day to do something other than rush around. When you leave the conference centre, go and get a proper sit-down meal then relax in your hotel room so that you’re refreshed and ready to go the next day.
Party, but not too hard: A lot of good networking happens at parties. If you want to make friends and pick up some juicy secrets, make a point of going to some of the after-parties. You don’t have to stay out too late, or get drunk, just show up, have a drink and stick around until the loud music starts. Then you can show up the next day rested and full of energy, and play the “Spot who stayed out too late” game.
Use every networking opportunity: If you would like to talk to a speaker about something, don’t be shy – approach them! Talk to as many people as you can during networking sessions, and exchange cards with people if you think that you might be able to help each other in the future. Don’t turn business card collecting into a game – actually network with people and listen to what they have to say.
Record talks if this is permitted: Many conference organizers record key talks and panels and upload the videos after the event, but it’s still handy to have your own recordings. Even if you don’t take actual video footage, recording the audio on your phone is a good idea. Approach the speaker afterwards and ask them if they’ll be posting the slides on their own website.
Tweet responsibly: Tweeting from a conference is a good idea, but remember that not all of your followers are at the conference. Use the conference hashtag in your tweets so that you don’t confuse your followers. It’s only polite to warn your followers that you’ll be posting a high volume of Tweets, so that they can set up their client to filter your tweets for the duration of the event if they don’t want to be flooded with conference spam.

After the Conference

After the conference your work is not done!

Sort through the swag before you go home: Do you really need to bring back everything you picked up at the conference? Throw away promotional leaflets and stuff that you don’t expect to use. Tidying up now will save you from lugging an overflowing bag through the airport.
Follow up on new contacts: Send an email to everyone you had a meaningful conversation with at the conference. It doesn’t have to be a long email – a simple “It was good to talk to you about XYZ” will suffice. Send the email as soon as you have the opportunity, so that you don’t forget any important conversations.

Running a Business Conference: A Simple Checklist

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Wayne

How to put on a conference that can be a success (Photo credit: zigazou76)

Organizing a conference is a huge undertaking, and even experienced events managers get things wrong sometimes. The secret to running a successful conference is to give yourself plenty of time to get things organized, and to have a clear, step-by-step conference planning timeline. Some things can be done a few weeks before the conference, other things need arranged well in advance.

The Key Stages of Conference Planning

There are several steps involved in planning a successful conference:

Decide on a theme/subject – are you focusing on a particular subset of your industry? Is your conference going to focus on networking, education, debating topical issues within your industry, or something else?
Pick an approximate date and venue – during the early planning stages, you don’t need a definite date, but having a rough idea of when the conference will take place is useful. Try to find a date that isn’t too close to other conferences so that attendance is maximised.
Find speakers and staff – a good speaker can turn a small, independent conference into a must-attend event. Recruit some reliable, friendly people to be stewards and man the reception desk, and they’ll set the tone for the rest of the event.
Nail down the details and start promotion – once you’ve figured out the when, where and who of your project you can start scheduling and promoting your conference.

Every business conference checklist will differ slightly, depending on the venue, theme, and even size of the conference, however there are some things that every organizer should consider. In no particular order, here are some conference essentials that you should cover. Each of these will be addressed in more detail in the timeline section:

A Brief Conference Checklist

Venue – choose somewhere big enough to accommodate the number of people you expect to attend. Ideally, your chosen venue should be easy to get to, and in an area close to a good airport and train station.
Speakers – start talking to speakers well in advance, and ask them to submit details of their talks early so that you can include them in any promotional information.
Technical equipment – make sure that you have access to enough projectors, computers, speakers, microphones, etc. Find out what the hotel provides and what their procedure is for setting up any equipment you need to bring in yourself. Have your IT team talk to the venue to find out what their existing network infrastructure is like.
Accommodation assistance for attendees – If you expect a lot of out-of-town attendees, talk to the events team at your chosen venue and find out if they offer discounts for conference attendees. If you’re planning a large event, work with other hotels or the local tourist board to provide booking assistance to speakers and attendees.
Tickets / badges – decide well in advance whether you will be posting out tickets or having people pick them up on the day. Work with sponsors to get badge holders and/or lanyards made up for the event.
Stewarding – for large events, you will need stewards and security staff. Consider contacting local universities and colleges to offer students from relevant courses free passes to the event in exchange for a small amount of stewarding work.
Catering – In many cases, the venue will provide catering, however you may want to arrange for outside catering for the evening reception. Consider
Press / interpreters room – If you are inviting members of the media, or people from foreign countries, try to make them feel welcome. Set up a quiet room with some chairs, plugs, a wireless router and some coffee and tea so that people can work without distractions.

Getting your conference right is a difficult task – plan ahead! (Photo credit: zigazou76)

A Typical Conference Planning Timeline

If it seems like there’s a lot to think about, that’s because there is! It takes a long time to plan a successful conference. It’s a good idea to approach things in a systematic fashion.

Early Planning Stages

During the early planning stages you should think about possible dates and the venue. Avoid dates that are close to, or likely to clash with, other conferences. In addition, avoid public holidays and bank holidays. It is unlikely that people will be willing to sacrifice days off work to attend your conference.

Check ConfCal and The Conference Calendar to make sure that your chosen dates don’t clash with other related conferences.

Next, you need to choose a venue and work out your budget for the event. Your budget should take into account money raised from ticket sales and from sponsors, if you are working with any. Remember that your budget does not just need to cover the venue and catering costs. You will be spending money on a lot of other things, including:

Print marketing
Signage and flyers
T-shirts, lanyards, attendee bags
Programmes
Equipment rental
Transport between venues (if applicable)
Decorations
Accommodation
Event staff
Entertainment
Cleaning and other general expenses
Thank-you gifts for speakers

It’s better to over-budget for each of these categories than to end up out of pocket after the event.

Several Months Before the Conference

Usually, conferences start promotion work around six months out, so it’s a good idea to have all of your speakers confirmed well in advance of that date, as well as a general idea of what they are going to be talking about. The specifics of the talk don’t need to be agreed yet, but it’s helpful to know which track the speaker wants to be involved with, and roughly what angle they will take – especially if they are a high-profile personality and you expect their presence to be a major marketing point.

Once you have enough information about your programme worked out, you can start promoting the conference. Begin by pre-selling tickets online. Offer early bird registration for people that sign up and pay six months in advance, this will help you to get some early cash-flow together for marketing and other expenses. Close early bird registration after a couple of months, but offer a second tier of discounted registration for later online signups. Make it clear that tickets are limited, and that anyone who turns up on the door will have to pay full price, and is not guaranteed a ticket.

Three Months Out

Three months before the conference, send out reminders to all speakers and pre-registered attendees. In addition, send a reminder to people who have expressed an interest in attending the conference, but have not yet pre-booked.

Contact any suppliers, printers, catering companies and other businesses that you are working with to make sure that they have a record of your bookings and that they will be able to deliver on time.

One Month Out

Contact the venue to confirm that everything is OK with your booking. If possible, arrange a walk-through so that you can confirm any decorating plans and make sure that your ideas for rooms and organization will work out.

Get in touch with all of your speakers to confirm availability and sort out any last-minute queries about the content of their talks or workshops. Place an order for any gifts or promotional materials that you need for the conference, and arrange for these to be delivered direct to the venue.

One Week Out

Ship any bulky equipment and supplies for the conference to the venue, and schedule it to arrive 24 hours before you will get there. Call to confirm that the equipment has arrived before you leave the office.

Contact your catering company to confirm expected headcounts for the conference.

Take a memory stick containing any important handouts, slides, or other audio-visual materials required for the event. If the print-outs you shipped go missing, or the venue loses any slides or posters you sent to them, you can use this memory stick to get more printed at a local facility.

Send out an email to attendees informing them of any last minute additions or changes to the schedule. In addition, let them know what the “official” hashtag for the event is so that they can start networking on Twitter.

Set Up Day

Walk through the venue with the event manager and make sure that everything is in place as you expected.

Arrange a meeting with the stewards and event personnel so that everyone knows their job, the schedule, and who to contact if they have any questions. Use this opportunity to thank your volunteers.

During the Conference

Keep track of what is going on in each function room, and make sure that speakers know how much time they have left in their session. Don’t let speakers over-run, as this can cause chaos with schedules later in the day.

Sign banquet checks every day and keep track of your expenses closely.

Make yourself available to answer any questions guests may have.

Encourage your guests to Tweet about the event.

After the Event

After the conference, send thank-you gifts to key personnel and speakers.

Inform the venue of the names of any staff that provided great service.

Send out a press release detailing any major successes at the conference, including attendance figures, well-received talks, or major announcements.

Start planning for next year!

Work Smarter, Not Harder: A Quick Guide

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Wayne

Time management is an important skill, especially for knowledge workers. If you work in a flexible environment, work from home, or run your own business, you’ve probably struggled with time management at some point. If you feel like there simply isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done, try these simple tips which will have you working smarter and more efficiently.

Time Management (Photo credit: Intersection Consulting)

Saving Time at Work

Maintaining a good work/life balance is harder than ever. Today, employers expect people to be permanently tethered to their smartphones, and emails can come in at any time. You’ll need to be ruthless if you want to limit your work to the office.

Don’t be embarrassed about keeping phone calls on topic and ending the call once you have what you need.
Check your email at specific times of day instead of leaving your client running all day, every day. This will ensure that you don’t get distracted by emails coming in when you’re busy working on something important.
Keep your personal and work emails separate, and stay away from your personal email account except during breaks.
Resist the urge to check social media accounts during your working day.
If you have a task you’re always putting off, force yourself to work on it for a set period of time – even if that’s only half an hour or so each day. At least you’ll get started and get it done.
If there’s something that you struggle to finish because of constant interruptions, turn off your phone for a while, or come in to the office early one morning so that you can work uninterrupted.
Take advantage of technology to make your work more efficient. Use bookmarks, browser extensions and mobile apps to save time.

Handling Chores Efficiently

If you’re busy at work, one of the first things to suffer is your lifestyle at home. If chores are mounting up and you always feel too tired to cook, why not streamline your life to reduce stress.

Choose clothing that is easy to throw in the washing machine and forget about. Avoid anything that is dry-clean only or requires careful handling.
Find some simple to cook, nutritious recipes that you enjoy eating. Make sure you eat at least a few home-cooked meals each week. You’ll have more energy, and be more productive, if you look after yourself well.
Consider hiring a maid or a cleaner. A single visit each week should not be expensive, and it will save you a lot of time and stress.
If you’re working from home, designate one area as your “office”, and keep that area clean and tidy so that you aren’t distracted while you’re working. Don’t worry about the rest of the house during your working day, and try to relax during your “breaks”. You aren’t taking a break if you go from working on your office to working on chores.

General Time Management Advice

No matter what it is that’s begging for your attention, there are a few things you can do to take control of your daily schedule:

Start with the “must do” tasks: Pick one or two tasks that you absolutely must complete, and get those done right away. Once you’ve finished those, you’ll feel less stressed out and will be able to call the day a success. You can either move on to other tasks, or relax for the rest of the day.
Learn to delegate: Trying to do absolutely everything yourself is rarely a good idea. Delegate tasks if you don’t know how to do them, or simply don’t have the time to do them. Everyone has their own unique talents. Focus on the jobs that you can do well, and let other people handle the tasks that they’re good at.
Learn to say “No”: It’s always nice to feel wanted, but you can’t help everyone. If you have too much on your plate, learn to say no. Don’t dodge the issue or say “I’ll get back to you about that” if you already know that you’re too busy. Give an honest answer so that the person asking you knows that they should look for someone else to help them.
Stop multitasking so much: Multitasking might feel productive, but it usually isn’t. When you have something important to do, close all the other open browser windows and focus on getting the work done. Turn your phone off too if you need to be productive. Once you’ve finished your work, you can take a break and actually enjoy surfing your favourite social media sites.
Start now: It’s perfectly normal to feel the urge to procrastinate, but it’s something you should fight against. You may be surviving with your current working habits, but think about how stressed out you get as deadlines approach. Instead of waiting until the last minute to start your projects, get into the habit of starting early. Once getting things done becomes a habit, you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel.
Build habits around regular tasks: If there’s something you need to do regularly – blog posts, accounts, or reports, for example, turn it into a habit. Maybe you’ll do your accounts at 3PM every Friday. Perhaps you’ll check your work related social media accounts every morning while you drink the first coffee of the day. Once it’s turned into a habit, you’ll find yourself doing it almost unconsciously, and it won’t feel like a stressful part of your schedule.
Use those mornings or evenings wisely: If you’re a morning person, get up an hour earlier and use that time to do those little odd jobs that pile up during the day. If you’re an evening person, stay up a little later each night. Of course, you should still make sure you’re getting enough rest. Don’t stay up so late that your mood suffers during the day.

Top 10 Business Growth Books

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Wayne

If you want to be a successful business leader, you must make sure that you are constantly expanding your knowledge and staying up to date with the latest in leadership skills, business trends, and management techniques. The moment you stop learning is the moment that you will be left behind. Your competitors will seize any opportunity they get to earn an advantage over you.

The following books are some of the most interesting, and relevant, business development books that have been published recently. If you care about your business, add these to your kindle or your reading list now.

Think and Grow Rich

Cover via Amazon

Think and Grow Rich is Napoleon Hill‘s most well-known work. Hill was the originator of the saying “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve”. This book will teach you the power of positive thinking, and help you to achieve any goal that you put your mind to. Even if you don’t currently believe in the power of the mind, reading about Hill’s 16 “laws”, which he believes that all high achievers follow, will put you on the path to success. Hill’s books have been praised by many millionaires, Fortune 500 leaders, and even American presidents.

Law of Success – 21^st Century Edition

Cover of "The Law of Success: The Master ...

Cover via Amazon

If Think and Grow Rich piqued your interest, Law of Success is a must read. This book is far more than just an expanded version of Think and Grow Rich. In Law of Success, Hill expands upon the behaviours, habits and rules that he has noticed successful people follow. This book is divided up into 18 chapters. Hill explains the 17 guiding principles that you should follow if you want to be successful. The author passed away in 1975, but this edition has been revised and updated by the publisher to cover the 21^st century.

The Four Steps to The Epiphany

Cover of The Four Steps to the Epiphany

The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steven Gary Blank explains the secrets behind making popular, successful products. This book takes the reader through the building of a business, from having the idea to putting together a business plan, and marketing and sales. This book is not a traditional “how to run a business” book full of dry theory, however. It is full of detailed examples, and the kind of insider information that will help you to avoid common business mistakes.

The One Minute Millionaire

Cover of The One Minute Millionaire

In The One Minute Millionaire, Mark Victor Hansen provides valuable advice to help people on the path to wealth. Hansen explains how to create wealth even if you don’t have any starting money to play with, how to grow that wealth, and how to overcome your fears so that you can start taking reasonable risks. Hansen also teaches “one minute” habits that will help you to grow your wealth over the long term. Hansen’s book is especially useful in today’s difficult times because it contains sections on bouncing back after financial loss, and protecting yourself and your finances during times of insecurity.

Cracking the Millionaire Code

Cover via Amazon

Co-authored by Robert Allen and Mark Victor Hansen, this valuable book explains the four codes that the authors live by. Both Allen and Hansen are no stranger to failure, but they have succeeded in dusting themselves off and achieving success from humble beginnings. Together, they explain the codes that they live by, and how readers can use those codes themselves to achieve prosperity. Hansen is best known for his work on the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. If you enjoyed that, you will find this book invaluable.

Go for No!

Subtitled “Yes is the Destination, No is How You Get There”, this is a book about how to sell. Unlike other books about selling, however, this book focuses on perhaps the biggest challenge that sales people face – fear of failure. Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz use this book to explain one important principle – that failing and failure are two different things. Once you overcome your fear of hearing people say “no”, you will be able to focus on the part of your job that makes you successful – getting people to say “yes”. There will always be people who don’t want whatever it is you’re selling, and successful salespeople learn to ignore those people and find the customers that want to say “yes”.

If You Build it, Will They Come?

Business professor and strategy consultant Rob Adams explains how to use market validation to ensure that there is actually a demand for your product, before you launch. This book is a must-read if you want to learn more about how market research really works. Once you understand Adam’s strategies, you’ll be able to figure out what consumers really want, instead of following the dead ends behind what they say they want.

Awaken The Giant Within

In this book, Anthony Robbins teaches you “How to take immediate control of your mental, emotional, physical and financial destiny”. That’s quite a promise! Robbins tells the reader how to stop bad habits, overcome addiction, improve your personal finances, and generally take control over their lives. If you’re a firm believer in personal responsibility, and want some inspiration and guidance, this book is a great starting point.

The Compound Effect

Darren Hardy explains his “operating system” for life. Hardy believes that small everyday decisions have a big impact on our overall lives, and that the right decisions will give you the life you desire, but if you live aimlessly you will not be able to achieve your destiny. Like compound interest, small decisions build on each other to have a big impact on your life.

The Success Principles

Cover via Amazon

Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” is not just another list of inspirational platitudes. Unlike so many other self-help books, The Success Principles is a practical, useful book with principles that have stood the test of time. The book has 64 chapters, and covers almost every topic imaginable. Some topics are merely glossed over, but the author provides plenty of references and the recommended reading section will help you to explore specific topics in greater depth if you wish to do so.

Time Management Guide

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Wayne

Old Clocks (Photo credit: servus)

Almost everyone struggles with time management. Juggling work, your home life and your hobbies is not easy. Now that we have smartphones and other mobile devices that allow people to contact us no matter where we are, the stresses of looming deadlines and multiple commitments feel even more pressing than they did a few years ago. Learning how to manage your time and prioritize tasks effectively will make you feel less stressed, improve your performance at work, and allow you to re-claim some of your schedule for personal time.

Changing the Way You Think About Time

The first step towards improving your time management skills is to realize that you can’t actually manage time – you can only manage yourself. Instead of trying to “make more time”, use the time that you have more effectively.

Once you learn to prioritize tasks, stop procrastinating, and focus giving the things you are doing your whole attention, you will find that more things get done, and you feel as though you’ve reclaimed several hours out of each day.

How Good is Your Time Management?

Think about the way you handle your schedule. Are you good at managing your time? Do you have a routine that you follow daily? Do you get the most important things done ahead of time, or are you constantly rushing from deadline to deadline?

If you find it difficult to focus on one task at a time, are juggling more deadlines than you can cope with, or struggle to work effectively because of constant interruptions, then you probably have a time management problem. You need to change the way that you approach your schedule.

Time Management and Your Body Clock

There is no one time management strategy that works for everyone. Some people like strict schedules, others like flexibility. Some people find they work best at night, some people are incredibly productive early in the morning. The most effective time management strategy is one that plays to your strengths. If you build a rigid strategy that doesn’t suit you, then you will struggle to stick to your new time management plan for more than a few weeks.

Before you can build a time management plan, think about your daily habits. Keep a diary for a week or two. Note down what time you wake up, and what time you go to bed. Throughout the day, make a note of your energy levels. You should notice that there is a certain time of day when you feel far more productive. Try to schedule some important tasks for that time, and clear your schedule during the periods when you have less energy.

Goals and Motivation

Setting goals is a good way to keep you motivated. It’s all too common for people to resolve to “be more productive”, and to then burn out after a month or so because they have no way of knowing how much they have achieved. They “get stuff done” in the office, but no matter how much work they do, more keeps on piling up.

Instead of simply resolving to get more work done, set goals that are both clearly defined and measurable:

Start each goal with “To” – for example “To finish the weekly report before 4PM every Friday”, or “To re-design my accounts spreadsheet to something more”.
Set personal goals as well as work related ones, for example “To get back to my ideal weight”, or “To go out with my spouse every Thursday for a date night”.
Make sure that each goal is measurable. You can tick off the goal as completed when you redesign that spreadsheet, or lose those few extra pounds.
Make sure that the goal is achievable too. If you find that you can’t reach a goal, revise it.
Give yourself a reason for each goal. You want that report finished early so that you don’t have to stay late on Friday evening to get it done. You want to redesign the spreadsheet so you have more time to work on other tasks.

The Importance of Delegation

There’s more to time management than simply getting stuff done. Delegating things to other people is an important part of time management. If you don’t have enough time to do all of the housework, go to work, and have a social life, why not hire someone to clean your windows, mow your lawn and do the ironing? If you’re struggling at work, see if you can delegate some simple tasks to an assistant. Make time to do the tasks that only you can do, and the tasks that you enjoy doing. Delegate other work to someone else.

An effective to-do-list

Make a master to-do list. This is a long-term list of stuff that you need to get done.
Make a daily to-do list, copying stuff from the master to-do list.
At the end of each day, look at the daily to-do list and put a mark on the master to-do list against anything that you haven’t completed.
Each week, re-visit the master to-do list. Is there a task you’re always putting off? If so, resolve to either make it a priority next week, delegate it to someone else, or simply forget about it. The job can’t be that important if you’re always putting it off!

Simple time management tips

Plan your jobs around your energy levels.
Make time for health and fitness. The healthier you are, the more energy you will have.
Remove persistent sources of stress from your life. If a hobby is starting to feel more like work, stop doing it. If you have a part time or moonlighting job, and it’s stressing you out, consider whether you would be better off doing something else instead.
Learn to say no to people if they keep making demands on your time.
Set firm, but realistic deadlines. Failing to set a deadline almost guarantees that you’ll keep putting the task off. Setting an unrealistic deadline simply adds to your stress and will most likely cause other jobs to suffer.

NEW Prestige Premium badges replace our Executive range!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by janda

Using our extensive knowledge of the name badge market and after considering lots of customer feedback, we have launched our all-new Prestige Premium range! The Prestige Premium range, as the name might suggest, is a premium metal version of our best-selling Prestige range of badges. The shape, size and border profile of the Prestige Premium badge is exactly the same as our 30mm high Prestige badge, but made from silver or gold coloured metal for that Premium look.

The new badge fits harmoniously with our other badge ranges and we think you’ll love it! They look great on suits and jackets!

Design your Prestige Premium badge today:
http://www.namebadgesinternational.co.uk/products/prestige-premium-name-badges/

Large Oval Badges

Posted on June 13, 2011 by janda

After listening to feedback from our customers, we have recently added a larger version of the Oval badge from our shapes range. At 70mm x 39mm, there is plenty of room for logo, name and job title for staff name badges or why not take advantage of the attractive shape and create some eye catching promotional badges.

As with all our staff name badges, the large oval can be supplied as a magnetic badge, pin badge or clip on badge.

Design a large oval badge here: – http://www.namebadgesinternational.co.uk/engine-range/shapes/

Consumables – Buy Spare Pins, Combi Clips, Magnets and Reusable Sheets

Posted on March 15, 2011 by janda

Spare magnet, clip and pin fittings are now available for our badges, with FREE delivery!

Added to the consumables page are magnetic fittings in small and large, combi clips (incorporating a pin) and brooch style pin fitting. Reusable card inserts for our reusable name badges are also available in packs of 36 x A4.

Order spare fittings here: – http://www.namebadgesinternational.co.uk/consumables/

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie

2. Confessions of an Introvert, by Meghan Wier

3. Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz

4. The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation in Any Situation, by Debora Fine

5. Networking Like a Pro: Turning Contacts into Connections, by Ivan Misner

6. Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships that Last, by Lillian D. Bjorseth

7. Make Your Contacts Count, by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon

8. The 29% Solution, by Ivan Misner

9. Work the Pond, by Darcy Rezac, Judy Thomson and Gayle Hallgren-Rezac

10. Highly Effective Networking, by Orville Pierson

When the Conference is Announced

Weeks Before the Conference

A Few Days Before the Conference

A Conference Packing List:

On the Day

After the Conference

The Key Stages of Conference Planning

A Brief Conference Checklist

A Typical Conference Planning Timeline

Early Planning Stages

Several Months Before the Conference

Three Months Out

One Month Out

One Week Out

Set Up Day

During the Conference

After the Event

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