What is ETP Network?

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Think of the Organizational Overview as the ETP Network's elevator speech, condensing all of the most important information about the organization into one easy-to-read online document, designed for ease of use with just one topic per page.

If you're new to the ETP Network, here is your guidebook, your road map, your orientation package, and your pocket reference all rolled into one.

So get to know the ETP Network from the ground up. Download your copy of "The ETP Network: An Organizational Overview" today. It's available at an ETPNetwork.com web site near you.

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ME, Inc. is in Control of the Roller Coaster

by Carl E. Reid

Up - Down - Up Again -Then Back Down one more time . . . Welcome to the "Job" roller coaster ride. This ride is consistently powered by the perceived fear imposed by supposed economic indicators.

The American Dream is no longer attained by the old formula
(four-year degree + "good company" = career progression).

Let's face it. You aren't down, because you're out of a job. You're down, because your income has stopped abruptly. Not being able to pay bills and take care of a family is what brings us down. If we start running ourselves like a business, the business of ME,Inc., we'll always be up and in control of the job roller coaster.

As an employee, the company you work for is a client. With that said, review the comparison below to start profitably running the company of ME, Inc. You are now at the controls of the job roller coaster.

Business Owner
1.Write a 5-year business plan. Review every 3 months and make adjustments. Business plan is a report card. It shows where you are now, where you're going and how you achieve profitable results. It is a proactive document.

ME, Inc.
1.Meet with boss to write a development plan. Include evaluation tasks. Review every 3 months. Get feedback from boss to make adjustments. Waiting until your 6 month or yearly evaluation for feedback is career suicide.

Business Owner
2. Marketing with ads, brochures, and business cards for product branding. Following up after the sale is marketing. Sending thank you or special occasion cards to clients is a great marketing tool for customer relationship management (CRM). The goal of all marketing activities is to creatively keep your name in front of people and always say "thank you" and "please".
Send clients article clippings on topics that interest them.

ME, Inc.
2. Market yourself with your attire, posture, communication and interpersonal skills. Something simple as sending an email is marketing. Make sure your email signature reflects your image. Remember to copy even peripheral people on emails, as you progress on a project. Keep your name in front of people and always say "thank you" and "please". Building rapport with people is marketing.

Business Owner
3. Selling includes all activities involved in winning the confidence of potential and current clients by creating win-win solutions for clients and your company. Be in the business of serving clients, not making money. The money will always follow and so will referrals, which increases sales.

ME, Inc.
3. Selling occurs all the time at a job. Making a presentation to people on a strategy or solution, quality assignment completion, interaction with co-workers is all selling scenarios. When you become the "Go to" person on your team, then people are sold on you and your skills. Mission accomplished.

Business Owner
4. Seek Advice from others; Board of directors, lawyer, accountant, mentors and business associates outside organization. Associate with other successful business owners. Partner with vendors to solicit advice from them. Talk to CEOs of companies and ask them what makes their company profitable.

ME, Inc.
4. Associate with like-minded people who can help you develop your career. Find a couple of mentors. To increase your salary, associate with people who make more than you. Ask them how they became successful. Score some browning points with your boss, by asking them how they achieved their promotion.

Business Owner
5. Networking. Get involved in organizations and events that allow for meeting new people. ALWAYS carry and give out business cards. Read article below.

ME, Inc.
5. Networking. ALWAYS carry business cards. You never know who you will meet, who may help you in advancing your career.

Business Owner
6. Diversify profit centers with multiple clients. Cross-sell products or services. 20/80 rule says 80% of profits come from 20% of current client base. The rest comes from new clients. Once you sold to a client once, it's easier to introduce a new product. Get referrals from satisfied customers. They're your best sales people.

ME, Inc.
6. Diversify income to at least equal take home pay. This is the control switch for the job roller coaster. Have more than one client, other than your employer. Use your current skills to pick up a few additional clients or start a part time business. What would you do right now, if your one and only client stopped using your services? It's not a problem if your income is diversified.

Business Owner
7. Have a business contingency back up plan, which includes having 90-120 days of operating capital.

ME, Inc.
7. Have a career back up plan.

10 Powerful Networking Tips Using Business Cards

Carl E. Reid

Whether you are looking for a job or running a business, giving out business cards is crucial to marketing your skills or services. Even as a job seeker, develop the mindset of running the business of YOU, Inc. Business cards speak volumes about who you are, what you offer and how serious you are marketing YOU, Inc. as a business. Oh! So, you have a resume and don't need business cards. Can you carry 10 resumes in your wallet' Do you or can you carry your resume everywhere you go' A church bell ringing lets people know they are open for business. Your business card is your bell. Here are some proven tips using business cards to increase your chances of landing a job or creating a business opportunity.

1. Never leave home without them. Before leaving home, your checklist should be expanded to include business cards, as part of "do I have my wallet/money, house keys, driver's license'" Any 'per chance' meeting is an opportunity to give out a business card. A morning run or a quick trip to the local store could be an opportunity to network. My wife and I always ask each other 'do you have business cards', before leaving the house. Make it a habit to carry business cards.

2. Insert a business card when mailing bill payments. Bills contain advertisements. Why can't you advertise your skills or services the same way' Insert a business card with your payment. You may not think a person in South Dakota who opens your credit card bill payment can help you. Never underestimate the power of networking. A movie, entitled '6 Degrees of Separation' points out we are 6 people away from knowing someone of influence. You could be 6 people away from knowing the President of the United Sates, your favorite movie star or someone who is in a position to hire your skills or services. Each of us knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone etc. Developing this powerful networking attitude will be a fundamental source of continued success.

3. Use proper business card etiquette. Whenever you give a business card, ask for a business card. When given a business card, don't just take it and place it in your pocket. Make the person feel important by looking at their card for a few seconds. You might see something that could be a topic of discussion. Write comments on the card such as date, location and common points of interest. These comments will prove valuable when following up with that person. This also demonstrates a sincere interest in the other person. Then place it in your wallet. This lets them know they reside in a special place with you. "Skill with People" by Les Giblin is a book that expands on this approach. Make people feel important, in order to make yourself important to them.

4. Be generous. Give business cards out to everyone, including family and friends. Don't let vanity stop you from giving out your last business card or giving 2 at a time to each person. I have met many people who have totally missed the purpose of a business card. I once asked a person for a second business card, so I could refer his services. His response was "I only have a few cards left and I need them", as he looked again at his name on the card. Hoarding your business cards only makes your wallet feel full, not your bank account.

5. Ask for referrals. When giving a business card, people feel more comfortable when you ask; 'I would appreciate a referral, if you know anyone that could use my services'. Don't make people feel like they are on the spot. This approach disarms people much better than asking them, 'is your company hiring'' People naturally like to do favors for people. Saying 'could you do me a favor by referring my services to someone'. This always places you in a better position with them. They will feel better about helping you. Give them 2 cards.

6. Maximize every "per chance" meeting. You never know when you might meet someone who can help you. Family or friends social events could produce unexpected encounters with people. Don't discount those events. So you're going to a birthday party for your friend's kid. You never know who you might meet. At a family holiday gathering last year, I met someone that has been instrumental in developing our business this year. Who would have thought this could happen by giving him a simple business card.

7. Place yourself at the right place at the right time. Have you been to a job fair or business conference and been disappointed with the networking results' Turn the tables around. Consider volunteering to help out at the job fair or other types of events. This puts you in a better strategic position for presenting your resume or business card. Company representatives might view you differently, if they know you are willing to go the extra mile in helping them make their presence easier to manage. Get involved by visiting Eventme.com, TheLunchClub.net, Craigslist.com or view the calendar of events for JacobJavitsCenter.com to place yourself in opportunities for giving out your business card. Volunteering for events has been a very successful resource for my business partner and I to expanding our business. Zig Ziglar, one of the most successful sales trainers in the world says "if you help enough people get what they want in life, you will get what you want in life".

8. Use "In Your Face" follow up. Did you ever have a job interview or meeting with a recruiter, potential client or employer and wonder why they never called you back' 'Out of sight, out of mind' is the operative phrase to remember. Today's economic climate dictates you might be competing with 20, 50, 100 or more other people for the same position or contract. It's quite a task for people to keep track of each individual meeting. So it's up to you to give a person a reason to call you back. Immediately after a meeting snail mail a hand written note thanking the person for their time. Insert your business card. Now you're in the driver's seat in standing out from other people. If you get no response, do it again. Patience and persistence pays off.

9. Use promotions to promote YOU, Inc. Newspapers often have stories of people being promoted to high levels in different organizations' This is an opportunity for you. Consider getting some invitation size blank greeting cards. Use the Internet's search capabilities to find out the address of the company's executive offices. Send the blank invitation type card with a hand written note sincerely congratulating a person on their promotion. Insert your business card. For the cost of a 37-cent stamp, you have just made someone's day and may create an impression that makes a person feel compelled to respond back to you. Make it a habit to do this once a week. Remember '6 Degrees of Separation'. You just never know . . . People open invitation type envelops faster than any others.

10. Brand yourself with a slogan. Print a slogan on your business card that answers the question 'Why should I hire you' Or "What makes you different from everyone else'" A catchy phrase or slogan insures people ALWAYS associate a company name with their product or services. People remember even after the commercial is over. That's called branding. Companies pay big bucks to advertising agencies to come up with these lasting slogans. Consider doing the exact same thing on your business card. This is your insurance people remember you, after you meet. Don't just put Hortence Smiley, Accountant on your business card. Add something like "Financial Services With Integrity". A slogan makes all the difference between getting hired or not, because people will remember you long after a meeting.

Happy trails networking . . .

About the Author
In addition to being a sought after speaker and published author,
Carl E. Reid advises small businesses on Internet Business-2-Business opportunities. Carl's workshops combine proven professional "career management" techniques with "street smart" business savvy. He learned both perspectives as a career professional and entrepreneur.

Carl E. Reid founded Savvy Intrapreneur, a business career coaching organization and he publishes a globally syndicated newsletter Savvy Intrapreneur, which teaches professionals how to run their career as a profitable business.
Carl is also the ETP Event Leader for the Westchester New Rochelle Networking Group, located on the eastern U.S.
Email: CReid3005@gmail.com