Debra Kasowski

Full Swing: Connections, Conversations, and Follow Through!

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Sports offer great analogies for business strategies. Every summer I fit in a game of golf or two. I love being in the sunshine and on the green grass. Sometimes I am searching for my ball ball in the trees but nonetheless I have learned in order to have a great shot or hit the sweet spot and get your ball to where you want it to go you must have good follow through on your swing. You cannot just put in half your efforts and expect to get the results you want. The same in business.

To get the results you want – you need to ensure that you:

Get to know new people at networking events and discover new ways you can help them get what they want.

Follow-Up with Them within 24-48 hours of meeting them with a phone call or email.

Follow Through – the conversation does not end there! Can you introduce them to others in your network or support them with a new article or magazine you read.

Follow through is the execution of the plan. Get to know people for who they are. They may never do business with you and that’s okay but they may know others who need your products and services. Be consistent and build relationships. Discover your sweet spot the view is beautiful at the top!

3 Secrets to Taking the Shark Bite Out of Building Rapport

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Getting to know people is an essential part being heart-centred entrepreneur. People first philosophy then discover possibilities. Sad to say that there are many sharks out their in the blue waters of being an entrepreneur that need to learn this lesson. I think this is where some of the car sales people get a bad rap. Instead of finding out what you want and what your needs are, they have eyes like a slot machines and suddenly the Cheshire grin appears and they are ready to yell “JACKPOT”.

Building rapport is crucial in business and the first impression happens in the snap of a finger. Have you been at an event where people naturally gravitate to a certain individual? Some people have the natural gift of the gab and others have a charisma that has magnetic powers. I bet you wonder what it is that they have that you don’t. But you do have it – it is already inside of you.

There are 3 secrets you must know:

Personalize. Use the person’s name you are speaking to throughout the conversation as appropriate. People love the sound of their name. Remember a person’s name especially if you have met before makes a person feel important and that your last interaction mattered and you were listening.

No selling! Building rapport is about building relationships; it is not about closing a sale. It is about building the know, like, and trust factor. How do you do that? Get to know the person you are speaking to as a person behind the business not business first. Discover a common interest: family, line of work, education, extra curricular activities, travel, or pets.

Give without tracking who has done what. You know the saying, “If I scratch your back, you will scratch mine.” It doesn’t work that way in business. If you are always tracking what you do for someone, they will not feel that you are doing it to help them, instead they will think you have a hidden agenda. Be transparent. Learn what some of their challenges are, perhaps you can make a referral to someone in your network or send them an article of interest. The transaction should be, “What is in it for them?”

The people you interact with may not be your customers but they do have a network of their own in which someone may be a right fit. As they get to know you and know that you are not just after a sale, they will refer you to others.

Wouldn’t you rather be known for the knowledge and skills you possess versus being a shark on the kill?

 

 

  1. No selling!

The #1 Deadly Mistake that Nurses and Entrepreneurs Can Make at a Huge Cost

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Before I share the deadly mistake, I want to share with you what nurses and entrepreneurs have in common that motivates them in their role. Nurses and entrepreneurs care about others, whether it be nursing them back to health and wellness or being the solution to a customer’s problems – they care!

Business is about opening up a dialogue and creating deeper connections from conversation and making a difference. There are many reasons businesses are formed but I truly believe that they are formed so that they can serve others in a big way.

The fashion and beauty industry helps women feel more confident, enhancing their natural beauty. The car industry helps people become more mobile and safe and creates an experience for the person behind the wheel. The nutrition and fitness industry helps people shed unwanted pounds and promotes health and wellness.

I have learned to become a person who is very focused on the attention to detail and I credit this to my nursing career. I have learned that when nurses or others in healthcare make a mistake or do not pay attention to the details – there is a cost involved. It could impact someone’s life – someone could die or even be harmed.

When I have received poor service, encountered a bad attitude, or lack of information to make decisions, I think to myself – “If I did my job, the way some people to theirs people could die or be harmed?” I know it seems a bit harsh but it reminds me that I must pay attention to the details, for it is the small things that we do that can make the biggest difference.

In business, you must pay attention to the details and truly hear what your customer is saying so that you can satisfy their needs. If you do not, your business may indeed die or fail. As an entrepreneur, it is so important to know your numbers, know your customers needs, and know how to support your team. When you pay attention to the details, you can build a healthy growth into your business. What is working in your business? What is not working in your business and what do you need to stop doing or start delegating to others?

What details do you need to pay attention to so your business could flourish?

Change Your Habits by Making The Decision

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Habits are those practices that we put in place that help to serve us in some shape or form. Whether it be smoking cigarettes, overeating, undereating, gambling, or overspending, the habits you and I form are there for emotional support.As Dr. Phil would say, “How is that working for you?” Why not channel the emotions you have into leading a healthy business lifestyle in order to create the life you want. Women have asked me how can they change or transform into the woman they want to be. The answer is simple! You need to make a decision!!!

Making a decision is one of the most powerful things you can do. It is almost as if a road is cleared and opened for you to drive on saying, ” Lead the way”. People, places, and possibilities come into your life because you have made room for them. I know when I have developed clarity in the direction I wanted for areas of my life and business – God and the universe provided me with the tools and resources. “Here you are!”

Change starts with a decision. Decision is where the action begins. If you want to create or make a change in your life, make a decision to do so. The following changes can start the shift to help you make the change.

  • Track the behaviour you want to change. Look for ways you can streamline or improve your progress.
  •  Stop watching television into the wee hours of the night instead read a book or magazine related to your industry or play a board game with your kids.
  • Idenitfy what is currently working and what is not working. What do you need to stop doing?
  • Send  thank you cards to people who have made a difference in your life
  • Stop checking email in the morning and concentrate on revenue generating activities. They give you the biggest bang for your buck!
  • Reflect on your day – are there areas you could have improved your conversations or handled situations or tasks differently.

Every change you make, makes a difference. Some changes you will notice overtime and some you may notice almost immediately. Trust me the people around you will also notice and see your shift. The greatest forms of change are incremetal and the most powerful. When you bring your actions and thoughts into clarity and become more aware of what you are doing, change will occur.

Make a plan to support the change by having an accountability buddy, coach, or both. Write down the action steps you will take to create sustainable change. execution is the key!!! Nothing happens without action!

What is one change you know you need to make to get the results that you want?

How to Stay Motivated as an Entrepreneur

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There are many people out in the world who marvel at the life of an entrepreneur and think it is so grand to have all this freedom and flexibility but  the more you have of anything, the more you have to manage it or you will have nothing. If you accumulate many things, you could have a lot of clutter or become a hoarder. If you have lots of money, you could go out of control with spending and not have anything. You need to become more aware of what you choose to accumulate and what you choose to spend your money on so you can live in abundance and grow your assets. The same is true with staying motivated. You need to stay motivated to get the results you want.

Image Courtesy of Photostock – Freedigitalphotos.net

There are 9 ways you can do this:

  1. Build and grow a business you are absolutely passionate about.
  2. Focus on serving and helping people achieve what they want – step outside of yourself and make a mark in the world.
  3. Block off time to do what you want to based on your priorities.
  4. Learn to say “no” to what does not makes you happy. Choose to live in happiness. Yes, I know that taking out the trash may not be desirable but a necessary evil. Otherwise, if not done – you could be very unhappy with the smell.
  5. Surround yourself with people who get what you are about and your mission. They “get it” you do not have to explain.
  6. Ensure that you practice self care. You cannot serve anyone when you are not looking after yourself. Rest, sleep, eat healthy, and get regular exercise.
  7. Work in a location you are most inspired but get out from behind the computer and connect LIVE & IN PERSON. The connection and the experience of you builds trust and rapport. There is something to be said when you can make that first eye to eye impression. Discover and investigate networking events in your area. Get out there and get known.
  8. Spend your time on your brilliance. Delegate what you are not so good at and so-so good at, so you can focus on being great on what you are best at.
  9. Reward yourself. Every goal you set you need to set a reward so you can strive to achieve. Added self care – initiative!!!

Staying motivated when there are so many tasks that need to get done can be draining but if you focus on serving the needs of the people you serve, your income will continue to grow.  Go out and serve the world.

How do you stay motivated – Comment below.

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