Howard's comments

OK Leif... I joined... Quick response to the questions you posed. Whoops, sorry, no time right now. I gotta run. I have a business appointment. Will check back later. ...Howard

P.S. I Love the Nose!

Charrisse... It was a previous thread posing this same question a few months back that prompted me to write my one and only article which sums up my opinion on this subject.

I wrote about the value of a "connection" and how to respond when you get a "request for an on-line link."

I hope this helps form your opinion of what works best for you. Welcome to Biznik. ...Howard

Dan... I'd be interested in knowing. I have reminded a few people sometimes and it has taken a couple of invites before they joined. It would be helpful to know when and if they really did so I could re-connect and welcome them. ...Howard

Great advice Judy... reminds me of a book I read long ago, "Everything I ever needed to know, I learned in kindergarten." Seems it still holds true. I recommend #3 especially. So, how many friends do you need?

I already had this workshop on the back-burner, but Mary Lou's comment has spurred me to go ahead and post it now. This is a subject that few people want to talk about, especially if they have been victimized.

Join me to learn how to protect yourself from frauds, crooks, and corruption. We’ll talk about embezzlement, scams, schemes, blackmail, hustles, spoofs, and tricks that can separate you and your business from your money.

I will be hosting this workshop on Wed, July 2nd at 10am for all interested. It should prove to be very interesting and may even save you some future grief by being more informed.

Karrie... Thank you for giving us a positive treatise on this all important topic. I have used a few of these and it is great to receive confirmation plus new ideas. ...Howard

Welcome Inti... What a beautiful site. I was so captivated by your quality work and presentation, I had to see your entire portfolio. I look forward to meeting you in person someday and passing referrals your way. ...Howard

Dean...

I am interested in the topics of entrepreneurial-ism that are not taught in business school and can only be shared by those that have experienced them. I think webcasting is a great venue to share these tidbits of wisdom.

I don't know much about this new tech, but I am interested in learning more about how to use these new tools and expand my service offering as a Business Mentor.

I have started a site where I am doing this. It's called BizChatz. If you would like to connect, send me a note.

...Howard

Leif... Thanks for the heads-up. Would love to attend with you but already have plans for this nice Seattle Summer week-end. I joined the facebook group in hopes that there will be some podcasts or videos to view after the fact by us non-attendees. Always enjoy learning. ...Howard

John... Thank you for hosting. It was a pleasure to meet you and some new Bizniks in a very comfortable venue. I hope to join you again sometime. ...Howard

Thanks for Sparking the idea Leif. It is creative tools like this that can help build an online community for your business.

And, we should not take ourselves too seriously while Shamelessly Bragging about our business.

...Howard

Note that all clown noses do not need to be humiliating. We can sprout noses in "good taste". See Tonya's.

If you want a nose befitting your personality, just send me a personal email to: cars@howardhowell.com with the words "clown nose" in the subject line and I will send you a return email with your new nose.

Let's keep clown-ing around until after BizJam ...Howard

P.S. Anybody that wears their nose with Shameless Pride and attends my workshop at BizJam will receive a special gift from me.

Tonya... I just did a clown nose for you. Send me a personal email to "cars@howardhowell.com" and I will send it right back to you. Free gift for a nice gal. ...Howard

Although, the no-show rate for my free biznik events probably averages 20-30%, I have started promoting my events in other ways and garnering quiet a few non-bizniks showing up. They usually end up joining Biznik at my request and many have become very good networking friends.

I don't give the "no-show" situation much thought other than to make a mental note about the individuals who fail to formally cancel. After all, the purpose of meeting is to increase your friendship to a level of trust so that you can actually share referrals with them.

It astonishes me that people will not consider the importance of proper RSVP-ing and the affect it has on their reputation when they do not keep the commitment. This is an additional way to vet your referral relationships.

So I think ultimately, this is a positive experience that helps you choose (over time) who you really want to do business with (read refer biz also). I have collected a few personal stories of large referrals that I have with-held from Bizniks because of their poor manners.

Don't forget that everyone is always watching and personally evaluating. I love this community. ...Howard

I was once taken for millions of dollars in a business deal by a con-artist that did such a good job that when I realized the scheme and tried to terminate it in an honest and open manner, I ended up taking the fall and unwittingly protected the former business associate from prosecution.

I will be sharing many of the red flags and how to recognize and avoid similar situations in an upcoming workshop that I am preparing.

Mary Lou... if you would like to collaborate with me, give me a call. ...Howard

We named our last business (circa 1989-2001), Touch Menus, a software development company providing touch screen point of sale systems to the hospitality industry.

Our specialty niche was individual restaurant menus that you could touch to place your order and pay with your credit card with no employee intervention. Your food would then be delivered to you at the counter or your table.

Andrey... I'm sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to "jammin" about biz and stuff with you and your penguin. I'd even be willing to display my red nose if you brought your little guy along. You WILL be missed.

To other Bizniks lurking out there...

Over the decades that I've been in business, I've been a member of a number of Trade Associations where we all get together once a year for a 2-5 day convention/meeting/seminar. It has usually cost big bucks, lots of travel expense, and time away from our daily biz tasks.

It is from the relationships nurtured at these kinds of events that most of our BIG business and referrals came from. It is also where we get to mix it up with our colleagues that many times turn into future business partners and valuable contacts for new ventures. Of course, this was all before the wide spread use of the internet. But "old fashioned face-to-face meeting" still is a valuable part of business.

Biznik is such a valuable community, I would not miss this event, especially in this day and time when competition is so great for all the services offered by biznik members. What a valuable opportunity to learn and connect with other positive like-minded souls.

While you are not there, you may well be missing that one golden connection that you've been waiting for, or that one great idea that will break your biz out of the slump you may be in.

If I, a 62 year old, really busy businessman, can connect with others whom I can learn more from to enhance my biz life while at the same time connect with those who have been so kind to share with me, then I will be there.

Looking forward to meeting new friends and getting to know what your biz needs are so I can learn to serve you better. ...Howard

Joe... Thank you for the comments.

Initially, I used the phrasing of "essentials you never learned in school" and evolved to "not taught in business school" for the reason you have stated. I felt that wording would better define the audience to both categories, students and non-students.

The reason I used "biz mentor" instead of "business mentor" is ThatBizMentor.com is a domain that I own, as is ThatLeaseGuy.com. I have used the word "business" liberally for the purpose of search engine spiders.

I do have a link to student compliments on my BizChatz website under "Testimonials" that links back to Biznik. Do you think I should extract some of them and post directly on my website such as you have done with yours?

Writing for human consumption and web browser/search crawlers is difficult, wouldn't you agree?

Thanks again for your suggestions. ...Howard

To new business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs searching for information, resources, connections, and skills they lack, Howard is that biz mentor who can help you learn the essentials necessary to succeed, that are not taught in business school.

Believable because:

After creating numerous businesses over the last 42 years at a cost of over $11 million dollars, I have gained a unique perspective of the entrepreneurial world. I will share my wisdom for pennies on the dollar through free and affordable webcasts, workshops, and individual consults.

Thank you Joe for challenging me to think about this all important essential for biz success. I am deeply grateful for your continuing insight and sharing.

Thanks Leif... I got it from Patch Adams.

Leif... I am definitely in support of NOT taking myself too seriously and fully support BizJam08. I'm looking forward to clowning around with you all for a couple of days soon. ...Howard

Banu... Many years ago, I had a small device about the size of a laptop (called a Hagoth) that displayed a series of green, yellow, and red lights. It was connected to my phone and would indicate the level of truthfullness from voice (stress).

I used it mostly in collection calls which helped when I got the comment "the check's in the mail". Surprisingly, it was very accurate.

...Howard