Best Questions for 2009

I co-authored a book called 75 Cage Rattling Questions to Change the Way you Work and in doing so decided that questions are such powerful tools for getting us moving forward in our lives that we should ask questions more often. So, let me start with some great questions for the new year. First, consider using the acronym ASK - Awaken with a question; Spin out with more and better questions and Kindle and ignite with action questions.

For now, let's Awaken with a question. In this case, questions. Here are some of my favorite questions:

1. What is one thing you can do today to make this day more productive than yesterday?
2. Who is one person you know who you admire but have not reached out to lately?
   
3. Where is a unique place you can go in your area you have not ever gone to?
4. What will be the theme of your 2009 year? (Mine is transformation).

More questions to follow.

Networlding FAQ's

FAQs

Below are five of the questions most often asked by those new to Networlding. If there is a different question that you would like answered, please email us at info@networling.com.

What is Networlding? Is Networlding for me? How do I start learning Networlding? What are our core values? Where should I start? Networlding is a process to develop better, key, pivotal relationships for professional and/or organizational success. How often have you experienced networking that does not work? You attend an event assuming that you will meet at least one person with whom you can do business, but instead you find yourself pressured to give business. In contrast, Networlding involves building "value-based" relationships that are mutually beneficial. These strategic connections create the base for short and long-term, higher quality results than achieved through any other traditional marketing and sales strategies. Following are just a few of the ways Networlding can help achieve success: For organizations: Building better business faster through the exclusive Networlding methodology that rivals the best sales programs. Retaining top corporate talent. Organizations like CDW, Motorola, CNA and American Express have found that top employees leave within one year of employment if they have not built strong, internal networks. We offer a proven, exclusive system for ensuring retention. Breaking down the silos in organizations Identifying those people in your organization who can support you in accelerating the progress of key initiatives Moving from a hierarchical organization to create a matrixed organization where networks are leveraged both internally and externally through alliances and partnering Developing leaders within companies and their communities of practice Supporting change leaders in organizations to improve communications Accelerating the exchange of information Building a dynamic, collaborative and creative environment that fosters superior performance For individuals: Achieving professional and personal goals faster and more easily For sales professionals, helping you get those new key accounts faster Finding new and better jobs faster Starting new, powerful entrepreneurial endeavors Building a strong support network (for those new and not so new to the area) Aligning with people of similar and complementary values Becoming part of a community Building powerful, professional and community networks Experiencing a sense of belonging Networlding is for anyone who wants to build better relationships faster that can lead to truly transformational opportunities (more productive employees, better business opportunities, faster and better goal achievement) and at the same time, have more fulfillment in their lives. Networlding has served: Executives in Fortune 500 and 1000 companies Presidents Chief Operating Officer Chief Learning Officers Chief Information Officers Sales Managers Alliance Directors and Managers Non-profit Executives Individuals in job transition Entrepreneurs growing dynamic organizations Networlding has also helped in these areas: Sales acceleration and key account acquisiton Leadership development Alliance creation and leverage Team building Performance improvement Nonprofit fundraising Recruitment and retention Community relations Cause-related marketing Creativity and innovation Supply-chain management Benchmarking Knowledge management Customer service improvement 3. How do I start learning Networlding? If you are a manager, director, vice president or president of a company and want to use Networlding for your employees, you can start Networlding in your organization by bringing together as few as 10 employees to go through a half, one-day or two half-day Networlding Boot Camp with a certified Networlding facilitator. Here, together with your employees, you learn Networlding, and form a core "learning" circle. Once you have completed a Boot Camp, in the next stage, which we call the "growth stage" the original group initiates new learning circles with leaders participating from the core circle as well as new participants joining in an even more powerful learning experience. In these extended circles two paired leaders from the core circle help further facilitate the practice of Networlding with your new participants along with your prior Networlding facilitator to sustain and leverage learning and results across all divisions of your company. Our top values are: Integrity Making a difference Collaboration Creativity We integrate these values into our work with leaders because we have found, through research, our own experience and the experience of hundreds of other top executives that these three, key values are the winning set of core values for a top-performing organization that "works to win" rather than "works to avoid losing." These core values create the kind of organizations we want to create networks with around the world. The path to success is through trust and courage to own the values of integrity, collaboration and making a difference. By owning these values organization will form internal and external alliances to co-create transformational opportunties for all their key stakeholders: 1) their employees, 2) their community and 3) their shareholders, vendors and other financial participants in the value chain. For all non-profits, we offer our free, exclusive, 100-plus page guidebook to you to help grow your organization or association. Next, you can start your own Networlding learning circle of 4-10 people to get the most out of Networlding. And if your circle moves through the first three steps of Networlding, Melissa or a certified Networlder will join you at a meeting by phone to answer questions and provide you with guidance to help you master the Networlding principles at no cost! Networlding, through its worldwide network of past participants, can help you not only learn the process but connect, one person at a time, to other like-valued people. Along with our team of Networlding Certified Facilitators we can provide you with ongoing assistance in learning and mastering the science of Networlding. Contact us at info@networlding.com or call us at 312-421-4213 to get started with Networlding. We'll at least provide you with the free e-book, "The Nanosecond Networlders" and our great, top-selling tips booklet, 101 Ways to Networlding when you call. We'll also sign you up for our free e-newsletter.

A Networlding Wish for You in December

I wished it looked like this in Chicago on this third or so snowstorm of December. I remember walking down Michigan Avenue, one of my favorite places in the world, this last September. I had just bought my Ipod and was, believe it or not, for the first time, taking pictures that I would keep (like the one above) and actually look at them again and again.

It was such a pleasure to connect with the beauty of the warm, Fall afternoon. I hope for anyone who lives in the northern part of the United States, that these pictures give you some pleasure. Ah. Chicago in the Fall. It is hard to imagine it was just a few months ago.