Networking Archives - Page 2 of 2

Top 5 Tips To Achieve More From Your Zoom Meetings

Since the beginning of lockdown many of us are using virtual meetings to keep our businesses running. We’re hosting meetings with clients, suppliers, colleagues, friends, and family. We’re attending conferences and networking online with other business owners and decision makers.

Zoom meetings have opened up a whole new way to connect and interact. We can chat with people in the next room, the next town, across the country and the other side of the world. For some people it’s the new normal. They enjoy the possibilities of networking without geographic boundaries, without hours of travel and without additional expenses such as fuel, restaurant food and hotel accommodation.

Zoom meetings have no geographical barriers

For other people, it can be a bit daunting. It can be scary to download and learn a new app. It can be unsettling to see colleagues in their homes and out of the office environment. Equally, it can be nerve-wracking to turn on your webcam for the first time. Are you embarrassed about the clutter on your bookcases, or your lockdown hair roots showing? Are you worried about having a sip of coffee, scratching an itch, or looking bored? You may feel like you’re on show but really it’s no different from when you were in face to face boardroom and networking meetings.

I’ve compiled these top 5 tips to help reduce any worries or fears you might have about online networking. I attend dozens of meetings each week and I’ve seen the good, the bad, the funny, the serious and everything in between!

Tip 1 – Check How You Look

It might seem obvious but use Zoom’s preview window to check how you look before you join a meeting. It only takes a second and you can check for spinach between your teeth or if you need to move into or out of the light. For best results, face a window rather than having the light behind you as this can cause your face to be in the shadow. Think of it like checking yourself in the mirror before leaving the house.

Tip 2 – Arrive Early

Many of the 4Networking meetings open 10 minutes early. This is so the host can check everything’s working and so they can greet people as they join the meeting. As an attendee, you can treat this as an extra networking opportunity. You’re getting an extra 10 minutes of free networking time. Lots of people use this time to say hello to people they already know, to give testimonials and recommendations, or simply just to observe and settle into the meeting.

Tip 3 – Use The Group Chat Feature

When arriving in a Zoom meeting remember to introduce yourself. This could be with a smile, a wave or saying hello. It will let the host and other attendees know you’ve arrived and, if appropriate, you can also advertise your business in the group chat with a short description and contact details. At the end of 4Networking Zoom meetings everyone is encouraged to save the chat. This means your contact details will be seen again by the attendees. You could consider putting a free download link or details of a special offer in the chat to encourage follow ups.

Tip 4 – Enjoy The Meeting

Being in a Zoom meeting is a great way to connect with people from all around the world. There are brand new 4Networking meetings connecting people from the UK with business owners in America and Australia, and many new groups emerging in the near future. Remember, while the meeting is taking place if you need to make a call, get a drink or take a toilet break, you can always switch your webcam off temporarily while you leave the room. If you’ve set a custom background this can continue to advertise your business until you return.

Tip 5 – Always Follow Up

Just as I advised to write your own details in the Group Chat feature, I strongly encourage you to read through the chat and connect with people after the meeting has finished. This works equally well after virtual meetings as it does after face to face meetings. It can be as simple as “great to meet you today” to “would you like to meet for coffee”.

Bonus Tip – Every big opportunity starts with a little conversation.

You never know who knows who or who will recommend you further down the line. Ask questions in your 121s. Be interested in the other attendees. Remember the golden rule, “Meet, Like, Know, Trust” and enjoy your Zoom meetings.

Rachael Chiverton, Focus Guru – Giving You Your Time, Your Way

www.getfocus.guru | 07756 772950

How networking with your dog can help you make new friends and business connections

If you told me I’d be attending networking meetings with Missy, my faithful furry canine friend, this year I don’t know if I’d have believed you. It was the introduction of the lockdown restrictions which forced the change from face to face business networking to the new virtual meetings taking place every day of the week. Now that networking takes place from my home-office, Missy can come to virtual meetings with me.

Missy lives in the moment, exploring everything as we should be doing in business — Missy comes to my networking events

As strange as it sounds, I have a bigger choice of meetings I can attend than ever before. Before the lockdown, travelling to multiple meetings in one day was both cost and time prohibitive. Now instead of spending hours in the car, I can spend more time with Missy and more time working on my business.

If anyone’s happy I’m spending more time at home, it’s Missy. She’s never far from my desk and always attentively looking for signs in my working day. She knows the second I’ve finished with a document and can stop for a tummy rub. She knows if I’m about to make a phone call, and of course, she knows when it’s time for walkies!

This brings me to a top networking tip. Always listen and listen attentively to the person you’re with. You never know where the conversation might lead. A great friend of mine, Stefan Thomas, has a saying that

“every big opportunity starts with a little conversation”

and this is so true. Dogs are great listeners. They pick up on verbal and non-verbal clues and with practice, we can too.

Another top tip I’ve learnt from Missy is that practice does make perfect. From learning to walk, to clean herself, to bark, to sit, lie down, roll over, offer her paw, Missy has plenty of patience and has learnt her skills to perfection. I only need to head for the coat cupboard and she’s by my side wagging her tail because she knows a walk is imminent.

Missy gives me a great excuse to leave my desk at least once a day for a good hour of exercise around our local park. Being outdoors in the fresh air is good for my health too. While we walk, we often meet other dog walkers and often meet the same dogs and their owners several times a week. We stop and chat and our dogs play together, chatting in their own way with lots of woofs, barks, and tail wagging.

This reminds me of my virtual business networking meetings, where I meet dozens of new people each week along with regular members of each group. Just like Missy, I stop and chat, listen and learn. I’m keen to find out more about each person and their businesses. I also keep an eye out for opportunities where we can perhaps work together and check my contacts to see if I can offer referrals or collaborations.

I’ve founded a new virtual networking group designed to bring dog lovers together from across the country. Whilst chatting about our businesses, our dogs also attend the meetings. With the relaxed, friendly format, some dogs sit on their owner’s lap, others curl up by their owner’s feet. The meetings attract dog owners, dog walkers, dog breeders, dog product manufacturers and even the owners of dog friendly hotels and accommodation.

It’s not essential to have your own dog to be able to come to a dog lovers meeting but lots of dogs do attend with their owners. Missy looks forward to the Friday afternoon meetings. She knows the dogs on screen are real and they are her friends even though she may never meet them in the park. Not everyone has a dog, but everyone is welcome.

If you’d like to come to a Dog Lovers Meeting, they are held every Friday at 2.30pm via Zoom. To receive the welcome message and Zoom link please book your place at https://www.4nonline.biz/book/search?keywords=dog or contact me on 07756 772950 if you’d like to know more.

How Much Have You Changed Your Business This Year?

At the beginning of 2020, the last thing on my mind was a worldwide lockdown. I hadn’t thought about the potential difficulties buying everyday items in the supermarket, or not being able to visit my Mum. Attending networking events and client meetings face to face was cancelled almost overnight. Looking back, could this have been predicted?

Take the dog for a walk - best habit — Spending extra time with Missy is a bonus

After the initial shock, annoyance, anger and panic, things are settling down into the “new normal”. We’re in a world where we can be even more connected than ever before. Instead of travelling to see friends, we can meet virtually, via Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype, Houseparty and many different apps. It’s not the same, but it is essential for us as humans to keep in touch with each other.

With travel restrictions, have you needed to work from home? Has this revealed hidden benefits, such as financial savings on fuel, time savings on not travelling, spending more time with family? Have you missed your daily commute? How much have you changed this year?

The lockdown has made me rethink my working day. One of the big changes has been to rethink my networking routine. Instead of attending face to face breakfasts, lunches and evening meetings, I can “teleport” all around the country and abroad. I can meet people virtually, exchange ideas, support and advice. I’m doing business with people I might never have crossed paths with.

Being at home more has given me extra time to spend with my family, including my dog. She thinks it’s great I’m around all day! On Fridays she comes networking with me at a specially themed “Dog Lovers Meeting” which I run as part of the 4Networking Online National (and International) Business Networking Groups. She’s not the only dog there either. Everyone at this themed meeting either has a dog, works with dogs, or just loves dogs! It’s great fun and business happens as people get to know each other in this relaxed, friendly setting.

I’m also involved in the 4N Sunday Sesh (the UK’s first Sunday 4Networking group) for those of us who don’t keep Monday to Friday office hours, and also the 4N NW Group aimed at people in the North West but open to everyone. Each meeting provides the opportunity to meet business owners and decision makers in many different trades and industries.

Perhaps the most exciting new development in my networking world is the launch of 4N Down Under connecting business owners in the UK with business owners in Australia. Imagine the travel time and cost attending a meeting in Australia in person. Yet we can be connected for less than the price of a Hungry Jacks!

These are some of the key changes I’ve implemented in the last few months. I’m spending much more time online in Zoom meetings than ever before. It’s working. I’m still able to speak with my clients and help them with their business strategies and streamlining. I can offer my accountability services virtually to business owners and there are now even more opportunities to promote my work with Arbonne, helping friends, family and clients with botanically based skincare, make-up and nutrition.

If you’d like to find out more about taking your dog networking, my Focus Guru services or just fancy a chat, please give me a call on 07756 772950 or visit www.getfocus.guru.

The 4 Best Ways You Can Market Your Business In 2020

As 2020 begins so does the marketing cycle. For many business owners it can be confusing to know where to start. What should you spend your budget on? How do you get the best value for money? Should you spend big on printed material, or social media, on networking or referrals? These are some top tips:

Print marketing is still one of the most cost-effective and versatile ways you can market your business. Think beyond postcards and flyers. Today’s print marketing includes your message printed on anything from tshirts, caps, mugs, pens to billboards and more. It includes adverts in magazines and newspapers. It includes advertising on the side of a car or a bus. If you can think of it then it can be printed. Print is one of the most personal and powerful marketing methods and it’s here to stay.

Another marketing method that’s greatly underutilised is social media marketing. A grey area for some business owners who worry their message won’t get taken seriously, or they think it gives staff an excuse to “waste time online”. But this is far from the case because whether we like it or not, we all use social media to find out about events, products and activities. We like and comment, share and tweet. With a little effort, posts can go viral, and end up across the world in seconds.

If you have the courage, face-to-face networking is an excellent way to promote your business. When you stand up in the room with the opportunity to say who you are, what you do, how you can help and who you’re looking to meet, the world opens up much wider than the 10, 20 or 100 people in the room. With a “face behind the product” other networkers can easily understand what your company does and recommend you to their colleagues and connections.

This leads into the fourth of the best ways you can market your business in 2020 which is through using genuine referrals from people who know you and your company. If you have succeeded with your print marketing, social media and networking, then the recommendations and referrals will come. Remember, giving a referral is just as important as receiving a referral. Everyone wants to feel valued. With a little planning you can introduce incentives to encourage people to talk about your company and refer business to you.

These are four valuable ways you can market your business in 2020. It’s important to keep your message positive and visible using a variety of different marketing methods. For more information on how to market your business, visit http://getfocus.guru/a-post-a-day.

Celebrating 40 Years of Arbonne and Achieving B Corporation Certification

For any company to reach a 40 year anniversary is a huge milestone, but this year it’s even more special for Arbonne because this is the year they have been awarded B Corporation Certification recognising the highest standards delivered by the company.

I am proud to be a brand ambassador for this amazing company. Every year I fall in love with it a little bit more. The ethos, products and community are second to none!

My involvement as an Arbonne Independent Consultant enables me to meet people from all walks of life, from all business types and cultural backgrounds. Arbonne brings people together. It’s not just about selling the beauty, health and wellbeing products, it’s about creating a supportive community with a holistic approach to life.

Arbonne health and skincare products are suitable for men and women of all ages. The plant-based products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free and backed by years of scientific and clinical research. I’ve been fortunate to follow my clients on their journey using Arbonne products and have seen first-hand the health and healing process.

B Corporation Certification is awarded to companies that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Arbonne balances people, planet and profit to deliver outstanding results.

For Arbonne to achieve B Corporation Certification, strict criteria have been met. Arbonne is one of the top five largest companies in the personal care industry to achieve this recognition. A pioneer in creating clean, plant-based products, Arbonne focuses on a holistic approach to healthy living that improves the mind, body and skin.

As an Arbonne Independent Consultant I am able to bring the power of positive mindset alongside sustainable solutions to help you look better on the outside and feel better on the inside. This combination is vital for business owners to maintain energy levels and achieve the best use of your time through making better decisions in health and nutrition.

The best part for me is working with you to free up your time and energy. I can help make small changes which will make a big difference. Wouldn’t it be great to be more productive during your working hours and still have plenty of time to spend with your friends and family and on the things you enjoy the most?

To find out more, please give me a call on 07756 772950.

How to take your existing business skills successfully into different ventures and different markets.

Having a “job for life” is something that’s rare in today’s world. Changes in the economy, general uncertainty and advances in technology are some of the reasons why “safe jobs” in many traditional industries are changing. New jobs are often advertised as zero hours contracts, shift work, or temporary assignments.

This shift in corporate thinking has filtered down to local businesses and I’m sure it has prompted a surge in both men and women taking on self-employment to create a secondary income. It’s not uncommon to meet someone employed in one job who also runs their own business as a side-line to bring in some extra cash.

This has lots of different rewards and many people carve out a lucrative income and flexible, family-friendly lifestyle, by working for themselves following tried and trusted methods. Instead of being seen as a supplementary income, with the right organisation and attitude, the sky is the limit. What may have started out as a side-line or hobby can become a primary source of income for many people.

I’m talking about my work as an Arbonne Independent Consultant through which I have discovered a way to complement my existing work and extend the range of products and services I can offer my clients. I am able to use my business skills in accounting, customer service, organisation and administration, to put together ideas and strategies to help individuals and business owners alike.

If you’ve heard of Arbonne, you’ll know the principles behind this world-leader in nutrition, skincare, bath, body and hair products. But, there’s more. Through using the products myself I was invited to join an Arbonne team. This was the launchpad for me to use my existing business skills to organise events and showcase the products to potential customers.

Then to prove Arbonne is an excellent opportunity for men and women to be involved, I introduced my friend Jon Smythe from Smooth Design to the range of products and discussed the potential for running events together.

Jon’s background in graphic design enables him to create powerful, eye-catching images for his clients. He also has many years of experience in network marketing, successfully promoting a range of healthcare products to an audience in the UK and abroad. With consumer interest shifting, Jon agreed to try the Arbonne products for himself.

Then following our conversations, Jon was impressed with the products and the company ethos enough to become an Arbonne Independent Consultant himself, switching from the healthcare products he had previously promoted and transferring his skills to the new market.

I asked Jon for a quote to share in this blog about how I’ve helped him transfer from promoting his previous products across to Arbonne and join the team with me. This is what he said:

“I first met Rachael when she was known as “The Contracts Lady”, helping business owners with their legal documents and terms and conditions. Rachael is extraordinary as an accountability partner. It’s what she’s best at. She’s efficient and organised and will help you achieve anything you need to do, when you need to do it. Whatever I say to Rachael I need done she will make sure I get it done.” – Jon Smythe, Smooth Designs.

Through our individual work and regular collaborations creating pop-up shops and other events, Jon and I are pleased to see the impact of Arbonne products, such as the fizz sticks and skin creams, being used on a daily basis by new and existing customers.

I find talking about the benefits between a healthy body and a healthy mind are so intrinsically linked that you cannot have one without the other. I am organising several events this year and looking for people to join me, either to try the products or to hear more about the lifestyle benefits.

If you would like to know more about the sustainably sourced, gluten-free, 100% vegan certified products in the Arbonne range, including the popular fizz sticks that beat the afternoon energy slump, please contact me either by emailing rachael@rachaelchiverton.co.uk or by telephoning 07756 772950. Together we can make a big difference using your existing skills in different markets.

Merry Christmas And End Of The Year Reflections

Over the last twelve months I’ve covered many different topics through the Focus Guru and RachaelChiverton blogs. Some of the blogs have been written to address common questions I’m asked about business and contracts and others have been about mindset, creating habits and making the best use of time.

Here is a re-cap of everything I’ve covered, from my Communications and Cashflow Workshop with James Perryman, to the business skills we can learn from our pets.

I’ve had some lovely feedback from clients in different sectors who are gaining huge benefits from the improved time management and streamlined processes I have helped to implement.

If I can help you or your staff with any business related issue, please contact me either by emailing rachael@rachaelchiverton.co.uk or by telephoning 07756 772950. I offer a free 15 minute consultation and will work with you to make small changes that make a big difference.

January

February

March

April

May

June

August

September

October

November

December

Relax and Buy Your Christmas Gifts at the Wet Led Pop Up Shop
How to look after yourself and your business in the Christmas party season
How To Schedule Your Social Media So You Can Spend More Time Doing What You Want
Merry Christmas And End Of The Year Reflections

Thank you for sharing this year with me. As 2019 draws to a close, I hope to continue working with you, developing new strategies, boosting your social media presence, creating new habits and being accountable with sticking to them, writing your contracts and enhancing your processes and productivity. Let’s make 2020 your best year yet!

The Top 5 Business Skills Your Dog Can Teach You

Having a dog can make a big difference in your life, especially if you work from home. It’s their constant presence that means you’re never alone. It’s the way he or she waits for you to return from the shops, a meeting, or even the bathroom. To your dog you are the most important person in the world, and they have much to offer in return for your affection.

Missy is my dog and together we share adventures throughout the day. I’ve noticed subtle ways she encourages me in my working day, and these are the business skills I’m sharing with you.

Simple is Best

Keeping things simple is the foundation of a stress-free life. We lead complicated lives and yet if we go back to the basics and get these right then we can achieve so much more. Three of Missy’s favourite things are walks, food and sleep.

If I incorporate these three things properly into my daily routine, I find I have more energy and motivation to achieve everything I have set out to do. Missy and I walk for at least an hour every day, rain or shine. The outdoor air is refreshing and energising. It clears my mind and allows me to concentrate much better when I return to my desk. Sometimes I’ll make phone calls on our walk and this means I can use my time twice.

Listen then Act

Missy is always listening. Even when she’s asleep, the slightest noise will attract her attention. She makes quick decisions whether the noise is something important or something to ignore. An example is the rattle of her lead. She knows she’s going for a walk. The doorbell rings. She barks to let me know someone’s at the door.

In business, listening is as important as speaking. Being known as a non-judgemental listener enables your staff, suppliers and customers to share with you any success or problems knowing you’ll give them your full attention, even if things have gone wrong.

Training is Important

Learning new things is a great way to expand your knowledge and upgrade your skillset. In Missy’s world, she’s always learning. We started with simple skills using simple commands, such as “sit”, “heel”, “catch” and “fetch”, increasing her knowledge through listening and repetition.

These skills mean we can do more together and I know how she will respond. It’s the same for humans. Going on a course, attending a workshop or gaining an accreditation are great ways to learn new skills for personal and professional development.

The Power of Play

If something is fun, we are more likely to enjoy it. If we enjoy it, we are more likely to remember it. This is the reason why the power of play is an essential component in bonding with our colleagues, suppliers, customers and family. It could be sharing a joke. It could be a teambuilding exercise. It could be having a pint after work or meeting up at the weekend.

Play promotes creativity and productivity. Missy doesn’t worry about getting muddy or not looking her best after a run around the park and it doesn’t hurt for us humans to schedule in some playtime either.

Living in the Moment

Dogs are exceptionally good at living in the moment, meaning they can enjoy wholeheartedly what they are doing, while they are doing it. They aren’t thinking about the next activity, or what happened five minutes ago. If Missy is playing “catch” and drops the ball, it’s not the end of the world. She knows I’ll throw the ball again and she has the chance to catch it next time.

Missy takes her time to stop and survey her surroundings, taking everything in one sniff at a time. She’s always keen to try something new, to meet someone new, to eat something new, and loves exploring. Her endless enthusiasm encourages me to be more aware of the present and to appreciate everything that happens, as it happens.

These are the business skills we all could do with using every day of the working week and at the weekend as well. From keeping things simple, to listening, training, playing and living in the moment, these are the skills we can learn from our canine friends.

For more business tips visit getfocus.guru, or call me on 07756 772950 to discover how my training sessions will help you find more time for dog walks and the things you enjoy doing the most.

“Perfection has to do with the end product, but excellence has to do with the process.”

“Perfection has to do with the end product, but excellence has to do with the process.”

(Jerry Moran, American politician, 1954 – )

“Perfection has to do with the end product, but excellence has to do with the process.”

Is your process delivering excellence?

Does your end product deliver perfection?

I specialise in processes and procedures. I learn about your business then research the most appropriate systems and help you implement them so you achieve excellence in what you deliver.

Book your call with me today.