Tuesday afternoon I attended my first ICON meeting. ICON (derived from 'Independent Consultant Network') is a business networking group that meets once a month to support independent consultants by providing a forum where they can meet and learn from each other. The president of ICON is Bob Steinkamp, the owner/manager of Finger Lakes Media Strategies. Bob and I first met at the veterans Watchfire in September 2007 (at Myer's Point in Lansing) when we were introduced by a mutual friend.This month's ICON meeting had the theme of "The First Annual ICON Build A Successful Consultancy Cook-Off!".
Here's my recipe (following the ingredients Bob recommended):
1 spicy marketing idea that anyone can use to promote their business:
Develop a stronger referral relationship with your referral partners by promoting them. Here are the steps:
-Introduce a member of your network to a person or acquaintance of yours; describe your network member’s background and business and how well she performs.
-Let the other person know that if he or she ever needs the kind of products or services offered by your network member, he or she should not hesitate to call him.
-Promote your network member as often as possible, whether or not he is present – for example, by nominating him for an award or using him as an example in presentations and introductions.
2 freshly-ground ounces of time-management tips:
My favorite time-management tip is to network in the right place. Identify your target market – and network where they play. Even better – identify the professions of your referral partners – and network with them (they’ll be a gateway to a lot of the right clients for you).
3 dollops of lightly sugared (nutrasweet is o.k.) motivational; or inspirational quotes you like:
“If you are coasting, it means you are going downhill.” C.P. Fulford, Jr.
“A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.” William Saroyan
“Only those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” Robert Kennedy
4 sliced and diced business resource suggestions such as books or websites that you like:
- Networking Now, blog by Ivan Misner: http://networking.entrepreneur.com
- Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, Lecture on YouTube by Randy Pausch, http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/
- The Monk and The Riddle, by Randy Komisar
- Paradigm Shifts Coaching, the mindfulness life coaching business of Ravi Walsh (here in Ithaca and online at http://www.paradigmshiftscoaching.com).
and 5 business cards to pass out to people you meet (add as many of these as you want as garnish!)
I liked the group. I think having a place where independent consultants can see other consultants and exchange what works, what they like to do, and what kind of help they are looking for is valuable for anyone who has to wear many hats in their business. It is a chance to get out of the home office and come out of the metaphorical cave.
The next ICON Monthly Meeting:
April 13th, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.
Free and Open to the Public
Audrey Edelman RealtyUSA
2333 N. Triphammer Road
Ithaca, New York
Contact Bob Steinkamp for more information: bob@flmsmedia.com
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