On March 24, 2011 the Second Annual Business Women’s Mega Mixer will take place at provide-commerce in San Diego. Last year the Business Women’s Mega Mixer drew over 400 women to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise. It was a smashing success and many new business relationships were made that evening.

Last year the Business Women’s Mega Mixer benefited the Women’s History Museum. This year the beneficiary will be the YWCA.

Here’s the video produced from last year’s event.

If you want to meet over 400 fabulous women in business, you can visit Business Women’s Mega Mixer, or you can take my word for it and Register Now! using this form:

Event Prices

Through March 15 $29.00 After March 15th $39.00 Day of Event / At the Door $49.00

Your Name

Business Name

Phone Number

How did you hear about us?

Email

On Friday, January 21st the San Diego Chapter of SCORE will present Susan Rust, Vice President Client Services, Achieve Internet presenting “The Business Owner’s Media Mogul Manual: A Strategic Plan to Leverage Web-Based Technologies”

These days you must be your own Media Mogul! Susan will discuss how you can leverage today’s free and low-cost web technologies to get more presence in your marketplace, drive more traffic to your website and convert more people into customers. You will gain insight into how to develop a chain of marketing channels from YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin and more.

Those of you who know me well, know I’ve attended these SCORE Breakfasts since 2004. You also know I came down on SCORE pretty hard a year ago in a blog post reviewing the Score breakfast and the mistakes I thought SCORE was making. After a discussion with the incoming team, I’ve found SCORE to be very responsive to suggestions from the attendees and have seen them “re-think” some of their decisions.

I’ll be there Friday the 21st and am looking forward to connecting with the other women business owners in San Diego. I’ll be sharing the exhibitors with those of you who follow North San Diego Business on Twitter.

I still think this is one of the premiere networking breakfast and well worth your time and investment to join me. See you there??

The For You Network will host Janet F. Williams on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 11:30am until 1:00pm.

Janet will speak to the For You Network members about desire, our motivations for asking for what we want, and the motivations others have for responding positively to our requests. To get a preview of her topic, check out the North San Diego Business interview with Janet Williams, You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get!

The tips and techniques she reveals can be employed in our personal and professional lives to increase chances for success. Emphasis is on giving and receiving. Her talk concludes with an inspirational story on volunteerism with time for Q &A.

Bring a Friend (acquaintance, family member, business associate) RSVP to Barbara Eldridge at barbara(at)mindmasters(dot)com or 858-467-9091. Members, $10 and Guests, $15. Lunch is handled individually.

Vigilucci’s Seafood & Steakhouse
3878 Carlsbad Blvd
760 434 2580

Janet F. Williams began her career as a graphic artist in the Detroit area where she was born. She started an overnight graphics service with her partner that grew to three locations and 22 employees.

After moving to San Diego, she was awarded a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, followed by a master’s degree in Health Education. As a health consultant, she incorporated a holistic view for her clients’ needs, serving individuals and businesses, including Sharp Memorial Hospital and the Golden Door Spa.

In 1999, she took a turn toward automotive sales. Within six months, she became the top producer at Saturn of Escondido. When that dealership was sold, she was asked to join Harloff BMW where she became the top F&I manager, increasing back end revenue by 150% per unit. During her tenure (2001-2005), she brought efficiency and organization to the department. She vetted vendors, improved inter-departmental relations, provided sales training and coaching to the sales staff, and overall raised the level of department performance.

Janet recently released her first book, “You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get,” published by Good Day Media, a company she created to handle her writing, publishing and marketing needs.

Where else in North County can you join other women in business for an exciting networking event right on the coast in Carlsbad?

The North County Chapter of the For You Network is hosting Paula A. Sassi, who will be speaking about Team Building on Thursday, August 26th at 11:30am. The meeting is held at Vigilucci’s Seafood & Steakhouse, 3878 Carlsbad Blvd.

This presentation offers a sure and entertaining way for groups to evaluate their personalities and potentials. By applying the principles of graphology, the science of handwriting analysis, individuals can identify their personality types and abilities in order to strengthen the productivity and compatibility of the team. With a few basic handwriting indicators, team members will discover their personality types whether it is driving, expressive, amiable or analytical along with other traits that can be discerned from their handwriting.

This fun and in depth look at team members can also provide an insightful lesson in how to achieve even more understanding, compatibility and productivity in the workplace.

To reserve your place at the table, contact Barbara Eldridge, Mind Masters or call 858-467-9091

About the Presenter:
Paula A. Sassi, Certified Master Graphologist, has worked professionally in the field of handwriting analysis since 1980. Owner and director of her own corporation, Paula serves a diverse group of clients in the area of personnel selection, behavioral profiling and compatibility analysis. Top businesses and corporations seek her services for help in hiring and promoting personnel as well as in conflict resolution. Author, lecturer and teacher, Paula offers you one sure guarantee, you will never look at handwriting quite the same again.

The meeting is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Lunch is optional and no-host.

June Business Events

There are several events for women in business being held over this next week. I thought I’d share them with you.

Wednesday, June 23rd 7:30am – 9:30am
Connected Women of Influence Presents the CEO/Executive Panel Forum

Please join us on June 23rd for a special gathering of influential business-to-business women at Riverwalk Golf Club for the June CEO/Executive Panel Forum!

Meet Women CEO’s & Top Executives

Join Connected Women of Influence (CWI) members as we present our panel program series designed to bring the best and the brightest connected women of influence together for a morning panel forum!  More details…..

Thursday, June 24th 11:30am to 1:00pm
For You Network

Time and Life Management and Time Blocking

Come and Learn the essentials to put time back into your day and checkmarks on your to do list.

ERIK E. SWANSON has spent the past 12 years traveling the world, interviewing top achievers, and studying success.

He’s studied, and worked directly with top experts/ gurus such as Brian Tracy, Tom Hopkins, Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Bob Burg, Jack Canfield, and has been a Success Coach with over 45 other speakers! Many of them have been featured in the best-selling book/ movie “The Secret!”

Bring a Friend (acquaintance, family member, business associate) RSVP to Barbara Eldridge at barbara(at)mindmasters(dot)com or 858-467-9091.

Vigilucci’s Seafood & Steakhouse
3878 Carlsbad Blvd
760 434 2580

Thursday, June 24th 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Extreme Bio Makeover

Are you proud of your biography and headshot?

If not, this is your chance to get professional help!

Your bio and headshot are instrumental in defining your image in traditional marketing and social media. Professional headshots and bio writing will typically run you from $200-$900. Get both for a fraction of the price at this exciting event! Investing in a professionally written bio and headshot by a professional photographer will be money well spent for years to come.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS TODAY
Price – $59 before 6/17, $69 after 6/17, and $79 at the door. Includes bio writing, professional photography, food, drinks & networking! More details…..

On Thursday, March 25, 2010 nearly 400 women attended the Business Women’s Mega Mixer at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. The event benefited the Women’s History Museum.

Businesses Shown In Slideshow

Patti O’Neill Designs

Robbie Motter

Robbie Motter & Mindy Selinger

Firehouse Brewing Company

Senior Movers Master

Meeka’s Designs

Adcentive Group

Herr Photography

Sheryl Roush

American Business Women’s Association

Super Food Drive

Cork and Platter

For You Network

Head To Toe Expo

Girls, Inc

Kensington Cafe

Wanda Allen

Felena Hanson

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Michelle Bergquist

Lizza Rizzo

Colleen Connery & Judie Keys

Women’s Global Network

Queen Eileen

Networking Is About Relationships

I’ve told this story many times. I published Networks, later renamed to The Business Resource, in the early ’90s….yes, I’ve been around that long. It was a time of large networking events. The Business Resource had it’s own membership, and it’s own networking events.

One event I would often attend had an interesting way of passing business cards…red solo cups, the 16oz size. The cups would be placed around a table and you simply walked around the table and dropped a business card in each cup. At the end of the evening, you picked up your cup and left. Now we have Speed Networking.

So why do I tell this story again…Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit a structured referral organization. That’s a networking group that allows only one person from each “type” or “discipline” in business, ie: one banker, one real estate agent and so on. The visit took me back to the slammin’ days of networking and the red solo cups.

As I approached I saw some business buddies I knew, so it was noted when I signed in that I already had “friends” here. I mentioned that we belonged to another structured referral organization and was immediately greeted with the “rules” about what I could belong to and what I couldn’t belong to. That would be welcome enough, but there’s more…

Bless Mindy Selinger’s heart when she hears this…as I filled out my name tag (reminder to self, Mindy was right…get my own name tag) the woman behind the table asked me to stop and write my name so people could read it.  In other words, my writing sucks. Now, admittedly, I do have my Dad’s way of writing, but is that really something you want to say to someone who is checking out membership in your group…and you’re meeting for the first time? After all, you’re going to ask me to fork out $330 annual fees, plus $100 registration fee and $40 a month in food/room fees, as well as requiring me to attend a “good member training”.

Now the fun part. This organization asks that the guests place their cards on a tray and the tray is passed around for all the others to take the guests cards. The members card box is also passed around, but somehow it didn’t get to my table. So, they had my card, but I didn’t have theirs…well accept for the people I really did meet, converse with, and exchange cards.

When I checked my email this am, one of the members emailed me about how nice it was that I attended their meeting and how happy I would be as a member. Then, she put me on her email list…..here’s where I bristle. I never met her. She never came to me and introduced herself and I never found my way to her to introduce myself. If she had, and if she’d used the approach with me in person that she used over the call we just had, she’d realize I have a professional relationship with an anti-aging skin care consultant. If I had any referrals, he would be the first person I’d refer. Why? Because he and I have been networking for well over a year. I know him, and if anyone I knew needed anti-aging products I’d refer them to him. He and I have a business relationship.

So, along comes the phone call today. I don’t care for people not telling the truth. She called, reminded me that we had met, which we hadn’t, and told me she called to ask me about my business. However, the next sentence was…. “if you remember I have the anti-aging skin care line.” I told her I was well acquainted with the line, and it’s major competitor, and knew many consultants with each company. With that she ended the call…before she could find out what I did, which is the reason she called me.

Two points to be made with this story.

1. Taking a business card off a table, tray or other item does not constitute meeting someone. In the internet marketing world, we live by the CanSpam Act. There should be a reasonable expectation that we’ve met before you add me to your email list. At least there was an unsubscribe I could use, and did use.
2. Don’t lie to me. Don’t call me and tell me you met me. If you had met me, you would have known I was not an ideal client for you. However, if you had a conversation with me in which I told you I had an existing business relationship, and you still tried to “sell” to me, what does that say about your integrity?

Networking is about relationships. If your networking group is holding an open house, maybe you don’t need to worry about whether you can read a name on a tag or not. Maybe you can forgo the “rules” talk at the door. Maybe you should actually try to meet the guests and not just collect cards. You’re the host!

For as much as we hear that relationship marketing is the way to go, or that you want to aim for “referrals of a lifetime” there are still plenty of business owners out there who are all about the red solo cups.

The Score Women’s Networking breakfast was held Friday, January 22, 2010 at Morgan Run Country Club. These are photos of some of the exhibitors at the breakfast. If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw the tweets from the breakfast.

Shown in the slideshow:

Carolyn Gross, Carolyn Gross
Sadie King, The Conscious Cook
Leslie Osterman & Pam Bothelo, Send Out Cards
Linnea Zeiner and Felena Hanson, Savvy Cuisine
Pamela Croft, Dinner At Home
David McCain, Communicating With Heart
Mary Rogers, Mission Accounting
Melanie Young, Back Alley Tours
California Bankruptcy Group
Carlos Chavez, San Diego Printing
Sherry McKenzie, Veronica Glass Jewelry
Sue Crum, The R.E.D. Team

Did you know that 384,925 Junior Achievement volunteers teach 367,305 classes to 9,326,748 students each year? That’s 25,553 students a day and nearly 1,065 students every hour who become empowered with the skills to create a better tomorrow for themselves and their communities!

TheMeetMarket will hold its second annual Mix, Mingle and Jingle event on December 11, 2009 at Shadowridge County Club in Vista to benefit Junior Achievement of San Diego and Biz Town for a small $10 donation. Mix, Mingle and Jingle is a place for small business leaders to come network, generate business leads and spread a little holiday cheer to benefit Junior Achievement and the many North County San Diego 5th graders who attend Biz Town each year.

“Mix, Mingle and Jingle is a great way to give back to the community while expanding your business opportunities at the same time. We couldn’t be happier to be involved,” said Penny Ranftle from Junior Achievement/Biz Town San Diego.

The event will feature booths from various organizations,  who will all be displaying and selling unique holiday gift selections. Each of these organizations has contributed to make this event possible to support Junior Achievement and Biz Town.

This is also a nice networking event held in North San Diego County’s business community. Come and meet some of the other small business owners, expand your sphere of influence, mix a little, maybe even mingle, and….if you’re lucky, you may hear Santa’s jingle! Hope to see you there this Friday, December 11th.

The North San Diego County business community welcomed 6 Degrees San Diego to the Sheraton, above Legoland July 15th. Matt Greene recently expanded 6 Degrees San Diego to North County.

Here are the businesses I met last night:

Stan Quinn, Quinn’s Rapid Websites
Peter Turner, Paradigm/Magic Lantern
Dr. Carolyn Humphreys, Synchronicityhc
Bridget Ayers, GSW Consulting
Pamela Cook, Unlimited Benefits
Lisa Whalen, Whalen Organizing and Consulting
Mike McDaniel
Chris Williams, 5 Star Direct Marketing
Dave Edmiston, Time Will Never Tell
Alena Stralkova, ale studio
Dr. James Von Hipple
Lorie Buscemi, Bella Designs & Remodeling
Sean Ryan, Pure Water Technology of San Diego
Russell Davis, Davis Law Associates
Robin Kemp, Kemp Thomas
Cyndi Varacalle, Culver Careers
James Hickey, JMH Marketing Group
Kevin Viner, Corporate Magician
Charles Silveria, Any Budget Printing
Bonnie Campbell, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County
David Patrone
Jeff Moore, Midnight Productions

Ah the end of the year and the compressed networking schedule! There are a couple of events in North County this week that will be perfect for expanding your sphere of influence.

On Wednesday, December 10th, from 5pm to 7pm, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce holds it’s networking mixer, know as the Sundowner, and this one promises to be fabulous! We’ll be meeting at the new Sheraton at The Crossings.

On Friday, December 12th, from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Shadowridge Country Club, The Meet Market will hold it’s Drive By Christmas, Mix, Mingle and Jingle. This is a North San Diego Business Community event with the proceeds of the $8 ticket sales to benefit Becky’s House.

This is an opportunity for you to meet other North San Diego Business owners and get a little holiday shopping out of the way, at the same time. There will be vendors with pre-wrapped gifts that all you’ll need to do is add the tag. What could be simpler?

Here’s an interview with Stacie Marotta of The Meet Market
 

Also, on Friday afternoon at 3pm Pacific Time, you’ll want to tune into North San Diego Business At Large, our online radio show, where I’ll be chatting with Barbara Eldridge, Mind Masters, continuing our series about Creating The Ideal 2009 Business Year!

Building upon Roger Lane’s information last week, Barbara will be sharing more about planning and systematizing your business. This is part of our series designed to help you learn from experts more about running a successful business in this coming year. There are a lot of opportunities for small business owners. Let’s make the most of them.

The online radio show has five available phone lines. This is your chance to ask your questions from business experts and advisors that know what they are talking about. It’s as easy as tapping the link in your browser and listening. If you can’t get a call in line, there’s a text chat area to ask questions.

We’ll be reserving time to share your business name and website address. You’ll just need to type it into the text chat and I’ll make sure it get’s on the audio. Better yet, call in and be on the audio yourself. The previous episodes are archived here at North San Diego Business, the right sidebar!