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Wow! The
first Make-it-Fly®
Day Retreat, “The Balancing
Act,”
presented by Bob Heavers and Shelley Drake last Friday
was an empowering, fun and uplifting day for all of us. The speakers
were outstanding, the setting (with a panoramic view of Denver
and Genesee when the clouds lifted) was splendid, and the warm,
encouraging energy created by the people attending made it very
special.
 It’s
arrived! Victoria’s book, The Small
Biz Balancing Act: Secrets to Restoring Passion and Play in Your
Business and Life came from the printer last week. So far,
we’ve received great reviews! If
you ever feel like your business runs you instead of the other
way around, this book is for you. It's a very
practical guide for busy entrepreneurs juggling the demands of
business, family and life.
We’ve been publishing In-Flight Refueling—Secrets
to Small Biz Success, twice a month, for over five years
now. We always appreciate hearing from our readers. Please give
us your input and tell us how we can make it even more valuable.
Our very best regards,
Dave and Victoria |
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Maxine Brand
Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau is a mainstay of American commerce.
Established in 1912, the BBB is a non-profit business organization
“dedicated to creating a marketplace where buyers and sellers
can trust one another,” according to Denver BBB business
relations specialist Maxine Brand.
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Maxine’s career includes extensive experience
in sales, marketing, public relations, promotions and human resource
management. She was a special events coordinator for the opening
of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport, the Director of Special Services
for a presidential campaign in 1980, the Marketing Manager for
ALTEK Corporation, a computer peripheral manufacturer and an executive
search consultant for a Washington, D.C.-based firm.
Q: What do you find most fulfilling
about your work?
MB: I find great
fulfillment representing the BBB because I am able to help good
businesses elevate their reputation to a new level of trust and
credibility. Having owned my own business for a number of years,
I know how long that can take. The BBB symbol is so well recognized,
using it as a marketing tool creates an instant trust factor.
I am excited to help companies understand the power of being accredited
with the BBB in the B2B world.
Q: What motivated you to work with
BBB? What is your background experience in this area?
MB: Before working
for the BBB, I had a consulting company that matched a client
company’s needs to pre-qualified, prescreened suppliers.
Through this process, I gathered valuable insight into how people
make decisions and the importance of HOW a company runs their
business…good business practices. My work at the BBB has
allowed me to continue providing that insight. Along with the
marketing programs we have in place, I am currently creating B2B
programs that we hope will offer what other organizations aren’t
offering. I am motivated by new opportunities where I can positively
affect the community. That is why I came to the BBB.
Q: What book has been most helpful
to you in your work?
MB: The
Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.
Q: Who has influenced you most
in your life?
MB: William
Boyd Andrews, my boss at a PR firm in Dallas. He took a chance
on a young graduate because he said he saw a “spark”
in me. He taught me to appreciate myself, to rely on myself and
to do what it takes to get the job done and not to ask any questions
unless I have investigated every possible avenue on my own. I
became known as the “make it happen girl.” He also
showed me when to walk away when ethically I could not continue
in a job..
Q: What has proved to be your most
successful marketing strategy?
MB: Developing a
personality around me and the company I represent. When I had
my company, I surveyed my clients and found one of the key ingredients
to my success, besides doing a good job, was my sense of humor.
I created a marketing strategy around it. My K.I.S.S. Up (Keeping
Our Incredible Supporters Satisfied) rewards campaign, my email
campaign (called Maxine’s Hot Flashes), my “Let Me
Kiss Up” direct mail campaign….all were most successful
and got me in the door of companies I was previously unsuccessful
reaching.
Q: What have been the greatest
challenges you have had to overcome, or are currently facing,
in your work?
MB: My
husband’s health and my need to be with him while attempting
to keep the expectations of my employer up.
Q: How did you benefit from participating
in a Make-it-Fly® board?
MB: I am
the kind of person who wants to do 20 things at one time. Make-it-Fly®
gives me the opportunity to focus on one segment of what I need
to do to improve and make it work. I love the accountability partners
and learning about everyone else’s challenges. I feel the
BBB has benefited because more B2B companies see us in a new light.
Q: What would you say to other
business owners who are contemplating getting involved in a Make-it-Fly®
board?
MB: Just
Do It!
Maxine Brand can be reached by
phone at: 303-996-3989, or visit the Denver BBB web site at: www.denver.bbb.org.
Forward
this email to a friend. |
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|
 Dave’s
Networking Tip:
Never,
never try to sell your services or products at a
networking event.
People don’t like to be sold! So resist the temptation
to hand out your business card without being asked for
it. Remember, you’re there to meet old
and new friends, get
to know them and understand how you can help them. |
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Put an End to Procrastination
10
Easy Pointers to Help
By Victoria Munro
If you find yourself putting off
difficult projects that you don’t enjoy, and
if these unfinished tasks tend to move forward on your calendar
from one day to the next, then procrastination could be costing
you money and increasing your stress. There
is a solution!
Procrastination carries a high
potential for painful consequences. It often produces
feelings of guilt, anxiety and discouragement that decrease our
productivity and result in missed opportunities, unmet goals and
failure to move a business ahead on schedule. Addressing this
issue will prove a good investment of your time and energy.
If you suffer from procrastination, you’re not alone. The
majority of small business owners face challenges in this area.
Being your own boss can make it
more difficult to get things done. Because we
have no one to answer to for how we spend our time, it’s
easy to get sidetracked with “busywork” instead of
tackling those unpleasant but important projects in a timely manner.
We have faced challenges ourselves in this area, have worked
with scores of other business owners, and have found practical
solutions. Below we’ve listed some suggestions that have
helped others to beat procrastination and enjoy more peace of
mind as they build their businesses.
10 Easy Pointers to Put an End
to Procrastination:
| 1. |
Acknowledge
the problem. Recognize and accept your own strengths and weaknesses. |
| 2. |
Take a look inside
and discover the root cause – the real reason why you
keep putting off a job that must be done. Perhaps ask, “What
am I afraid of here?” “What is it about this project
that I find so difficult?” Or, “What am I trying
to avoid here?” |
| 3. |
Set clear, realistic
goals for yourself and always keep them in front of you. When
writing goals, it’s important to include all the benefits
that achieving them will bring to you and your business. |
| 4. |
Don’t try
to eat the elephant all at once! Break large, challenging
tasks down into bite-sized steps that can ideally be accomplished
in 30 minutes or less. No matter how much you dislike something,
you can cope with almost any task for that long, and you’ll
usually find that you get involved in the job and continue
for longer. Write out all the necessary steps and add these
to your daily plan. |
| 5. |
Use your time
management tool to schedule your day. Prioritize your tasks
and block out time on your calendar for those tough tasks
first. The rest will then flow more easily. |
| 6. |
Be aware of your
self-talk – make sure you aren’t sabotaging yourself.
If you habitually declare, “I’ll never get this
done,” or “I’m just lazy,” then that
will become your reality. Learn to substitute positive affirmations
such as, “I’m going to get started on this project
now, and I will finish it on time.” Change your approach
and commit to developing a can-do attitude. If necessary,
eliminate words like “can’t” and “later”
from your vocabulary. |
| 7. |
Set up a rewards
system for yourself. At the completion of a project, promise
yourself an immediate reward: a walk in the park, a yummy
snack, a favorite TV show. When I started a sportswear business
some years ago, I had to make cold calls to set up appointments
with buyers I didn’t know who were being called by dozens
of other sales reps. It appeared a daunting task, so I decided
to reward myself after every three calls with a chocolate
kiss. Each time I set an appointment, I took a ten-minute
break outside in the sun. It worked! The appointment schedule
was fully booked, I had a great season and I built a valuable
database for the company. |
| 8. |
Understand your
avoidance strategies and don’t give in to them. If you’re
prone to distractions, like checking email every time you
hear a new message arrive, close Outlook (or your email editor)
and schedule set times to check and respond to emails. |
| 9. |
Make sure you
have an efficient work environment. Make whatever changes
are necessary to facilitate maximum efficiency, with everything
you need close at hand. |
| 10. |
Find someone
to hold you accountable to do what you committed to do, when
you said you’d do it. Set an appointment to meet face
to face or over the phone. Ask that they check up on your
progress and accept no excuses! |
A Note to Perfectionists
Perfectionism often goes hand-in-hand with procrastination. As
perfectionists, we sometimes avoid tackling a project because
we feel it must be 100% perfect. Because we simply don’t
have the time that would take, or we fear that the result may
be less than perfect, we have difficulty getting started. We want
to do it right or not at all, and we don’t want to face
the possibility of making a mistake. It can become a no-win situation.
Acknowledging that you’re human and will inevitably make
mistakes, then recognizing mistakes as valuable opportunities
to learn really helps. Also, remember that allowing others to
see your “humanness” makes you much more appealing
and approachable.
Take Action!
Look over the above pointers and make note of changes that would
be helpful for you to implement. Don’t allow procrastination
to continue stealing your time. Be proactive, put your plans for
change in place and get started now. I guarantee you’ll
feel terrific about it!
Click
here for the printable version.
Click
here to read more articles like this one.
Forward
this email to a friend.
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Victoria’s
Marketing Advice
Use Spare Minutes to Make
Sales
Keep a list of potential names or leads
handy on your desk. Whenever you have a few minutes to
spare, commit to use that time to dial for dollars. Have
your script ready. You might ask potential clients if
they’re 100% satisfied with their current provider
of your services. |
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Feedback on Make-it-Fly‘s
First Day Retreat
“The
Balancing Act”
Presented
by Bob Heavers & Shelley Drake
|
|  "Thanks
for an uplifting experience with the first Make-it-Fly®
retreat! All of the speakers were warm human beings
that I had an instant connection with. The exercises
and activities opened my eyes to accepting who I
am, and gave me an understanding of other people's
social styles. I feel like I have a new family with
everyone who was there! The
setting was fantastic too—with
a panoramic view of the foothills from Genesee."
Mark Turner,
Aspen
Creek Landscaping, Inc.
"Wow! What a great experience I had at the
Retreat on Friday! The quality of the people who
attended was outstanding, and the fact that by the
end of the day we had all pretty much bonded with
each other was amazing!
The wealth of information
that Bob Heavers and Shelley 'talked out' was more
than I expected! I
feel like a new person that just got a new lease
on life!"
Bonnie Smith,
Bons
Gone Travelin’
|
| "I was
impressed with the quality of the people that
attended and the oneness that we all seemed
to share. Although we all came from different
backgrounds and varying personality types,
we shared in heartfelt ways about love, caring
and the desire to help make the world a better
place each in our own way. I
was uplifted when I left and felt empowered
by the energy. "
Sherry Armstrong,
Award
& Sign |
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Make-it-Flyer Julie Kemerling has been nominated
by ABC's
Channel 7 News for the “2008 Best Wedding Photographer.”
You can help her win by clicking the link below
and voting!
Vote now—the contest
ends September 19.
Thanks so much for your support – Julie Kemerling
Click
here to vote for Julie Kemerling.
A Fine Photographer - www.aFinePhotographer.com
- 303-768-0381
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A Joint Networking Event
Sponsored by Colorado Business Leads and Integrated Alliance
Tuesday, September 23, from 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Monarck Nightclub, 1416 Market Street, Denver
No charge for Marke-it-Flyers.
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READING THIS AD? THEN WHY NOT PUT
YOURS HERE TOO? The In-Flight Refueling Ezine
reaches more than 2,700 entrepreneurs, small-biz
owners, consultants and marketers. Reserve
your advertising spot today in the next In-Flight Refueling
Ezine,
http://www.make-it-fly.com/ezineads.html.
Paid Advertising Disclaimer: Make-it-Fly®
LLC does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability
of any of the paid advertisements above or the quality of any
products, services, information, or other materials displayed,
purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection
with any ad. It's common sense to do your own due diligence before
purchasing any product.
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to Top
|
The
Make-it-Fly® Advisory Board 101
Each
Make-it-Fly® Advisory Board 101 program
consists of 12 non-competing business owners who meet once a month
for three consecutive months. In the spirit of giving, they offer
each other solutions, ideas, resources and encouragement. Dave
and Victoria facilitate each group and share powerful tools to
assist business owners in reaching their goals and living more
balanced lives.
If you have experienced a Make-it-Fly®
program, please share the following openings with other business
owners who need support. Call Dave for more information at 720-962-8888.
Programs are held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Current program openings in Denver:
- Fridays - January 9, February 6, March 6, 2009
- Thursdays - January 29, February 26, March 26, 2009
- Tuesday - March 3, April 7, May 5
Click
here to sign up for Advisory
Boards.
Or call Dave at 720-962-8888.
Alumni
Boards are groups of 12-14 small business owners who have
participated in at least one Make-it-Fly®
Advisory Board 101 and wish to continue the support and accountability
with a group of like-minded, giving business associates. Members
meet once a month for a three-hour meeting.
If you completed the initial Make-it-Fly®
Advisory Board 101 and are interested in more information on Alumni
Boards, call Dave at 720-962-8888.
Make-it-Fly®
Café 
High altitude networking, where exceptional people help each
other.
Next
Café:
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008
Time: 4:30 to
7:30 p.m.
Location: The
Riverfront
2852 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton (One block west of Santa Fe)
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Click
here to read previous issues of Make-it-Fly®'s
email newsletters.
Contact
Make-it-Fly® - Dave and Victoria:
email: info@make-it-fly.com
voice: 720-962-8888
web: www.Make-it-Fly.com
Reprint
Permission:
Please email or call Victoria if you'd like to reprint any information
contained in this newsletter. Thanks! © Copyright 2008. All
rights reserved.
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Make-it-Fly®
LLC
720-962-8888
355 South Teller Street, Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80226, USA
http://www.make-it-fly.com
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