5 Ways To Maximize Your Upcoming Holiday Parties

December is the one month of the year that simply doesn’t have enough days. We’re busy juggling work projects, client commitments, year-end obligations, and holiday celebrations inside and outside of the office. Oh yes, there’s typically no shortage of family activities and social events as well. With all the festivities come abundant opportunities for quality…

Reflect, Be Thankful This Holiday Season

We’re all too familiar with the hustle and bustle that comes with the holidays. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we become so wrapped up in seasonal activities that we forget to reflect on the meaning of the season and celebrate our blessings. As we approach this season of hope and gratitude, we want to share…

Keeping Those Embers HOT!

Now that summer is a memory and we’re knee deep in autumn, our thoughts naturally turn toward blazing fire pits, bonfires and fireplaces. And as every experienced fire builder knows, you need to keep your embers hot if you want a successful fire. The farther away an ember gets from a fire, the colder and…

Tips to Maximize a Networking Event

Going to networking events is a part of any business professionals life.  Networking events come in the form of: Business After Hours Referral Marketing Groups Lead Exchanges Chamber Events Trade Shows Luncheons Award Ceremonies But did you know there are ways to more effectively maximize your time at networking events? Ways to better engage with…

Shallow vs Deep

When I was a kid, I loved going into the deep end of the pool.  To me, it was where the big kids swam, where the great divers performed their tricks, where the real fun happened.  I felt that the games we played got more challenging, navigating water that was way over our heads.  It…

Beyond the Surface

While at a recent Business Courier BizWomen event, a woman I know quite well came up to several of us beaming from ear to ear.  Excitedly she said, “I was talking with another member, and then we really started talking.  You won’t believe how much we have in common.”  I remember looking at her and…

Got Luck?

Luck is an interesting concept.  It’s something everyone wants to have, yet we’re not sure how to get it or even where to find it.  Occasionally we think we’ve got it only to discover how elusive and temporary it can be.  Eventually we realize that luck is merely fictional. While driving in my car the…

The Referral Partner Litmus Test

In the business world, strategic alliances are not contingent upon how long one has been working in a particular field or profession.  In fact, building strategic partnerships can, and should, begin with the first day on the job. Regardless of your years of experience, it is important to determine and know what makes a key…

Epicenters of Influence

How many people are in your company or organization?  What about your specific department? How many people within your department do what you do? The smaller the company the smaller a department.  But even with larger organizations, if you engage with the public, you typically cover a large area and the number of people within…

Word of Mouth Marketing

If money were no object marketing would be quite easy.  We would spend, and spend a lot, to ensure that every person in our target market heard our message.  Unfortunately, in most cases this is impossible and unrealistic. For a large majority of businesses our marketing funds are limited.  This limitation compels us to use…