There are many industry professionals we admire and respect. Here we would like to share their views with you, with some amazing articles on a variety of subjects relating to our business.

1. TEN WAYS TO SHARE THE PIE   (Back to top)
by Penelope Brackett
www.thecreativeseed.com

Again, networking at its best is all about generosity. At holiday time, I like to think of it as inviting everyone to the feast, and encouraging them to share the pie! Everyone is encouraged to share their culinary specialty (their gifts, vision and resources), and gratitude flows freely for the sharers of their bounty…

1.) Make a list (and check it twice) of all the clients, collaborators, associates, and friends who have supported, referred, and/or worked with you on your business, and make a commitment to contact them in some way between now and, say, January 15th. Consider how to appreciate and support your biggest fans and fill in those who don't know what you do, how well you do it, or how great a response you get from the audiences you serve. You've got news to share!

2.) Write a testimonial, and send the testimonial onto someone who might be able to help them. Let the person know you've done this so that they can follow up. (Help your collaborator grow their business in the New Year - a teacher, coach, agent, consultant - musical director, fellow performer, lawyer, financial advisor, insurance agent etc.) i.e"This musical director was instrumental in helping me create my award-winning cabaret. I encourage you to check him out in 2008."

3.) Consider a small gift and a phrase that reminds them of you, whether it's a Starbucks ("Think of me - warm and stimulating…"), a Barnes & Noble gift card ("Think of me - well-read and noble"), or maybe even a bonsai tree ("Think of me - petite and exotic"). FYI, these are meant to be fun and creative, and to get you brainstorming. A gift of beautiful stationary could say you're charming and romantic; a best-selling thriller could say that you're intelligent and mysterious. You get the idea.

2. ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE   (Back to top)
by Penelope Brackett
www.thecreativeseed.com

In my work as a career/life coach I support people in developing their lives and businesses. Whether the client is looking for a job, building a business or even looking for a romantic relationship, we inevitably get around to reaching out to their community for encouragement, advice, recommendations and of course referrals. Inevitably there is resistance. Most people say with great earnestness, I'm not good at asking for stuff. I prefer to do it on my own. On my own. Hmmm…buy why? "Wouldn't it be a lot easier to accomplish your goals with a little help from your friends, family and associates?

Danielle, Artistic Director of a Theater Company found prospective board members with one call to a fellow client. Mark, a specialist in Information Technology found the job he sought for two years through a neighbor right down the street. Bernice's stalled dissertation in Archeology picked up speed with the introduction of a writing partner.

My clients and I have benefited greatly from pushing past our resistance to making requests. Personally, my coaching business is almost entirely referral based. Early in my career, those referrals often came from direct requests. It started with inviting friends to use and then refer my services. I still make it a practice when I am starting classes or workshops to ask for referrals, particularly from "centers of influence," i.e., people with a large circle of contacts. I just started putting together a new workshop for working mothers "Designing your career to fit your life." Who did I call? The working mothers I know. Whatever your industry, declaring your gift or service as well as a need for help can build confidence, intimacy, and concrete results for your business.

Recently my client, Greg, an actor ran into an old friend on the subway. When asked how it was going, he said, Great, I'm meeting with agents and casting directors, and really focused on finding the right agent partnership." He then surprised himself by asking for a referral right then, which he immediately obtained. He told me later, "It was so easy. I could do this all the time."

So, why don't we do it all the time?