Today is Wednesday January 11, 2012

Thought For The Day

“Come out of the circle of time, and into the circle of love.”
-Rumi

 

I Have Been Thinking

I was first introduced to the term “Bird Dogs” many, many years ago. Bird dogs are hunters. They search out the prey leading the hunter to exactly what he is looking for. Wikipedia posts, “A bird dog hunter must know these three things to be successful, one, train the dog preseason as well as during the season, two, choose the right dog for the right style of hunting, and three, a trainer must know how to properly care for their bird dog. With these three rules of thumb a hunter should have success in their hunts, as well as the dog” These self same three things will help you to be successful when networking using bird dogs. Let’s take a look at them. While I am not suggesting friends and family are dogs, they do in fact make your very, very best bird dogs.

Please don’t expend your energies trying to recruit friends or family. They have a place in your business, but not as potential customers. One of the biggest reasons people fail at networking is they begin their list with friends and family. What they are actually doing is opening every objection wound there could possibly be. Friends and family will tease and belittle you for wanting to strike out on your own. Even family that support your efforts can be very difficult to work with.

Train The Dog Preseason As Well As During The Season

Most business entities are cyclic. The beginning of the cycle is finding prospects, the second is cultivating the prospects, third is converting to clients, and the final is maintaining you business relationships. If you have many eyes on the field, it is far easier to find the prospects you may be looking for. Let your bird dogs know the demographics. Let them know what to listen for at work, or within their circles.

What should they be listen for? Complaints, needs, questions about… It takes training them to know what to look and listen for. Train them to know what to say. “I hear you are having a problem with … listen, my cousin may be able to help you with that. Can I have him / her give you a call?” “I know … can be rough. My brother was telling me about a client who … maybe he can help you too.”

Choose The Right Dog For The Right Style Of Hunting

If you want to reach young mothers as an example, you would want to associate with people who would have a lot of connection with young mothers. Teachers are a good choice, coaches of children’s teams are a good choice. Volunteer with associations that relate to your field of interest. Not only will you feel good about doing something constructive with your free time, but you will also be making some excellent connections with people who can help you find those customers your business needs.

A Trainer Must Know How To Properly Care For Their Bird Dog

Take care of the people that bring you leads and connections. Many people will work harder for attention than they will for money. Many women and teachers as an example love getting flowers, but rarely do except for birthdays and anniversaries. Getting a bouquet of flowers for giving you a name and phone number – well, how would you feel? How about tickets to a football, baseball game or hockey? Give them especially those things they are uncomfortable with buying because of the expense but you know they would love to have. Be generous and your bird dogs will listen harder for the lead in.

Being very respective of the leads acquired through bird dogging is also very important. Remember that you are not just representing yourself and your business, but the friends that are helping you as well. The more respectful you are of your bird dogs to the people they send to you, you not only help yourself, but you also help him or her achieve recognition among his peers.

 

Opportunity is never lost
It goes To Those Ready to Accept It!
Your Success is my Greatest Interest
CWinslow

Ice Breakers

Ice Cream Humor

Q. How do astronauts eat their ice creams?

A. In floats

Q: How do you make a dinosaur float?

A: Put a scoop of ice cream in a glass of root beer
and add one dinosaur!

Q: What do you get from an Alaskan cow ?

A: Ice Cream

Q: What do you get if you divide the circumference of a
bowl of ice cream by its diameter?

A: Pi a’la mode.

 

Grandma Wisdom

 

Family is great if you want to get help with proof reading documents. They are also great to test headlines, “which do you like better, this or this? When you go to them for help for what you are doing, I find them more than willing to help. I also find that when they find out how much their help benefits you, they become more accepting of those things you are doing.