Stop Networking Now!

If you read this title you probably think I lost my mind. That is what some of my fellow members of a networking group I belong to thought when I told them I was not rejoining. “But you have to network” people keep telling me.

Let me clarify, I still network but now I network smart. The problem I find with networking is everyone goes to networking events and joins groups to keep making connections. Some people treat it like a game to collect as many business cards as they can. Is that really networking?

For the past three years I have joined free networking groups and fee paid networking groups. I have even collected my fair share of business cards. I realized that in my eternal search for the “perfect” connection, I am missing out on developing relationships with people I have met previously. The only way people will refer business to you is if they know what you do and that can’t be accomplished by listening to someone’s sixty second commercial in a networking setting.

My new focus is reconnecting with people I have met and building those relationships. Isn’t this the true definition of networking, building mutually beneficial relationships?


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube - Empowering Women TV Show: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

Just Do IT!

Did you just picture a Nike commercial when you read the title of this month’s blog? Did you ask yourself “do what”?

What is "IT"? Although this sounds like a jeopardy question, it can be a question that may change your life. And only you know what “IT” is.

In December, I was honored to be interviewed about my business on a television show for a community cable channel. While the camera man was setting up the lights and camera, I couldn’t help but think how cool this would be to do this all the time. “Who can I talk to about getting my own TV show?” I asked the question before I had a chance to think about the possible responses. It turned out that the camera man was the same person who creates the shows for the station. “Me, what type of show do you want to do?” he asked.

I could have said I would get back to him when I had an idea, but this was my chance.  Just Do IT! I told him I wanted my own interview show, but was unclear in what direction I wanted my show to go. He told me to get back to him with a proposal. I had to submit a proposal, including the name and logo.  Six months later my show Empowering Women aired.

A year ago, I would have never imagined that I would be hosting as well as producing a TV show. In the moment, I jumped in without looking back. It paid off, as of this blog, I have been the host and producer of four episodes so far. The feedback has all been positive!

What are you holding back on? Sometimes you need to Just Do IT and see what happens. “What if I fail?” You may ask yourself this question. What if you don’t fail? What if you never Do IT and always wonder what could or would have been. “Just Do IT”. You may be surprised at the outcome.


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

It Is Good to Be Different!

I have a confession to make…I am a serial networker. I love networking and meeting new people. I love to be able to refer them to others I know and help build beneficial relationships.

I started networking in 2007 while trying to find an opportunity in the training and development industry. I had just finished my master’s degree and was ready to get my dream job. But changing careers and especially industries, isn’t easy. You have to get out there and meet people. That is why in 2007, I started networking and have never stopped.

One thing I notice when I network is certain industries have many people networking and trying to obtain clients. Recently at a networking event, I noticed a few real estate agents, insurance agents and financial advisors. And this was all in one room! As they each gave me their “60 second commercial” I had the same thought, I would not remember one from the other tomorrow morning.

A mistake I see is people not taking the time to show how they are different from others in the same industries. Don’t just say, I can help you plan for your financial future. Mention something that will get their attention. “Wouldn’t it be nice to visit your children and grandchildren across the country without having to worry about the additional expenses on your tight budget after retirement”? This would stand out in my mind more than “I can help you plan for your financial future”. Draw a picture they can see, and remember. This will distinguish you from the others in the room.

It is good to be different! Tell your prospective clients why you are different and what you can do for them. Once you get into the habit of reframing your commercial to include this strategy, you will be surprised at the reactions you receive.

Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different”.


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Meetup:  https://www.meetup.com/DG-Training-Solutions-Professional-Development-Meetup/

How Large is Your Digital Footprint?

We have all heard - be careful what you put on the internet.  It is there forever and could potentially harm you or your reputation. But is not having a digital footprint harmful to you professionally?

As someone self-employed, I have very little funds in my marketing budget and carefully examine how to allocate those funds.  I try to maximize all opportunities available to me:  my website, business Facebook page, LinkedIn, Twitter, and all of my professional organization profiles.  I belong to a number of professional organizations and have quite a few profiles to manage.  I didn't spend too much time on their content, who would really look anyway?  Why take the time to put all that effort into my profiles and keep updating them?  Boy was I wrong.  I will say it again, I was wrong! In the past year I have made an effort to redo all of those profiles.  Did it make a difference?  I will let you be the judge if it is worth your time and effort by giving you a few examples of my experience. 

I belong to a Women's Business Organization that has almost 400 members.  One day I received an email from the editor for the newsletter of this particular organization asking if she could print two of my blogs in the newsletter.  She thought the two blogs had great information the members would enjoy reading. I asked how she found me.  She was looking through the Member Directory, came across my name, clicked on my profile and clicked the link to my website.  Then from my website home page, she spent time reading my blogs.  I was excited, this was free advertising for my business that was going to 400 women without me doing anything extra. 

Four months later the same editor contacted me again and asked if she could print another blog in the newsletter. All this because I kept my profile updated. 

A few weeks ago I was on a business trip and received an email from a company in California, they were looking for someone to fill in and give two presentations the next week in Pittsburgh (which is where I live).  They found my information off of one of my profiles in a Pittsburgh training organization website. From that profile, they went to my website and hired me on the spot to complete the presentations.  Now I have another new client!

These opportunities came out of the blue all because I have updated information on my profiles and people were able to see my abilities, past experiences and skills.

Isn't it time to increase your digital footprint?

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President
DG Training Solutions, Inc.
Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com
Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

But Why Are You Different?

I attend a lot of networking events.  Some of the networking events and groups I belong to are women only, and some include men.  I have noticed a trend whenever I hear someone give their one-minute commercial (or elevator speech).  Now with complete honestly, I must admit I was also guilty of this until I changed my strategy.

Whether you are giving your one-minute commercial or giving your elevator speech consider this, like myself there are people in attendance who participate in multiple networking events and groups.  Most of us hear the same commercial each time.

Hello my name is (insert name).  I work for (insert company).  If you would ever need (insert service or good they are trying to sell), I would love to meet with you and be of assistance.  Now sometimes the commercial is not verbatim, but close enough to what I just said.

Okay what do you think is wrong with this?  It doesn't stand out and people will not remember it.  I run into many insurance salespeople, financial advisors, and direct sales people all the time.  Explain why you are different from everyone else out there in your industry who is also trying to obtain my business.

I mentioned in the beginning of this blog I was guilty of this myself.  Here is my new commercial:
"Hello everyone.  My name is Denise Galloni and I am the owner and president of DG Training Solutions, Inc. My company will assist your organization in maximizing employee potential through training and development (this is my mission statement I use every time I talk about my company).  I can create a training plan including videos, manuals and on-site employee training.  I can also help your organization with standardization, process improvement or branding.  I work with my clients for 8 hours, 8 days or 8 months, whatever is needed to succeed in their goals.  This will increase your profits and save you money by contracting with me short term rather than bringing a new employee onboard."

Did you see the difference in the scripts?  It may take a few times to really get this to flow when you are introducing yourself, but it is worth the effort to tell everyone why you are different!


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President
DG Training Solutions, Inc.
Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni
Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Expand Your Comfort Zone

Are you one of those people who go to the same restaurant and order the same food every time?  Most of us do this, at least occasionally.  It’s comfortable, easy and we don’t have to think because we know we like this item.  I’m guilty of doing this myself.  If my husband and I are going out to eat I know what I am going to order before we even get there.

Almost two years ago I stepped out of my comfort zone.  I quit my full time job making a very good salary without another job.  While deciding where to apply for another position, I stepped out of my comfort zone further and started my own company.  For years I have wanted to start my own business.  I went from wanting to own a consignment store, to wanting to own a specialty gift basket store, and the list went on and on.  Now was my time to do it!

I just want to mention I took baby steps when I stepped out of my comfort zone.  I wasn’t ready for a giant leap yet.  I started a company doing basically the same thing I have done for years.  But now I would be my own boss of my own company.  I wasn’t sure if I was sick in my stomach from the excitement or fear.  But a year and a half later, I am still in business and doing well. 

What’s next?  Since I have expanded my comfort zone, I want to step out a little further and push myself a little more.  I am taking my business in a different direction and adding different ways to generate revenue to my company. Again, it is scary but I can do it. 

Are you comfortable in what you are doing or are you happy doing what you do? There is a difference.  Once I sat and listened to someone complain about how much he hated his job.  "Look for something else" I told him. “What do you want to do” I asked?  "I can do a lot of things" he replied.  "But what do you want to do" I kept asking.  He didn’t have an answer.

I’m not advocating quitting your job without something else lined up or having another income source.  But while you are deciding what you want to do, take baby steps to get there.  If you want to start your own business in a few years, you may want to do market research or take a class on starting a business.  If you want to do something different, try learning some new skills.  Before you know it you will wonder why you were so intimidated to step out of your comfort zone.

Abraham Lincoln once said “I will study and prepare myself and someday my chance will come".  This is great advice, be ready for when your chance comes. 

What baby steps will you take today?

 
Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

 
Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did the Light Bulb turn on?

Did someone ever say something to you and you felt the light bulb go on over your head like in the old cartoons?  All of a sudden you got it!  Wow you thought, that is so true or now I understand it completely! 

This has happened to me a few times.  Someone said something that resonated with me so much I have added to my mantras and it has shaped me into the person I am today.

One time was in my very first college course.  It was an Accounting I class.  I don’t know why I picked Accounting I as my first class when I decided to return to school while working full time, but I did.

The professor told a story about when he was in the military and his commanding officer gave him some advice.  He told him to take advantage of everything available to learn while he was there.  If they offer a knitting class (he actually used knitting as an example), take it.  You never know when this knowledge will be useful.  "No one can ever take away the knowledge you have learned and knowledge is power".

This experience was too many years ago to tell you how many, but I always kept that in the back of my mind.  If someone was offering a free webinar, I signed up for it.  If there was workshop that was in my price range, I signed up for it.  I read books with subjects I didn’t know anything about and articles not necessarily in my industry or in my area of expertise to gain additional knowledge.   

So what’s the point of this blog you may be wondering?  Following this mantra has encouraged me to be exposed to subjects that normally I would have skipped or been intimated by.  This philosophy has given me an endless supply of speech material and now an idea for this blog.

I don’t remember that professors name after all these years, but I wish I could to tell him what an effect that story from his military career had on one nervous student sitting in the first row.

By the way, I passed Accounting I and went on to take several other Accounting classes.  I may not ever use the theory of LIFO/FIFO, or cost accounting, but no one can ever take that knowledge away from me.

What is the mantra that you follow?  How has it impacted you?

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

 Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

 Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

 LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Are you on the Cruise Ship or Waving as it Departs?

When I was single, I went on a cruise with some friends.  While this was over twenty years ago, I still have memories from a lot of the events that occurred during that week on the cruise.  I also remember the cruise ship departing while we stood, sipping our drinks on the deck waving to all the people on the dock.  They were waving back at us.  I was so happy.  I had an opportunity to be on a cruise ship headed for a week of adventures.  The other people on the dock may have been wishing they were on the boat instead of us.

Recently I was thinking about this memory and realized there will always be people who take advantage of being on the boat and those who don't take advantage of opportunities and miss the "proverbial" boat.

Are you a person who takes a cruise...or always seem to miss the boat and wave as it sails into the ocean?

I attended a large networking event a few months ago for Women in Business.  When I say a large event I mean 100-150 women in business.  I started networking and talking to a few women.  Two women still stick out in my mind. 

One woman was recently displaced by her employer six months prior to this event and the other woman was completely miserable in her job and wanted to move on to another company.  The first woman lived only 15 minutes away from me.  I told her I can make some calls and maybe help her find a position.  The second woman worked in an industry I just resigned from and I knew of openings that would be perfect for her.

Neither woman had a business card with her contact information.  I gave both women my business card and explained how I had these cards printed for less than twenty dollars!  I told them to email me their information and resume.  I also told them to connect with me on LinkedIn because I have a large number of connections and these connections might be helpful in their job search.  I have yet to hear from either woman!

I can picture these women waving as the cruise ship departs and saying how lucky the passengers are to be on the boat. Is it luck that some people are on the boat and some are not?

Think back, have you missed the boat?  Luckily most cruise ships announce their departure.  It may not be too late to catch up to that ship.  If you missed it, there will always another one leaving the dock in the near future.

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!!

Denise


Denise Ann Galloni, Owner and President
DG Training Solutions, Inc.

https://www.dgtrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni