We are all taking some extended time in prep for some big changes in 2010.

We wanted to wish you all a great holiday season and thought this little diddy set the tone for how we were feeling…

See you back here  over the next few weeks -  but with fervor in 2010 – very active, fresh and looking to make the impact together with you… Have things you want to share, know, predict or focus on in 2010 and beyond? send them our way.

listen. learn. share. repeat™

g,

It’s hereeeee….yes! The Holiday’s are fast approaching!  I challenge you to go into this season with a new plan, a plan to continue your path to success while having a joyfilled personal life too! It CAN be done!

By this time of year many of you are over-stressed, over-worked and UNDER joyed. YIKES! Let’s change that. With these 3 simple steps you will be able to relax, enjoy and love on those most important to you. Don’t worry it has nothing to do with taking a hiatus from work or stopping your cash flow.

Step 1. Be Planned and Prepared

Let me teach you how to be more planned and prepared than ever before. Take 30 minutes and brainstorm all of the things you personally have to do every year during this time to make the Holiday’s happen. Things like:

• Get your family Christmas picture taken
• Write thank you notes to your clients for Thanksgiving!
• Mail out Christmas and Holiday cards, including adding new people to your list!
• Mail out packages
• Hang the tree lights outside
• Get your hair colored and cut
• Make a list of everyone you are buying for this year; secretary, teachers, staff, friends
  
• Make reservations at the restaurant for your staff lunch/dinner

I seriously could make a list of a hundred things that you MIGHT need to get done. But the point is, brainstorm all of it…down to the last detail and then put a date next to each item.

Step 2. Put forth EFFORT

When someone applies effort to any situation it speaks volumes about how much they care! Have you messed up lately? Whether you have messed up in a project, at work, at school, or in a relationship it can be improved by EFFORT.  What better time than the holiday’s to apply effort? Go early to shop for your lover’s gift rather then two days before Christmas. THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.  If you are planned and prepared you will have more time to put forth EFFORT.  I promise.

Step 3. Set the right Priorities

Having success and cash is awesome! It allows us to do so much and give so much back to people. But we all know that all the money in the world won’t replace a hug or companionship.  The holidays are about IMPRESSING UPON THOSE YOU LOVE HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM…NOT ABOUT IMPRESSING PEOPLE WITH GIFTS.

You are about to embark on the best Holiday season of your life!

Until next time…FIND JOY!

Jen Lovelady

listen. learn. share. repeat.™

achievng success by living your purpose from VoiceBox | Nextvoice247 on Vimeo.

What has been the most defining moment of your life?

Not a moment – but an experience – I spent two years in Portugal from age 19 to 21 serving a mission for my church – and that experience has made me who I am. I really figured out who I was, what I believe, what I value, what my strengths and passions are – and I was challenged beyond anything I had or have since experienced.

At what point in your life did you feel that you were able to intersect your passion with your talent?

Because I started as an entrepreneur, I feel that I was able to follow my passions and make use of my talents when I went into business for myself at age 21 –  that is one of the best things about being an entrepreneur – the freedom to pursue your passion and challenge yourself, focusing in the areas of your strengths.

How do you personally define or measure success in your life?

I define success as becoming the person you are capable of becoming. So for me, I define my success by my personal growth, contribution, and by living my purpose.
How has your view of success changed over the years?

I used to associate success with money and material things. Then three years ago when my daughter was born and I began to picture her life, I then realized that success was really about the person you become – and that day has changed my view of success and the focus of my life.

Who or what has been the greatest source of inspiration throughout your career?

My wife has been my biggest support, my biggest fan, and my reason for going after the goals I’ve set for myself. She and I have a plan for our family, are on the same page in the pursuit of that plan, and she is always there for me when I need it.

What are the best and worst things about starting a business?

The best thing about starting your own business is that you create your own reality – there is no one telling you what to do or how much you can make – you create it. The worst thing about being an entrepreneur is that you create your own reality. You have to be disciplined, persistent, and resilient because it is up to you to succeed.

What are the top three lessons you have learned about business and entrepreneurship?

Relationships are the root of all business. Never underestimate the importance of networking and building relationships. Your business will grow as you grow. Personal development always precedes professional achievement.
Provide service. The more service you provide – the more you will be rewarded.

What has been the biggest challenge on your road to success?

My biggest challenge has been balancing my life. I can be a workaholic – and I really had to figure out my purpose – which took in all my roles –  and align my life with that purpose.

What do you think the key is to balancing your work and personal life?

I teach what I call complete balance. When people think of balance they think of equal time all balanced out. It never happens. Complete balance comes when you discover your purpose and align all areas of your life around that purpose. Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual. When you are on purpose in every area of your life – then you find balance.

What impact has your family had on your business endeavors?

My family is my why for my business. My faith, my wife and kids are the most important things in my life – and so they are my driving force.
If you could only share one bit of advice to every young entrepreneur or innovator, what would it be?
My advice is to Commit. “When you are interested you do what is convenient, when you are committed, you do whatever it takes.” It takes real commitment it be successful.

If you had to send one tweet about your purpose if life, what would it be?

My purpose is to live, teach and empower greatness.
Complete the following statement, “In three years, Ty Bennett…”
…will be a bestselling author, sought after speaker, and a household name.

listen. learn. share. repeat.™

transformartion is all around from Gilbert Melott | Nextvoice247 on Vimeo.

Transformations come from within.

Every person, business, culture have that moment of clarity when they realize that something needs to change. When doing the same old thing, looking at the same four walls, living in a job or career that is not satisfying and will no-longer fulfill you.

When you stand at the edge of something – a curb, on top of a desk, the decision of a lifetime, your point of reference changes. Change and transformative behaviors look less daunting when you can see them objectively.

Take a look at something differently today. Take a new route to work or home. Sit in a different spot at a meeting. Re-write your marketing plan for your new star-tup with the help of a mentor. But look at how something you might have seen one way, and only one way — look at it differently today.

Today is the day for transformation… Just a thought. A little change of pace.

listen. learn. share. repeat.

Matt Ackerson wrote a different chapter for his life after graduating from college: He started a business.
By John Exley

May 2009: most college graduates are in full panic mode [http://www.naceweb.org/spotlight/2009/c052809.htm]. The ‘lucky ones’ have accepted jobs with big corporations. Very few are taking a stand against the status quo. Meet one of the exceptions: young entrepreneur Matt Ackerson [http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattackerson]. Having started a couple businesses as a student at Cornell University, Matt is determined to conclude his collegiate career by doing one thing: following his dreams of building a successful startup.

He did just that.

As summer comes to an end, Matt Ackerson has experienced the full-time life of a young entrepreneur. Matt is the Co-Founder & CEO of Bluesky Local, a startup that offers an innovative restaurant marketing software solution. He also writes daily articles on his entrepreneurship blog, Venture Kid.

Matt shares some of the most valuable lessons he’s learned since entering college and from his recent experiences building a startup company.

1.    How do you pitch your startup, Bluesky Local?

Bluesky Local offers the world’s first Slow Sales Response (SSR) restaurant marketing solution for independent local businesses and chain restaurants. The problem it addresses is plummeting sales caused by external factors such as time, weather, and seasonal changes. It tracks and responds to these factors in real-time by delivering coupons to local consumers via email, text-message, and Twitter.com, thus boosting sales. (You can follow Bluesky Local on Twitter: www.twitter.com/blueskylocal).

2.    What kind of advice would you give someone in high school who is struggling to find his or her passion and can’t figure out what to major in at college?

The only way to fail is not to try. First, figure out your options in terms of adventures to embark upon or, in the case of school, classes to take. Take on whatever sounds cool and interesting to you, even if you think it will be tough to get a good grade. Grades aren’t everything. They count for so little by the time you’re ready to kick-off at the end of your life.

3.    What is the #1 piece of advice you would give someone entering college or graduating and entering the ‘real world’?

There are two questions here so I’ll give two answers. For someone entering college my advice is not to worry so much about grades. College is about having new experiences and meeting extraordinary people, whether they are your classmates, professors, or guest speakers. Be like a sponge and soak it all up. Of course, don’t try to cram too much in, it’s better if you can be like a “focused sponge” rather than running around like a chicken with its head cut off, from club to class to another extracurricular activity. If you fill your life with constant movement, you’ll miss the joy of so many little things that only happen with patience and on slow, empty nights where there’s nothing to do but stay up late and talk with your roommate about some random business idea you’re thinking of…

My advice for someone leaving college is not to get sucked into the mindless group-think about the need to compromise to do something (such as taking a job, or going back to school) when maybe that’s not what you want to do. Because, you know what? One day you’ll wake up and you’ll be old and close to the end, and you’ll have to live with the decisions you’ve made about your life. What will you be thinking of that day as you reflect on your life? On that day I know I’ll be smiling, probably looking forward, thinking of some other crazy idea or challenge that I’m excited to embark upon.

Money and grades are important, but you don’t have to comprise your dreams for them. If you’re passionate in life and smart about when to quit and when to stick, you’ll be happy and you will succeed.

4.    What is the first story you remember of yourself that foreshadowed your future entrepreneurial aspirations?

When I was a little kid I didn’t know anything about business or investing or start-ups or any of that. I did have this vague idea that I would do something on my own and that I would take risks and work hard in order to see it through. Since I didn’t know anything about business, but I did like to read and write, I started writing novels. I started and stopped writing at least ten different fictional novels over the course of the next 10 years. The year before I transferred to Cornell I took an independent study where the goal was to produce a first draft manuscript of a novel.

I still plan to write a complete novel someday but I’ve put that to the side for the time being. My focus and ambition is solely for the company right now. In the meantime I’m “taking notes” for that future novel.

5.    If you could go back to your freshman year of college, what’s the one thing you would change?

I wouldn’t change anything.

6.    If you could go back to the moment you started your first business, what is the one thing you wish you could change?

I still wouldn’t change anything, but if I could go back and have my current self meet my past self I would yell at him and say “Hey! Your revenue model sucks! What are you thinking?” Then I’d laugh. My first two businesses were horrible when it came to making money and creating any real value.

7.    In the next 5 years, how will you personally define or measure:
a.    Happiness
b.    Success
c.    Self-fulfillment

If we were to cross paths at that time and you observe me to be a traveling bohemian on a motorcycle, who paints and writes daily, you can ask me this same question and I will say, “This.”

8.    What does the typical day consist of for Matt Ackerson?

It’s a mix of talking (with my business partner, clients, and advisors), writing, web design, cooking, exercise, sleep–wake the next day and repeat. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

networking 101: networking tips from big thinkers… 101 of them from Gilbert Melott | Nextvoice247 on Vimeo.

By John Exley – John is a great addition and ongoing Guest blogger to the Nextvoice247 team. You can read more about John at the end of his blog.

Relationships have been said to be one of the keys to happiness in
life. Networking brings about relationships and is essential for
building your personal brand, growing your company, or even enabling a
more rewarding life. Below are 101 1-sentence tips on networking from
some of the world’s best people to know, from ambitious college
students and fabulous bloggers to successful entrepreneurs and my own
father.

Embody these tips and you will be well on your way to becoming a
successful networker. Many thanks to all the contributors; your
friendships and help have been a key to my own personal happiness in
life.

Embody these tips and you will be well on your way to becoming a successful networker. Thanks to all the contributors!

1.    Don’t carry any businesses cards with you:  It makes you memorable because it is unexpected AND it positions you perfectly to follow up after you meet since the responsibility for future contact is clearly yours. (Mike Michalowicz, Author of  ‘The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, CEO of Obsidian Launch, mikem@obsidianlaunch.com, www.twitter.com/tpentrepreneur)
2.    No one is special, say hello to everyone! (Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerMedia & host of WineLibaryTV, www.twitter.com/garyvee, www.garyvaynerchuk.com)

3.      Once one is committed to working for the
greater good, the most spectacular design of well oiled networking
relationships will miraculously appear over and over again. (Amanda
Koster, Founder of Salaam Garage) http://salaamgarage.com/, www.twitter.com/salaamgarage

4.    Always be thinking: How can I help the person I’m talking to? (Guy Kawasaki, Entrepreneur and VC, Co-Founder of Alltop.com and Garage Technology Ventures. www.twitter.com/guykawasaki, www.guykawasaki.com, www.alltop.com, guy@alltop.com)
5.    Don’t let the room work you, have conversation exits and circulate yourself. (Larry
Chiang, Author of “What They Don’t Teach You at Stanford Business School” http://www.amazon.com/What-Teach-Stanford-Business-School/dp/0615301487/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1250099306&sr=8-2, Founder & CEO of Duck9 www.duck9.com,
Blogger www.larrychiang.com, www.twitter.com/larrychiang, larry@whattheydontteachyouatstanfordbusinessschool.com)

6.    You just don’t know who knows who – networking makes connections to follow and see where they might lead. (Anita Wagner, Chief Operating Officer of Polaris Library Systems, anita.wagner@polarislibrary.com)
7.    Be yourself, flaunt a little creativity and add value to everyone that you meet. (Sarah Prout, Founder of Sprout Publishing & Award-winning Entrepreneur, http://www.sproutpublishing.com/, www.twitter.com/sarahprout)
8.    When networking don’t hold back, you never know what qualities you have that might be valuable to others. (Tony Ruiz, student at Arizona State, www.twitter.com/tonyruiz, http://www.concepthero.com/)
9.    Always look for ways to make the Networking communication mutually beneficial…do not Network solely for personal gain. (Kent Heyman, President and CEO of Syncables, www.syncables.com, www.twitter.com/syncables)
10.    Stop looking around the room or thinking about what you’re going to say and listen. (Matt Ackerson, www.venturekid.com, www.twitter.com/mattackerson, mmackerson@gmail.com, Co-Founder and CEO of Scrimple, Inc. and BlueSkyLocal)
11.    Your network is like a presidency, how you handle your relations will make the people love or hate you. (Dan Xavier, CEO of Sosponsored, dxaviers@gmail.com)
12.    Ask Intelligent questions, and listen with sincere care. (George Exley, gexley@careforyourproperty.com, CEO and President of PropertyCare, Inc. www.careforyourproperty.com)
13.    Be helpful after doing homework on the person and your connections will be much deeper. (Chris Brogan, President of New Marketing Labs, www.twitter.com/chrisbrogan, http://bit.ly/cbbio, blog@chrisbrogan.com)
14.    Start talking. The person you want to meet isn’t going to come over to you, get over there and introduce yourself! (Jared O’Toole, Co-Founder of Under30CEO, www.twitter.com/jaredotoole, jared@under30ceo.com)
15.    When networking do not use people as stepping stones to accomplish what you want, see each person as an individual with whom you may build a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with. (Shawn Doolen, shawn.doolen@gmail.com, www.twitter.com/dooley34512, Business Transformation Consultant, IBM)
16.    Every person you meet has the potential to drastically alter your life, (you just don’t know it yet), so make the introduction, lay it all out and reap the rewards. (Rob Ianelli, www.robianelli.com, www.twitter.com/robianelli, Co-Founder of Hip Visions, LLC (www.hipvisions.com) and What’s Up Martha www.whatsupmartha.com)
17.    Networking isn’t about exchanging business cards, it’s about building relationships. (Scott Stratten, President of Un-Marketing.com, http://un-marketing.com/blog/, www.twitter.com/unmarketing)
18.    You have to give to get!  Your approach to networking has to be completely selfless–the more opportunities that you find for other people the more opportunities will find you. (Matt Wilson, Co-Founder of Under30CEO, www.mattwilson.tv, www.twitter.com/mattwilsontv, matt@under30ceo.com)
19.    When networking it’s important to just be yourself: the same skills used in face-to-face networking carry over into social media and are your best assets! (Chris Isaac, Founder of www.birdbathBUZZ.com, createbuzz@birdbathbuzz.com, www.twitter.com/birdbathbuzz)
20.    Your network isn’t about what you can gain from it, but what you have to offer it, such that if you focus on what you can give, the “gets” fall into place. (David Macauley, www.twitter.com/threedot, Program Manager for Backup and Recovery at an IT firm; Professional Encourager & Kindness Catalyst)
21.    Make yourself available, approachable and knowledgeable. (Aaron J. Davis, Manager of Consumer Insights and Web Analytics for Kellwood, www.twitter.com/aaronjdavis, davis.aaron@gmail.com)
22.    Networking is never about you, it’s about them – it’s about interacting, engaging, and providing value to others. (Kevin Mandeville, Founder of http://bouncewebsolutions.com/, www.twitter.com/kevingotbounce)
23.    It’s easy to fall into the trap of relying on the internet to only connect with others and build your network, but at the end of the day, it’s the face-to-face interaction that matters most; use the internet (social media) as a networking tool and a springboard to F2F opportunities, not a replacement for the human component of building meaningful relationships. (John Fowler, Authentic Consultant & Coach, www.linkedin.com/in/johnrayfowler, www.twitter.com/johnrayfowler)
24.    Always seek first to help the other person before asking them to help you. (Scott Bradley, www.NetworkingEffectively.com, www.twitter.com/scottbradley)
25.    Don’t half-ass it. You’re customers, readers, and overall audience can read between the lines. Be genuine and be unique! (Matt Chevy, http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/, www.twitter.com/mattchevy)
26.    I’ve never gotten turned down for a meeting I really wanted to get, some you just have to try harder than others. (Derek Johnson, www.twitter.com/thederekjohnson, http://thederekjohnson.com/, CEO of Tatango)
27.    Get your “what do you do?” reply/answer down to one sentence and have it ready at all times. (Troy Monaco, Brand Relations, http://troymonaco.com www.twitter.com/troymonaco)
28.    Be a good resource for people in your network by asking them what u can do for them most of the time, not what they can do for you all of the time, i.e. if someone in your network likes football a lot, and you happen to stumble upon a great football article, you should send the article to him or her! (Nduka Anyanwu, Author of www.HowToCollegeFitness.net & the upcoming www.cufit.net, www.twitter.com/ndukaanyanwu)
29.    A firm handshake with eye contact is crucial because people intuit a great deal from that first brief exchange, and maintaining open body language by never crossing your arms is essential for all networking interactions. (Mike Hanna, Business Consultant and Aspiring Entrepreneur, mhannamj@gmail.com)
30.    A few quality connections are more valuable than hundreds of weak connections. (Brian Shaffer,  Internet Entrepreneur, brian@brianshaffer.com, www.brianshaffer.com)
31.    Networking is as simple as developing a new friend; listen, offer help and enjoy each other’s company…all else will fall into place. (Brian Gates, President/Lead Designer of Design My Idea, LLC, http://www.designmyidea.com/)
32.    Memory retention of a prospect and their business is twice as important as getting their number (never punch a number into your phone or you’ll forget them, get a card, write on it, look at it, comment on it to your prospect); networking without remembering the relationship is called NOTworking. (Dan McClintock, Co-Owner at DNE Records, CEO of Package Web Deals,  CEO of Design-Geeks.com, www.twitter.com/lildanny, www.linkedin.com/in/lildanny)
33.    In networking it is more important to be interested than interesting. (Ty Bennett, Founder of Leadership, Inc. http://leadershipinc.com/, www.twitter.com/tybennett,)
34.    Network with everyone not based on their title because it could lead to an even better group of networks. (Demetrius Williams, Aspiring Entrepreneur, Demetrius.j.williams@gmail.com, www.twitter.com/djwilliams2)
35.    The Internet is faster than your mouth; be selective in what you post. (Josh “The Future” Fogarty, Business Technology Strategist, www.twitter.com/joshthefuture)
36.    Get to know people as friends it’s a much better way to let your goals be known, but before you do, ask and care about theirs. (Bill Griffin, Event Planner, Sales & Marketing Professional griffin92400@yahoo.com, www.twitter.com/bgriffin04, http://bgriffin04.wordpress.com/)
37.    I’m tired of being around people who are not passionate; they are straight up boring, so be passionate and you will succeed at networking…at least with me. (Ben Henschel, Photographer & Aspiring Entrepreneur www.benhenschel.com, www.twitter.com/benschel)
38.    Be interesting, be genuine, don’t go nuts promoting yourself. (Ian J. Spector, Clever entrepreneur, Bestselling author, Creative strategy & marketing consultant w/ interest in online media, www.whatisawesome.com, www.twitter.com/ianjspector)
39.    Everyone knows someone, and that someone could turn you into a Someone. (Anthony Tori, Founder of Jumpness, www.twitter.com/anthonytori, www.jumpness.com, www.twitter.com/jumpness)
40.    Always listen to what the other person has to say, because every detail can be turned into a story for another conversation and conversations are the start of all relationships. (Amitha Kurmala, Chief Editor of Technizzel, www.technizzel.com, www.twitter.com/technizzel)
41.    When going to company sponsored networking events, find out in advance who is going to be there and do your research in order to make a great impression. (Sarah Chuplis, Operations Management Leadership Program for GE in California, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sarah-chuplis/14/563/23a, Sarah.Chuplis@ge.com)
42.    Register at the business networking site LinkedIn.com. (Dave Miller, Quality & Process Engineering for Eastman Kodak Company, david.a.miller@kodak.com)
43.    When networking online, never forget what your mother taught you; it’s not about you. (Michael Benidt, CEO of Golden Compass, www.twitter.com/michaelbenidt, Michael@goldencompass.com, www.goldencompass.com)
44.    Company sports leagues are good networking, fun, and healthy unless you get pasted in the face with a softball. (Blake Conley, Reaction Value Stream Leader for GE Energy)
45.    Make yourself visible and vocal. (Chase Dearring, Industrial Engineering major at North Carolina A&T, crdearri@ncat.edu)
46.    Always have a hard copy back up of your most important contacts in case you lose a phone or your computer is stolen and never lose touch no matter what; even though it might not seem to matter who or what they are now, it is important to think long term when networking. (Chase Dragoon, Entrepreneur, patrickdragoon@gmail.com)
47.    Always make friends, never enemies, as enemies are worthless, and stay in touch with those friends. (Chris Cerami, Aspiring Entrepreneur at Penn State, cjc5107@psu.edu)
48.    Get out of your comfort zone, dissociate with people that are negative towards what you are trying to accomplish, and associate with people that are like minded and trying to, or already achieving what it is that you want. (Ben McAvey, Student at Clarkson University, mcaveybm@clarkson.edu)
49.    Don’t close any relationships with employers, you never know when they’ll come back to help you out. My old boss gave me a great letter of recommendation and it helped me a lot. (Derek Exley, Aspiring Entrepreneur, dexl0116@brockport.edu)
50.    Don’t be afraid. (Dustin Grzeskowiak, Mathematics Student at Clarkson University, grzeskdj@clarkson.edu)
51.    Give first. (Michael Simmons, Founder of the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, www.twitter.com/michaeldsimmons)
52.    Get out of the corner, and don’t be afraid to talk, write or tweet with anyone from organizations that have your interest! (Nikki Intschert, Youth Employment Counselor at the Jefferson County Workplace)
53.    Don’t be overly formal with people, just be yourself. (Dusty Logan, SAP Consultant at IBM, dustin.logan@gmail.com)
54.    The networking advice everyone always gets is ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ – but it’s really who knows you and if that person would go to bat for you. (Nicole Waldow, Senior at Clarkson University, waldownl@clarkson.edu)
55.    When blogging or looking at comments on YouTube or other platforms, don’t let haters’ comments effect you, think of the fact that they felt the discussion was important enough to leave their thoughts as a complement. (Kraig Adams, the College Video Student at Buffalo State, www.youtube.com/user/Collegevideostudent)
56.    Take advantage of every opportunity you have to meet new people, and stay in contact with those you meet. (Bryan Fish, President of Wichita State University’s Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs, bryanfish@gmail.com)
57.    Don’t be afraid to go up and introduce yourself, they are only people. (Cory Cain, President of Grand Valley State’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, corymcain@gmail.com)
58.    The key to networking is building and maintaining (emphasis on maintaining) meaningful relationships with people you can help and that can help you advance in life. (Matt Ruby, Business Development Analyst for Northbay Technology, mruby@northbaytechnology.com)
59.    Become known as a powerful resource that people you interact with come to you for answers or help. (Andy Preisendanz, Financial Analyst for Lockheed Martin, preisendanz@gmail.com)
60.    Remember 3 facts or interests about clients and people that you meet. (Brodie Follman, Patent Examiner at United States Patent & Trademark Office & Aspiring Entrepreneur, follmabj@clarkson.edu)
61.    Open yourself up to EVERY networking event; go to them with a smile, and ask questions to everyone you find interesting and even some that you don’t! (Craig Martyn, President of BLMA Models, craig@blmamodels.com)
62.    Touch bases with more of your most helpful contacts on a regular (not necessarily frequent) basis. (Jay Mitchell, wjmr56@frontiernet.net)
63.    Join the social networks online – these are the quickest way to get your name out to many people. (Len Perno, Senior Vice President of The PARX Group, lfp@parxgroup.com)
64.    People love to hear their own name, so when you meet someone, use their name in your conversation. (David Lindoerfer, CEO of InsideOut Services in Washington, D.C., dave@inoutservices.com, www.inoutservices.com)
65.    Don’t ever be too embarrassed to shake the hand of a stranger. (Lydia Mellnitz, Supply Chain Intern for Johnson & Johnson)
66.    Every person you meet, every friend, and every acquaintance can be someone that helps you reach your true potential. (John Botte, Founder of Widget-IT Solutions, www.widget-it.com, admin@widget-it.com)
67.    Right after you meet someone put their name, what they look like, and what they do in your phone. (Jason Schwartz, AngelSoft Community Manager, jason@angelsoft.com, www.twitter.com/jschwa)
68.    Keep short notes so that you keep track of where your relationship with others is at. (Mike Johansson, Founder of Fixitology, http://www.fixitology.com/, www.twitter.com/mikefixs)
69.    Be seen and get known: you have to make yourself visible in order to create a network, so look for interesting events to go to. (Carlos Mesquita, www.twitter.com/carlosmesquita1)
70.    Do not be afraid to contact someone better known than you; do your homework, show you genuinely admire their work, and articulate how you are willing to help/work with them. (Pat Cambron, Online Marketing Strategy for Brand-Yourself, www.brand-yourself.com, www.twitter.com/pcambron, pcambron@gmail.com)
71.    Never talk bad about others. (John Michael Novinski, Engineering Major and Aspiring Entrepreneur at Michigan University, jmnski@umich.edu)
72.    To get an idea of who is in your network, draw a web of everyone you know and keep in contact with old professors, teachers and administrators and also know what you love/are good at and find others with the same interests. (James Brink, Aspiring Entrepreneur, Blogger, Tweeter, Business Man, www.twitter.com/jamesbrink, http://jamesrbrink.blogspot.com/, brinkjr.iem@gmail.com)
73.    Networking is about building many genuinely positive relationships over the course of your career. (Bob Zeik, President of ZSource, Partner in Northbay Technology, zsource@cinci.rr.com)
74.    Listen well, focus on retaining information, and think before you speak; the other person will appreciate your genuine interest. (Daniel Weimer, President of ASME at Bucknell University, drw023@bucknell.edu)
75.    No matter who you’re talking to, or what their background is, you always have common ground with someone; your job is to FIND IT. (Jeff Gaglio, Major Account Manager at Verizon Wireless, jeff.gaglio@verizonwireless.com)
76.    Networking is easier when you know what you are doing, so find a mentor and utilize them. (Ryan “Cremix” Davis, Campus Relations Chair for Engineering & Management Society at Clarkson University, davisrm@clarkson.edu)
77.    Be friendly…you get everything by just smiling and chatting people up; plus, you don’t always know who you’re talking to! (Liz Allison, Senior Consultant at Hitachi Consulting, eallison@hitachiconsulting.com)
78.    Always follow up. (Scott Harman, Marketing Director for International Paper, sh8241@rochester.rr.com)
79.    Be remembered for helpful conversations, and forgotten for forcing your agenda. (Jesse Kanclerz, Internet Marketing Specialist, http://www.jessekanclerz.com/, esse@jessekanclerz.com)
80.    You are NEVER too good for a connection, regardless of how small it may seem…you never know. (David Spinks, Community Manager for Scribnia, blogger http://www.davidspinks.com, www.twitter.com/davidspinks)
81.    Don’t be a douchebag. (John Walker, Process Engineer at Keurig)
82.    Meet everyone you can because you never know who you could work best with. (Mackenzie White, Student at Oswego, www.twitter.com/mackenziewhite)
83.    Treat every human interaction as an opportunity to create a positive mutually beneficial relationship. (Pat Sargent, Aspiring Filmmaker and Entrepreneur,  http://workyourwayupblog.com/, www.twitter.com/PatrickSargent)
84.    When networking online always be real, always be transparent, and always take it to the next level – network & connect in real life! (Charissa Cowart, Social Media Specialist for www.twitter.com/eBillme and On-Air host www.StartupsLIVE.tv, www.twitter.com/charissacowart)
85.    Never prejudge anyone, they may be the person you’re looking for or better yet you may be the person they’re looking for. (Brian Tomkins, is a innovator in the Emerging Leader Community and Multimedia integration, http://www.nextvoice247.com/, www.twitter.com/briantomkins)
86.    Love everyone, trust a few and paddle your own canoe. (Barry Moltz, author of Bounce, www.twitter.com/barrymoltz)
87.    You can’t be valuable to someone until you find out what they need, and the opposite of speaking isn’t waiting, it’s listening. (Gilbert Melott, Founder of Nextvoice247, www.nextvoice247.com, www.twitter.com/nextvoice247)
88.    You’ll be shocked to find out that everyone from your uncle to your dentist knows someone who can bring you closer to your career goals; concretely define what you’re looking for, then systematically talk to the people you usually overlook. (Pete Kistler, Founder & CEO of Brand-Yourself, www.twitter.com/pete_kistler, www.blog.brand-yourself.com)
89.    Make smiling as the air u need to breath, and be always friendly and open-minded and don’t be afraid to give a bit more info about yourself! (Huesne Daglioglu, International Business Student from Germany at Clarkson University, Blogger http://www.clarkson.edu/admission/international/huesne.html, www.twitter.com/huesne_d)
90.    Be yourself and articulate your value proposition. (Jay Maharjan, Consulting Entrepreneur, http://4entrepreneur.net/, http://twitter.com/4entrepreneur)
91.    Take the time and listen to what people need to say. (Veronica Jaegerman, Engineering Student at University of Florida, verojaegerman@gmail.com)
92.   Ask open-ended questions to really open up discussions and show listeners that you are truly interested in them. (Antonio Calabrese, Founder of www.Mouseek.com & www.UofSS.com, www.twitter.com/acalabrese83)
93.    There are no “little people” in networking–don’t be afraid to meet the big hitters–and most importantly, ask lots of questions, or how else will you discover the secret to getting where they are? (Nicole Wilder, Finance Intern for Lockheed Martin MS, wildern@clarkson.edu)
94.    Be honest, be smart about who you network with and make it a two way deal. (John Hedges, President of The Deskset: Affordable Workspace Solutions, http://deskset.net/)
95.    Don’t be afraid of rejection: among all the people who ignore or reject you, you will eventually find someone to play on your team. (Kate O’Flynn O’Brien, Aspiring Med Student at University of Pennsylvania)
96.    I recommend the Bible verse: “He that hath friends must show himself friendly” to all networkers! (Paul Scott, President of Global Manufacturing Solutions, plscott7@yahoo.com)
97.    When meeting new people remember their name. (Walter Erike, SAP Analyst for Tyco)
98.    Be the node that uniquely connects disparate or distant networks. (Louis-Eric Simard)
99.    In a heated moment, it’s best not to put your feelings on the Internet for everyone to read. (Allison Swackhamer, Engineering Student at Rochester Institute of Technology, www.facebook.com/allisonswackhamer)
100.    There is a fine line between cockiness and confidence…make sure you are the latter and not the former. (Bryan Jakovcic, Uvisor Corporation, bryan.jakovcic@uvisor.com)
101.    Help people, don’t use people, and write thank you letters ASAP: within 24 hours, short and sweet. (Karla Fennell, Clarkson University’s Career Center)

Lastly, I’ll over-deliver on my promise and give you tip # 102 (from yours truly): Truly, truly care, be passionate, and go out of your way to help others!

Feel free to reach out to any of the experts above. What’s your favorite tip?

Do you have a really cool story about networking? Please leave your
favorite networking story or own additional tips or questions on
networking in the comments section below!

listen. learn. share. repeat.™

Peace,

John

+#+#+#+#+#+#+#+#+

John Exley is an aspiring entrepreneur with a unique background who loves his family and friends more than anything in the world. He is a junior Engineering & Management major and is President of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization at Clarkson University in northern New York. Born in Rochester, NY, his passions include fashion, networking, technology, working out, hustling, and helping others to achieve their dreams!

You can reach John Exley at: exleyja@clarkson.edu or on his cell at: (585) 472-0272.

Follow John Exley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/johnexley
Connect with John Exley on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jexley
Network with John Exley on LinkedIn: www.linkedin/in/johnexley
Personal Website: www.johnexleyonline.com

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