Ivan R. Misner's Blog, page 125

Are You Overlooking the Importance of Storytelling in Business?

When you tell a story, is it compelling? In this short video, I’m joined by Deanna Tucci-Schmitt, a successful business owner and master networker, who shares the reason why storytelling is such an integral part of business.  She reminds us that stories are much easier to remember than statistics and facts.  When you tell your business’ facts in story form, your “story” is retained, retold, and often referred. After watching the video, please share how telling some of the key stories about your business has gotten you more business in the past, or how they might possibly help you obtain ...

With All Due Respect for the Mayans . . .

With all due respect to the Mayans, it appears that we need to give some thought to our plans for 2013. Each year, a few days before New Year’s Eve, I head off to my mountain retreat in Big Bear Lake, California, to recharge my batteries.  Getting away to the mountains is something I’ve done for almost two decades.  It’s a great opportunity to spend time with the family and prepare for the onslaught of the coming year. It’s also a good time to give some thought to the vision I have have for my business and life over the ...

Great News on my Health

As many of you know who follow my blog (regarding my health), I have been diligently working to regain my health for the past 9 months.  I would like to give you another update, the best one yet!  Recently my urologist requested PCA3 Assay test to determine the likelihood that I would once again have a positive biopsy.  This is a new test just approved by the FDA.  My doctor was intrigued with the “fading” quality of the lesion as seen the in color Doppler ultrasound scans once I started the GC-18000 protocol with Dr. Grinstein in the UK.  Dr. ...

Networking During the Holidays

The holiday party is a great time to meet people but . . . you should have a plan! Everybody goes to parties, and the holiday season is full of them. It’s also a business slowdown season for many of us who are not in retail. The holiday parties are NOT just a place for free food and drinks. Holiday parties and other social mixers bring new opportunities to network, even more than the rest of the year.   The holidays are times when we are more likely to see people in a social setting, and this setting definitely lends itself ...

If Your Goal Is Success, You Need to Take a Look at Your Systems

In this short video, filmed at the 2012 International Conference for BNI, the networking organization I founded back in 1985, I talk with my good friend and BNI Executive Director Mark Carmody about systems and business. Mark tells how one of the stories in Michael Gerber’s book The E-Myth caused him to have an epiphany about the value in systems and how systems can make it substantially easier to run an efficient business.  To sum things up, the more systems you incorporate into your business, the more successful you will be over time. After watching the video, please leave your ...

Lead from “Among” Not from “Above”

Stewart Emery (Success Built to Last) was over my house a few months ago.  At breakfast one morning he told me about an interview he did with a well-known billionaire in the computer industry.  The billionaire shared an intriguing story with Stewart about an experience he’d had when the senior executives of a company interested in purchasing his company visited his office to discuss the possible purchase.   At lunch, the billionaire told the senior executives of the company he was negotiating with that he was going to take them to the Executive Dining Room.  They followed him to the ...

International Networking Week Video 2013

The new video for International Networking Week 2013 has just been released! This short, 11-minute video, sponsored by the Referral Institute, explains how the week of February 4th-8th, 2013 will bring about great opportunities for businesspeople around the world and increase worldwide awareness about the powerful benefits of business networking.  2013 will mark the 7th annual celebration of International Networking Week which is now recognized by many countries across the globe, with thousands of events being held during the week. One of the main goals of the week is to help businesspeople everywhere build their networking skills and expand the ...

A Closer Look at What Networking Really Means

Back in October, I posted a brief video in which Dawn Lyons, Mike Macedonio and I discuss the new definition of networking (Click on the graphic below to view the video.).  Today, I’d like to provide much more detail and further clarification regarding this new definition. Twenty years ago, I wrote a book called The World’s Best Known Marketing Secret. In it, I discussed several terms new to the business community, specifically about how they could help grow a business.  One term that seemed to have multiple meanings concerning business growth was “networking.” For some, networking was about compiling a huge ...

Andrew Hall’s “Referral Magic”

How specific are you when asking for referrals?  Do you say you want business from “somebody”. . . or “anybody”. . . or do you give the name of the specific person you want to meet? Joining me in this brief video is Andrew Hall, a master networker based in China. Watch as Andrew tells an engaging story about the importance of being specific, or as he calls it, “Referral Magic.” After watching the video, please leave your thoughts, comments, and/or feedback in the comment forum below . . . are you now thinking twice about how specific you are ...

Networking Is an Acquired Skill

The Third Law of Notable Networking: Networking Is an Acquired Skill (Click Here to read about the First Law of Notable Networking and Click Here to read about the Second Law) Most people are not born networkers; they develop the skills through education, training, the right attitude, and long practice.  Any technique of value requires a commitment to learning how to use it effectively.  The next generation of business professionals will operate under a different model of management, in which networking will be an integral element.  Take advantage of every opportunity you have to learn to network more effectively.  It ...