“Accept responsibility for your life.  Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, not someone else.  Les Brown- Motivational speaker and author.

This quote could not have come at a better time today.  I just finished a one-on-one meeting with a dynamic woman who was introduced to me through Mikki Williams.  Nancy Vogl is a woman who is on a path.  Her interesting background of work and personal triumphs made this quote so appropriate to her.

We spoke this morning about obstacles that we have both faced in our lives.  I love Nancy’s spirit and positive outlook on life, even in the face of adversity and hard times.  She has truly accepted responsibility for her life and I would like to help her reach some of her goals.

Nancy has written a book called, Am I a Color Too?  This book is the winner of five National Awards for Best Children’s and Best Multicultural Book including the  coveted Christopher Award.  Nancy is new to Chicago and would like introductions to school districts.  She is also the co-author of Chicken Soup for the Single Parent’s Soul.

I hope some of you will reach out to Nancy with leads for school districts and women’s groups.  She can be reached at 231-499-0085 or nancy@nancyvogl.com.  Let’s welcome her back to Chicago.

I have been criticized by some people in my life as being too focused on business.  Usually when I go out with people, the conversation turns to business.  When I meet new people, I always ask them what they do and I try to help them achieve a goal or solve a problem.  Business is usually discussed.

Is that so bad?

I was at a wedding in the springtime for one of my good friends.  It was a small wedding and there were not many people that I knew.  The table I sat at did not have anyone I knew, but I was sitting with 3 other single women.  Of course we talked about kids, x-husbands and work.  The conversation was very engaging and pleasant.  Did I expect anything from it?  No - just nice conversation.

Three weeks ago I gave a presentation and the person that introduced me looked so familiar.  I just couldn’t place her.  Then after the presentation she remembered that we sat next to each other at the wedding.  Small world!

Her boss called me last week to talk about giving a presentation to her company.  No need for details.  The reason I am bringing this up is that if I had not spoken about my business, she may not have made the connection.  If I had not given a good first impression, she may not have remembered me in a good light.  If I had not agreed to give the talk, she many not have remembered me from several months ago.

We are always networking and making connections.  We are always being judged by others.  Are you making a good first impression?  Are you a giver?  What are people saying about you?

Good day everyone!  It has turned into a beautiful Saturday here in Chicago and my computer is feeling is GREAT!  There are no longer any bugs!!!!

Two weeks ago I gave a presentation to a wonderful group of people at the Jewish Vocational Services Center in Chicago.  Eleanor Wolfe is my contact at JVS and she will always hold a special place in my heart.  She was one of the first organizations to list her events on my website.  It did not take a huge sell, she just knew it was a good idea.  So for that Eleanor, thank you.

Before I presented everyone got to stand up and say their names and what they were looking for.  Instead of trying to match everyone up at the speech, I am placing some resources here for people that need employment.

Tony Ramos - Integra Security Alliance - tramos@integrasecurity.org

Ted Tasky - Rabjohns Financial Group - ttasky@rfg-chicago.nef.com

Jennifer Bertoglio - LawyerLink - jbertoglio@lawyerlinkchicago.com

I hope this helps everyone.

After posting my blog entry yesterday, I received an email from a woman that recommended a new membership site (and it is FREE) for WBO’s (women business owners).  There is only one national organization that I know of that caters to women business owners which is NAWBO .  This new site, My Women Owned Business is an opportunity for us to get to know each other online throughout the country and internationally. 

As I stated yesterday, when I went to the NAWBO-Chicago networking event 3 years ago, I never knew how much of an impact it would make on my life.  I am hoping this site will have the same impact.  Please let me know if you join so we can connect.

First let me thank everyone for their patience with me.  I have not posted lately due to the recurrent problems I had with my computer after the storm.  My son Avi, the fantastic lighting designer, came over last night and got me squared away.  Thank you.

I read this morning a blog entry about men and women networking and the different types of things that go on at events to make men feel comfortable.  It is interesting to hear other people’s prospective on the matter.

In my opinion, it is not the men and women issue that is different in networking situations, it is the communication and personality differences that are obvious.  I would be interested in hearing your opinions.

Relationship networking has been on my mind for the past 6 days, and I was unable to communicate with everyone due to the storms that hit Chicago last Thursday. The storms didn’t stop me from networking, they just stopped me from using my desktop. I am alive and still kicking in Wilmette, although I am like a bedouin living at my father’s home due to the damage. I apologize for not keeping up with my blog entry.

Last Thursday I was at Bed Bath and Beyond in Wilmette. The building started shaking and shopping carts were racing along the parking lot. I kept thinking that one of them was going to hit my car. All 30 people in the store were gathered into the break room for the duration of the tornado warning and what a great time to network.

I met a woman that wants to start speaking as a career. Who would have thought that a storm could mean a connection for someone with one of my referral sources. Well, I knew it could happen. I almost make it a challenge to meet someone each time I am stationary somewhere. So I was able to introduce her to Mikki Williams. I met my challenge.

After I left Bed Bath and Beyond I felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz - I didn’t think I was in Wilmette anymore. My neighborhood turned into a war zone. There were downed trees throughout my neighborhood in the middle of streets, and on houses. My neighbors all had huge trees split in half laying on their homes, on their lawns or in the streets. Flooding was everywhere, and there was no electricity.

Flooding came next. My basement became victim to 12 inches of water and I did not know a flood cleaning service. The people I did find were part of the FEMA relief team and they cleaned my basement yesterday - 6 men for 3 1/2 hours. THEY WERE FANTASTIC!!!!!! They do not have a website, but I want everyone to be aware of how good they were.

Disaster Services of A-Absolute LLC

513-675-9495

I have been recommending them to everyone, and you can bet they will stay in my database.

Moral to this story? Even in a storm you can see blue skies. I got to meet some new people, I have a great disaster services company to recommend, and I am getting a new basement. How bad can that be?

What a surprise I had this morning when I checked my email.  As many of you know, I wrote several weeks ago about a plane trip my children and I took with my father on a B-24 that was here in Chicago.  This morning I got an email from the son of the pilot, Michael Halbach.  I never thought by writing on my blog that a connection like this could be made - call me old, but I am amazed.

Michael gets to Chicago every few months so we are going to get together and trade stories about our fathers.  That will be a very nice meeting.

So, what does this have to do with networking?  It is all about being out there.  Being yourself.  Letting people see who you are and sharing your history with them.  In business relationships this takes time, but if you don’t share, who knows how many connections you are missing out on.

Share - it could mean the next great surprise in your life.

“So, what do you do?”  - snooze

“How long have you been in the business?” - yawn

“Tell me about your best client.” - interesting

“How do you do what you do?” - Now we’re getting somewhere

“How can I help you?” - Bingo

Networking is full of questions and answers.  The key is to get to the comfort zone where you get to ask the questions that reveal the real person in front of you.  We must look at each person individually and delve into their character and values.  We much determine if each individual lives by the concept of giving unconditionally.

I just finished the boopk, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  If you have not read this book, you must.  So many of us forget that some of our greatest treasures are looking at us daily.  By asking questions and listening to the answers, and clarifying any grey areas in our minds with pertienent inquiries, we are able to find each persons passion and hopefully understand their ideal client.  Wouldn’t it be nice to look at each person as a treasure in our lives?

  On a final not - my youngest son, Daveed, is leaving for Indiana University today.  I am an empty nester.  28 years of being a full time mom are about to end.  I share with you a story I wrote to help get me through these days.  I hope you enjoy.

  Mikki Williams, CSP is one of the great connectors not only in Chicago, but nationally and internationally.  Mikki is my professional speaking coach, my Vistage chair, and a dear friend.  Many of you have read about the chain of events that brough Mikki into my life, and now you get to hear her amazing networking stories.

When I first started speaking, I did what most people do.  I found a topic and spoke.  I was an amateur.  It was through the mentoring, and vast knowledge base that Mikki brings to her coaching clients that have brought me to where I am today.  The people that have seen me mature over the past several months under Mikki’s tutelage have been amazed at my maturity as a professional speaker.  I owe her a debt of gratitude.

I am presenting my new keynote in the Chicagoland area on September 24th.  If you have connections to meeting planners and organizations that hire professional speakers, please let me know so I can send you an invitation.

Mikki’s next speakers school will be in Chicago on October 4th and 5th.  Whether you attend the first day to help you with presentation skills, or attend the second day to learn about the business of professional speaking, both days will provide you with a sound understanding and foundation for speaking in front of groups.  I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t speak publicly unless you are a hermit.

I hope you enjoy hearing Mikki’s two videos.  The first one Mikki is discussing her networking successes.  The second one she is talking about her speakers school.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLfBbAgDD_8 - Networking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgtNGQuZico - Speakers School

  I have been tagged today by fellow relationship networker Jason Jacobsohn from The Chicagoland Chamber and his great blog Networking Insight.  I have to share 8 random things about myself that people may not know, so here I go:

1. I am an avid Packer Fan like Jason.  I did not grow up in Wisconsin, but my father started ShopKo in Green Bay during the 60’s so we went to all the home games.  Driving from Chicago to Green Bay - 5 children and 2 adults.  Need I say more?  To this day, we are all still cheering for the Green and Gold even though we are spread throughout the US.
2. I was an Ensign in the Sea Cadets at Great Lakes Naval Training Center.  My third son Golan wanted to be in the military at one time, so he joined Sea Cadets.  Of course I volunteered to help - took my tests and became an Ensign.  Golan never joined the military but he and I along with my youngest son Daveed had many wonderful weekends of training.
3. I coached football and was the conditioning coach for the Wilmette youth football program for 2 years.  Daveed was 8 and 9 and I coached his team.  This past year, while volunteering at a New Trier program, a young man came up to me and said - “Didn’t you coach football?”  He was one of the young men I had coached and I made a good impression on him.  That was nice to hear.
4. I started dancing when I was 3 years old.  I took tap, jazz and ballet until I was 18.  I still love to dance, but did not make it a career because as Drake University had said in 1970, “You are too large to be a professional dancer.”  Oh well, I still love to dance.
5. I believe in angels.  I have had two encounters that have saved my life.  One was when I was 20 and my family was visiting Jerusalem.  We were staying on the newly opened West Bank.  My brother Max and I started walking to the Garden of Getsemini and we both stopped walking.  We looked at each other and both stated we did not want to go in.  The next morning in the Jerusalem Post was an article about 2 American tourists that were killed by terrorists.  I know my angels were looking out for me.
6. I lost 135 pounds in 1990.  I have gained some of it back, but I will be back down to my healthy size 10 by June 2008.
7. I was physically abused when I was a child and verbally abused in 2 of my marriages.  These could have had a negative impact on my life, but I look at them as learning gateways to where I am today.  There was a positive spin put on each of those incidents.
8. I love Hershey Kisses melted in the oven and then cooled so they have a crispy outside.  I don’t touch them anymore due to my healthy lifestyle, but boy - I sure do miss those Kisses.

I am now going to tag 8 of my friends.  Since I am one of the older folks on Jasons list, not all my friends have blogs, so I am going to offer them to list their 8 items in the comments area of my blog.

Kris Schroeder

Dean Klassman

Chad Coe

Mikki Williams

Patrice Marks

Anna Maria Viti-Welch

Marcy Gelber

Holly Kahan

Happy networking everyone!