We have all been in the situation somewhere, sometime, somehow stuck with someone that isn’t a talker or gives yes or no answers even to open ended questions, the conversation stalls and so does your brain so you ended up talking incessantly. Maybe you have a Connect Her Connection meeting or Coffee catch up and you think, oh no, I have met this person before and I know everything about them. 
Guess what?  We don’t know everything about everyone.  Sometimes just using a weird, strange or unusual question into the mix can open up the flood gates.  It is interesting, when we use a question which isn’t quite in context of our usual ‘networking’ questions you can see the mood shift.  You can almost see the shoulders relax, the face relax and a giggle or laugh emerge bringing spontaneity into the conversation.
Here are some conversation starters to get you started.
 
Conversation Starters……………………..
 
What would you like to get better at?
What made your brain grow today?
What problems or challenges did you work on this month?
What is your favourite way to feel calm?
What is one quality you look for in a friend?
What is your best client?
What is your favourite day of the week?
When do you feel you are more productive in the morning or the afternoon?
How can someone become famous?
Android or Apple?
Tell me about something you do every day?
How often do you check your emails?
What do you do to relax after a business day?
Describe your perfect day?
What do you like the most about the person sitting next to you (on the left) (on the right)?
What do you do to have fun?
If you could invite two other people to join us, who would they be?
What is the one thing that is your absolute must have for a business meeting?

Times Are A Changing A BIG Happy New Year to you and yours.  I really feel 2013 is a year for greatness and year for growth for all.  From November of 2012 I spent countless hours revising my business over the last 12 months.  I checked out what worked, what could be improved and what was a challenge.  I do this every year in my business, I almost go into a hibernation state as I work through the ups and the challenges for the last 10 - 12 months.  You will notice the newsletter has had a change of colour and layout.  You may also notice the heading has significantly changed.  My reevaluation of my business and core strengths invited me to re-access my business style and service. I now have incorporated the areas of my business under one umbrella making it easier to distinguish each part.  This was a huge challenge and exciting at the same time.  Are you in the process of re-evaluating your business and your life?  How did you go about the process?  Are you still in the process?  If you are stuck and would like to share your challenges please contact me for a complimentary 15 minute action traction session.

The ABC's of Great People SkillsI am a very fortunate person, I am surrounded by amazing people who have come into my life just at the right time.  One of those people is Dawn Billings, CEO & Founder of Heart Link Network International and renowned Author. One of the books Dawn co-wrote is the ABC's of Great People Skills a great read that is to the point and an easy read.  I really wanted to share the A-Z with you.  When you read each line it really starts you thinking.  Such a timely reminder as we start our journey into 2013.

Please enjoy this small excerpt from Dawn Billings:

Appreciate others.
Be kind.
Consider other’s feelings.
Don’t make fun.
Envision the future.
Forgive dumb people.
Great-fullness.
Hate or Hope.
Inspire.
Join forces.
Keep your faith.
Look inside.
Make room for diversity.
Next.
Offer help.
Push yourself, not others.
Quit Blaming.
Reach out.
Stop the Violence.
Teach tolerance.
Understand.
Value life.
Watch closely.
X-pand your views.
Yes you can!
Zero is a number, not a name.

How do you communicate with your customers?

Do you send thank you cards to your clients?

Did you know that not saying thank you to a customer hurts your business more than saying thank you helps.

Let me say that again.

Not saying thank you hurts your business more than saying thank you helps.

What I mean by that is our customers and clients expect to receive a thank you; especially if they spend a lot of money with us.  They expect us to at least acknowledge and thank them.

If I buy a house, I expect a thank you.

If I buy a car, I expect a thank you.

If I buy a Snickers I don't necessarily expect a thank you.

Big ticket items = increased expectations

If you don't send thank you cards to your clients, do you know what they are thinking?

They are thinking you don't care about them!

Studies show the reason why we lose 68% of our clients and customers is because they don't think we care about them.

Here is a simple solution I found to let my customers know I care about them.

www.leescardsonline.com

For $5.48 a year I can send 4 custom greeting cards to my clients to keep in touch with them and let them know I appreciate them.

How much is one dedicated, loyal, and happy client worth to you? Is it worth $5.48 a year?

If so watch this 3 minute video for more information:

www.leescardsonline.com

Once you watch the video, email me back and I'll be happy to help you get started.

WHAT is the value of appreciation? Lee Cummins believes a simple “Thinking About You” or “Thank you for Your Business” could lead to anything from a smile to increased profitability.

Cummins, is a local Snr Manager, representing the US based online greeting card company, SendOutCards 

Unlike other online card companies, which allows users to send an internet link to a personalised card on the internet, SendOutCards users get to personalise one of the 17,000 card options or even create their own cards using their personal photos, which is then mailed to the recipient, anywhere in the world.

Once a user logs on to SendOutCards   subscribes to the service, they can create their own secured account where they can store information like names, addresses, birthdays, anniversary dates or reminders along with photos to send appreciation messages.

Users receive emails to get their cards out in time for these occasions. There is also an option to send gifts or gift cards, which can be selected from options on the website, along with the card.

The card is printed within 24 hours after the user completes their order. Cards of the highest quality standards and printed on recycled paper.  Mailing time differs according to the postal service within the country in which the recipient lives.

Receiving an emailed link to an on-line  e-card does not compare to going to the mailbox and seeing a card among all the bills and windowed envelopes or whatever else is mailed.  Another benefit of SendOutCards, is it is more convenient than heading to a store to purchase cards, lining up at the post office or worse, not remembering to post the card.

SendOutCards makes it hassle free. You can access it at any time from a computer with internet access, no matter where you are.  You could choose from the wide selection of cards or make your own. The cost of the card is cheaper than most of the options available at card shops.

The service is utilised in the United States, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, UK and Singapore by businessmen, businesswomen and companies, including real estate agents, dentists, doctors, mortgage companies and other businesses which rely on customer- based earnings.

People feel underappreciated. 68% of customers move away from a business due to percieved indifference.

This is a simple tool to show appreciation. It is inexpensive and time saving. A lot of companies take business from people and do not say thank you. The experience is not personalised. This little tool could help many expand their business.

SendOutCards has also been used to teach school aged children appreciation and can be used as a fund raising initiative.

To raise funds, organisations such as schools or churches, can become distributors themselves and encourage parents or members to take out subscriptions to the service.

Therefore every time they send a cards or gifts from the website, the organisation will receive the profits from these sales and raise much needed funds.

After a wonderful three week holiday I am finally back and bouncing off the walls to get everything done before the silly season is upon us.  My holiday this year really taught me the value of slowing down and re-connecting with life and my hubby.  Weeks before the holiday we were running around working 6 and 7 days a week to be able to walk away from our multiple businesses.  Being on holiday and having the luxury of reading a novel, whale watching, sitting by a pool or browsing through country markets brings you back to why time is so precious.

I'm writing to introduce you to a  tool I'm using that I thought you might like to try. It's old fashioned, but has a 100% open rate.

It can help you recognize your team members, and stay in touch with your customers, thanking them or showing them new items that are available; and might even help you increase your Christmas sales or your recruiting efforts.  If that sounds intriguing to you, hit REPLY and put "100% Open Rate" and I'll fill you in.

 was working with a client just before I went away and we worked out using this time and cost efficient tool we saved her business in TIME ALONE!  a whopping $1661.66c Can you afford to not find out more?  This system puts you ahead of your competitor time and time again not only in time savings but a 100% OPEN RATE.

The fabulous thing about this tool is not only can you use it in a business environment you can use it for family and friends.  My family all live in WA and it can be hard to keep up to date and in contact with them, This system is so great and gives you back so much time back, I saved myself about 5 hours this morning.

If you want to see how you can gobble back your time this Christmas and use this amazing tool, hit REPLY and put in "Gobble Back Time" 

Do you wish you could have invested in iTunes, Amazon.com, or Netflix when they launched?

What do these businesses have in common?

They all were game changers.

Amazon.com revolutionized the way we shop for books. Borders, Barnes & Noble and the other booksellers stopped expanding and started closing stores.

iTunes changed the way we buy music. I bet you'd have a hard time even finding a record store anymore!  Most record sales are digital thanks the way Apple revolutionized the music business.

Netflix was a game changer in the video business. It's hard to find a local video store any more. Many of the franchise video stores have closed down. Blockbuster went bankrupt and was bought buy Dish Network for peanuts.

What do these businesses have in common?

They used technology to deliver the same service better, cheaper, and most importanly in a more convenient way.

Anyone who invested in Apple, Amazon, or Netflix is happy they did. These businesses are now dominating their industry. I wish I had the foresight to invest in them 5 or 10 years ago.

What if there was a new home business that was doing the same thing?

Would you want to be a part of a business like that?

http://www.remembergreetingcards.com/opportunity/leecummins

There is a new business that is taking the Netflix style of business to greeting cards.  This company is working to overthrow the 7.5 Billion dollar powerhouses of Hallmark and American Greetings.

They're using a Netflix type delivery system and modern technology to take all the hassle out of sending a greeting card or gift.  No more trips to the post office. No more trips to the mall. It's a lot more convenient and you can even personalize your cards with your photos and handwriting.

Businesses love it because they can automate their cards to their clients.  They can do mass mailings to prospects.  They can setup referral programs and use this technology to send gift cards as thank yous to clients.

This business is called Send Out Cards. It is a game changer in the greeting card business. The owners of 5 Hallmark stores (they've asked their names to be withheld) have switched.  They shut down their stores and invested in this business instead.

What is this business?

http://www.remembergreetingcards.com/opportunity/leecummins

Check it out.  You don't want to miss out on this opportunity.

You don't want to be kicking yourself in 5 or 10 years for not getting involved!