Feature Article: Employ the Power of Community

Business Owner in the Spotlight
Cheryl Beck
The Email Works

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Since starting Make-it-Fly nearly six years ago, one of our goals has been to network and connect small business owners—creating a truly win-win community.

Now, we’re taking this to a new level and are excited to announce our online social networking site, Sky-Place.com. We invite you to visit and sign up today!

We’d also like to introduce you to our newest franchisee here in west Denver, Sharon Gibson. A gifted and experienced businesswoman, she’s already doing a terrific job as an advisory board facilitator!

We’re looking for other franchisees in Colorado. If this is of interest to you or someone you know, we’d love to talk with you. In today’s challenging economy, more than ever before, entrepreneurs need the practical help, support, accountability and encouragement to stay on track and move their businesses forward.

Our very best regards,

Dave and Victoria!

Cheryl Beck
The Email Works

In these difficult economic times, business owners must find more effective ways to do business. But what’s the best way to save money, maximize marketing efforts and keep your business solvent? Cheryl Beck of The Email Works has the answer. “We offer services that every business needs to weather the down economy by helping them leverage their most precious asset, their current customer base,” Cheryl says. “To do this, we develop, implement and manage a business or organization’s e-marketing campaign from start to finish.”

Founded in 2008, The Email Works employs proven strategies to engage current customers and members to increase profitability and bring in new customers through the use of Constant Contact, Homestead Web Design and Digital Stationery®.

Q: What do you find most fulfilling about running your business?
CB: My core value is to help other businesses become successful, and the mix of online services I offer through The Email Works has something that will benefit everyone and build their bottom line. It’s all about the people.

Q: What motivated you to start this business?
CB: I have twenty-five years of experience in sales and marketing. When I saw so many organizations and businesses going out of business because they didn’t understand the importance of e-marketing, I started The Email Works.

Q: What book has been most helpful to you in your business?
CB: The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder. My favorite statement of his is that when everyone else is fearful, that is the time to be bold.

Q: Who has influenced you most in your life?
CB: Other than God, overall I would say it is my dear husband, Tom, an incredibly intelligent and supportive man, one who cares about the Lord and people, and has encouraged me to learn and do things I only dreamt of.

Q: What has proved to be your most successful marketing strategy?
CB: Learning to fully utilize the power of email marketing through Constant Contact. This is helping me to leverage my relationships to weather the downturn in the economy by assessing the fundamentals that drive my business: knowing my existing customers; learning how to acquire new customers; connecting with customers in unique and meaningful ways; and delivering the right solutions to meet customers’ needs.

Q: What have been the greatest challenges you have had to overcome, or are currently facing, in your business?
CB: Lack of time to follow up on all the ideas I have to increase my business and balance a demanding personal life.

Q: How are you benefiting from participating in a Make-it-Fly® board?
CB: I have benefited personally because I met so many other business owners in an atmosphere of concern and caring, sharing of their time, their advice and their challenges. It has made me believe in myself again and given me the confidence to pursue my dreams in a more deliberate and planned manner. I can’t speak highly enough of the program!

Q: What would you say to other business owners who are contemplating getting involved in a Make-it-Fly® board?
CB: Expect to have your life and your business changed – all in positive ways! Also, expect to do a lot of introspection, so you can “be bold when everyone else is fearful.” It’s the only way to fly!

Cheryl Beck can be reached by phone at: 303-604-1535, or visit her website at: www.theemailworks.com.

Click here to read about Cheryl's special offer for In-Flight Refueling readers.

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Employ the Power of Community
By Victoria Munro

“Since its inception, a key focus of Make-it-Fly® has been to employ (and enjoy) the power of community. Working with small business owners, we see that a sense of isolation often goes along with being the boss and running a business. The phrase, "It's lonely at the top" holds a lot of meaning. There are some things you just can't share with employees, colleagues or friends. For those working from home, it can be lonely too—no more water cooler conversations.

Because we’re innately social beings, this isolation can be tough. Through advisory boards, our goal has been and is to give entrepreneurs an environment of professional camaraderie and confidentiality—a caring group of peers offering their hard-earned expertise and ideas that enable each other reach better solutions. When we gather around a boardroom table with the objective of helping and learning from one another, the magic of community takes place. We also see it at Make-it-Fly Café events—it’s about connecting and networking..

In the last three years, online social networking has exploded. If you’re not already involved, as a business owner, you should give it serious attention. You can reap rich rewards, but there are challenges.

Some Potential Rewards:

	Online social networking is free—no big financial expense.
	It can give you immediate reaction and response to ideas and issues.
	It’s a valuable way to find needed resources.
	It can increase your visibility, giving you opportunity to promote yourself and your business to the world. People are looking for information online, so give it to them.
	Your network of contacts can grow beyond geographical and cultural differences as you connect with people the other side of the globe.

Connecting with others can be fun and profitable, but it takes time. When interviewed on social networking, author Seth Godin warned that the Internet has allowed an enormous amount of fake networking to take place. “Networking is always important when it’s real,” he stressed. “And it’s always a useless distraction when it’s fake. It’s so easy to be seduced by it because there’s a scoreboard. It’s not about your number of Twitter followers or Facebook friends. But, are there people whom I would go out of my way for and who would go out of their way for me?”

Tip: Before spending hours of your precious time connecting online, know what you want and expect to gain. Have a strategy and set specific goals. Put your plan in place, and track the results of your time investment.

Tip: Consider hiring someone or use a service to help. Large corporations now have staff dedicated solely to social networking for the company.

Tip: Be authentic and be professional—you never know who may read what you write.

At Make-it-Fly, we’re more passionate than ever about creating genuine win-win communities, and Sky-Place is another opportunity to do that.

I encourage you to sign up now at Sky-Place.com and connect, collaborate, create—enjoy the power of community!

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The Riverfront specializes in well crafted, richly satisfying occasions that balance aesthetics, personality and party. The site is versatile, accommodating groups from fifteen to five hundred. Features include: two dance floors with professional sound and lighting, a fireplace nook, three bars, outdoor patio, and gazebo. Our personal chef, custom menus, and full suite of inclusions rank us paramount in our industry.

Call 303.865.8500 today
and schedule your holiday event!
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We manage your email marketing, YOU run your business and increase profitability. We make your email marketing easy by offering consistent, reliable, managed email implementation.
The Email Works brings 25 years of marketing experience to its creation of high-impact, professional-looking emails that build strong, successful, and lasting relationships with customers, clients, or members. Cheryl is offering a free 30-minute phone consultation, plus ask about the discount for In-Flight Refueling readers. Visit www.TheEmailWorks.com.

	Do you want to promote your business on the net but haven’t a clue where to start?
Online Social Networking Made Simple A step-by-step strategy for increasing your web traffic and online visibility. Set up available at an additional charge. Mary Walewski, Buy The Book Marketing, www.buythebookmarketing.com, 303-725-9313

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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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:

• Tuesday - March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2
• Thursdays - April 2, May 7, June 4, August 2
• Mondays - April 20, May 18, June 15, September 20

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, February 26, 2009

Time: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $10 online, $15 at the door
Click here to sign up now.

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 2009. 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