Top 7 Business Networking Mistakes in Business Building

Today's business is all about relationships. Business networking is a critical strategy and tactic to build those critical business relationships. In observing business owners, executives and sales people at numerous networking events and coaching many of these same individuals, I have recognized 7 consistent networking mistakes. If you avoid these 7 mistakes, you should quickly build your business in the New Year.

Mistake #1 - No plan, no goals

Without a networking plan, you waste your valuable resources of time, energy and money. Your networking activities should be aligned to the marketing plan and specific goals within your strategic plan.

Mistake #2 - Poorly constructed elevator speech

The first 7 words that you speak when meeting a potential client, AKA as a prospect, may be the only chance you have with that individual. Your elevator speech should be a series of sentences that are linked together with each sentence "elevating" your story.

Mistake #3 - Too busy telling

As an old mentor said "If you are telling, you ain't selling." The primary goal of the networking event is to make a friend, not to make a sale.

Mistake #4 - No tracking

Attending networking event after event without tracking the results, again wastes limited resources. Contacts, appointments and eventual sales from each networking opportunity should be tracked to determine sales to close ratio as well as client acquisition costs. This is especially true is you belong to a specific business networking group.

Mistake #5 - Talking to "Knowns"

Networking event presents opportunities to cold call in a warmer environment. Since many sales people hate cold calling, they end up talking to "known" friends instead of finding "unknowns."

Mistake #6 - Poor etiquette

Not understanding how or when to join a group of individuals talking with each other is a continual etiquette problem. Additional poor etiquette includes handshakes, introductions and even table manners.

Mistake #7 - Not being present

Many times networking attendees believe the goal is to collect as many business cards as possible. In their haste to meet that next prospect, they are not present with the current prospect. This does achieve the goal of making a friend.

By avoiding these 7 business networking mistakes, you may be able to enhance your networking activities and reap even greater rewards in the New Year.

Are you where you want to be? To find out where you are, then M.A.P. for Success, a FREE email course may help you begin to chart a course of business, professional or personal success. Visit http://www.processspecialist.com/action-plan.htm Do you want more sales? Then register for FREE professional sales skills assessment http://www.processspecialist.com/sales-skill-assessment.htm Please feel free to connect with me, Leanne Hoagland-Smith, Your Chief People Officer and Business Coach, who works with those who are tired of not being where they want to be and truly want more for their businesses and their selves. 219.759.5601 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leanne_Hoagland-Smith

The 2 Top Mistakes when Buying a Soft Side Above Ground Swimming Pool

There are some common mistakes which are made every year when it comes to the selection of a Above Ground Swimming pool for the backyard. Before you purchase a pool, understand that what you learn here will take you out of being just another unhappy pool purchaser this year.

Being in the business of selling Above Ground Swimming pools for almost 6 years now, I see the same mistakes being made year after year by so many folks, that I decided to outline them here for you. Maybe with a little education, you can be one of the happy swimmers this year with your Above Ground Swimming Pool.

Mistake #1: Waiting Until its 100 Degrees to buy a Pool

The most frequent mistake that people make concerning Above Ground Pools is that they wait until the busiest time of the swimming pool season to purchase a pool. Every year as the temperature rises, so does the demand for pools and subsequently; the price you will pay. Most manufactures limit their production to accommodate what they feel the seasons demand will be. They ship product from March through June and then they are done. No More. This means that supplies are limited even though it may not seem that way, no more pools are being made until the next year. Prices skyrocket as demand increases and the retailers no that they don't have the opportunity to order more. They live with the understanding of "Make what you can while you can", the season is short.

Solution #1: Buy Early and Save $$$$$

Most sellers of your favorite above ground pool, whether inflatable or framed, offer their very Best Deals during the Winter months. Remember; inventory which is taking up room but not being sold is an expense to them, but they have to order and receive from the manufactures, the swimming pools months ahead of the season or they won't have anything to sell. It has been tracked and documented that the price of some of the most popular pools like Intex™ or DoughBoy™ Above Ground Swimming pools increase in price almost 30% during the months of April thru June. Thus, January, February, and March is the optimum time to make your purchase. Don't wait and save upwards of 30% which can be quite substantial depending on the pool you purchase.

Mistake #2: Purchasing the Wrong Size Pool

Its happens quite often that the decision on which swimming pool to purchase is based on price and not need. Your pool arrives; you get it all set up, and then find out that you have more friends who want to cool off with you than first thought. The swimming pool which looked huge while empty is now just too small to accommodate all of the folks you would like. Too Late!

Solution #2:Always Go Big!

Purchase the largest above ground swimming pool you can possibly afford and accommodate with the space you have available. You will always have plenty of folks to fill it and the price differences you will find to be minimal. This is an investment which you plan on getting some use out of for years to come. If your pool is too small, you will be kicking yourself every year. By investing the extra $200.00 or so it takes to get a larger pool, you will insure a great time to be had by all instead of regret. Remember; Its not like you can just send it back or throw it away. Because of the expense to ship a heavy weight item, most retailers will have a policy where if you return the pool, you will pay to ship it back plus incur a restock fee. You will be out of some money and have nothing to show for it. Get the Bigger Pool!

You only need to remember 2 things to make your Swimming Pool purchase this year a successful one: Buy Early + Buy Big

By remembering these two things, your summer time above ground pool fun is insured. The worst thing in the world is the regret you feel after a purchase because you fell into making the same 2 mistakes made by so many each year. Don't be a statistic-Be a Happy Pool Owner!

C.A McCraw is the founder of PoolsInflatable.com. The site features Intex Pools in a variety of sizes and styles for every budget. Looking for Above Ground Swimming Pools; Stop by PoolsInflatable.com. Feel free to use or distribute this article provided you keep the authors lines in tact. Thanks Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C.A_McCraw

The Many Hazards of Construction Zones

No one appreciates the bright orange signs indicating that there is road construction ahead. Every year, it seems as though half of the country's highways all have construction projects being completed or started. While this frequently causes traffic jams and inconveniences, these construction zones also pose a threat to drivers and construction workers alike.

It is no secret that employment in the road construction industry is hazardous. In fact, 73% of all deaths among members of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) occurred in road and highway construction. This number is exceptionally high, particularly when considering the fact that only around 30% of their members are employed in the road construction industry specifically. Every year, between 120 and 130 road construction workers are killed. 23% of the fatalities are due to construction workers on foot being struck by a wide variety of traffic vehicles.

The leading safety hazards for construction workers are falling from a height, motor vehicle crashes, electrocution, machines (including roll over), and contact with falling objects. Non-workers are at risk as well. They are at risk due to improperly designed barricades, uneven lanes, poorly constructed signs, narrow lanes, and confusing signs. The majority of the risks for non-workers are causes of accidents.

Whenever there are uneven lanes, there is the risk that an exceptionally top-heavy vehicle can roll over. In addition, narrow lanes can make it exceptionally scary to pass an 18-wheeler. All of the risks associated with 18-wheelers on normal roads are exacerbated by construction zones. There is simply less room for any sort of error in a construction zone.

Improperly designed barricades are a problem because they frequently result in cars rolling or flying through the air after they strike a barricade. Barricades should be solid though. Orange cones are not a good sort of barricade as they do not provide a solid divider between traffic travelling in opposite directions. Poorly constructed signs, despite their seemingly nonthreatening appearance, can easily slice through a windshield or car if they are hit with enough force.

Confusing signs are a big cause of accidents in construction zones. This category of risk includes conflicting lane markers. If an individual can't understand where he or she is supposed to go, the individual has less time to change lanes if necessary. This contributes to split-second decisions which can cut other drivers off and cause accidents.

Joseph Devine If you would like more information concerning the risks posed by 18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks, please visit http://truckaccident-lawyers.com/article_truck_accidents_nationwide_stats.aspx to learn more. If you have any questions, the experienced team will be more than happy to answer them. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

Building A Log Home? Don't Make These Mistakes

Research suggests that building a home can be one of life's most stressful events. Your dream of building that perfect log home, on that perfect lot can easily turn into a nightmare. I worked in the real estate industry for over 15 years. I've seen a lot of heartbroken homeowners who realized to late that their dream was crashing. Most often the disaster could have been prevented if only they had done their research before signing any papers. Here are a few mistakes that I've seen over the years that just might save you some money and a lot of time. Maybe even prevent a headache or two:

1. Only work with reputable companies: From your lender to your builder, researching the companies that you are bringing on board for your project can save you money and headaches.

The Lender:

Don't just assume that the bank you've always done business with is the one you want to borrow from to build your new home. Do check out their loan products but don't forget to apply at 2 or 3 other institutions. Fees can vary as much as several thousand dollars between lenders and there are literally hundreds of loan products out there that might meet your needs.

Always check the fees on the Good Faith Estimate that you receive at the time of application. An easy way to compare lenders is to check the APY (Annual Percentage Yield). Every bank is required to give that percentage to you. Basically, it's the real cost of your loan. The higher the APY, the higher the cost of borrowing from that institution. The APY rate.is not the same as your note rate. Your note rate is what your payments are based on, the APY is the cost to you of borrowing.

If you are thinking of being your own general contractor for the project, the smaller, hometown banks are usually easier to work with. You are going to be in contact with them regularly throughout the process so make sure you can get in touch with them easily ie: you will need to submit invoices to receive draws on your construction loan. Many banks have their own process for receiving your draw money so make sure you thoroughly understand their process and make sure you can work with it. Working with a lender across the country might not be the best thing for your money and your sanity if you're the general contractor.

Above all, read before you agree.

The Builder:

Work with a reputable builder that you can readily get in contact with. Here are a few good questions to ask before you agree: Do they have an after hour emergency number? Do they carry builder's risk insurance? Do their subcontractors clean up the trash daily? Do they have a good reputation? Does the price seem too good to be true? If it does, it probably is. Builders now days can build huge homes for less money. They advertise "more square feet for your money". Sounds great, right? Not necessarily. Can you put a waterbed on the second floor?

This is a true story. A friend of mine built one of those "more square feet for your money" homes. Sure, it was big and it looked nice but...the studs were 24" on center and not the standard 16", no waterbeds allowed, the walls were not finished smoothly, and EVERYTHING was an upgrade. She ended up paying more for a "huge" home than she should have because the builder "forced" her to work with their lender who, after qualifying her knew exactly how much they could charge her and ultimately that's what she ended up paying. They're staff was very well trained.

Make sure you know who you are dealing with before you sign and make sure you know exactly what you are getting for your money.

2. Make solid decisions in a timely manner:

As you can imagine, building a home from the ground up will require hundreds of decisions to be made. Many times, those decisions need to be made quickly. If the electricians are there and have a question, remember that they are waiting on you to make a decision and likely there are other contractors working on the house waiting for them to finish. Holding up one decision can hold up the entire process, sometimes for a good length of time.

Think of the building process as a well orchestrated play. Everyone has their part to do and many times they can't do it until someone else has done their part. Don't get me wrong, sometimes there are catastrophic circumstances and stopping the building process is necessary, but many times it's not. Making good, quick decisions can be the difference between your suppliers getting their money on time or not, and that in itself can be catastrophic.

3. Take frequent road trips:

It's your home, and ultimately your money. Take the time to go to your building site and make frequent inspections. It can save you a lot of heartache in the long run. Check the workmanship, make sure it's what you expected. Check the design, is it what you agreed on? Check the details, are they what you asked for? Did they put in a tub and shower instead of an octagon shaped garden tub? Maybe you changed your mind on the tub early in the process and told your realtor or builder. Maybe you even signed a "change order" form. There, you thought it was all taken care of, right? Not necessarily....It's so easy for miscommunication to happen when there are many people involved in a project, and building a home is no exception. Take it upon yourself to double check the realtor/builder. If they made a mistake it's a lot easier to fix things early in the process than to wait and then play the blame game. Don't wait, and don't assume anyone cares about your new home more than you do. Remember, it's their job, not their home.

4. Don't sign that stack of papers unless:

Don't sign unless you understand what you are signing, the house is completed the way you agreed on and there are no outstanding bills for work done on your new home. At the closing, there will be a mound of paperwork for you to sign. You have the right to read every document, either at closing or before. Ask the title company to get you a copy of all of your closing documents 24 hours before closing and then take the time to read them. Ask questions before you get to the table. Sometimes it's not a quick thing to fix an error so the more you know before closing, the easier it will be. This is your loan that you will be paying on for a long time, make sure you understand your responsibilities.

I'm a big advocate for not signing before the house is done. A new home will always have a "call back" list. Little things here or there that need touched up. However, if there is something major that's not done, or something major that's not done to your satisfaction, you should think about calling a lawyer. Once you sign those papers it can become a battle trying to get something corrected by the builder. Remember, they have their money and other homes to build. Until you sign and they have their money, it will be easier to get their attention.

5. When problems arise:

If you don't already have a lawyer, get one (some states require it). Sure, your realtor, builder and lender all want to make sure the process goes smoothly and will do what they can to make sure that happens. After all, they are all getting paid once you sign those papers. However, if things are not going well, the best way to make sure your interests are being looked after is to get a lawyer. Find a lawyer that specializes in real estate transactions. They will get things worked out in a way that protects your interest. It may cost you a few hundred dollars but it will be well worth it. Sometimes you can't put a price on peace of mind.

To decorate your new home, visit our website at Your Cabin Connection and see our quality Log Furniture and Rustic Dйcor. Rita has over 15 years of management experience in the mortgage industry. She now has a website dedicated to offering quality Log Furniture and Rustic Decor and Country Wall Decor. Visit us at Your Cabin Connection Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Hughes

Hiring a Remodeling or Building Contractor - Ten Biggest Mistakes Homeowners Make

A successful home remodeling or building project is dependent upon finding an ethical, reliable, competent and experienced contractor. Homeowners should heed the following points when hiring a remodeling or building contractor for their project.

The Homeowner: 1. Doesn't bother to check the remodeling or building contractors' license status at all, if just to verify that he/she has one and that it is in good standing. Checking the license is a necessary formality but it does not guarantee a favorable outcome. (Not all States require licensing)

2. Assumes that just because a building contractor is licensed in his/her state that they will be ethical, will abide by the contractors laws in their state and perform quality work that meets industry standards. Many homeowners stop here without doing further background checks on the contractor.

3. Doesn't thoroughly interview the contractor, asking key questions about job performance, employees or subcontractors and material suppliers he uses, projects he has done similar to yours and how he handles problems when they come up - because they will come up.

4. Has an uncomfortable "gut" feeling about the contractor but ignores it and hires him/her anyways because they want to get going with their project.

5. Does not verify if the contractor maintains a permanent physical business address - not a PO Box or Postal Annex type address with a suite number - a mailing address, published phone number, fax, and cell phone or voice messaging system.

6. Doesn't verify that the contractor has all the necessary insurance coverage - Surety Bond that is active; Workmans Compensation Insurance if there are employees; and General Liability Insurance by contacting the companies to confirm coverage.

7. Signs a construction contract they don't thoroughly understand and has little detail with regards to the scope of work to be done, materials used with brand names you chose included.

8. Assumes the oral agreements made when discussing the project will be part of the work performed when in fact they don't make it into the contract and when later the homeowner questions the contractor about it, it becomes a "change order". And the law is on the contractors side; anything not in the contract is considered to be a change order.

9. Gives the contractor a large sum of money up front to begin the project. Every State has specific laws relating to the amount of money the contractor can legally ask for to begin the project.

10. Hires the remodeling or building contractor based on trust alone. Trust is something that is earned. If the homeowners did their homework and background checks on the contractor, they will come to trust their contractor based on his performance, behavior, professionalism and knowledge.

Jody Costello is a Consumer Advocate and web publisher of contractorsfromhell.com. As a result of a home remodeling nightmare and shock at how little oversight state regulatory agencies have over contractors, she created ContractorsFromHell.com to help other avoid the problems her family encountered. Over the last eight years she has helped homeowners deal with problems they have had with their own contractors as well as providing tips and resources on avoiding a home remodeling nightmare. Ms. Costello has worked with the Contractors State License Board over the years to help create greater protection and a voice for consumers harmed by unethical contractors. She has testified before the State Senate supporting legislation that would benefit homeowners on construction related issues. You can learn more about hiring building/remodeling contractors, know what red flags to look for, read other homeowners horror stories and become better informed before you begin your project. Go to http://www.contractorsfromhell.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jody_Costello

Assumptions About Church Building Lead to Costly Mistakes

One of the biggest mistakes that churches make when they are looking to expand their existing structure is assuming that they can just build on and add whatever they want and still be in compliance with building codes and zoning ordinances.

Just because your church building was in compliance with all the city or county rules that applied to it when it was first built does not mean that it will continue to be so when you build onto it. Even minor updates to your church design like replacing carpet and paint could trigger mandatory building code upgrades throughout the building when you try to get a permit for cosmetic changes to your building.

If you're building a new church building on the same property as your existing building, you need to make sure the proximities are right or again you could trigger required code upgrades to your existing building.

And if you change the use for part of your building, such as adding a cafй or a daycare, you may be subject to completely new building codes and may no longer be considered just a church for the purposes of zoning, which could mean the need for a variance and could require substantially more costs than you were expecting to get that operation up and running.

Many church building committees just assume they can do whatever they want if they already have a church building existing on a property, but the city or county government will want to be involved every step of the way to make sure you're complying with zoning, safety and land use regulations.

That's why it is so important to develop a master plan before you get into the design process of your new church building or remodeling project. You need to know what the legal ramifications are when you choose to build a new building or change your existing structure in a particular way. So many churches skip this step because they go to a bunch of different vendors - surveyors, landscape architects, designers, etc. - and none of them really look at the big picture of what impact this development will have and the legal and public safety hurdles they'll need to jump through. Savvy churches utilize church design and construction consultants that are able to coordinate all of the team players.

Even churches that have full-fledged building committees might be missing out on some of these details because the committee members are so concerned with the big picture of how beautiful and useful their new building is going to be that they don't think about the mundane permitting and zoning aspects - but doing these things incorrectly can cost you big money if you have to redraw plans, pay to get a variance or land use change or have to make substantial infrastructure upgrades to comply with the existing land use and concurrency regulations.

Taking the time to plan your project right on the front end will give you peace of mind that you can meet your budget as the project continues.

Bruce Anderson is a nationally recognized church design and construction consultant and president of Build-Masters Group LLC. Visit his site for a free report, "The Top 10 Mistakes Pastors Make in Designing and Building Their Church...and How to Avoid Them." Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._C_Anderso

Common Mistakes in Church Construction

Talking with hundreds of churches in building programs allows a church building consultant to develop a unique view; to realize the wisdom in Ecclesiastes when the author says, “there is nothing new under the sun.” While each church’s challenges may seem unique to them, the reality is most churches face variations of the same challenges; and many make the same general mistakes simply because they don’t know any better.

Church building projects cost hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. Mistakes can have serious financial consequences. Mistakes in a building program can be very costly, not only in terms of money, but also with respect to functionality of the finished facility, loss of confidence in leadership, and unity in the body of Christ.

A large portion of mistakes made by churches can be summarized into a single category – failure to properly plan. The church often creates a vision committee or long-range planning committee and tasks it to present a plan to the congregation. Regretfully, even the best intentioned of committees generally do not have the experience to plan and execute a building program in a manner that best meets the needs and budget of the church. Nothing against our volunteers on the committees, it’s unfair to expect these people to have the unique skill and know how that can only come by experience.

The Three Most Common Church Building Mistakes

Mistake #1 – Failure to Count the Cost

Before the church decides what it wants or needs, it must first determine what it can afford. A building program has two very real physical limitations imposed upon the program: the amount of land and the amount of money a church has available. By far, the most common mistake in building programs is a church going into the design of a building without objectively understanding its needs and without having a firm budget.

Before you start planning, you need to know what you can afford and how you will pay for it. The number of churches that end up with a set of million dollar plans with no concept of what the monthly payment would be or how they could pay for it would surprise you. In my experience, at least 4 out of 5 churches begin with plans from an architect that substantially exceed their financial ability. This is not only a waste of time, effort and money, but can erode the confidence and enthusiasm of the congregation in the building program. This is a serious and pervasive problem with churches in building programs today.

Mistake #2 – Failure to Get Outside Help

If the church does not have substantial experience at building, where should it turn? Whether to a denominational resource or independent consultant, the church often needs to look outside the walls of the church for wise counsel.

Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established…For by wise counsel thou shall make thy war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 24:3,6

Once you go through a building program, you will have a better appreciation for the “war” reference in the preceding Proverb. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, realized wisdom alone was no replacement for experience, when he purposed to build the Temple, one of the first things he requested from the King of Tyre was for a man cunning or skillful (depending on translation) to do the work.

Skill birthed out of experience is a precious commodity. If you are as wise as Solomon, you too should seek experienced help. An outside consultant can provide a proven process and can help you objectively determine the best solution for your building program.

Mistake #3 – Contracting Issues

When considering a building program, many churches make it one of their first priorities to engage the services of an architect, design/build firm or contractor. As you will read in subsequent chapters, this may not be the best course, as the church most often has significant homework to do before they take this step. When the church does contract for these services, all too often the scope of the contract is too broad, too vague or includes items the church really did not need. Said another way, the church may be committing themselves for more than they need because they don’t yet know what they need to build, what they can afford, what services they really need, and how to effectively negotiate the fees for those services. The end result is the church may find itself in a contractual agreement it needs to change or cancel. Both of which are situations that can be expensive. Proper contracting will reduce the long-term liability of the church, insure it only commits for what it needs, and help reduce cost and risk.

Many churches rely solely on legal review of contracts. While the attorney should be looking out for the church’s best legal interests, they are seldom in a position to offer any help with the business aspects of the agreement. The attorney may not have substantial experience with construction agreements and some may not understand the nuances of church business. Standard agreements for architectural or contracting services contain options your church may not need and have ambiguous language that somehow always seems to resolve itself in favor of the vendor. Get outside help from someone experienced in negotiating these types of agreements to help minimize your cost and long-term liability.

An Important Point to Remember

Did you ever hear the saying; “Never take a knife to a gunfight?” It certainly paints a graphic word picture of being at the mercy of someone better “equipped”. Here is something to remember that I believe is true for about 95% of churches: When your church begins to build, just about everyone you talk to, including; banker, realtor, architect, builder, inspectors, planning department and zoning officials will all know more about what you are doing than you do. Some of them will try to help you…some will try to take advantage of you. Do whatever you can to even the odds.

This article is excerpted from the authors book, "Before You Build" In addition to leading his church through a building and capital stewardship campaign, Steve Anderson is a church building consultant, seminar speaker, past contributing editor for Church & Worship Technology Magazine and author of the eBook, "Before you Build": Practical Tips & Experienced Advice to Prepare Your Church for a Building Program. To download the book, or for more information on church building and construction financing, visit http://www.ChurchBizOnline.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Anderson