CharlieKenny.me
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Category: networking
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Know how you feel. I must admit, I’ve found the month of January to be challenging. It seems the whole world and it’s partner have shot ‘out of the blocks’ with both barrels blazing, proclamations of help for this, offers of this new product a new system and encouragement for participation in everything else –…
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Darren was having trouble with his sales conversion and asked for my advice. Why me? I thought … He explained that as someone who had been ‘around the block’ (a kinder version of his opening gambit, I might ad) … that my opinion mattered to him, so I might be able to help out.…
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So the spider tends the web, the fisherman works his net. Both are busy, setting out their wares understanding that, sooner or later they are going to find what they are looking for … Bingo! Reward for all the attentiveness and persistence required to be successful. So what is he on? I hear you ask…
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For a good while now I’ve stuck to my three-word principle. It’s something that keeps me ‘on track.’ The three word principle is a short-cut to the plan of where I want to get to and what I need to do to be there. It’s a (much) shorter version of the business plan. Three words…
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Darren had ‘bought in’ to the commitment of spending time to realise a return on his efforts, so when we met up recently I was pleased to see he was now participating within a vibrant Network Forum, with a determination to help ‘grow’ with the group. ‘How do I give?’ was the question. In short…
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It’s Time to Get Personal A little something from Chris Brogan … Phew. You’ve never heard that before…getting personal? But here’s the thing. It’s more true than ever before because Facebook and other technologies are now penalizing LAZY marketing. If you’re just lobbing crap over the fence, it’s not going to be seen. By anyone.…
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To my mind, business is about recognising the fundamentals then creating a routine of basic processes. Talking with Ian recently (someone who has ‘in the business for a bit’) I asked him … “How they were doing with the fundamental? “I know all that stuff.” Came the reply. I “know” all that. Know. Not do……
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I consider myself lucky. I am able to count my true friends on the fingers of both hands. Sure, I have several hundred network ‘friends,’ cyber contacts and ‘likes’ out there although while I sit here enjoying the first cup of tea of the day I’m struggling to add to that true friend count … although the toes are always optimistic 🙂 It’s a fact, that this handful of true friends is indeed my family, direct family and partners in fact. These are the people who understand me, know my ambitions well and know where my passions really lie. My family have spent time with me, grown with me and experienced life as we see it. So why am I sitting here, supping tea and dwelling on where my true allies really lie? I‘d met James earlier this week, he introduced himself through a mutual acquaintance as a ‘utilities expert.’ James explained that he was ‘giving networking a go’ as for the past few months he’d found business pretty slow. It turns out James had signed up with to promote his utilities solutions in support of his other, ‘main job.’ He was looking to add to his income. Sure, even I could understand this. We’re all in business for a lot of different reasons, working to provide a better standard of living for our family is as good a reason as any, right? James explained that he was unable to offer a lot of time to promote his new business as his main job kept him ‘busy’ although he was hopeful that any time he went out networking he was going to ‘get lucky’ and find some business and after all, if it didn’t work out, he’d simply ‘throw in the towel.’ I asked James to give me an idea of what he was passionate about, not to tell me he was in the job for the chance of business, is this what he told his family? If it was, this was likely why he had found only limited success … I’ve suggested to James that he treat his network with the sincerity that an extended family deserved. People like to do business with passionate people, with those who they know and who they trust. I asked James who he trusted … family, right? Build your network and look after them as you would an extended family … Show passion and get lucky. ‘people buy from people.’
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Most of us remember, when children, there were times we were scared by that bump in the middle of the night. The unexpected awakening. The “Midnight Demon” seemed so real at 3:00am. He would destroy our dreams and reek havoc. I dare say that today many of us still wake up in the night with bad dreams that still involve the “Midnight Demon”. Just as when the light of day comes about and the reality of the bad dreams goes away – it is the same with the Demon, away go the issues, the problems and blockages when light is turned on him. As an adult I still think these Demons are real and effectively stand in our way of success. Although, like magic, when light is shined on our Demon we can then deal with him and I think the Demons among many of us can be described as two very different things, things that stand in the way of real potential. The first Demon can be described as fear. The fear of failure. The fear of not being perfect. The fear of the unknown. The fear of openness. The fear of … We each have our own … Fear can be terrible and it can be debilitating. Fear causes us to hesitate, it causes us to question ourselves, to have the “I need the loo now, look”. We actually become less than our true selves, we start to doubt and ask, how we achieve greatness when we are not fully engaged? How can we achieve more when we are not allowed to be ourselves? Fear stifles creativity and the best creativity is open, free, boundless and exhilarating. How can you reach your full potential when you are literally choked by the Demon fear? Courage overcomes fear. The first step in beating this Demon is shining the light of truth on him so you know he is not real. Remember the courage when you fear your Demon … The second Demon who stops us fulfilling our potential is … the excuse. The Demon becomes an excuse. He becomes the reason why people don’t ask the questions or try new things, why they stall when reaching for new heights, or even when attempting to learn new skills. In essence, excuses become crutches or the Demons who you hide behind. Greatness comes with transparency and confession at our shortcomings. Excuses are not acceptable. Self awareness and self accountability lead to courage and success. Something I have learned from my Demons? Become accountable, don’t fear mistakes or failure. Learn from them. Leave the light on.
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