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How to stop feeling nervous about networking

May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

imagesDo you want advice on how to stop feeling nervous about presenting?

That feeling of dread just before standing up to give a 60 second presentation is not great is it!

I remember back to the day in 1999 when I attended my very first networking event.  I was nervous as anything and couldn’t eat a sausage that morning and not even at the event.  Nobody warned me that I had to stand and give a presentation for 60 seconds.  I had no idea what to say.  All I remember was that what came out of my mouth was a muddle and I just wanted to run for the hills!!

Today I am an accomplished networker.  I co-founded a Staffordshire networking group with 7 groups and 20 members in each and  I was responsilble for training the members in networking success.  I witnessed some amazing opportunities created.  A far cry from my first networking event I can tell you.  In fact from my networking, I have generated some amazing strategic alliances, created some brilliant connections and boosted my business.  In fact I have been called the most connected business woman by a number of highly respected business people.

However, I have to say to you that, if you want to thrive from your own networking then you have to ensure you avoid the 6 common mistakes VAs make.  I am going to share these with you over the next three weeks…so enjoy!

Your 60 Seconds

Do you notice that just before your turn to stand up and do your 60-second pitch or your ten minute presentation, your heart starts to beat faster, you feel a churning in your gut, you suddenly forget what you had planned to say.

Then you stand up and notice how you are shaking, you feel conscious of everyone staring at you, you jumble up your words and mumble…oh damn you feel you’ve made a mess of it all and now have to wait until the next meeting to get it right …. but …. next time comes around and all you think about is the terrible experience of the last meeting …. oh what to do!!!!

Here is Tip Number 1 – let’s tackle those nerves of yours first

  • Actually being a little nervous is a GOOD thing believe it or not as having them allows a peak performance.  I speak at a lot of large conferences each year and I am always a little nervous beforehand, yet I find this helps me to give the best presentation.
  • However, the key is in the control of your nerves and feeling confident. How do you do that?  Visualisation.
  • If all you tell yourself is that you are nervous and then imagine yourself standing there a bag of nerves, then guess what…you will experience that…you are what you think.
  • By visualising yourself as a confident person, giving a sound presentation, imagining feeling calm and relaxed and even visualising people looking at you with keen interest whilst you are standing there thoroughly enjoying the presentation – then guess what again…you will experience that!!
  • Remember that much of the nerves (controlled) will be on the inside.  I bet people have told you that you appeared very confident and you respond with surprise…well, if you take the first three letters of confidence you have ‘con’, it is easy to con your audience!  The visualisation is what will help con your subconscious mind.
  • Remember that whatever you tell yourself often enough you will become true, change the way you think, act, behave as if you were the person you want to appear to be.

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Filed Under: Biz Booster Tips, Confidence, Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Let Your Passion Shine Through

January 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Let your passion shine through! You know this is your business! Love it! Love talking about it!

For some people their lack of confidence comes from feeling embarrassed at talking about themselves and they worry that they are coming across as salesy. You don’t have to be salesy.

Love what you do. The one comment I receive time and time again is: “You have an amazing energy and a passion for what you do”. I say: “I know! I love it! I love what I do. I love supporting VAs to become a success in their business. I love giving them the secrets to marketing their business and how to network effectively. I love it!”.

And that’s the sort of impression you want to make with people. You don’t want to be talking so that you think “I really don’t want to be doing this”.

As part of your confidence let your passion about what you do shine through.

Remember it’s not all about you. There will be other people attending the event who are thinking: “Oh gosh. I don’t know what to say. I’m not feeling very confident. I feel nervous”. How lovely that they have someone like you to approach them and make them feel comfortable.

“It’s not all about you.”

When you walk into a room and it is already full of people you could ask the organiser to introduce you to somebody – explain that this is your first time networking and you would like to get to know people.

Please don’t say that you are feeling very nervous or not very confident because then you are sending out the wrong message and you are reaffirming what has possibly been in your mindset up until now.

Keep that away. Get rid of that gremlin.

What would be the worse case scenario? If I walked up to somebody and said: “Hello my name is Carmen MacDougall and this is my first time at this networking meeting, I would like to get to know you and your business, what do you do?”

You know it doesn’t really matter how you start off that first conversation, it’s the fact that you are going up to someone and starting that conversation.

A great place to go and start a conversation is the table with tea and coffee, especially when you have to help yourself a it is natural to offer: “Would you like me to pour your tea as well?” and then ask “How did you get here today?” or “Did you find the traffic bad today?” or “This seems like a room full of really fantastic people doesn’t it, the energy is just buzzing in here, isn’t it?” or “Is this your first time here?” or “What are you hoping to get out of this networking meeting today?”

Part of your confidence is preparing questions that you can ask people so that you are not blankly starring at someone thinking “Oh my gosh, my mouth has just dried up, I haven’t got a clue what to ask”. You can avoid that just by thinking and practising some questions that show interest in the other person.

Know that:

  • It is ok if this is your first experience of networking.
  • It is ok to ask people to be introduced to somebody.
  • It is ok to approach somebody.
  • By doing it, time and time again, you will become very confident at it. It will become second nature.

Want to find out more about network and the 7 key tools you need? Pop over to find out more information on our new ecourse.

Filed Under: Biz Booster Tips, Confidence Tagged With: , , ,

Google drives – what’s it all about?

December 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

You may have heard the recent talk of Google launching a new cloud storage system, simlar to Dropbox and wondered what it is all about. Well Google have launched their new cloud storage system, Google Drive, but what is all the fuss about?

Well when you sign up to Google Drive, you get 5 gigabytes of online storage for free. Should you need more space than this, you can but extra space at very reasonable prices, $2.49 dollars a month will get you 25 gigabytes of storage, $4.99 a month will get you 100 gigabytes of storage and $49.99 a month will buy you 1 terabyte of storage.

Google Drive is similar to Dropbox as when you download the software, your files will be put into the computer’s file system. Then when you are creating and saving documents into your Drive file, it is sync across all of your devices. This system will work with Windows and Mac devices plus apps are also available for android and iPad and iPhone.

There is a search facility which will enabl you to find any file stored quickly and easily. You can choose to search by keyword and filter and narrow these results by owner, file type or other criteria. Also scanned documents can be searched for thanks to the Optical Character Recognition which has been incorporated into the programme.

Google Docs is integrated within Google Drive enabling you to upload existing Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents to Google Docs, and are then converted to its own format. This does offer you the majority of the most common features of Microsoft Office and many small businesses are using this software as their main software for creating and editing their documents. You can, however, export your documents back to Microsoft Office, so if you decide you need the extra tools you get from Microsoft Office you can re-format your documents to be able to do this.

You can work with others in real time on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets and will be notified through your Gmail email account whenever any changes are made. You can also share comments to add to the discussion of the projects you are working on.

Google Drive is very much like DropBox as you can access your documents via your computer but is also web-based enabling you to access any file in whatever location you are in. It can also means that clients or colleagues can edit these documents via their web browser. Google Docs also provides a chat window to the side of the document you’re editing, great for if two people are working on a document at the same time.

Filed Under: Biz Booster Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Guest blog: Is the Story of Your Life Keeping You Stuck in Your Business

November 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

“Is the Story of Your Life Keeping You Stuck in Your Business” by Victoria Player

I have found it quite interesting how many VAs I have heard tell me that they are struggling in their business – whether it is to get people on board as clients, getting people to understand what it is they do as a VA or getting people to pay their fees. Yet other VAs I have spoken to have business coming out of their ears and are seeking associates to support them.

What makes the difference between the two? Well, do you notice that the more you talk about your story the more the story becomes you? Whatever you say is or is not happening – happens!! Actually, you then start to feel this situation becomes the norm. So if you are not doing so well, you find yourself saying you can’t afford xyz or you don’t have time to work on your business…which can often become quite limiting!

So, I was thinking about this the other day and then, talk about the universe attracting people in your direction for a reason. I came across a great article by Victoria Player on this very topic. I could not believe it. With her permission, please read her tips on how to get unstuck in your business.

“Your story of lack becomes a predominant though that’s stuck on replay. Without knowing it women are replaying the very thing that they don’t want on autopilot day and night. Eventually it’s internalised and becomes a limiting belief. The very thing you DON’T want starts to show up in your existence over and over again, and reaffirms the unwanted as truth.

As a result women live with the pain of their unwanted situation for longer than they need to. They are so accustomed to it that they become anesthetized to their struggle. Their feelings of lack and ‘not enough’ become the norm. Eventually they’re reduced to being trapped by the ‘story’ and limitation of their situation.

I experienced something similar myself recently. My son is 2 years old, I’m a single mother and we don’t see or receive support and financial help from my son’s father. This had become my story of lack. I felt burnt out and overwhelmed by the sheer weight and responsibility of bringing up a child alone, being a good mother, running a business full time, whilst having to “bring in the bacon” single handed.

My lesson came when I realised that it wasn’t my situation that was holding me back from all that I desired, but the ‘story’ I attached to it. It was the story that I was telling myself about my situation that pinched me off from the wealth of abundance that was available to me. My situation didn’t change at all, but the shift in my awareness did, and allowed a flood of miraculous opportunity to open up for me.

So, today I want to share 2 essential entrepreneurial mindset shifts that will help you transform your story of lack into a story of success and abundance, and bring to you the very thing you are seemingly struggling to receive.

Mindset Shift #1: Choose to See Opportunity in Every Challenge

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the discomfort and lack of an unwanted situation. We get so caught up in fighting through the unwanted, that we fail to see the opportunity that is sitting there right in front of us. It’s as though we are unable to see the bushes for the trees!

Where there is lack, there is always opportunity. So be mindful of where you choose to put your attention and focus. In doing so, you will uncover choices that you may not have previously been aware of. Before long you’ll be making decisions that empower you, thus moving you away from the unwanted, and rapidly towards the success you desire. Don’t make the same decisions and expect a different outcome.

Mindset Shift #2: There is Something for You to Learn Within Every Challenge

Every business challenge is a gift. Each gift shows up in different clothing. It may show up dressed as pain, self doubt, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of someone saying “No,” feelings of not being good enough, challenge, lack of time, lack of money, exhaustion, overwhelm, trouble with the kids, trouble with hubby or even illness.

Just know that everything you desire is right behind each of those challenges. In the same way that we find the most beautiful, valuable diamond deep within the earth’s crust amongst the hardest of rocks. So too will you find the glorious breakthrough amongst the hardest of your challenges. Walk through these consistently, and you will soon be experiencing the joy, success, financial freedom and a true sense of achievement that comes with entrepreneurial breakthroughs.

Don’t let your story of lack dictate your reality. Know that I believe in you. Know that you have what it takes to reach new levels of excellence in your business. And remember that your breakthrough and transformation IS quite literally a thought and decision away… and I’m here to help if you need me!

“Victoria Player specialises in working with coaches, consultants and solo women entrepreneurs who are struggling to attract clients and create consistent cash flow. She helps them streamline their business and transform their marketing so that they can dramatically increase their income and finally build more fun and financial freedom into their business. www.VictoriaPlayer.com.”

**Due to popular demand, I will be running a FREE one-off webinar on TUesday 21st November on “How to Stop Struggling: The 6 Key Strategies to Attract More Fee Earning Clients Now“** Register here.

Filed Under: Becoming a VA, Biz Booster Tips, Get Out of Your Rut! Tagged With: , , , ,

Social Media: Use Facebook groups to attract and keep clients

October 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

You will already have no doubt already set up a page on Facebook for your VA business and are interacting on this and I am sure you are a member of at least one group on there but are you using Facebook groups to attract and keep clients?

By creating a group on Facebook you can segment your clients like you already do with your email lists. You can create communities around particular products or services, provide a community to network for existing customers, drive new sales and improve your customer service. You can achieve all this by simply clicking ‘Create a Group’.

Few businesses are currently utilising this way of using groups for client retention and generating new leads so why not get a head start. In this post I will explain 3 ways you can use groups on Facebook to attract new clients and keep existing clients wanting more.

  1. Secret groups – create a place to network. Do you offer VIP services or products to your clients? Using secret groups on Facebook is a great way to make them feel extra special and give them an area that is secure to ask questions to others. Adding experts to this area will make them feel they are receiving added value and through using secret groups, you will find client retention. Only members of a secret group can see the group and who is in it.
  2. Closed groups – create a customer support centre. In closed groups, everyone can see who is in the group but not what has been written, so this is a great way to generate an open dialogue about your products or services, what works and what needs attention, without being seen by anyone outside the group. Using this type of group can cut down the email clutter, help develop a network to support and encourage clients and gain feedback.
  3. Open groups – spread your message, build awareness and show authority. Start or join open groups but don’t simply spam the group with your sales pitch. Give information and advice relevent to questions raised, interact and take part in conversations in the group and instigate topics that can showcase your expertise. These are great arena’s to build awareness and get your message across but you have to be subtle.

When starting a group, use the ‘About’ section to explain what the group is about and its goals. Guidelines for the group should be posted in the ‘Docs’ section so members know what they can and can’t do. Groups are all about participation, so encourage interaction and regular postings, this is the best way to make Facebook groups work.

Filed Under: Biz Booster Tips Tagged With: , ,

How to get others to understand what a VA does 2

October 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

In the last post on how to get others to understand what a VA does, we introduced you to thinking about you you tell others what you do. Here go in to more information on helping others understand what VA’s do and how you can help their business.

It is important that you make it very clear what the true value is in your services and how they can make a positive impact…perhaps to their income or work/life balance.

You are the facilitator to help them create solutions and results

Your conversation should include who you work closely with, what solutions you provide and use examples, the results you help people to achieve and use examples, the guarantee you offer and the benefits.  This is called ‘positioning’ and is the basis of your marketing.  Anyway, you’re not reading this for a long marketing lesson; you just want to know what you need to communicate to help people understand what you do.

First what not to say….

  • A) Avoid using your title or label…I am a VA.  This can end the conversation.
  • B) There is no need to talk through how you work, use jargon or describe specifically how you help your clients.  It’s like hearing a plumber tell you exactly how they will fix your water pipes…do you really need to know?

Summarise simply the results you help clients achieve.  Make an impact with what you are saying.  Make it unique.

Here is a simple exercise I use to help me to focus on the results aspect for clients.  I use the words “which means that…”  For example:

  • I help clients to create more time to focus on their business…which means that…they can spend time on key activities that will enable them to raise their profile…which means that…more of their prospective clients will learn about what they do…which means that…through regular communication they can build a stronger presence, better relationship and can gain trust amongst their audience…which means that…their audience is more likely to buy from them…which means that…which means that…their income will start to increase significantly and in a faster time that before…which means that…they can achieve their ultimate business goals of working less time for more money…which means that…they can they will be fulfilled in their business and therefore in their personal life – RESULT!

I know this seems a bit long winded, this is for my own purpose, and not something I do with clients.  This is something we use in coaching to get people really focused on what they want and why.  I believe that a VA is about helping their clients achieve their WHY in life.


Filed Under: Biz Booster Tips, Confidence Tagged With: , ,

Presentation skills for VA’s

October 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

by kenfotos

Want to know how you can stop feeling nervous when you are presenting in front of an audience?

Do you notice that just before your turn to stand up and do your 40 or 60- second pitch or your ten minute presentation, your heart starts to beat faster, you feel a churning in your gut, you suddenly forget what you had planned to say.

Then you stand up and notice how you are shaking, you feel conscious of everyone staring at you, you jumble up your words and mumble…oh damn you feel you’ve made a mess of it all and now have to wait until the next meeting to get it right …. but …. next time comes around and all you think about is the terrible experience of the last meeting …. oh what to do!!!!

View things from the audience’s perspective.

Have you ever sat in the audience whilst listening to someone’s ten minute presentation and lost interest or became confused with too much information?  Then learn from this…keep it simple.

What will make the impact is to think about what they want to hear…when you are in the audience do you want to know how the  speaker’s service could benefit you or have a positive impact on someone you know?  Of course you do, so this is what you should be aiming for…getting across how THEY, the audience can start to notice something positive by you working with them or those that they know.

In the next part we will show you how to handle those nerves.

Filed Under: Biz Booster Tips, Confidence Tagged With: , ,

How to get others to understand what a VA does

October 16, 2012 By 1 Comment

Can you think of a time when someone has told you about their business? How often have you gained a clear understanding of what they do?  I can guess that at some point in the past you have come away from a conversation and have still been confused about their business?  So many people state that they create business solutions, help you to make money or help you save money…but what do they mean exactly?

When people are listening to you talk about what you do…what are they hearing about you?  Do they get what you do?  If not, you need to think again about your message and how you deliver it.

This is something a lot of Va’s have experienced, and, although many people understand what a VA does, not everyone will fully understand the benefits and will hesitate investing their hard earned cash in a VA…so what’s the cure?

Well the cure is…or the secret is…quite simply…putting yourself in their shoes and understand the results they want to achieve.  Put yourself in their shoes and understand the challenges which they are experiencing.   If you can demonstrate that you understand all of this as well as what they want and need (results), plus that you can understand how important it is to them to achieve those results, then they will start to see the value in your VA services.  It really doesn’t matter how you help them, they don’t need to understand your tools, all they want and need to know is that you can help them to take away the challenges so that they can achieve their results.

Filed Under: Becoming a VA, Biz Booster Tips Tagged With: , ,

Blogging – How to create great content

October 11, 2012 By 1 Comment

I thought I would share with you some useful tips on how to generate great content for your blog. In the previous blogging posts we have covered headlines and why it is important that you are blogging but sometimes it can be hard to continually create new content for your site.

There is an great quick method that you can use to give you a good selection of blog post ideas that you can use over the coming month. Ideally you need to be blogging at least 3 times a week to get the most out of the increased search engine traffic. This means that ideally you need 18 posts a month, which when put like that can seem a large task.It really isn’t and here is a great way to create these 18 posts at the beginning of the month so you can schedule them in and get on with helping your clients grow their businesses at the same time as growing your own.

Grab a clean sheet of A4 paper on divide it into 4. In the top of each section you need to write the following 4 titles:

  • Background
  • Business
  • FAQ
  • Why me

Then under each heading list 5 things about your business in these areas. For example in Background you could list your past experiences, why you started as a VA etc, in Business list current trends, recent projects or new training you have taken, in FAQ highlight 5 of the most frequently asked questions about how a VA can help or what you do and in Why me this is where you can showcase why people should be using you for their business.

Once you have the ideas you then have 20 posts ready to be written and scheduled for your blog. Ths will also work for your clients if you manage their blogs.

Filed Under: Biz Booster Tips Tagged With: , ,

VA Training: Do you need it? Part 1

September 20, 2012 By 1 Comment

Do you need VA training? How can you identify what training you need either if you are starting up, already in the first couple of years or very established –  and who should you train with?

Right let’s get you started…ready?  There are 2 possible areas to this:

  • Are you considering becoming a Virtual Assistant?
  • Are you a new Virtual Assistant who needs a boost?

The question is do you need training to set up as a VA or take your new VA business forward?  Well I do always stress that this is not about showing you how to be a PA, the training is how to be effective as a VA in providing an outstanding client management system to support your clients to achieve their outcomes.  It is also about how to become successful as a VA business person.

In the following posts we will be addressing key questions on whether you think you need training to become a VA or to take your VA business forward and where to find the right information.

To find out more about the VA training VACT has to offer please take a look at our VA Taster sessions as well as the VA Mastery Course.

Filed Under: Becoming a VA, Biz Booster Tips, VA Training Tagged With: , , ,
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