Networking is hard work. Really. It takes a lot of energy to talk to people, to listen and to keep up with your contacts by logging them into your data base, writing thank you’s, et al.

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Ol’ Relentless will be presenting to the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce (NDCC) Tech Exchange today at 11:30 am. The topic will be using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and blogs to build your brand and business. Look for details and feedback in this space later today.

Relentless Read More...

In a discussion with my colleague, Doug Fick of Retalix (www.retalix.com), a subject near and dear to me came up: face-to-face meetings.

Doug related a story from last year’s NACS Show (www.nacsonline.com) about a meeting he was actually dreading going into.  A large client asked for a meeting at the show to “talk.” Experience with this client indicated that he was expecting to get yelled at and told what all they were doing wrong. Read More...

Seen at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) in Las Vegas, this poster on the leading social media sites and vehicles:

NACS has made a concerted effort to link their membership, show attendees and exhibitors together in an on-line community.  Using the Big Three (LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter) and coupled with their blogs to drive traffic to their website (www.nacsonline) and the show, they are using these media in a smart way. Read More...

I am a believer in the “6 Degrees of Separation” idea when it comes to networking. Actually, I think it’s more like “3 Degrees.” A case in point came up this week.

Our firm has been engaged by an organization that utilizes a community leader outreach program as a way to gauge community interest. While they currently have a project with us, it was unrelated to an earlier project that occurred in our state (their HQ is outside our home state). Read More...

In this day and age we have to be aware that what we have been doing for so long, may not be relevant any longer.

That is to say, whether we are a company, an industry or an individual, we need to continue to innovate and transform ourselves. Read More...

Recently I had to introduce the speaker at a function. There are a number of formulas that one could use, but all should include these elements:

1. Be sure and speak clearly and loud enough for the group to hear.
2. Include all relevant biographical info that this audience needs to know without getting too far afield. Usually company, title, where they got their degree and some of their relevant experience (clients, projects).
3. A short synopsis of the topic at hand.
4. Ask for applause and thank the speaker for appearing.
5. At the end, present a simple gift and shake their hand.
6. Know when to step up and step back at the end of the intro and the end of the presentation.

There are other things to consider. This is a start. Read More...