Use Your Time to Thank Others - Powerful Self-Introductions Are No Accident

By Glen Gould

Using your time to thank others is a powerful technique if you can master it and if you can do it with integrity.  When you stand, you should give your "big-bang" statement. This is the one statement that focuses attention on you and your product or service. Then turn the attention to the audience in a very strategic way.  Begin to thank those in the audience for the referrals and service they have given you.  You may even find it appropriate to thank them for service they delivered to a referral you gave them. 

Why would you spend your time thanking others?  It takes the focus off of you and places it on the audience.  When you focus on others you can't possibly focus on yourself and that means your message cannot come across as being too sales focused.  We have all heard the hard sell in a self-introduction, and we know how and when to block out the presenter.

Whenever someone in the audience is the focus of attention, the entire audience is the focus of attention.  And let's face it, they are already thinking about themselves anyway.  Placing focus on the audience tells them that you understand their needs.  They need to be important.  They need to be the focus.  How could you do more to demonstrate the importance of the audience than to take the focus off you and place it on them?

What's more, it catches the audience off guard so they are prone to listen more.  The audience has likely fallen into a pattern of listening to the first few words from each presenter and then, BAM!  You do something totally unexpected.

Thanking others rewards people for actions that you want repeated.  Remember that which gets rewarded tends to get repeated.  Finally, it sends the message loud and clear that you are a great networking partner.   Everyone will want to know you if you are clearly giving good service to those who are referred to you and if you are giving referrals to the group.

However you should exercise caution.  If you begin thanking people in the audience for their leads and referrals or if you thank them for the great work they did for you or your friends, do not fail to mention everyone in the audience who you recently partnered with.  That is one sure way to alienate your referral partners.  Remember, if you can't implement this technique with integrity, don't use it at all.

Glen Gould is a sought-after speaker and trainer and the author of numerous audio programs and books including Meet Me At Starbucks. The founder of Inspiration Agents, Inc., Glen is a business growth and networking expert who works with Fortune 100 companies and chambers of commerce to grow their business through effective systems and word of mouth marketing. He is a regular contributor to numerous publications including The National Networker (http://www.thenationalnetworker.com) and co-hosts The Natural Networker Radio Show. Visit http://www.InspirationAgents.com to learn more.

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How Do Self-Marketing Capsules Work?

By M Cepeda

Self-marketing capsules are some of the state of the art methods of securing employment. This method is used by individuals who are actively seeking a job. This process usually takes about 30 seconds to deliver. Job seekers are learning that they need to always be ready to promote or market themselves.

Almost every situation can turn into an opportunity to self-market. Capsules are used to help you better position yourself as you look for work. Self-marketing capsules can be delivered to potential employers while you network. Successful job seekers are always ready to present this pitch in hopes of gaining employment. Here's how it works:

1 - Explain who you are

One of the most important parts of the self-marketing capsule is to introduce you. If this potential employer doesn't know what to call you, it doesn't help. Introductions should be the first line of business.

Along with your introduction, you should profile your experience. This is a brief way to show that you are qualified for the job opening. There is more to this step than simply repeating what the job description says. You need to present yourself as being able to perform the tasks of this job and more.

2 - Present your strengths

Every applicant has their own strengths. These are the things that need to be relayed through a self-marketing capsule. Experts say that at least 2 or 3 strengths should be presented. This allows applicants to quickly show that they will be good employees.

Employers are not only looking for qualified people. They also want people who have strengths that can apply to other things. Various tasks are included in most jobs. This is why flexibility is essential.

3 - Show your experience

Previous work and educational experience are critical bits of information. They work to showcase your qualifications. In many cases, these are what will set you apart from other potential applicants.

Job seekers should use this step just as they would a resume. The main difference is that the time period is very brief. Understanding the specific industry and the available jobs is a helpful tool. This will assist you in the process of securing a job.

4 - Discuss salary or not

Many people think that it is poor taste to discuss salary. If the potential employer brings the subject up, this is okay to discuss. Here is where being strategic is important. You will also need to know specifics about the industry and what it's paying currently.

If asked what you would be willing to make, you need to be within the normal salary range. Steps like this one could make or break the experience. Research will be critical when it comes to this part of the self-marketing capsule.

5 - Monitoring the time

Monitoring the time is the best way to keep your capsule brief. At the same time, you want to include all of your pertinent information. Practicing your capsule approach may help you in the long run. You can use friends as practice employers are networking acquaintances. Perfecting self-marketing capsule techniques will help you to find the job that you're looking for.

Betterjobsnow is a leading Job Interview Guide [http://www.betterjobsnow.com] and Interview Tactics [http://www.betterjobsnow.com] Provider. If you're desperately looking to improve your job search strategies then you can increase your chances of successful interviews in order to find a new job within the next 45 days. Visit betterjobsnow.com today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/M_Cepeda/762714
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Risk vs Return - The Best of Both Worlds

Written by Dan McFerran of www.themortgageformula.com

Creator of The Mortgage Formula. After working in the financial industry for over 20 years, for major banks and as a licensed financial planner, the author created The Mortgage Formula to help "Mum's and Dad's" pay off their mortgages quickly and easily w

We’ve been trained to think in terms of risk vs reward. Low Risk = Low Return, High Risk – High Return, but what if you could have the best of both worlds?

This information alone is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime and you’re reading it now for free. I used to charge people thousands to advise and implement this strategy and they loved it. But anyone can do it, and the best way to do it is to set it on auto pilot. I’ll show you how right now.

Option 1

Let’s say you have $20,000 to invest and want a decent, low risk investment. The best I could find today, in Australia was around 3.80%pa. OK not so bad...however the current core inflation rate is 2.3%. So for your $20,000 to buy the same amount of goods and services next year needs it needs to increase to be $20,460 ($20,000 x 102.3%). Assume that I’ve just earned 3.80% on my $20,000 which gives me $760 to include in my taxable income for the year. Based on a average tax rate of 40% , that leaves me with $456.

Wow... I just lost $4 by having my money “invested” in the bank.

Option 2

So let’s look at another option. I have a $235,000 mortgage with XZY Bank Ltd and my interest rate is 4.5%pa. I decide to check if my bank allows a fee free redraw on any extra money I contribute to the loan. They confirm with a YES you can. So, I now invest the same $20,000 into my mortgage reducing the loan to $215,000. Firstly, when they calculate interest, they generally do it on the daily balance and charge it monthly. So the first benefit is that when you make your next mortgage payment, you will make greater headway into reducing the principle outstanding amount by being charged less interest. Fantastic!

Annual Effect

Let's look at the annual effect of just the $20,000. So we get $20,000 x 4.5%pa = $900 that you’re not being charged on your mortgage by your bank. This is like earning money on an investment but you don’t pay any tax. That’s right...to compare this investment, apples for apples, you’d have to gross up the $900 by your rate of taxation. For me, I’d have to invest and earn $1,500 ($900 divided by 0.6) to match the after tax return of putting it into my mortgage. The equivalent return is 7.5% pa as shown here:

Principle amount
$20,000
Annual rate of return
7.5%
Return in dollars
$1,500
Tax (at 40%)
$600
Remainder
$900
Inflation
$460
Net
$440

So, even if you were to put the money in your mortgage for 12 months, you’ve managed to retain your buying power of the money and add $440 to the amount. That's a win, and its gets better the longer it’s left there!