How Trees and Wind Give Us A View of our Networking

August 29, 2010 at 5:16 pm · Filed under Networking with the Trees

I was house and dog sitting this weekend.  The pets are wonderful.  My friend has a patio overlooking a beautiful, finely groomed back yard with a small grove of trees. You may have read before that one of my favorite things is sitting quietly and listening to the wind blow through the leaves.

As I watched each tree blow, their leaves sounded different and their movements all unique.  Hmmm, different and unique.  Seems we’re talking about marketing again, more specifically…Networking.

The elegant Willow:  She is confident, strong, presents herself with ease.  She has wisdom and wants to see business owners succeed.  She is more about hearing your story than she hearing yours, but can tell you what she does in one powerful sentence.

The Aspen:  She has leads, resources and referrals just waiting to give to you.  She is dynamic and energetic.  Her outreach is in the thousands.  When you meet, the energy flies and you’re both, giving, giving, giving of who and what you know to build your business.

The tall Oak:  He is purposeful in his mission to connect.  He’s a good listener.  He wants to build his client base and help you do the same.

The newly planted Maple:  She is just new to the business world.  She stands by herself but is ready to connect.  She’s anxious and nervous to step out but knows, this is the place to be.

Then there was the chattering crow in the background who was shouting, it’s all about me, me, me.

Follow-up: The strategically placed sprinkler system began watering and nurturing all of the relationships and leads.

So, which one of these trees are you?  Maybe you’re a combination OR how do you choose to be?  Remember, when you’re networking, listen, build relationships and surround yourself with the right trees – the ones that fit for you.

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Do You Use Your Legs or A Contractor?

August 23, 2010 at 3:34 pm · Filed under Marketing - Your Legs VS. a Contractor

This morning I was speaking with a friend and business peer about a product she had seen on the Internet.  It marketed to a very specific audience – those that were interested in post card mailings.  We talked about how the creator brought something to the Internet to provide you with education on how and why to use this tool as a marketing piece of your business.

Funny thing, I had just had an interview for a position with a post card company.  As Linda and I were talking I realized how much this company provided for their new ‘post card client’.  In order to grasp all of the pieces we were talking about, I just had to put a metaphor to it.

There are many companies out there that can help you with your business.  You can do the leg work and bring all the pieces together that will help you reach your audience or you can find a company that does everything for you.

It’s very similar to building a house.  Do you want to do the plans, measure, get the materials, provide the labor and go to the city to get all of your paperwork done or do you want to hire a contractor?  The contractor is like the orchestra leader.  He pulls all the pieces together and all you have to do is watch and listen.  (of course, if it’s MY contractor, he has to listen to me and put up with a watchful audience and questions like “Hey, can you take that entire deck you just built and make it wider?”) … :)

Are there pieces you would like the contractor to take over?

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Marketing One Cupful at a Time

August 15, 2010 at 2:09 pm · Filed under Marketing One Cup at a Time

It is 60 degrees in Minnesota this morning.  The leaves in the trees are singing and the humidity, even though it’s not gone is very manageable.  It’s rejuvenating to my soul.  I’m having my favorite time on my covered porch sipping a cup of hot tea with lemon and sugar,  just listening.

Last week I had pulled out my baby pool, filled it with water and stepped in to splash.  It was 97 degrees and it was the only thing I knew that could bring refreshment outside, as I was getting cabin fever inside.

Today I knew I would be mowing the grass later so I better move the pool.  It was filled from the rain and I knew I couldn’t move it.  I took my tea-cup and began to empty the water one cup at a time.  I dispersed it throughout the lawn.  I turned the pool over to empty the rest, then raked the flat grass underneath.

When you think about marketing…

  • you connect one person at a time (one cup of water)
  • you connect one group at a time (the remaining pool of water)
  • you nurture your connections (raking the grass)

Continue the right connections one cup at a time, one group at a time, nurture them and success will be yours.

I love sharing metaphors and relating them to marketing.  It aligns with who I am.  It’s important to market your business with consistency in complete alignment with who you are.  To be aligned means ease and success.

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If it’s so,so – then no,no

August 9, 2010 at 1:28 pm · Filed under If It's So

This past week I have been making declarations of what I want.  These were specifically around jobs and money. 

Declaration #1
Send me new ideas to make money now. 

I received:
A fantastic idea bringing in what I had done before but the delivery was just a little different.  I made it so, took it out to test it and am waiting for the results.  Notice, I acted immediately, without hesitation.

Declaration #2
I’m going to find locations today when I am out, where they are needing employees.  

I found:
Not one, not two but four locations looking for help as I went intentionally through my day.  In fact, I drove through my town looking and was surprised at the help wanted signs in the window. 

Declaration #3
I want money to come into my hands today.

Result:
I was at a Humane Society event with a friend.  The wind picked up and things started flying all over.  A clear container with a lid blew right over to me and I caught it.  It was the donation money they had received from attendees. 

First of all, when you make a declaration deep down, 100% you WILL receive it.  Be open to it coming in different ways.  The point being, these declarations were made at 100% of my being and of my knowing I would receive. 

Are you standing in your requests 100% from the inside, out or are they just in your head?  The difference I felt was my entire body, mind and spirit were fully and totally engaged in the outcome.  I KNEW I would receive what I asked for, even though some came to me a little differently.  The job openings I asked for…I chose not to take them but they were there in the way that I asked.

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Are you marketing on a new track or old?

August 6, 2010 at 8:26 pm · Filed under Marketing on a New Track

This past week has been such a great learning experience.  I’m almost too saturated to take in any more.  That’s what my Nancy Drew books are for; pure enjoyment.

There were several pieces that came into play and one I will share with you right now.  Our track!  A friend of mine said our life track isn’t meant to stay with us until the end.  It needs to be renewed and infused with new energy.  I realized I was using my old track, not only in my marketing but my entire life.

I drew a new track to travel on and  retired the old one.  I’m reading some great stuff on marketing which is a wonderful reminder.  My past financial thoughts are no longer allowed and new ones have empowered me.  Is your track worn out?  You get to bring in a new one.  You get to rewrite your story.

Beth

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What does this have to do with marketing?

July 23, 2010 at 2:57 pm · Filed under Marketing - Who You Are

This morning I went for a walk.  Before I started I asked my higher self to give me the answer of  ‘how’, to something I was thinking about.  The answer I received was ‘Listen’.  So I did.

I heard highway traffic, construction trucks backing up, birds singing, crows cawing and about 5 vehicles drove by the street I was on.  They each sounded different.  I walked to the pond and saw baby ducks eating off the surface of the water and baby geese skimming through the grass with their beaks.  I couldn’t ‘hear’ what they were doing but I know what it was supposed to sound like, so I put the sound I enjoyed, the sound that came from my childhood, to their motions.  How peaceful that was.

So, what does this have to do with marketing?  You’ll notice there was a common denominator which was SOUND.  Translate sound to your marketing approach.  Did you notice there are all different kinds of sound but what was more interesting to me were the 5 vehicles that went by.  Translate vehicles to people.

There are many people (vehicles) around you who have their own business.
Each vehicle has a different sound (your marketing approach).  Identify who you are and what type of marketing approach you will have.  It will be different from others and that’s what makes you unique – that’s what makes marketing your natural fit.

Beth, author of the book How To Market From Your Comfort Zone
www.marketingontheplayground.com

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Marketing YOU!

July 13, 2010 at 2:16 pm · Filed under Marketing Yourself Seeking a Job

Today’s blog is short and sweet.  For a few months I have been looking for a position in a company after having my business for 10 years.  To be honest,
I should say half-way looking at best.  Am I still the person to come to, to market from your comfort zone?  Yes, I’m not leaving that behind.

I’ve been checking Career Builder.com, Monster.com, the newspaper and talking to people. Nothing every felt right except one position.  Then I really got the ‘half-way’ part.  Even though I would key in a position, I was reading what was there vs. looking for the type of company I wanted.

It did take me a while to zero in on where my background would be complimentary and above all, a match to my energy,  but I found it.  Here’s my point.  When I began looking for what I wanted vs. what was out there, my energy zoomed off the charts.  This week, if not today,  I will be hand delivering my resume to a dozen Companies I found in the exact field and location I want to work.

Whether you are marketing yourself in your business or marketing yourself to find a position, first and always be authentic in marketing from your strengths and passions.

With Gratitude, Beth

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Practice What You Preach

July 5, 2010 at 3:59 pm · Filed under Marketing from your Strengths

As author of the book, How To Market From Your Comfort Zone, I have found myself in a humbling position this past week.  Even though the foundation of my business is ‘marketing YOUR way’, I have never denied that I too can fall back into the ‘should’ frame of mind, but this one surprised me.  And now, I present you with my humbling experience.

I had made a simple chart for categories of places and types of marketing
I wanted to do to get my book in view of entrepreneurs.  I knew that large companies would take about 6 months to 1 year to finalize, Women’s business/entrepreneurial  magazines about the same due to editorial time lines and then other sources were less time.  My mentor suggested a style
I had done in the past which were affiliate partnerships and email marketing.  It would bring a more immediate outcome.  It was a great idea and I knew it would be easy because of the previous years of experience I had.

I did my teleclass, Unlock The Secret To Marketing Yourself, through our two databases.  Then I sent the email reminders about a bonus I had offered.  I had no idea, until the week of the class and the reminders were done, that something didn’t feel right.  I was agitated and feeling unsure of myself.  I was definitely not feeling the excitement I feel when my marketing is JUST RIGHT for me, when it fits my style.

I was out clipping my dogwood tree and heard my inner voice.  It said, “I got a little off track.”  It was a profound awareness that this type of marketing no longer fit for me.  Of course, I had to do it, wallow in it and be uncomfortable with it before I received my learning, (not that you have to go through what I did) but I am thankful for nature that quieted my head so I could listen to what didn’t work.  The energy level around marketing my book and finding the right fit is once again, more powerful than ever.

The learning for me I would like to share with you…Market from your strengths, passions and what truly energizes you.  If you get off track it’s only a reminder of the strong place you stand when you market your way.

By the way, if you know of smaller women’s entrepreneur and business magazines I could research, I would be grateful for your insight.

And with that, I think I will depart and go read my own book. :)

Beth

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Belief In YOUR Success

June 30, 2010 at 2:10 pm · Filed under Belief In Your Success

There are so many of us in business that work for long periods of time on faith, trust, hope and belief.  Belief that one day our services will be sought after by many to be financially successful.  Don’t get me wrong, we are very successful in so many other ways, but to pay the mortgage we need to be financially successful don’t we?

Last night I was watching America’s Got Talent.  I love shows that bring inspiration.  Yes, we see those that obviously get to stage on a dare or just to say they got on.  Then there are those that touch our hearts, those we give a ‘way to go’  and those who have been working all their lives and are finally noticed.   They have one of those “unexpected, fantastic moments.”

I KNOW that with our consistent belief, our hard work and our continuous drive to bring our gifts to the world, we will all be successful.  Keep BELIEVING!  Your success can happen in 1 second.

I would love to hear your comments and your beliefs. Then, if you would like an uplifting inspiration, take a look at this.  Watch the people’s faces in the audience and the expressions on the judges faces until this contestant begins to sing.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqmvMeshKeY

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Don’t miss the upcoming Radio Show

June 17, 2010 at 2:49 am · Filed under Radio Show

Just wanted to let you know about some great marketing information coming your way.  Here is the promotion below.  I hope you can make it.

Listen in on www.smartwomenscoaching.com.  Click … Radio … and Listen Live.

June 22, 2010

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. EST

Katana will be interviewing, Beth Woodward, Chief Executive Kid and certified coach of Marketing On The Playground.

“How to Market from Your Comfort Zone!”

Join us as we’ll discuss:

  • The secret to marketing yourself
  • How to redefine marketing in how it fits for you
  • How to create your marketing steps from what you enjoy vs. what you think you HAVE to do

Beth Woodward founded Marketing On The Playground after her first year of trying to fit into someone else’s marketing model.  Her business turned around by giving herself permission to market from her comfort zone.  This awareness led to showing others how to discover their comfort zone and unique style to market their business with success.

Beth has been a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and Marketing Consultant for over 10 years working with the Independent Business Owner.  Combining her unique approach and personal journey, Beth created the very successful My Way Marketing Plan and the Passions and Strengths Marketing Assessment.

To learn more about Beth click here www.marketingontheplayground.com

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