A Day with Donna is Not What You Would Expect

An experience with ‘A Day with Donna’

Here’s what Tanya de Jong of Leamington had to say………  

Swimming Pool at Stone Edge Estate

I have never been to a business oriented workshop before the Company of Women conference in Oakville in June 2012- this is where I first heard about Donna Messer – not just once or twice, but over and over again.  When I first met Donna I was a bit surprised by how quickly she got to work – within a few minutes of meeting her, Donna connected me with two other business women from my home town.  This connection is where I first heard about ‘A day with Donna’.  I was a bit hesitant about attending at first – not really knowing what to expect – then one of the main speakers at the Company of Women conference endorsed Donna with great enthusiasm.  This endorsement along with all the other women who spoke positively about how Donna had helped them convinced me to give it a try.
At the day with Donna I connected with some great women in my area – people I may not have had the chance to meet otherwise.  I had the opportunity to learn about myself and my style and how these gifts and challenges impact my business life.  I came to better understand which business type is best for me to have as part of my team – the ones that I most compliment and that most compliment me and my skills and abilities.

Although I enjoyed the actual day with Donna it has been the follow up that has been the most powerful and motivating part of the workshop.  Previously I may have gone to a workshop like this and put some of what I learned to use.  With Donna and my team, there is no room for procrastination (procrastination is an old friend of mine that is now on vacation because he can’t take the heat!) and I would be shocked if we do not all reach and even exceed the goals we set for ourselves during the Day with Donna workshop.  I did not know what to expect – and could not have imagined the time and work that Donna has invested into the pre and post workshop – invested in us.  So far, I can say that it was definitely the right decision to attend A Day with Donna.

There are still a few spaces left for the Day with Donna on July 21^st, 2012 at Stone Edge Estate. Stop procrastinating – you will be amazed at what you will accomplish!

If you would like to find out more or register for this event , click the following link  A Day with Donna

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Oprah’s Own Lifeclass Tour in Toronto

Oprah’s Own!

Almost 9,000 men and women lined up around a full city block  in Toronto on April 16th, waiting to hear words of wisdom from Oprah and her chosen guests. The reason for the huge lineup was to get a chance to see the icon that has been an inspiration to so many for so long.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m one of Oprah’s own – I read her magazine, I watched her show, and I often quote something I’ve heard from her or one of the men and women she has taken under her wing.

My colleague Rebecca Follows and I travelled to Toronto together. When we arrived and saw the huge lineup we knew that we had to do a little creative thinking. My new book, “Cycles of Life, Keeping You on Track” had just hit the streets and I quickly recognized that I could use one of the lessons in the book to get us to the front of the line! The lesson was, “learn from the past”. I remembered when I was working at this venue and I duplicated what I had done then. I always valet parked, so that exactly what we did! Then, because I had a media pass, we were able to go directly to the area where the show was to be held. Learning from the past, we got to the front of the line.

As a journalist, I wanted to share what it was like to be in the audience; to experience that massive collection of human beings, men and women, all of whom were Oprah fans. I chatted with people around me, and I listened to their stories as they shared how Oprah or one of the guest speakers changed their lives. Later I found a colleague who has a complete collection of Oprah’s O magazines. She has 143 issues from May/June 2002 to May 2012, plus 2 Commemorative issues. That’s a true fan!

I learned that 80% of the wealth inNorth Americais controlled by women, but that statistic alone is not enough for us; we have to do something significant.  I’m positive that most of the women in the room were determined to have a life changing experience before they left the building.

The event, billed as a look at Oprah’s classroom, was an opportunity to share life lessons alongside teachers like motivational speaker Tony Robbins, spiritual healer Deepak Chopra, life coach Iyanla Vanzant and humanitarian Bishop T.D. Jakes.

The entire audience was spellbound as they listened to each speaker. And what an audience it was; it appeared that almost every culture from around the world was in that room! The multi-cultural mix reminded me of a song I sang as a kid in church, “Every colour, black and white all are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world!” Well this was Oprah’s world and we all felt the love!

The theme for this Life Class event in the world’s largest classroom in Toronto was forgiveness. The teachers each shared their personal insight on the power of forgiveness, into letting go and moving forward.  They supplied some of the tools needed to break free of the past and take control of the future.

Tools and Timely Tips from the Teachers:

Tony Robbins:  Live a passionate life. Fear is a counselor, not a jailer.

Deepak Chopra:  The true self is stable. The everyday self shifts constantly.

Bishop T.D. Jakes:  The pursuit of life is to find your purpose. To waste your life is to  miss that purpose.

Iyanla Vanzant:  We all play a role in the pain we experience. We show up for it. We  tolerate it. We acknowledge our contribution; then the healing begins.

I was there, in that room with 9,000 people and I recognized that everyone was there for a similar reason – they all needed a little inspiration, to kick start them on their journey of discovery.

Did we all find ways to forgive ourselves and those who have hurt us? Only time will tell, but from my observation, I think there were many who will forgive, and be forgiven.

I have my fingers crossed that Oprah will come back to Toronto with another Lifeclass.

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EmPOWERed Women

EmPOWERed Women 

 According to the dictionary – the word “empowered” means - to promote self-actualization, to influence and to inspire. 

There is no doubt in my mind that Ontario Power Generation’s initiative EmPOWERed Women is doing exactly what the dictionary identifies.

I was fortunate to be a keynote speaker at the graduation for women at OPG who were divided into 5 groups identified as Alpha, Beta, Delta, Charlie and Echo. While it might sound like “pilot” talk – and these women were definitely flying high – it is how people in the energy world communicate.

 The day began with a welcome from Colleen Sidford, CIO, Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Treasurer at OPG. She is also the founder and champion for EmPOWERed Women.

OPG is the province’s publicly owned and largest electricity generator. The EmPOWERed Women program was founded in 2008 to help women across the company maximize their individual and organization potential. It is a leadership development and mentoring program, that really works, and that is speaking from my personal experience at the graduation!

EmPOWERed Women was created to demonstrate a commitment to gender diversity and the advancement of women to encourage and prepare them for leadership.

4 key values are fulfilled within this program:

• Increased career opportunities
• Commitment to gender diversity and equality
• Heightened engagement among all women
• Leveraged leadership capabilities of women

The program is open to all female OPG employees and requires a ½ day commitment each month for 4 months.  There are classes in leadership, networking, career development and mentoring.  Participants graduate with increased poise, grace and confidence, both in their speech and in their demeanor.

For the graduation ceremony, all Managers of program participants as well as the President and CEO Tom Mitchell, attend.

I sat in the front row after delivering my speech and I listened as the Valedictorian for each group from Alpha to Echo shared their experience as a participant in EmPOWERed Women.  They were inspiring, and will be a positive influence on all women within the OPG family.

CEO, Tom Mitchell encouraged all graduates to “Aim High, Diversity and Take Risks.’’ He set the stage by giving his support to the program, now, he stated, it was their turn to have the confidence to “take the stage” and share their experience.

Since OPG is owned by the province, it’s possible that the EmPOWERed Women program can be implemented in other corporations within the Ontario Government.

I was incredibly proud to be part of the celebration and to see and hear just how much each woman was emPOWERed.  I offer my congratulations to all – it made me want to join the OPG family!

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The New Leverage – Everything Old is New Again! Tribes vs Community

The New Leverage – Everything Old is New Again! Tribes vs Community

The definition of a Tribe is a group of people, large or small who are connected to one another, by an innovative leader and an idea. The definition of a Community is a group of dedicated individuals coming together to achieve common goals

I’ve written about leverage before, and in this Blog I’m taking it to the next level. I’m a huge fan of writer, Seth Godin, and his book Tribes, has given me plenty of new food for thought. Not only has he given new meaning to leverage, he has provided the glue that cements my beliefs. I often refer to a sense of community when I want to bring people together. Reading Tribes, really maximizes using ethical leverage to succeed.

In Tribes, Godin creates a number of visuals for his analogies – with a long enough crowbar we can rip nails out of a board. With a long enough teeter-totter we can lift a sumo wrestler. With enough leverage we can change our company, our industry and our world.

How then can we find the best way to “leverage” ourselves? Think about it – today we have social media where we can reach millions with a single “tweet”.

Am I an advocator for using social media and all it entails? You bet! But I don’t do it all myself – I use leverage of “my tribe”.

I’m facilitating a Mentoring/Mastermind Group that is a new tribe, one that will be able to monitor and measure their results because of the leverage they have by using each others strengths.

Again according to Godin, “for a tribe to be effective and create measurable results you need three steps – motivation, connections and leverage.

Since everyone in my network is generating an action plan that is motivating, using connection and leverage that will take them where they want to go, they are now part of a Tribe!

In the “old days” tribes were more localized – today, the web has changed all this, and with all the new technology, it makes it easier to find and nurture geographically dispersed tribes.

Today, I use Blog Talk Radio, Video Interviews, Blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to add value to being part of a Tribe.

I’m using social media leverage to help my tribe achieve measurable results.

Ultimately, Tribes is a book about leadership and community, and I found it to be an inspirational read and a roadmap for myself and those who are part of my network.

My favorite quotes on leadership:

“The very nature of leadership is that you’re not doing what’s been done before. If you were, you’d be following, not leading” – from Tribes – page 146

“The Elements of Leadership are quoted below:

Leaders challenge the status quo.  Leaders create a culture around their goal and involve others in their culture.  Leaders have an extraordinary amount of curiosity about the world they’re trying to change.  Leaders use charisma (in a variety of forms) to attract and motivate followers.  Leaders communicate their vision of the future.  Leaders commit to a vision and make decisions based on that commitment.  Leaders connect their followers to one another. – from Tribes – page 126

When change is inevitable, find a leader who challenges what was, and moves you forward to what can be. For those of you who know me – I love the challenges of change and I invite you to become part of my Tribe in 2012.

It promises to be an incredible year for all us! I look forward to helping people in my network achieve their goals.

To my December 17th Tribe – I look forward to seeing your goals become realities! You have been part of the Tribe for 15 days, I will be reconnecting with all of you early in January to see what you have accomplished so far.

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The Ultimate Business Makeover

The Ultimate Business Makeover Challenge starts with a one day exclusive retreat!

During this past weekend, I had a few minutes to spend some focused time thinking about my clients and their needs. I recognized that many don’t have a system in place, where they can actually measure their results.

Brainstorming with myself, I was amazed to discover that what I know, they might not know!

I’m determined to make 2012 a year where you can measure results. I’m asking you to follow my directions and I will document your journey. I will write about your progress and include your journey in my online publication – http://entrenomics.wordpress.com

I know I have a model that works, and on the 17th of December, I’m going to share that model.

I’m going to challenge you to put this model in place for a period of 30 days. I guarantee you will be able to measure the results in increased visibility, credibility and ultimately in your profitability!

If you’ve been trying to grow your business by doing what you’ve always done, things that worked in the past, you might be in trouble.

Statistics are showing that this is a new world where you have to be socially savvy to compete.

This isn’t just marketing double talk. It’s absolutely true. And I’m practicing what I preach, as you’ll see over the weeks to come.

My goal is not only to reduce the amount of work currently in your marketing system; it is to increase the results you get from following my strategic process.

In other words, I want you to have more measurable results with a focused effort on your bottom line, and you need to join me. We are going to use what’s called leverage.

It’s the secret to almost any great business success. It’s getting more output with less input. It’s focused, strategic and systematic.

And if you want to learn the system I’m using for 2012, join me on December 17th, at Stone Edge Estate.

There is still time to register!

Stone Edge Estate is an exclusive retreat, far from day to day distractions. The cost of $149.00 is offered as a one time only promo with Smart Betty.

Register Here and create an account, then purchase the deal. Once you have done this, you will receive a voucher in your email that you can present to me.

I’ll send you directions, and a questionnaire to complete prior to the day. Donna Messer 905-337-9578 dmesser@connectuscanada.com

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Business Matchmaker, Moderator, Keynote Speaker and Coach

Business Matchmaker? Moderator? Speaker? Coach? Seems that’s me!

I can’t believe that it’s almost the end of October and I haven’t updated by Blog! No excuses, but September was busy, and October is even busier! I had a wonderful trip to Alberta and Saskatchewan and got back at midnight on October 21^st.

Just to give you a glimpse of my journey…….I spent several days at a beautiful retreat with the Top Guns of Western Financial Group. I can’t wait to share a little about this group of dynamic men and women. The retreat was at Ghost River Crossing, in Cochrane, Alberta – great food, incredible service and accommodation that included hand made quilts on the beds – awesome! I’ll be telling you more in the next Blog! I did video interviews with some of the Top Guns, and I can’t wait to share those interviews with you.

I travelled to LaRonge Saskatchewan for a Women’s Conference. When I arrived I was amazed that I not only remembered Lynn Reese, a client from years ago who harvests and sells wild rice – I met his wife Irene, at the conference!  Glad to know my memory is still working!

Then to top it off, I was the kick-off speaker to an audience that was a wonderful mix of entrepreneurs and business owners. LuAn Mitchell and Steffany Hanlen were my fellow speakers and I know you will love learning more about them in my next blog. I was delighted to meet them and I know we will be on another stage together soon!

Before I left for the west, I spent several days in the Belleville area – again meeting wonderful people that I know I will reconnect with. The first event was for WSBN, it was organized by Sandra Valks and Marg Newsome. I was the moderator for an amazing panel of women; I know will keep in touch with all of them. Jeanette Arsenault was one of that awesome panel, and I was so impressed with her talent and her songs that I took her CD with me to Saskatchewan. We began the event in LaRonge with the audience swaying to the music of Jeanette’s “Women of the World”!

Darcelle Runciman and some of the women who were at the Belleville event are going to come to my area for a retreat and brainstorming weekend – I am just finalizing the venue. Watch for it!  The second day in Belleville was a job fair with accompanying events that were well organized by Cindy Dow. Here is another awesome woman I look forward to working with again!

I spoke at the Streetsville BIA and again I met people l want to share with my network. I have a question for you.  Have you ever had trouble getting people to pronounce your name correctly? If you have – I’ve met someone who has a product that can assure that everyone knows the correct pronunciation.

You might want to check out www.ANTVibes.com  And as always – I can make the introduction!

I had the opportunity to speak to a group of Schulich Alumni and again I met people that I can introduce to others. It seems I’m making matches wherever I go! Thanks to Howard Lichtman for the opportunity and for sharing his connections with everyone.

This week I get to speak to a group at the U of T who are partners and spouses of newly appointed faculty at U of T.  I’ll bet I’ll be making more introductions and more profitable connections!

I’m also speaking to The Pakistani Business Association, who knows who I will meet. I know I’ll make lots of new friends!

October will soon be over, and I promise I’ll get you lots of new contacts, ideas and information! Thanks to everyone for making my October so memorable!

Talk to you all again soon!

Donna

 

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Where’s Donna in September?

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog and this one is going to be all about getting back into the swing of networking. It’s been a great summer, and many of my colleagues have enjoyed shorter hours and long weekends. Now it’s back to work!

So, where am I going to be this month? And why would anyone care? Well, I’m offering everyone a chance to break a record – I posted on Guinness Book of Records that I can make more business matches in one hour than anyone else. I want you to help me set this record.

September 7th, 2011 – Durham Home and Small Business Association Cruise on Lake Scugog. For registration and details – http://www.dhsba.com

September 13th, 2011 – Ajax/Pickering Board of Trade, Networking Trade Show – details at http://www.apboardoftrade.com

September 17th, 2011 – Barrie Business Show – Help Break a Guinness World Record – http://www.barriebusinessshow.com

September 20th, 2011 – Company of Women Dinner and Networking event – Get Connected, An Interactive Networking Event  http://companyofwomen.ca

September 22nd, 2011 – Power Team Reunion – been part of my network? Then join me for a barbecue and an opportunity to reconnect and increase your business potential. The event is in Halton at Stone Ridge, a fabulous private home, that is amazing.   http://connectuscanada.com

September 27th, 2011 – This is a HAPPEN event at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre – Rogers Television will be filming the networking and the matchmaking. http://www.happen.ca

September 29th, 2011 – Leads, Needs and Good Deeds Networking event at Otello’s Banquet Centre in Oakville. – http://connectuscanada.com

Networking is the single most effective way to build your career success – the difference between not working and net working is the “e” for effort – see you at one or more of these events this month.

Want to be business matched, send me a note telling me what you need. If it’s personal, then the Barrie Business Show is actually going to offer speed dating and will try and break the record between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.

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LinkedIn Data Reveals Canadian Men are Savvier Online Professional Networkers Than Women

I was quoted in a media release from LinkedIn this morning and thought I should share the results with you. I personally think women are great on-line networkers!

The definition of a Savvy Networker is -

“A professional with a robust network of trusted business contacts who actively works toward creating new career opportunities for themselves and the people in their network. “

Men are savvier online professional networkers than women Toronto, Canada — June 22, 2011 —

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 100 million members worldwide and more than three million in Canada, today released data on the differences between men and women when it comes to networking professionally online.

To declare a winner in this battle of the sexes argument, LinkedIn developed an online professional networking “savviness” ranking. Globally and in Canada men are savvier online professional networkers than women.

LinkedIn defines online professional networking savviness as a ratio of two things: the ratio of connections that men have to connections that women have and the ratio of male members on LinkedIn to female members.

“Making connections and building solid relationships is crucial to business growth,” said Donna Messer, Canadian networking guru and owner of ConnectUs Communications. “As a businesswoman and entrepreneur, I don’t always have time to meet everyone face to face and networking online using LinkedIn has given me visibility and credibility. I encourage women to consider LinkedIn as a place to find common ground with their business contacts and to build relationships that will ultimately lead to career success.”

That’s not to say women aren’t already teaching men a professional networking lesson or two. “My husband was thinking of going back to school so I introduced him to LinkedIn,” said Alexa Samuels, a retail strategy consultant and LinkedIn member based in Toronto. “I showed him how to use LinkedIn Advanced People Search to find graduates of the program he was applying to and so he could connect with them to get the inside scoop.” LinkedIn’s data got even more interesting when it was sliced by industry.

What you would think would be a female savvy industry (the textiles industry for example) is actually a male savvy industry.

In the shipbuilding and think tank industries, it was the female professionals that were savvier online networkers than the men.

Top Canadian industries where women are savvier online professional networkers than men

1. Alternative medicine 2. Think tanks 3. Shipbuilding 4. Writing and editing 5. Alternative dispute resolution

Top Canadian industries where men are savvier online professional networkers than women

1. Textiles 2. Glass, ceramics & concrete 3. Investment banking 4. Recreational facilities and services 5. Government relations

In Canada, men and women were equally as savvy in the following industries: “architecture & planning,” “furniture,” “market research,” “public safety” and “ranching.”

Download our infographic and get more details on LinkedIn’s battle of the sexes on the LinkedIn Blog: http://lnkd.in/men-vs-women. Press contacts

For press inquiries, please email press@linkedin.com About LinkedIn Founded in 2003, LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.

With more than 100 million members worldwide, including executives from every Fortune 500 company, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the Internet. The company has a diversified business model with revenues coming from member subscriptions, marketing solutions and hiring solutions. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, LinkedIn also has offices across North America, as well as throughout Europe and Asia and in India and Australia.

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A Poem Written by Barb Babj

Many thanks for your poem Barb. I am including the link to the latest interview on That Channel with Hugh Reilly – it’s all about the New Entrepreneur – and to my thinking, that just might be you!

I sent you an email out of the blue,

You invited a call, though the contact was new. 

Amidst 400 emails, with no time to natter,

You were able to jump to the heart of the matter. 

In less than five minutes, as we chatted away,

You brainstormed some thoughts, held “yeah, but” at bay. 

Thoughts followed thoughts, with no time for blinking,

You expanded the space with lateral thinking, 

I looked at your website, I tiptoed around,

I learned many things as I covered that ground. 

You live your brand, about people you care,

For creative thinking you have quite a flair. 

Your sense of compassion is honest and true,

Your whimsy and humour are slightly askew. 

I learned about dragons, the power of prayers,

I walked through the forest and read about bears. 

Some of your stories could rival Aesop,

There’s power in giving, you RISE to the top. 

I learned you’ve no time for the “Sorry, not-yetters”,

You give your support to the driven “go-getters”. 

The connections you form are often long-lasting,

You don’t disappoint, there’s no room for “bombasting”. 

Per our conversation, I needed a “WOW”

To elicit “Oh, Boy!” instead of an “ow”. 

You asked for a gift, of person or thing,

I decided to write, cuz I really can’t sing.

In closing, I offer my network, my time,

All that I am, and even this rhyme. 

And one tiny thing more, it may give you a lift,

A small talisman, I’d like to gift.

(a tiny Teddy Bear)
Teddy Bear

thatchanneltv has shared a video with you on YouTube: ThatChannel com Interview 2011 06j 14 Donna Messer The New Entrepreneur

 

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A Project Management Institute Event – Where Project Managers Speak Out!

A Project Management Institute Event Where Project Managers Speak Out!

I often ask my audience to provide me with feedback from an event – the words below are from men and women, all of whom are problem solvers. they work as Project Managers in a wide variety of sectors.

I am honoured to be able to share their words with those of you who read my blog. Got a problem? Chances are the PMI has a solution! I recommend you check out the PMI at www.pmi.org for a local Ontario Chapter – http://search.pmi.org/?q=Ontario+

On November 20^th 2010 Donna Messer facilitated a networking session for a group of project managers at a PMI sponsored continuing education event.  Facilitated barely describes what we experienced.  A few volunteers offered their very positive feedback: 

“It’s not what you know, but who you know. This old adage came to life again for me during an enlightening workshop.  Not only her delivery style was entertaining but also deeply reflective on how we should approach people with the purpose of helping and seeking help.  My key takeaway was that networking is not about exchanging presentation cards.  It is truly about finding common ground where everybody interacts and benefits from others’ experiences and knowledge.”

- Salvaldor Segura Ortega, HR Integrated Services Team at IBM

“I liked the excellent style of delivery including audience interaction, humor and meaningful content.  The entire presentation did not bore us and productively engaged the diverse audience. The list of web site resources Donna provided was fabulous. Overall, Donna hit a home run with her message, ’What goes around comes around!’ We need more Donna’ in today’s world.”

-Shyama Sunderaswara, a Toronto based project manager and entrepreneur

“The process described in the class was very simple and it was great that we had the opportunity to practice it, so we know how it works in real-time.  People were able to realize untapped opportunities that had nothing to do with employment and a lot to do with expanding one’s network.”

-Carla Lewis, IT Project Manager at The College of Family Physicians of Canada

“I found Donna to be a very engaging and effective speaker. She has a very good command of the Networking topic. Her process is simple to understand and follow. In a way it is less about networking and more about relationship building which is natural. The outcome is a network of relationships and hopefully support system in case of need.”

            -Hamza Qazi, an IT Project Manager with the Ministry of Health & Long-term Care

“Donna is known as the Queen of Networking, but in reality she is so much more. Her presentation made me reflect on three key phrases, a) we not me, b) not what we do, but who we are, and c) what can I do to help you?  In a room full of project managers, it’s easy to say, “I’m a project manager.” That doesn’t begin to say who we are or help us to make a connection. Donna is a master at identifying the strengths in individuals and in helping us express what we can contribute. As a group, by spending a Saturday morning with Donna, we opened ourselves to opportunities, abundance, and new relationships.”

            -Kathryn Pottruff, Pottruff Consulting Inc.

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Me to We” – That’s the message “Leads, Needs and Good Deeds” brought to the audience!

“Me to We” – That’s the message “Leads, Needs and Good Deeds” brought to the audience!   The message I received loud and clear at the Leads, Needs and Good Deeds event was all about the Power of Relationships. The people in the room were business owners, entrepreneurs, financial experts, healthcare professionals, recruiters, and not for profit organizations, all people willing to share who they knew. I talked briefly about turning the mindset in the room from “Me to We”, and that is exactly what they did!   The networking and relationship building that began with this event MUST continue! The message was inspiring and motivating. People came from everywhere. John Huard, came from Pembroke. He volunteers on the streets of Toronto each year in December – his main objective is to make sure young kids living on the street, get into a safe house, get food, shelter, perhaps reconnect with their parents, or in some cases find work.   The ConnectUs Career and Business Café that was introduced at the event was very busy, Lee Koren, our resident expert was on hand to answer any relevant questions. The Café is an incubator for anyone in career transition or in start up mode with a new business.     There was a buzz in the room, and it was great to watch as everyone in attendance as they tried to meet as many people as possible. Everyone did their best to find “common ground” and I know they will soon turn that first meeting into a relationship that will result in business development. Below is the best way to measure the results of the event.

Maximize Your Leads, Needs and Good Deeds   Mentorship – Find a mentor – find someone who can help you grow simply by spending time with them.    Boards and Volunteering – Consider donating your time to a good cause. By joining one of these groups you can create new bonds and that could help your business or your personal growth.   Alliances/Partners/collaborations – Relationships mean that both sides benefit. Join forces with others and open yourself to new markets and revenue streams.   Networking – This is the single most important and measurable way to grow. Using ConnectUs and our systematic process works! Networking is about developing relationships, it’s being “We centered, not Me focused”. It’s about taking time to learn about others and sharing what you learn.     “We” Team – Don’t own a business? You still need to be part of team! Share your expertise; it’s great to have a 3rd party referral. I invite you to be part of a “Success Team” – this is a ConnectUs driven, mastermind group – where you network with inspiring people, you create a goal and everyone on your team assists, inspires and motivates you to think and reach beyond your comfort zone. Check out the ConnectUs Career & Business Café – it’s both an incubator and an idea factory!   Donna

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iNetwork: An Invaluable Experience

                                                                           By:  Ima Ituen

Really, how hard is it to talk to another person? Well, depending on who it is, I guess, it could be tough. But most of the time, it isn’t that hard. Talking to strangers? Same difference. We do it all the time! I mean, the check-out girl at the grocery store is a stranger, right? But we can talk to her. “Three bags, please. Oh, and I’ll put that second block of cheese back, please.” Then she notices you’re buying cat food so she asks, “How old is your cat?” And you answer, “Three. A little terror she is.” Check-out girl responds, “Yeah, I know what you mean.  I have a male Cheshire, Taby, and a two-year-old female Siamese, Sam, and she won’t leave Taby alone!” On and on you chat until the groceries are all scanned. You offer her your credit card, heft your bags into your cart, and you say a quick ‘Thanks & Goodbye’ as you forget her and start planning what to make for dinner. Have you just networked? I used to think so. But thanks to Donna’s terrific session at MITACS, I found that I just had a conversation.

I, like many other sceptics, used to think that networking events were dull; a real drag. Oh, the food and cheap (or free!) and drinks were always a great draw, but I have hardly gotten anything out of the events. Therefore, I thought it was either an effort in futility, or possibly a task that needed a tremendous amount of luck to get what you wanted. Oh, how wrong I was! I simply approached it the wrong way.

Donna Messer showed us the value of using the W3 approach to networking. It’s sure to reap wonderful results and leave you fulfilled. The W3 answers 3 questions that could get your foot into just about any door: Who am I? What do I need? What am I willing to share?

The core of the W3 method is realizing that ‘networking’ isn’t just identifying the person in a room whom you want to meet, or finding someone who knows someone that can give you a job; it’s about asking someone what you can offer.

Donna showed us that EVERYONE has something to share, something that will be valuable to another person. For example, “You knit? Great! I was looking for cute booties and stockings for my niece.” And the person you’re speaking with is the wife of a board member of Coca-Cola – the company you’d like to do an internship with. Maybe she can put in a word for you with her husband now that she can buy booties from you…

A lot of the attendees in my session were students on the verge of completing their 2^nd or 3^rd degree, or students who are about to graduate in a few months, so just about everyone came to learn to “Network to get work” (Donna’s phrase). We found that one of the easiest ways to stand out from the other interviewees is to make who we are relevant. After introducing ourselves, telling what we know, and explaining what we need, we can ask how we can help them. By making ourselves interesting and likeable, we’re more likely to be remembered – and hired!

What was the problem with the cat scenario I referred to? Yes, we both had something in common – being cat people – but we did not really establish a link for ourselves. We didn’t offer each other anything that added value to our lives or experiences. That’s the difference. When you truly network, you give something and you get something. And there’s value added on all sides. Win-win, they call it…?

A very generous touch from Donna was a list of over 50 resources from a vast number of fields. This was extremely fitting since we were from diverse disciplines and had different interests. The list featured a club we could use to travel the globe on OPM (other people’s money), a resource to send out free cards (not e-cards!) to people, and even an organisation that offers mentoring to young professionals. I could go on and on about the value of this workshop. But don’t just take my word for it.

Here’s what some other attendees said:

“I am planning to join the work force after 4 years off to raise my 2 babies. I needed the energy and the ideas you imparted to start the journey again. I feel energized, my batteries are recharged and I’m motivated and confident to start that journey again.”

“The session was quite useful to me, it clarified some points I needed clarified and showed me new methods that I can utilize in both my career.”

“I’ve learned it’s not what you want that goes first, it’s what you can offer to the other party that should be uppermost in your mind.”

“I love the idea of “giving a gift” to another person to help build their network. It’s the pay it forward belief. Thanks Donna.”   

Yes, the iPhone, the iPod, iTouch, and Xbox are great. But let me challenge you to try something new: Engage in iNetwork. It won’t only enrich your life, it’ll take you to places you’d only dreamed and wished for.

Want to hear a true story? This is my first published blog – a venture I’d only secretly dreamed of. And it’s all come to fruition because I attended Donna’s teaching, and said ‘Yes’ at the right time.

Try it. You will NOT be disappointed. So when next opportunity knocks…?  iNetwork!

Contact Ima at itueni@univmail.cis.mcmaster.ca

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We, not Me: Networking 101 for Graduate Students

We, not Me: Networking 101 for Graduate Students

Donna Messer’s MITACS workshop, “Effective Networking,” is offered to graduate students who might not realize the value of networking or who might not know how to use networking as a tool. We are two graduate students who attended this workshop on 29 April 2010.  Here we share some of the highlights of what we learned.  

Julie: Jasmine, what is one of the take home messages for you from the workshop?

Jasmine: I think the best thing Donna offered us was a way into the world of networking. As grad students, we’re very familiar with research but we often need our professors to point us in the right direction. When it came to networking, so many of the students in the room had no idea where to start! Because Donna provided us with names of companies, services, and other resources to use as starting points, we could get on the right track. We can do the digging work once we’ve found the location of the buried treasure, but Donna gave us the map.

What about you, Julie?

Julie:  If I have to pick one thing to take action on right away, it’s that I (still!) need to work on my LinkedIn profile.  It’s definitely something I think a lot of us grads need to work on.  Even if it seems like a long time before you graduate, it’s a good idea to create a professional online identity for yourself as soon as possible.  It might yield an unexpected opportunity in the short-term and in the long-term will help ensure you have a large and vibrant network by the time you graduate. 

Related to this, Donna mentioned how Facebook is not a good tool for business or professional networking, which I think most of us realize.  But what about other parts of our online identity?  For example, I have a blog.  It started out as something to support my professional online identity as a researcher who works with Makushi Amerindian communities in Guyana on their “home sown and home grown” form of environmental education.  But during my recent reconnaissance visit, the blog became personal and poetic.  I’m proud of it as a work of art, but I will not put it as a link on my LinkedIn profile.  I’m working on having two distinct online identities: my personal identity, which uses the fun, informal network of friends and family (Facebook and my personal blog); and my professional identity, which will be hosted by the formal network of LinkedIn, and I might create a professional blog about my research.

Jasmine: That’s definitely a good idea. I’ve had my LinkedIn account for a couple of years now, but I’ve never known how to make it work for me. I was always nervous about asking to be connected to people I might learn from out of the fear of being too bold. I think there’s a negative stigma linked to the word ‘networking’ that Donna helped to destroy. Because she focused on what each person can bring to a relationship, networking didn’t seem self-serving. We needed to hear the straightforward truth: there are so many people who are able to help each other who would not be put into contact if not for networking. Connecting people is beneficial to all parties involved. 

Julie: You’re absolutely right, the key thing is to engage in ethical networking.  Donna is very well connected with a large network.  She is a hub, a connector able to make key connections for others.  For her, ethical networking means she only connects people when it will be mutually beneficial and when she trusts both parties will act with integrity.  In contrast, most of us students need to concentrate on building our network rather than on connecting our contacts to each other.  That will come later.  For now, acting with integrity and remembering what we have to offer helps ensure a hub like Donna will want to connect us with her contacts.

Jasmine: Yes. As for finding ways we can help others, I think Donna helped us understand how to make connections best with the “Building Relationships” exercise in her workshop. We were asked to pair up with someone in the room and share some of our skills, hobbies, and interests. After a short conversation we discovered that we had a lot in common and also had some advice to share. We were instructed to share a gift with our partners based on what we had learned from our brief encounter so that we would each benefit from the knowledge of someone else. I had the pleasure of connecting with a lovely woman who loves to cook. I’m not the queen of the kitchen, so maybe I’ll be able to get a recipe or two from her. She’s quite new to the country and hasn’t been a student in years, so I can share some of the resources I know of that are available for students.

The activities were enjoyable but also helped drive Donna’s messages home.

Julie: That’s especially true of the last activity. Our final activity was a group reflective exercise.  First, we each thought of one word to describe the keys to networking that we had learned about in the workshop – but from a different perspective than our own.  Our group came up with: Innovation, Adaptation, Attentiveness, Flexibility, Creativity, Interaction, and Awareness. Then as a group, we had to put our words into a coherent sentence!!!  Here we share a distilled version of our take-home message from the workshop to spare you, gentle reader, from a mammoth run-on sentence:   

 We have learned that to succeed together on our life’s journey, we must become more creative and adaptable. We need to put a plan in place so that we can meet the people we need to know in order to build a mutually beneficial relationship.

 Jasmine:  Not bad!  The other group played on similar themes. They concluded: To solve problems effectively, we should be flexible, learning to accept and adapt to different communication styles. We can become more observant, to analyze and accommodate new ideas. We can learn to solve problems based on ever-changing situations, and understand that there is never just one solution.

 All in all, the workshop helped us get our feet wet in the world of ethical, reciprocal, and effective networking.  That means we must be creative and adaptable when making connections, but even more importantly, we have to remember not to lose the genuine desire to make a human connection.  In the end, as Donna says, “Networking is about people!”

Jasmine Ball is an English M.A. student at Carleton University. Julie Comber is a PhD Candidate in Education at the University of Ottawa.  Connect with us on LinkedIn! 

* Julie and Jasmine are both connected directly to me through LinkedIn. I look forward to working with both of them many times in the future!  Donna

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If your networking isn’t working – how can you fix it?

According to an article by Duncan Mathison and Martha I. Finney, authors of Unlock the Hidden Job Market Almost everyone hates networking and does a lousy job at it!

 Mathison and Finney say “The fixes are simple and easy to follow.” You can find their article by clicking here.  

I agree with their article and want to add my perspective on what to do if networking isn’t working for you.  Use my strategy.  It’s simple, it’s measurable and you can monitor your results.

One of my IT colleagues is actually working on a way to utilize the strategy using Microsoft Outlook. Keep your fingers crossed that he can make it work! 

Imagine a set of puzzle pieces that when fit together show you how to make measurable and profitable connections.

Opportunity – When you meet someone you are experiencing an “opportunity” this is your chance to get to know the person and to find ways to make the follow up profitable for both of you. After the opportunity has been established – move on to the next step in the process.

Contact – Once you’ve established that there could be a valuable exchange between you, ask how you should communicate in the future. Via email – What should put in the subject line? Via phone – Who answers their line? Via Fax – Is the line dedicated or do you have to call first? In every case, make note on the back of their card, so you know how best to follow up. When you are ready to move forward with the system – you want to make sure that the connection is good for both of you.

Explore – Before you reconnect, do your homework. What do you have in common? Google the person, check LinkedIn, Face Book, Twitter – wherever you can find insight into the person, you want to find ways to show that you are just like them. People like people who are like themselves. They buy from them, sell to them, hire them and refer them – finding common ground is crucial in building a successful relationship.

Strategize – You’ve established common ground; now develop a strategy that will be beneficial to both of you. You’ve got gifts of resources, contacts and referrals to share with your new connection.

Negotiate   – You’ve put your cards on the table, shared your resources and are ready to ask for the opportunity to work together. You use the phrase “if I can provide you with resources that will add value to our relationship, can you do the same for me?” Make sure you both understand that effective networking strategy must be a win/win scenario.

Solution – You both shared resources and contacts, you listened carefully to each other and have established a comfort level on where you can reconnect whenever there is a good fit. Each will feel comfortable continuing to connect, because it isn’t about buying or selling it’s about building a relationship that benefits both sides! 

It’s a systematic process using a strategy that puts the pieces of the puzzle together so that the results are measurable.

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Power of Leverage

Power of Leverage – It’s what you need!  

Breaking into main stream marketing and reaching the decision makers is tough. Using a little leverage, can make it can happen!  

 According to Archimedes, all you need is a lever long enough and a place to stand and you can move the world.

 Effective networking is all about using that leverage. It’s whom you know, and who they know that will get you where you want to go. 

I’m a story teller, and I’m going to show you how to accomplish what you want through leverage. 

In the book One Minute Millionaire by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen, they use a formula that I’ve found works every time, it’s – “Leverage = Speed = Goals”. 

This article is all about the Power of Leverage 

 

I had the opportunity to speak to an Ethnic Media conference recently. The people in the audience were all from print, television or radio. The purpose of attending the conference was to find additional ways to reach more advertisers. They wanted to expand their horizons to include mainstream advertisers in their reach.

I was the kick off speaker and my role was to get them to think outside the box, and to use “leverage” when searching for that new client. I worked the room in advance of my speech and found plenty of common ground. I asked each person that I introduced myself to – who they were, and what I could do to help make their attendance at this conference profitable. It almost every case, I found a way to introduce them to someone or something I knew that would give them a connection to that “mainstream” they so desperately wanted to reach. 

By using my network ethically, I could leverage who I knew that might benefit from being introduced to this powerful group of Ethnic media.

When I began my talk, I referenced the people I’d spoken to in advance. I gave each of them a key contact “outside” their current reach. Within seconds, the audience all wanted my business card and I wanted theirs!  

Through a simple strategy that basically is “how can I help you?” I was able to show by example how to use leverage that can produce measurable results quickly.  

The media en masse approached me after my speech, they took pictures, requested articles and asked me to come and speak at their events. I felt like a Rock Star! What was the secret to the success of the presentation? It was leverage – I used without abuse, the people in my network would benefit from an introduction into this powerful sector.  Everyone in the room will be able to measure results, simply by taking the time to build rapport with each introduction. From my perspective, I’ll hold each person accountable, asking them to “keep me in the loop” to let me know what develops. That way, I can measure the results of my leverage.

If you want to know more about the Power of Leverage – check out the ConnectUs website. We share our success stories!

Donna Messer is an international speaker, trainer and coach. Her network includes men and from every country. www.connectuscanada.com

Connectus Communications Canada©

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