Feedbacks are very important in our daily activities. If you are working and you don’t get feedback, it is like working in the dark, that no one sees you.
It is always important to improve upon the feedback received
from colleagues.
As a Toastmaster, we don't joke with our evaluations and feedback, it is what keeps us going. It adds value to our being.
When you take the feed backs in good faith, you develop to become
a better person. Planning is key to every successful business, before you embark on any presentation, it is always advisable to know your audience.Without knowing your audience it would be difficult a difficult task to develop
an effective speech.
The same way, In marketing you have to know your audience before you
can package, target and position your products and services to the market.
In building your self aspect as an entrepreneur, a businessman and woman, or a professional, you need to understand the acronym N-E-T-W-O-R-K followed by Time management and finally Branding, your reputation.
Networking plays a major role in our lives. The word network means getting together to get ahead with someone, with a group or a mate.The more you talk to people the more you get along with them. The more you prospect, the more you feel at ease with people.
The simple reason why we should learn the art of networking is to make our lives easier, happier, more peaceful and
successful.
I want to share some tips
about networking that you can easily remember and pass on.
Let’s take the acronym “N-E-T-W-O-R-K,”
The "N" represent NEVER.
1.
N: Never meet a stranger — it has always been vital to remember we
never get a second chance to make a first impression. Always have a smile on
your face, a firm handshake and a nice greeting.Also, remember to use the person’s
name.Lastly, have a business card
with your name and contact information. Because, never know the person you are meeting for the first time. Create a positive first impression. You must be prepared for opportunities at all times. Take time to research about the person you are going to meet, ask about him, his business, his or groups, read about his or her profile, so that you can position yourself strategically.
The "E" represent ENTHUSIASM
2.
E: Enthusiasm — We need to be
enthused in helping others to remember us better and to become more interested in us,
than showing eagerness to learn about them.
An import trait about enthusiasm is to be a great listener. Do not be selfish, allow for open conversation. Be willing to listen, be empathetic and be willing to offer assistance.
The "T" represent THINKING
3.
T: Thinking — we need to think
before we speak. Without it, we must always fail. Listening comes with thinking. We need to be careful on what we say.
The "W" represent WORK
4.
W: Work — There is nothing
that beats a strong faith than work ethics.
When we think of learning how to network as an integral part of our personal and professional success, this
means we need to work on learning our
communication and networking skills. Our values needs to be well communicated, that is what would make us stay afloat.
The "O" represent OPTIMISTIC and OUTLOOK
5.
O: (OPTIMISTIC
and OUTLOOK) it relates to success in networking. Be Optimistic to get on well with others. Optimism goes hand in hand with
enthusiasm, and outlook is how we
look at things. I believe happiness is a
choice, and so is our outlook in life.The best networking is done by those who look out for others,
not just for themselves. People will remember your generosity. It is true that
givers get.
The "R" represents REAL and RESPOND
6.
R: (REAL
and RESPOND) the first word that comes to mind is “real.” If we want to be truly successful and
great at networking, we must be real in our feeling and empathy toward others. We
can fool some people some of the time, but we can’t fool all people all the
time. When we are real, this means we are also really concerned about helping others. People are attracted to
real people, and the cream always rises to the top. Also, as it relates to the letter “R,” I think of the word “respond.” When we make others No. 1,
they will respond in kind. Second to survival, man’s greatest need is
recognition, and a great network recognizes others.
The "K" represent KINDNESS and KNOWING
7.
K: (KINDNESS and KNOWING) I can think of a few words that
are significant along the lines of networking. First, you should demonstrate KINDNESS when you’re building
relationships and networking with others. Smile and make eye contact. Again, you never get a second chance
to make a first impression. Keep the focus on the other person. Don’t brag about yourself
during the entire conversation. Give the other person plenty of opportunities to share his or
her story and insight. Right up there with kindness is
the word “knowing.” Know as much as
you can ahead of time. If you’re going to an event, know who will be at the
event and what companies they’re with.The more you know about a person, the better you can communicate
and network. Also, the more you know, the farther you’ll go.”
What time is it ? it is said that, anytime we have an appointment. We need to get there before time. Time management abilities counts in business. That is why in other jurisdiction, they say time is money. Because if you are paid according to time, then you would obey and respect time.
Your Time Management
Abilities Counts:
Do
not procrastinate to network; Networking is the key in achieving success.There is no greater waste
of time than regret. You might be sitting with somebody for very long time in a
plane and would not bother to initiate a meaningful conversation.If you want to manage your
time better, the first step as suggested by Time Management Consultant Alan
Lakein, is to ask yourself this question: “Exactly what are my goals?”
Good time management
involves an awareness that today is all we ever have to work with. The past is
irretrievably gone; the future is only a concept. Everything that is
accomplished in the world is the result of someone’s realization that today is
the only time to act.
If it seems rather
elementary to you, be assured that the vast majority of your fellow human
beings seldom fully grasp that self-evident truth.
Thomas Carlyle put it this
way: “ our main task is not to see what lies dimly perceived in the future, but
to do the thing which lies immediately at hand”
John Ruskin had the word
“Today” carved into a small marble block that he kept on his desk as a constant
reminder to “Do it now”.
But my favorite quotation
is this one by an anonymous philosopher: He said
Yesterday is a cancelled
check,
Tomorrow is a promissory
note,
Today is ready cash. Use
it.
Upon all the time-saving
techniques ever developed, perhaps the most effective of all is the frequent use of
the word “No”.
In a whole, when you have the time, speak about your brand, and you business, because you are the number one marketer of
your business.
YOUR BRAND IS YOUR REPUTATION
Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business.
Be it: small, large, retail, B2B, B2C and the like,
An effective brand
strategy gives you a major edge in an increasingly competitive market
environment. What exactly does "branding"
mean, and how does it affect you and your business?
Simply put, your brand
is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they
can expect from your products and services. Your brand is derived
from Who you are, who you want to be, Who people perceive you to be.
The foundation of your
brand is your logo, your website, your digital presence, media presence, your packaging and promotional materials. Does it reflect the image of your business?
All of the
aforementioned should integrate in your logo, in other to communicate your
brand.
Brand Strategy &
Equity
- Your brand strategy is to ask yourself, how, what, where, when and
to whom you plan to communicate and deliver on your brand messages.
- Where you advertise should be part of your brand strategy.
- Your distribution channels are also part of your brand strategy
- Your target business audience,
- And what you communicate visually and verbally are all part of
your brand strategy tool.
Strategic
branding leads you to a strong brand equity. This means, the added value to your company's products or services, allows you to charge more for your brand than any identical, unbranded product.The added value is
intrinsic to the brand equity which frequently comes in the form of perceived
quality of an emotional attachment.
Defining your brand is
like a journey of business self-discovery. It can be difficult,
time-consuming and uncomfortable. It requires, at the very
least, that you answer the questions below:
·
What is your company's mission?
·
What are the benefits and features of your products or services?
·
What do your customers and prospects already think of your
company?
·
What qualities do you want them to associate with your company?
Do your research. Learn
the needs, habits and desires of your current and prospective customers. And
don't rely on what you think they think. Know what they think.
Once you've defined your
brand, how do you get the word out? Here are a few simple, time-tested tips:
- Get a great logo. Place it everywhere
- Write down your brand message. What are the key messages you want to
communicate about your brand? Every employee should be aware of your brand
attributes.
- Integrate your brand. Branding extends to every aspect of your
business,how you answer your phones, what your salespeople wear on sales calls, your
e-mail signature, etc
- Create a "voice" for your company that reflects your
brand. This
voice should be applied to all written communication and incorporate it into the
visual imagery of all materials, online and offline. Ask if your brand friendly?
- Develop a tagline. Write a memorable, meaningful and concise
statement that captures the essence of your brand.
- Design templates and create brand standards for your marketing
materials. Use
the same color scheme, logo placement, look and feel throughout. You don't need
to be fancy, just be consistent.
- Be true to your brand. Customers won't return to you or refer
you to someone else if you don't deliver on your brand promise.
- Be consistent. I placed this point last only because it involves all of the
above and is the most important tip I can give you. If you can't do this, your
attempts at establishing a brand will fail.
REMEMBER:
· Networking
· Time Management Abilities.
· Branding – Your Reputation
....to be continued
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