July 25, 2007 - Women's Forum Meeting
Solutions to Overcoming Fears and Challenges in Business and Personal Life
First the entire group identified what these are and they were posted on the wall. We then broke into 3 smaller groups and came up with the following:
Group 1 Topics: Fear of success, public speaking and procrastination
Fear of Success
- Ask advice or mentoring from other business people you admire
- Join/start a "Mastermind" group
- Take small steps
- Talk to yourself/others as a sounding board
- Consider the time factor - learn to say no
- Don't bite off more than you can chew
- Consider if you are getting something from it
- Don't be a quitter
- Make a commitment and stick to it
- Motives can help figure direction
Fear of Public Speaking
- Get feedback - your perception is NOT the reality
- Focus on the audience
- If you know your subject, your passion comes through
- Speak to the level of your audience
- Culture plays a part - some people learn early on
Procrastination
- Learn to delegate
- Rationalize
- Is there some underlying concern that you can identify?
Group 2 Topics: Training & Development, Ability to Prioritize, Lack of Planning, Lack of Systems
- Being too Pushy, Perseverence
- Lack of Discipline
- Stand instead of sit when speaking to a group
- Learning is ongoing - skills are transferable
"If it doesn't kill you, you get stronger"
- Friends & allies help
- Change behavior
- Branding is key
- Ask for the business
- Expect the unexpected
- High risk/high reward
- Visualize
- Practice, practice, practice
- Feng Shui plays a huge role
- Think big - start small and then scale
- Get to market quickly
- Don't worry about the outcome
Group 3 Topics: Fear of Change, Balance between Work and Family, Differentation
Fear of Change
- Visualize success
- It's a numbers game
- Give yourself a positive self-talk
- Expect that things will change
- Be in control of change - what are you going to do about it?
- Time is a healer for everything
- Being too Slow to Act
- Fear
- Run it by people you trust/advisors/mentors/friends/family
- Prioritize/ Think it through/organize
- Focus on end result
- List pros and cons
- Time management - make a to-do list and stick to it
Balance Between Work and Family
- Successfully separate work space from home space
- Plan your time
- Stick to schedules
- Do NOT bring technology on vacations (laptops, etc.)
Differentation
- Attitude/integrity
- Know your competition
- Commitment to being better
- Understand why you do what you do
- Know your customers - what do they want?
Suggested reading:
- The Secret, Rhonda Byrne
Focusing on the positive to get whatever you want
- Do You!, Russell Simmons
12 laws to access the "power in you to achieve"
- Any of the "Chicken Soup for the. Soul" series
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What to expect at an RBA Women’s Forum meeting
Meetings are typically attended by between 30-50 participants. Most are women though some men join us. Meetings attract corporate as well as entrepreneurial members.
Each meeting includes:
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Introductions: About one minute in an "Elevator Speech" format which is described below. Through the introductions we set the stage for doing business together!
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Member Profile: One or two members share their story – how they’ve achieved success, their mentors and key landmarks. This popular segment is always inspiring.
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Program: Our programs are always educational, and always interactive so that we can learn from one another as our relationships deepen and prosper.
Women’s Forum meetings begin by circling the room for everyone’s elevator speech, or short summary about your business. Below, find a format which might be useful.
- We are the one brand of category
- That offers benefit
- To target group
- and my ideal referral would be:
Participants are invited to HOLD UP sales or resource material as you introduce yourself. Bring extra copies for the resource table and at the end of the meeting remember to take with you any remaining information. |
Minutes from previous meetings:
June meeting
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