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Ushering in a NEW era: The Transformation Age

on December 14, 2011 in Success Institute, Women in Business

Are you an entrepreneur who is facing challenges in your business? You’ve probably noticed that in today’s economy, what use to work isn’t working anymore. That’s not just because of the recession.

People have changed the way they make buying decisions.

 

I recently sent a survey to my clients. I asked them to share their biggest struggle in business right now. You may be able to relate:

• “I’m not making enough money”
• “I need more customers”
• “I feel completely overwhelmed and I’ve lost focus”
• “There’s not enough time”

If you can relate to any or all of these I have some good news. I will be sharing some ways that you can overcome these problems.

The Industrial Age started in the early 1900′s with the invention of machines that created manual labor jobs for the car industry and many other industries. This mass production seemed to make life easier.

The Information Age

In 1984, The Information Age began and the power of computers was placed in most homes in America by 1995. We had instant access to millions of products and information. Remember when it was cool to surf the net and hear “you’ve got mail”.

Today, your inbox is sucking the life out of you. We’ve reached a time when there is too much clutter and too many choices. The average person see’s 5,000 ads per day. You simply can’t make a living advertising to the masses anymore. The problem is people have gotten really good at ignoring ads, but their desperate to find good stuff to solve their problems.

Ushering in a NEW era: The Transformation Age

Your job as a business owner or sales person is to be the trusted advisor, and deliver the transformation (the results) they’re looking for.

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

Dog owners who hire dog trainers don’t want to read reports on the different breeds of dogs (that’s information). They want their dog to stop attacking other dogs and stop destroying their furniture. It’s not the information they want … it’s the result. If you can create a system and show proof that it really works your more likely to have an endless stream of new customers and referrals.

The game-changer is that you must not only show results but you must provide an innovative solution to their problem. If not, you risk being just like everyone else. Adding no cost, high value innovations to your product or service is a must for any entrepreneur to thrive in The New Transformation Age.

As seen on ABC’s Shark Tank, April Morris is the pioneer of innovation! Join April on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday, 12.20.11 at 1:30 pm CST as she shows you the “The Product Innovation Method” – a step-by-step strategy for turning your product or service into The Next Big Thing.

 

Join the conversation! How have you added innovations to your product or service?

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Women Do It Three Times More Than Men…..Ask Questions!

on September 23, 2011 in Women in Business

Every action, every moment of every day is taken only after DOZENS of questions have been answered to our satisfaction.

Most of us don’t even realize the number and scope of questions we run through in our minds… just to make the smallest of decisions. Let me give you an example that I think we as women, can all relate to.

Have You Ever Asked Yourself THESE Questions?

As you read this, raise your hand mentally if you have ever asked yourself:

  • If you should attend a certain event; it could be a networking event, a business luncheon or even a quick happy hour.
  • Did you also wonder how much it would cost to attend? What was on the agenda?
  • What should I wear?
  • Is parking included?
  • Will they feed me? What will they feed me?
  • Will I run into that dork from work? My boss?
  • Will it be worth a day off from work?
  • Will I be out in time to pick up the kids? The dry cleaning? Dinner?

Wait, WHAT was the original question? Can you even remember it? It was should you attend an event. And that was only the first round of questions, wasn’t it?

It is important, that you understand the importance of questions, embrace it and use it. It is your ability to ask the RIGHT questions at the RIGHT time to the RIGHT people that will help you FIND the right customers.

There are various types of questions and reasons why we use them. And, guess what? Men and women differ in the types of questions they use.

Asking questions means different things to men and women. Men ask questions for one purpose only: To gather information. For women, asking questions serves two purposes: One is to gather information and the other is to show interest in what the other person has said to cultivate the relationship.

Women ask a lot of questions, more than men and they simply CANNOT move forward until all of them are answered. Sometimes they ask questions that men don’t think to ask. Women have a relationship with everything they buy. Men exchange information and women have a relationship with the information they exchange.

Understanding the types of questions will help you understand what tools are in your toolbox. Understanding how men and women communicate will help you understand which of those tools to use.

As a quick reference, think of it this way: Men are generally transactional in nature and look for facts and figures and want to close the deal quickly. Their type of question would be more closed-ended-simply gathering information.

Women are generally relational meaning they want to build a relationship first and THEN work on closing the deal. Their type of question would be more open-ended this requires the client to provide their own answer and be an active participant in the conversation. If done correctly, the close will be a natural part of the process.

You need to be prepared to not only ask questions during the sales process, but to also be aware of the types of
questions you’re asking and the GENDER of the customer to whom you are asking them. The more information you gather, the more you get to know what the underlying factors are.

Sharing this information will help build the long-term relationship that we all strive to have with our clients.

(Which is why we ask questions three times MORE than men!)

For more Sales Tips and Information visit www.sellinginaskirt.com

Email Judy: judy@sellinginaskirt.com

 

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Cricket Lee and FitLogic®

on September 1, 2011 in Motivation & Inspiration, Women in Business

Guest Post by Brandy Mychals, BrandyMychals.com, eWomenNetwork 2011 Business Matchmaker of the Year

Cricket Lee, founder of Fitlogic®, a patented fit system that will revolutionize the way clothing is sized in the fashion industry, attributes much of her success to her daughter.

When Cricket began her development of Fitlogic in 2002, she and her business partner were both single mothers.  Cricket recalls those early days as trying. The first time her company fell apart, in 2003, her partner called it quits.

She suggested that Cricket give up on her vision as well, claiming the concept was “too big” for her and that if Cricket wanted to take care of her daughter, she would have to find something more stable.

“At that moment I had a choice– to either give up and quit or to teach my daughter to go for her dreams and never give up no matter how difficult. I can’t say it’s been easy for us… but when I asked her what she wanted me to do as things got more difficult, she always said: ‘Go for it, Mommy!”

And go for it, Cricket did, researching what would become Fitlogic: an “operating system” for apparel, making it easy for consumers to find their size without the hassle of the fitting room, alterations or returns. Fitlogic will standardize fit from one brand to another regardless of style, price or channel giving women the opportunity to buy the items they like without worrying about whether or not it will “fit” their body.

Not only was Cricket’s daughter her greatest cheerleader, but she was also fundamental to the development of Cricket’s Fitlogic system. Part of the Fitlogic magic is Cricket’s insight that women’s bodies are not all shaped as “hourglasses” as antiquated fashion industry standards have based fit on for decades. Instead, we come in different shapes and apparel should reflect that in order to “fit” correctly. “When I first started, I was using ‘straight’, ‘curvy’, and ‘round’ with square, triangle and circle symbols [to describe different body types.] [My daughter] said: ‘Mommy, no one wants to be called straight!”

Cricket’s daughter– who was then nine years old– offered her this advice: “Why don’t you call it curvy 1, 2 and 3?” The numbering system stuck and is the method Cricket uses to this day to describe the trademarked “shape fit” part of the Fitlogic System.

Cricket’s daughter is now the model for her website, Fitlogic.com. “That was her dream– to be a model. Since she helped make my dream come true, I thought: why not help her create hers?” Cricket’s daughter, now 18 years old, has grown up with Cricket’s business and learned valuable lessons along the way. “She has learned not to place her reliance on material things or people, but to know she is the sole creator of her world and experiences.”

Cricket’s dream to “make women feel good about themselves when they shop in the knowledge that they are perfect just the way they are” is fast becoming a reality. Her first product introduction began this summer at the eWomenNetwork International Conference on July 16th. Kym Yancey, President of eWomenNetwork said: “We are really excited about sharing Cricket’s message and the Fitlogic® System with the more than 500,000 women business owners connected to our International network.” Although Cricket intends to standardize all types of apparel, only pants are available at this time.

Cricket has been featured on the Today Show, the cover of the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Fox and Redbook. Often described as a “serial entrepreneur and marketing visionary”, Cricket has created campaigns for British Airways, JCPenny, Ralph Lauren, Ford Models,  Hanes, Saks Fifth Avenue and many others. She holds world patents and 72 awards for Creative Excellence in Advertising including a National Addy Award.

Join Cricket Lee on Success Institute, 9.14.11, at 1:30pm CST as she and Kym Yancey discuss:  Moving a Mountain:  How to Raise Big Money, Attract Top Publicity, & Launch Your Big Dream

 

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Five Tips For (Fiscal Year End) FYE Success

on September 1, 2011 in Education, Government Contracting, Women in Business

Guest Post by Judy Bradt, Summit Insight, LLC

This may be the most important Federal FYE ever.

The late budget has skewed buying to…NOW.
These five tips can help you stay ahead of the game!

#1: Revisit Your Forecasting

  • Take one more look at your target agencies’ forecasts and bid boards. Anything new?
  • Look hard at your own forecast, and pick out the projects that best match your capabilities.
  • Identify relevant small business specialists — and call on them for updates on your hot projects.

#2: Ask for Referrals from Your Best Customers

  • Ask your best customers for introductions! It’s the least expensive — and most powerful — source of leads you have.
  • Ask for leads within their agency
  • Ask who they know in another agency who might value your expertise or products.

#3: Stay Top-of-Mind

  • When did you last check in with your best clients, partners, current and past contacts?
  • Call long-time, one-time and former government clients to remind them of your value. Offer something useful — an article, a link…
  • Ask if they’d like fresh info, or need to reorder from you.
  • Call on marginal accounts. Often the company to get the order is the last one the agency spoke with!
  • If the box of cookies or treats is worth less than $25, ask the contracting officer or the OSDBU if you can bring in some refreshments for the team
  • (True story: At fiscal year end, when I worked at the Canadian Embassy, I’d bring a batch of cookies into the Admin section.You have no IDEA how much faster my paperwork got processed.)

#4: Use Multiple Touches, Tactics, Channels

  • Use multiple tactics (PR, events, email, direct mail, web, telemarketing).
  • What channels are others not using? Have you looked into…
  • Federal News Radio? See what co-anchors Amy Morris & Tom Temin are covering, and ask them if they’d like to interview your federal client’s recent success (and your contribution…) Catch Amy on Twitter — @amorris_wfed
  • Twitter — check out http://www.blog.govtwit.com/ and discover how you can reach hundreds of influential government buyers that your competitors are overlooking!
  • Visit GSA Sales Query, even if you don’t have a schedule. How are the leaders in your GSA Schedule category, reaching THEIR clients, through ads and online?
  • Promote year-end offers to government customers through telemarketing or emails.

#5: Update & Share Your Capability Statement

  • Add in your latest contract wins & vehicles, update your contact info, product info, certifications, keywords, NAICS codes.
  • Most contracting officers and small business specialists appreciate getting your latest capability statement. Ask your best contacts if they prefer email or hardcopy or a link.
  • Ask if they’ve got a few minutes to critique your latest draft capability statement — What’s missing? What else would they like to see? Helpful to you, AND keeps you top of mind.

 

Don’t miss Judy Bradt on Success Institute September 13, 2011, 1:30pm CST to learn why A Woman’s Place is…On the Contract!

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Smart Women Buy

on August 25, 2011 in Education, Women in Business

Guest Post by Jeanie Douthitt

Did you know that women’s buying power tops $2.4 trillion annually and that they control or influence 85 percent of all household purchases?  For years, women have been recognized as the chief purchasing officers for their households and they still are the primary decision makers for household goods.  But women also drive the big-ticket expenditures for themselves, their families and their businesses.  For example, women drive the purchases of:

  • 91% of new homes
  • 80% of health care
  • 93% food
  • 65% new cars
  • 93% over-the-counter medications

Have you ever had a light bulb moment that you thought could change your life? It actually feels like lightening striking you.  That happened to me after I had been in real estate for a short time and again recently when I was trying to figure out how to take my business to the next level.   The first time it happened after a very good girlfriend called me and reminded me of the “less than positive” real estate experience she had gone through when buying a home as a single woman.  My friend actually had a homeowner say to her “Honey, do you think you can afford this house?” while seeing his home.  Unfortunately, that was just one of many hurdles during her journey to finding her dream home. She had recently suffered great loses with the deaths of both parents and her divorce.  Added to her worry, she had been diagnosed with cancer and that was the driving reason for her decision to purchase a home.  My friend implored me that I “MUST” help single women buy or sell homes.  That was the beginning of my journey to create Smart Women Buy Homes, a program for single women.

In my research, I found single women buy approximately one million homes a year.  Between 2002 and 2003, women spent $550 billion buying homes.  That dollar amount is expected to continue to rise according to a study done by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing.  This information combined with the current housing market and record low  interest rates means more home buyers can purchase homes and attain more affordable mortgages.  Jenay Bowen, a Senior Loan Officer with Service First Mortgage  says, “We often talk about the PRICE of buying a home versus the COSTS of buying a home.  Of course, price is a key component of the cost.  The other key component is the interest rate of the mortgage.  Just a small increase in interest rates can have a BIG impact on your monthly payment. For example, a $100,000 loan at a current interest rate of 4.75% for 30 years would equal a principle and interest payment of $521.65 a month.  This exact same home with a $100,000 loan at 8% for 30 years would equal a principle and interest payment of $733.36 a month.  This is a difference of over $200 a month just because of the higher interest rate.  If you are looking to buy a home and are waiting to see what will happen with prices, remember interest rates will also impact your housing cost”.

So why are so many women buying homes now?  Women are earning more money than ever before in our nation’s history.  They are waiting longer to get married. Becoming more educated and financially stable has given single women the confidence to procure a home.   Single women are now building their own financial nest egg, which includes home ownership.  No longer do women feel like they need to settle down with a husband before they buy a home.  Purchasing a home gives them a sense of security economically, and a place to live when they retire.  Since women understand a good home investment brings equity, many of them are investing in a second home.  Single females accounted for 13% of all second /vacation homebuyers in 2001/2003 according to the Realtors Profile.

With the number of women purchasing homes increasing, there is a real demand for experienced professionals to help navigate single women through the home buying process. InCharge Debt Solutions article “Single Women Are Buying Homes in Large Numbers”, points out that the biggest obstacles to single women are the lack of information about the home purchasing process, and understanding the dynamics of credit issues. This leaves many women feeling intimidated by the whole home buying process. Because the real estate market offers many challenges for a novice homebuyer, it is essential to find a real estate professional that understands the wants and needs of single women homebuyers. Single women can realize their dreams of home ownership through Smart Women Buy Homes, a program specifically designed to help women through the home buying process.

I wanted to take my business to the next level.  Unsure of which direction to go, I attended the Chairman’s Circle with eWomenNetwork and lighting struck again!   I began to understand that women are making buying decisions every day.  Though these choices are not all as large a financial decision as purchasing a home, women still are looking for very definite things when making their purchasing decisions and I have the ability to facilitate this process through my business.

While working with women, I learned a lot about them and what they really want.  Women want information. They want to know the basics of the product/service and then some.  Every aspect of a product/service is important to women. The size, color, material, weight, look and feel, warranties, etc.  They want to know it all so they can make an informed decision.   Women want to be respected as savvy consumers; supported and educated during the sales process rather than have an advisor take the role of the know-it-all expert using acronyms and terminology they do not understand.  Using pictures or showing women in a more visual way goes a long way towards helping them understand and feel more comfortable with buying decision.  Going at a woman’s pace during negotiations, without rushing her to close the deal today, will serve all parties. Women generally take longer to make a buying decision, however, once satisfied with their purchase and experience with your business, women statistically are more loyal then their male counterparts, and more apt to go online and write a positive or negative review.  Women want to work with someone they trust and respect.

With the knowledge I gained while working with these women, I saw a real need to replicate what Smart Women Buy Homes offered them.   I launched Smart Women Buy, a service for women focusing on the consumer experience as well as the provider experience.  We help women by providing them insights, clarity, direction, and resources for the products and services that they plan to purchase.  In addition, we train and certify those who provide services to our Smart Women buyers.  As a consumer, you can count on Smart Women Buy to give you information that is direct, no-nonsense and uninfluenced by advertising. And because there are no sales here,  just good information to educate you in your purchasing process, you can make the right buying decision for you. We only align with providers who care about women consumers and treat them the same way “they” want to be treated because we understand that that is how Smart Women Buy.

 

Jeanie Douthitt is a Platinum Member of the Chairman’s Circle

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Six Things I Learned at the eWomenNetwork 2011 Conference

on August 8, 2011 in Annual International Conference & Business Expo, Events, Motivation & Inspiration, Relationship Networking, Success Stories, Women in Business

Guest Post by Vikki Loving, The InterSource Companies

This was my FIRST eWomenNetwork Conference!  I know, I know what you are saying – “Girl, you have really been missing something special!”  You would be so right!

Here is some of what I learned:

Women Power – It has been a long time since I immersed myself in women-only activities.  I have many girlfriends, however most of my work has been with men.  I forgot what it was like for someone to say,  “We need a girlfriend over here!” and up rushes more than one person to help, to hug and to offer a hand.

The Importance of Purpose – “There are two days that are important in your life, the day you are born, and the day you figure out Why”.  Sandra Yancey, thank you for that line in your keynote speech!   I know WHY I was born.  In my role as an Executive Recruiter and as an Executive Coach I will certainly use that line!  The power in knowing what you are good at, what you have to sell to others and what you are built to do makes all the difference in how motivated you will be in your life.  When you can answer that question the rest becomes an adventure!

Carry a Credit Card – After an evening of Chocolate Decadence you might find, as you are walking back to your room, the opportunity to speak to someone you wanted to connect with at the Conference.  For me it was Marcia Wieder!  There is something about her that just glows.  And as the universe would have it, she just happened to be in the lobby sitting there and available.  She still had space in one of her wonderful workshops, an enrollment form in her tiny little purse and I happened to have my credit card securely tucked in my Spanx!  I am grateful for the moment to connect with Marcia Wieder and for remembering to carry a credit card.

Structure will Set you Free – Thank you Lisa Sasevich!  I know for myself that I love spontaneity and the ability to change priorities as I see fit.  Lisa’s main stage presentation showed me the value of structure and the flexibility to be spontaneous all in the same moment.  She helped me remember that “you cannot ask others to invest in you at a greater level than you are willing to invest in yourself.”  While our many family members back home think we are off at the Conference playing, it really was a BIG week of investing, absorbing all that you can learn and remembering that a commitment of time and resources can set you free.

New Friends – You meet the most amazing people, like Dr. Michelle Robin the author of “Wellness on a Shoestring” and the founder of Your Wellness Connection, a healing center in Kansas City.  I met Nikkea Devida, founder of Accelerated Results Expert, a songwriter and a female veteran. Nikkea‘s heart has been moved to write a tribute song to female veterans. She would like to sell the song and have all the proceeds go to the eWomenNetwork Foundation to help the women’s veterans initiative.  These are just two of the women I met who instantly made a difference in my life and in the moment of knowing them.

Sell Your Thing – It is not enough to be knowledgeable about what we do for a living. It is important as well to teach others to do what we do and better yet, make money doing it!  All the speakers provided us with great content, great ideas, great advice and they were all willing to teach us what they do and how they do it.  It made me reflect on the eWomenNetwork saying, “lift as you climb”.

I am back home and busy creating product offerings that I can share with my client companies and with my executive coaching clients.  My new post-Conference focus is to teach my clients the process I utilize to find the absolutely RIGHT Person to Hire and the absolutely RIGHT Job Fit.  Even though I have recruited for companies ranging from Coca-Cola and Dell Computer to smaller companies with fewer than 50 people, I never once thought about selling them the process I use rather than the service I provide.  I LOVE the thought of teaching others how to do what I do!

Thank you Sandra and Kym Yancey for your vision, for your commitment to excellence in all things and for your willingness to bring us those who will put a hand out and help others along the way.

 

Vikki Loving is a Platinum Member of the Chairman’s Circle

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How to Drop Fear

on August 2, 2011 in Coaching Corner, Education, Women in Business

Guest Post by Pragito Dove, Discover Meditation Training, Inc.

Fear is the absence of love. And the problem with something that is absent is that you cannot do anything with it directly. Fear is like darkness, which is the absence of light. There is nothing you can do with darkness directly, because it is an absence of something — which leaves you nothing to work with. But you can bring in more light.

Switch on the light. If you want darkness, switch off the light again. You work directly with the light, not with the darkness. The same is true with fear and love. Don’t bother with the fear—focus on love. You can do something with love immediately. Start loving.

Love is born within us, it is an intrinsic quality. We can just start giving love, sharing it, allowing it to flow out of us. As we do that, it grows. Don’t hold back; don’t be miserly with your love. If we don’t use our natural qualities they become blocked, grow stagnant, and wither away. That’s what happens to embittered people—they become frozen by their refusal to share their love.

When we give love, in the very giving we become richer because our love starts radiating outward. And then our fear starts to naturally disappear. It simply cannot exist in the face of so much love.

So it is not a question of dropping fear; it is a question of sharing your love, and then the fear vanishes of its own accord.

MEDITATION: Start Loving!

BENEFITS
The more you do this technique, over time you feel the joy in your heart expanding and your fear dissolving.

Become more and more loving, and you become more and more joyful. Don’t worry about whether or not your love is returned; that is not the point. Joy follows love automatically, and fear is dissolved automatically. The beauty of love is that its result, its value, are intrinsic. Love does not depend on the response of another, because it is totally yours.

Choose a person or pet to be loving toward. It makes no difference to whom you are loving—a dog, a tree, a stranger in the grocery store. Smile at people in the street, be more loving toward yourself.

Join Pragito Dove on Success Institute,  August 9, 2011 at 1:30pm CST, to Revitalize your Entrepreneurial Enterprise with the Power of Laughter Meditation.  Learn how to revitalize your entrepreneurial enterprise while discovering inner calm!


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QR Codes are Worth a Scan

on July 31, 2011 in Education, Marketing, Technology, Women in Business

Post by Kathy F. Catoe

QR codes are popping up everywhere. These strange two dimensional codes are appearing in magazines, on coupons, in television commercials and on websites. You may have even seen them at the doorway to your favorite restaurant or on business cards at the 11th Annual eWomenNetwork Conference & Business Expo. Their adoption is steadily increasing as a marketing tool. This presentation will give you some insights into this exciting new technology.

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What is a Tweetup?

on July 10, 2011 in Annual International Conference & Business Expo, Events, Social Media, Women & The Media, Women in Business

Guest Post by Lisa Larter, Lisa Larter Consulting

 

At a Tweetup:
  • Bring lots of business cards
  • Know what your Twitter handle is (some people will only remember you as that)
  • Tweet from the event so people know you are there
  • RSVP using the Twtvite link
  • Be Social, smile lots, and have fun
  • Don’t forget to include the #Hashtag!
  • If you don’t have a  twitter account, come to the BeSocial booth and we will help you set one up

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Philanthropy…The Missing Link in Your Business?

on July 7, 2011 in Chairman's Circle, Education, eWomenNetwork Foundation, Motivation & Inspiration, Women in Business

Gail Sullivan, Founder & CEO of  BECAUSE WOMAN, LLC

Philanthropy… The Missing Link in Your Business?

I recently attended a businesswomen’s luncheon on “Giving Matters” and heard one of our community’s most distinguished philanthropists state, “The joy of living is in the joy of giving”.

Surely you have heard the old adage that is sometimes described as the Principle of Giving:

“Give and it will come back to you – good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”

Many of the happiest and wealthiest individuals that I have met over the last several decades have commented that the “key” to their success has been in their generous giving.

Personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way, and that’s why philanthropy is one of my company’s key components.   Consider the following ways to add value to your company through giving, and watch for the positive returns

5 Ways to Add Philanthropy to Your Business Plan

1. Put together a Philanthropic Budget.

Consider setting aside a portion of your monthly business income to be specifically used for philanthropy.  There is a vast range of non-profit organizations in every community that could use your help.  Every gift, great and small will be considered a blessing.

It’s so easy to say, “ I don’t have any money.” But then, when I think of how easy it is to waste dollars at a time on things that don’t really matter (like those daily fancy coffee drinks that are filled with calories that I’m trying to avoid or the newest office supplies that are bought in excess and never used). Contrary to all that, my philanthropic giving can help organizations achieve something that really does matter.  You know what?  I’m embarrassed that I haven’t given more and more often.  Now is the time to change that!

Not enough cash flow?  Consider budgeting your philanthropic services.  501c3 organizations always appreciate service gifts.  For example, the local catering company caters 2 big non-profit fundraising events a year; a florist supports her favorite charity by providing the centerpieces for their annual fundraising event; and an entrepreneur of a local hair salon provides free haircuts, on the Saturday before school starts, to kids in a lower income neighborhood. What an awesome way to contribute!

2. Volunteer.

Philanthropy can also be in the form of service. Consider volunteering to help out at an annual event for a cause that you are passionate about.  This is something that you can do personally as well as getting your employees involved.  You will be amazed at how many people will join with you in your efforts to give back to the community.

For the last several years I have joined our local Boys and Girls Club to help hand out gifts to the children at their annual Christmas party.  The first year my two daughters joined me.  The following year several co-workers decided to come with me and continue to give to this day. Eventually the company I worked for became a sponsor of one of their annual events. It appears that philanthropy can be contagious.

3. Master the layups.

There are many community organizations that provide some of the most basic essentials for people in need.  All of us can make a huge difference just by consistently giving our gently worn clothing to the Goodwill, or extra food to the local food bank.  Consider having a seasonal giving drive for these events right in your office.  Allow clients to participate and accept donations as well. These are easy layup shots that any business can incorporate.

4. Take it to the next level.

Do you sometimes feel that your gift is so small and wonder what good could it possibly do?  A giving “team” boosts donation dollars to the next level. That’s right, get others involved… family, friends, co-workers, clients and even prospects. Does your company hold any type of annual event?  Consider adding a raffle in which all the proceeds go to a chosen non-profit group or cause.  Allow all attendees the opportunity to participate.

I recently held a company event and had determined to give a percentage of the income to a local cause.  I was disappointed when I realized how small that donation would be. I decided to brainstorm about how I could give more. I took a third of the money I was going to give and bought an amazing raffle prize for the event and announced where the proceeds were going.  The donation ended up being almost 3X what I was originally going to donate. Bravo!

5. Never underestimate the value of a small gift, and don’t hold back on giving a larger gift when you know the time is right.

“Despise not the day of small things!” Everyone starts somewhere. Become a consistent giver in the small opportunities that exist, and over time, you may develop into an experienced, generous philanthropist.

As you begin making philanthropy a key component in your company, begin to notice what happens.  Time and time again, I end up with so much more in return.  The effects are amazing!  The people I work with seem happier.  Somehow, this “giving” component allows for something great to occur in the workplace.  Goodwill manifests itself and my clients and prospects like that.  My business begins to change, for the better.  I feel like I begin to change for the better. And all this just makes me want to give more.

Recent research also shows that there is a correlation between philanthropic giving and sales.  (Network for Business Sustainability, Use corporate philanthropy to grow your top and bottom line, Source:  Strategic Management Journal, How corporate charitable contributions enhance revenue growth. (2009) Baruch Lev, Christine Petrovits and Suresh Radhakrishnan)

If you are attending the eWomenNetwork Conference in Dallas this month, you will witness firsthand the impact of generous giving.  Throughout the year there are many opportunities to give to the eWomenNetwork Foundation.  You will be inspired at how your philanthropic contributions can accomplish great things!

 

 

Gail Sullivan is a Platinum Member of the Chairman’s Circle

 

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