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Victoria’s new hip seems to be holding up well after surgery.
We’ve started taking walks together each day again. Being
able to enjoy the beauty of springtime in Colorado together in
this way is truly a gift. Hip #2 is scheduled
for July—after that, we’ll hopefully be back to playing
tennis again! Thank you all for
your kind thoughts and prayers over the past few weeks—they
meant more to us than we can tell you.
Last week, we kicked off Advisory
Board 101 board #58! We never cease to be in awe
of the astonishingly talented board members around the table.
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|  Right
outside our office door, the geese returned again and rebuilt
their nest—the mom has been sitting on seven large white
eggs, while her very protective mate ensures that we all keep
our distance. Yesterday, seven fluffy
little goslings immerged!
Our very best regards,
Dave and Victoria
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Nick
May
Walls by Design
It’s the spring of the year,
and a young man’s fancy turns to…interior house painting.
Nick May’s company, Walls by Design, is a full-service painting
company, offering drywall repair, re-texture, faux finishes, decorative
painting and even good old-fashioned “regular” painting.
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“Our tagline
is ‘Painters by trade, artists at heart,’ which explains
what sets us apart from other painting companies,”
Nick says. “We also offer color design and consultations,
which gives clients the opportunity to see all the different possibilities
for each room.”
To achieve a flow throughout the home, Walls by Design uses fabrics,
pictures, rugs and other decor. “Other considerations include
amounts of natural and artificial light, ceiling height, and your
own comfort level,” Nick says. “Interviewing each
homeowner and asking the right questions are just as important
as analyzing and identifying the colors that are already in your
home. We enjoy working alongside you to make your home an extension
of who you are.” Walls by Design opened its doors in April,
1999.
Q: What do you find most fulfilling
about running your business?
NM: The relationships
I have found with my customers, my team members, my vendors and
my industry partners. Business is fun, but people make it all
worthwhile.
Q: What motivated you to start
this business? What is your background experience in this area?
NM: I didn’t
like working for others and felt the need to work for myself.
I wanted to offer good service…something I didn’t
see very many places.
Q: What book has been most helpful
to you in your business?
NM: The E-Myth
by Michael Gerber. I am listening to it on my iPod right now for
the TENTH time. I’m I little slow, so I need repetition.
Q: Who has influenced you most
in your life?
NM: My wife. She keeps me
grounded, she completes my sentences and she makes me want to
do everything better.
Q: What has proved to be your most
successful marketing strategy?
NM: To focus on one target
market demographic. We know who our ideal customer is, and we
go after them.
Q: What have been the greatest
challenges you have had to overcome, or are currently facing,
in your business?
NM: My own ego. I have
to constantly remind myself that I am not God. I am not in control
AND that I need to follow the systems I have found to work, never
forgetting why they were put in place to begin with.
Q: How did you benefit/are you
benefiting from participating in a Make-it-Fly®
board?
NM: FOCUS. We laughed at
out first board meeting that many of us struggle with “Bright
Shiny Objects.” I struggle with that on a daily basis, but
the things I learned and have put into practice have helped me
to focus.
Q: What would you say to other
business owners who are contemplating getting involved in a Make-it-Fly®
board?
NM: We
make so many mistakes in business…especially in the first
few years. Sitting down and getting to know 12 or 14 other business
owners and learning one thing from them will pay for the experience.
As a business owner, one is usually alone. Joining Make-it-Fly®
will help you personally, professionally, financially and maybe
even spiritually. Dave and Victoria are not out to sell you their
system, they truly want to help you become all that God has created
you for.
Nick May can be reached by phone
at: 303-346-1694. Or visit his outstanding website: www.WallsByDesign.com.
Forward
this email to a friend. |
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|
 Dave’s
Networking Tip:
Enjoy
stress-free networking.
When attending an event, don’t focus on
how you can effectively promote yourself and your business.
Instead, make it your goal to simply find a way to help
each person you meet.
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 Don't
Fly Solo!
Join
an Advisory Board or Build Your Own
By Victoria Munro
"There is no such thing as a self-made man.
You will reach your goals only with the help of others.”
-- George Shinn
Flying solo can be lonely and sometimes
scary. Statistics confirm that being in business
on your own is risky. In addition to the constant steam of demanding
daily tasks and stressful financial challenges, it’s all
too easy to just get bogged down with busyness.
After a few years in business, we often find owners working longer
hours than they’d planned and not having much fun. Their
business, personal and family life is seriously out of balance.
We weren’t designed to fly
solo. As a rule, the Lone Ranger mentality doesn’t
work well for small business owners, especially in today’s
rapidly changing world, where we need to keep current in: technology,
legal, accounting, the Internet and marketing, etc.
To avoid a crash landing and enjoy the ride, we need co-pilots.
An Advisory Board Can Be the Answer
You’re more likely to succeed if you surround yourself
with knowledgeable, supportive, encouraging colleagues. Daily,
we watch small business owners thrive in a community of like-minded
business people committed to helping each other.
Powerful Pluses of a Peer Advisory
Board:
| 1. |
Gives
you needed fresh perspectives and new ideas you can implement
right away. |
| 2. |
Provides honest
feedback—a safe place to share what’s going on,
your future plans, get input and help solving problems. |
| 3. |
Supplies the
support and encouragement we all need. |
| 4. |
Keeps you focused
and accountable to do what you’ve committed to do. |
| 5. |
Expands your
network of valuable connections and resources. |
| 6. |
Commits you to
work on, not just in your business. |
| 7. |
Enables you to
give back to others using your talents and experience. The
saying“You make a living by what you get, but you make
a life by what you give” is true. |
Though we run Make-it-Fly® Advisory
Boards and Alumni Advisory Boards, these may not be right for
you, or there may not be an Advisory Board in your area. We recommend
you either join an existing Advisory Board or build your own mastermind
group. Invite those you know and
trust, those who have similar values to your own,
and ideally those who have a business at the same level as yours.
Steps to Build Your Board
| Step
One |
Take
the initiative, be a leader, and select and invite your board
members. |
| Step
Two |
Share your purpose
and plan for group members. |
| Step
Three |
Decide on the
best schedule for everyone and agree on common goals for the
group. |
| Step
Four |
Assign a facilitator
for each meeting. |
| Step
Five |
Review progress
and assess whether you’re achieving the objectives you
set. |
Even if you start with two or three members, take steps now to
get started. Flying Solo isn’t the way to go! We
need one another and flourish with supportive people around us.
As Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little; together
we can do so much.”
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
Market to New and Current
Clients
Too often we focus solely on bringing
in new customers, but it’s more effective and less
expensive to expand
relationships with your current clients and market
to them. Maximize your marketing success by designing
a plan that includes both. |
Back
to Top
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Boost Your
Income by Creating New Products
in Your Area of Expertise
Join us for The
Information Product Road Trip,
a one-day workshop, May 15, 2008.
 Learn
how to create information products, like ebooks,
audio recordings and tips booklets, and how to
sell or use them for promotions.
Click here: www.infoproductroadtrip.com
to find out more!
Mary
Walewski
Buy The Book Marketing LLC
303-725-9313
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|
| READING THIS AD? THEN WHY
NOT PUT YOURS HERE TOO? The In-Flight Refueling
Ezine reaches more than 2,300 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:
- Thursdays - July 31, August 28, September 25, 2008
- Fridays - September 9, October 5, November 2, 2008
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 is scheduled for
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008
Time: 4:30 to
7 p.m.
Location: To be announced.
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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 80235, USA
http://www.make-it-fly.com
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