| We have all heard of the Power of Love, the | | | | networking to an exciting new level by |
| Power of Positive Thinking, and of course the | | | | implementing technology to market businesses |
| Power of Prayer. A recent conference that I | | | | thus promoting "generational wealth" instead of |
| attended compelled me to explore the Power of | | | | generational debt. |
| Networking. | | | | During the conference we were urged to put |
| Last summer, I had the privilege of attending the | | | | pride or egos aside to network with those around |
| Eighth Annual National Power Networking | | | | us. We were inspired to transform our "Work |
| Conference in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. I have | | | | Ethic into a Wealth Ethic" and to move from |
| known of the importance of networking and | | | | "Good Today to Amazing Tomorrow". |
| thought of myself as a decent networker in | | | | The amazing two minute elevator pitch |
| terms of obtaining a job for myself and helping | | | | competition drew major attention. Conference |
| others to obtain jobs. This event elevated | | | | attendees were invited to submit their proposals |
| networking to a whole new level in my eyes. | | | | for participation. Each person would demonstrate |
| During this 3 day event, my artistic muse was | | | | how they would pitch their business idea and ask |
| stimulated with new thoughts and ideas on how | | | | for funding from a stranger on an elevator in two |
| to propel my business into an entity that would | | | | minutes. After two minutes, the microphone |
| reach a broader clientele base, create generational | | | | would be silenced. The contestants were rated |
| wealth, employ others, and impact change in the | | | | Olympic style by many very successful |
| lives of young people. | | | | entrepreneurs who held signs ranging in scores |
| I first heard of the Power Networking Conference | | | | from 1-10. After the two minute spiel, |
| after accepting an invitation to attend a free | | | | contestants were critiqued by the judges who |
| seminar, "Writing a Winning Sales Proposal" | | | | offered valuable feedback. |
| presented by Andrew Morrison, President of the | | | | I was one of ten contestants chosen. My elevator |
| Small Business Camp. | | | | pitch described how my company would integrate |
| Mr. Morrison's goal was to guide business people | | | | music, mathematics, and celebrities to host an |
| through the process of drafting a sales proposal | | | | event that would help children embrace |
| that would lead them to create something of | | | | mathematics instead of fear it. This was the idea |
| value in less than 16 weeks. | | | | suggested in the free seminar "Writing a Winning |
| During this seminar, I played the role of the class | | | | Sales Proposal" presented by Andrew Morrison. |
| guinea pig. I learned the components of an | | | | Unfortunately, I did not win the contest, but did |
| effective sales proposal. I also learned that I | | | | win in other ways. The feedback from the |
| should transform my fun, interactive math | | | | captains of industry was extremely valuable. I |
| workshops into musical, mathematical | | | | was told first and foremost to lose the note |
| extravaganzas. Mr. Morrison's activation during this | | | | cards. This is one of my goals in my |
| seminar convinced me to register for the Power | | | | Toastmasters speeches. The other way that I |
| Networking Conference. | | | | won was from many people complimenting me on |
| My biggest concern was making the most of my | | | | my speech and purchasing my book "How to Help |
| time during this three day event. I had to attend | | | | Parents and Kids Get Over the Fear of Math". |
| those seminars and events that were most | | | | Since then, I have received lots of |
| advantageous to my business such as the two | | | | correspondence from people whom I am sure will |
| minute elevator pitch competition. | | | | turn into potential clients or business partners. |
| There were hundreds of people, some strangers | | | | Without Toastmasters, I would have never had |
| and some familiar, promoting their businesses and | | | | the ability to connect so intimately with my |
| selling their wares. We became better acquainted | | | | audience. That day and the following day, people |
| by participating in workshops that taught us how | | | | were stopping me, referring to me as "The Math |
| to effectively grow our businesses; visiting vendor | | | | Lady", and purchasing my book. |
| booths; and attending power luncheons, National | | | | We also learned to make use of social networking |
| Town Hall meetings, Power Plenary sessions, | | | | technology to promote our businesses such as |
| Power Panel discussions, and awards | | | | Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, etc. As a result, I joined |
| presentations. This conference made access to | | | | the TAG Team Marketing group and Facebook. |
| key contacts readily available through these | | | | I am still coming to terms with how much |
| events. | | | | personal information to expose on the web. That |
| There were many influential people on the | | | | is a decision that we must all make for ourselves. |
| program such as Ed Gordon, formerly of BET | | | | One of the most important outcomes of |
| News and NBC. | | | | networking is to promote Win-Win situations. This |
| Sybil Wilkes and Jeff Johnson of the Tom Joyner | | | | is one of Steven Covey's 7 habits of highly |
| Morning Show shared their wisdom with us. I had | | | | effective people. It is just as important to listen |
| the pleasure of personally meeting Sybil Wilkes | | | | to others as they share their businesses as it is |
| and famed motivational speaker Les Brown. | | | | to effectively share your business. It is important |
| Les Brown, who is at the time of this writing 65 | | | | to have an attitude to assist someone before the |
| years old, has scaled back his speaking | | | | business transaction is made. If there is a mutual |
| appearances and uses his time to train the next | | | | feeling that both entities will win, the likelihood that |
| generation of speakers via his instructional | | | | repeat business will occur is greater. |
| workshops and teaching CD series. Mr. Brown | | | | In conclusion, it is extremely important to be open |
| stated that he now speaks 4 times per month | | | | to new ideas and unfamiliar people. It is crucial to |
| instead of 4 times per week and that he "would | | | | spend money to invest in yourself and to use |
| rather have 25% of 100 people than 100% of | | | | your time wisely. Plan your plan and work your |
| himself". WOW! That is networking by using the | | | | plan. Duplicate yourself in others as Les Brown |
| mantra of duplicating yourself through others. | | | | does. Use Technology to your benefit and by all |
| The Power Networking Conference is | | | | means create win-win situations. |
| spearheaded by George Fraser. Mr. Fraser is the, | | | | With the Power of Networking we can reach |
| author of three books on networking. Mr. Fraser | | | | more people as we promote the power of love, |
| also founded Frasernet, a social networking and | | | | positive thinking, and praise in our interactions with |
| training tool. | | | | others. |
| By using Frasernet, businesses can take | | | | |