Lunch & Learn: How to Gain Corporate Contracts

Join Us July 23 Gaining Corporate Contracts

Event Details: What:  Lunch & Learn You will Learn how to: Obtain the Business Manage your Sales Funnel Work with their Purchasing Department Gain a deeper understanding of the process    Where:  The Entrepreneur Circle 500 Winding Brook Drive 2nd Floor, Glastonbury, CT    When:  Thursday July 23    Time:  12:00 – 1:30    Who Should attend:  Business Owners that would like to learn how to gain Corporate Contracts. Presented by Ted Hsu (Horizon Services Company) Register Registration is a first come first serve basis, maximum capacity for the room is 25 people. Please Note:  Lunch will not be provided, this is a brown bag lunch event. Our Mission: The Entrepreneur Circle is dedicated to the growth and development of the entrepreneur by helping them reach their maximum potential in a safe, confidential environment through roundtable groups, education, collaboration, and access to expert resources.

Great Article on Peer Advisory Boards

I found this great article today on Peer Advisory Boards.  Thank you Ray@propres.com for writing it.  

Article:  Is a Peer Advisory Group Right for You?

Peer Advisory Boards

We’d like to hear from you!

1.   Share with us your experience/perception of a mastermind group or peer advisory board. 
2. What drew you to participate in the first place.
3. Or, what has kept you from participating

All responses will be published both positive and negative.

Thank you to our Panelists

Yesterday Ted Hsu, James Jackson, Karen Owens, and Nick Grello participated in a panel discussion on Hiring.  Each did an excellent job of sharing their expertise with the audience.

Ted shared with us his experience of hiring, identified red flags, and told us how to recognize them.

Jim shared experiences of integrating new employees, and explained the value of using assesment tools.

Karen shared many experiences on interviewing, new employee training, and keeping the team together.

Nick shared the dos and don’ts of hiring and firing.  Questions to ask, and how to protect yourself if it becomes necessary to terminate an employee.

There has been some discussion around creating some follow up workshops on this topic to help business owners create an employee handbook, training checklist, offer letters, and interviewing techniques.  We will keep you posted with the details of the programs.

Business Assessment Report

The Entrepreneur Circle has created a Business Assessment Report.   This tool is intended to help you clarify areas in your business where you are the strongest.

The purpose of this assessment is to take a clear look at your current production levels as well as to identify your desired production goal. 

We use this tool as a starting point when working with clients, by knowing this information we are better able to guide  and aid our clients  in developing and implementing a sound business strategy.

Take our Business Assessment Report

The test is our gift to you.

Panel Discussion on Hiring

In this presentation you will learn about:

1. Dealing with difficult employees
2. Finding the right employees
3. Hiring a sales person
4. Interviewing Techniques
5. Assessment Tools
6. Firing

Moderator: Maria Keiser, The Entrepreneur Circle

Panelists:

 

  Ted Hsu, Horizon Services Company

 

 

 

 Jim Jackson, The Essex Group

 

 

 

  Nicholas Grello, Siegel, O’Connor, O’Donnell, & Beck PC

 

 

 

  Karen Owens, Rafely Inc.

 

Event Details:

Thursday, June 25

12:00 – 2:30 PM

Dakota’s Rocky Hill

$20.00 in advance, $30.00 at the door (includes lunch)

Register

Glastonbury Chamber Announces Strategic Alliance with The Entrepreneur Circle

The Glastonbury Chamber is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with The Entrepreneur Circle.  The Entrepreneur Circle runs peer advisory boards (Roundtables) for business owners.  Roundtables are small groups of business owners that meet to discuss mutual issues and concerns they face in the running of their businesses.  The business owner gets an opportunity to share in the cumulative wisdom and experience regarding the true nature of owning and operating a business.  The Roundtables convene under the guidance of a trained facilitator and follow a defined process that is designed to produce measurable value for the participants.

Fast Company Magazine recently discussed a poll of business owners that participate on peer advisory boards.  64% reported an increase in bottom line profitability.  56% reported an increase in top line sales.  And 60% reported an increase in productivity.  The Roundtables help the business owner enlarge the view of their business, improve their mission and strategy, and discover new ideas they haven’t considered before.

“Having participated in several peer discussion groups, I have found The Entrepreneur Circle’s structured format to be one of the best places to discuss business issues.  My participation in the group has had a measurable impact on the continued success of our organization”.

David Wood President Gateway Financial Group, Inc. (Glastonbury Chamber Member)

The Entrepreneur Circle is offering a 20% discount on annual dues to Glastonbury Chamber members.  For eligibility guidelines and information on membership, please contact The Entrepreneur Circle at 860-432-4490 or info@theEcircle.com

Peer Advisory Boards give you the edge to Succeed

Where do the top leaders in business & politics get their ideas?  Why does it seem so effortless and easy for them to get to the top and stay there?  The answer is simple, they surround themselves with other leaders that are just as or smarter than they are.  The President has his cabinet, he also meets with other leaders of nations.  Leaders of big business have their board of directors, and meet with other leaders of business at regularly scheduled retreats.  These meetings are private closed door affairs.  These meetings and retreats are what perpetuates the success and survivability of nations and big business.  The leaders know they are smart, they know they can lead, but they also know they can’t and shouldn’t do it alone.  They know that in order to stay competitive and keep their edge they have to bring their challenges, opportunities and ideas to the table and discuss them with people they trust. 

Small business owners can attain the same edge, they don’t have to do it alone.  Be in business for yourself, not by yourself!  Business owners have transformed the way they do business due to the collaboration with others.  Closed door meetings are exactly that, a private meeting to discuss in detail the challenges, opportunities, and ideas of your business.  Coming out of the forest and looking at all of the trees allows you to focus on the big picture, not just the one tree.  A true leader makes decision and engages in activity that promotes the big picture.

Peer Advisory Boards are for the winners in business that know they can always be a little bit better.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Mead

Great Article on Peer Advisory Boards

Being in business for your self doesn’t mean you have to do it by yourself.  This article is a great illustration on how a Peer Advisory Board can give you the edge to grow your business.

Thrive with a little help from your friends Rick Spence, Financial Post

Keiserism of the Day

In 10 years you will have more regret about the things you didn’t do instead of the things you did.

Great video on Marketing during a down economy

Received a link today to John Jantsch (Duct Tape Marketing) video on Building a Booming Business in a Busted Economy.  Thank you Tom Richardell for sharing.

Back in August Jeffrey Fox (Fox & Company) made a presentation to The Entrepreneur Circle “How to Prosper During Tough Economic Times”.  If you missed the presentation the video above provides some good insight as well.  If you attended, this video is a good refresher.

Keiserism of the Day

Understanding the philosophy & psychology behind business is just as important as learning the skills of business.

 

 

We can go through the motions, complete the tasks, but if we don’t know why we are doing it or fully understand the concepts, then we become robots doing tasks and miss the big picture and scope of what can be accomplished.

An excellent resource for Business Owners

As business owners, becoming known as an expert is a wonderful way to market yourself.  However, the challenge lies in finding the opportunity to get your story or name in front of the reporters writing the stories.  The truth of the matter is reporters also struggle to find the right person for their articles. 

Peter Shankman has brought chocolate and peanut butter together.  He has created “Help a Reporter Out”.  A  tool that allows reporters, bloggers, and authors to submit their requests (they are the chocolate).   We the peanut butter, can subscribe to “Help a Reporter Out” to get notified of these inquiries, and fill the gaps for these reporters.    Thank you Peter for your brilliant creation.

To subscribe

Please note by subscribing you will receive about 3 emails per day with a variety of inquiries.  You will also agree to use the service for the purpose it was meant to serve.  Peter outlines all this on his site.

Good luck, I look forward to reading about you in the papers (all good of course)

Keiserism of the Day

The major difference between a peer advisory board and the coffee klatch is……

 

 

A peer advisory board gives you the forum to strategize and grow your business,

 

 

 

the coffee klatch validates your stagnation.

Social Networking it’s for the public to see

Last week I happened to watch an interesting story on the Today Show.  Using etiquette on line.  I’m not sure why we have to continue to remind everyone of this, but I will hop onto my soap box for just one minute.  Everything posted to a public forum is for the world to see.  Just because you are in the privacy of your home or office when you make a post, once it is out there, it cannot be taken away.  If you wouldn’t do it or say it in front of your grandmother, children, or best client, don’t do it or say it on line.

I have found items on the internet that I removed years ago.

Watch video Social Netiquette

Keiserism of the Day

Networking isn’t an event, it is a way of doing business.

I have met some wonderful people at networking events, but the relationship developed after the fact while we met over coffee or lunch.  The event was the introduction.  Anytime you are talking with or meeting people you are networking. 

Article:  Networking Doesn’t Work

This Economy!!!!

I am so tired of everyone asking me how are you doing in this economy?  Cash is tight due to the economy blah, blah, blah, blah.  Yes it’s true the economy is different than it was a few years back, so what.  Do we stop doing business, to we use our precious time and energy talking about how bad it is?  Or do we figure out a better way?  I vote for a better way.

We let the media scare us that the housing market was dropping and now we are using the “economy” as an excuse to let business drop.  We learn History in school so we don’t repeat the mistakes of our forefathers.  Let’s learn from our own history.  What if the horse and buggy dealerships, decided to carry another line of transportation “The Car”? 

We are living breathing creatures, living on a planet that is constantly changing.  The world changes, we change, that means everything.  Even the stuff we get used to, and enjoy.  We got used to one economy, and knew how to work it, now we need to get used to living in a different economy, until of course that changes as well. 

The inspiration for today’s post came from an an email I received this afternoon from Ari Galper, subject line: Lessons from Pearl – my 96yr old grandmother – the ultimate business guru.  Pearl is a smart woman, see what she had to say. Read More

I would also like to hear what you have to say.

Help Me Understand

 

 I thought the idea behind Linkedin was to make connections with folks you already know, and ask for introductions to people you don’t. 

In the past week I have received 5 LinkedIn requests from people I do not know.  This is not a problem; I view the request as an opportunity to meet someone new.  If I attended a business event, I would welcome a strangers request to introduce themselves.   When I receive such a request, I will communicate with that person via phone or email.  I prefer phone that way I can start to get to know the person behind the computer.  Half of the time I get a response, the other half I don’t.  This is what I need help understanding.  Why would a business person want to connect with someone they don’t know, and then not want to actually communicate with that person?  Have I missed something?  What is the point of having 500+ contacts if you don’t actually know any of them? 

If I don’t know you, I am not going to accept your connection request, I will not refer business to you, and I certainly will not introduce you to my other contacts.   

The computer and technology are excellent resources, they allow us to have the world at our fingertips, but it cannot replace human contact.   Or has it?  

Love to hear your perspective on this.

Congratulations B-Law

                                                On Friday April 24 The Hartford Business Journal held it’s first annual eTechnology Summit and announced the strateg-e awards.  Diana Bartolotta of B-Law was the winner of  “Best Use of Social Network”.

Diana has been a member of  The Entrepreneur Circle  for 2 years, she has helped many of our clients make better use of social networks.

Today The Entrepreneur Circle celebrates it’s 6th year of business

Surviving 6 years has not always been easy, but it has been a great adventure that we hope to continue for the next 30 years.  It has been a lot of work, but we didn’t get here alone.  Over the past 6 years we have developed many wonderful relationships, some of whom turned out to be great friends and mentors.  We are here for the long haul and look forward to the many exciting adventures yet to come.

Tell us how long you have been in business and any bits of wisdom you would like to impart on us.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Upcoming Intro Session Details

Peer Advisory boards give leaders in business and politics the edge to stay on top.  

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Mead

Peer Advisory Boards = A carefully selected group of people that will provide for you:

1. The competitive edge to grow your business
2. Accountability
3. Brainstorm ideas
4. Introduce new concepts
5. Work through business challenges in a secure confidential environment.

Article: Peer Groups: your solution for managing the recession

Results 19% – 43% Positive Revenue Impact

The Entrepreneur Circle will host an introductory session to answer your questions regarding participation on our Peer Advisory Boards.

Event Details:
Date:  Thursday May 7, 2009
Time:  1:30 – 2:30 PM
Location:  500 Winding Brook Drive, Glastonbury, CT (2nd Floor) 

There is no cost and no obligation to attend this introductory meeting.  Space is limited, so please call 860-432-4490 or email info@TheEcircle.com if you are interested in attending.  

 

For more information, please contact:

Maria Keiser

Managing Member

The Entrepreneur Circle

860-432-4490

info@TheEcircle.com

www.TheEcircle.com

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