Funny Business Leadership Speaker, Sales Training

Dean Lindsay, Author of The Progress Challenge, on Progress vs Change

Follow him at: www.Twitter.com/DeanLindsay

Endorsements for The Progress Challenge : Working and Winning in a World of Change

“Finally a meaningful book with a workable process for progress.”
– Gerhard Gschwandtner
Founder and Publisher
Selling Power Magazine

“The Progress Challenge is a much needed kick in the pants for all of us. Dean Lindsay’s witty words and questions will wake up your sleeping intentions and challenge you to move forward with purpose in your life. What an enlightening book!”
– Ken Blanchard,
coauthor of The One Minute Manager®
and Leading at a Higher Level
 
“The Progress Challenge is an excellent guide to both personal and professional success.  The book helps the reader understand that change is inevitable, yet progress is a choice.  In Lindsay’s words…”be progress”.
– Jim Keyes
CEO, Blockbuster

“If you desire to become a better leader, I recommend you add Dean Lindsay’s The Progress Challenge to your leadership toolkit.  I especially liked the insight into the life and work of Viktor Frankl as well as Dean’s use of humor throughout the book - a valuable and enjoyable read.  The Progress Challenge is an honorable challenge that anyone aiming to make a positive difference should take.”
– Ramon F. Baez
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Kimberly-Clark Corporation

“The Progress Challenge is a fun to read book crammed full of thought-provoking, practical and motivating take-aways.  With the 6 P’s of Progress, Dean gives us all the incredible opportunity to be purposeful in creating progress, not just change, in our lives and work.”
– Julie Weber
Senior Director, People
Southwest Airlines Co.

Be Progress.

 The iJango buzz is STRONG.

Click the underlined iJango link and check out the iJango video.  What do you think?

A link directly to the iJango compensation plan is below. 

Also because iJango is in the pre-launch phase there are some serious benefits to getting rolling now. 

I am learning more about iJango everyday…shoot me an email for the latest: Dean@DeanLindsay.com

Follow my blogposts on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DeanLindsay

iJango is a customizable personal web portal and home page. Anything on the internet can be accessed from the iJango home page plus there is money to be made.

Will a bunch of people want to use it? I am thinking a strong maybe. You decide.

Revenues are generated by purchases made through the portal as well as advertising revenues generated by hit counts and retailers paying commissions. Distributers give away the iJango portal and get paid for any purchases made through the iJango portal. Cool concept.

Will iJango become the Center of the Online Universe? Trippy question.

The official launch date is August 1st, 2009 in Las Vegas, but because of cool contacts I was asked to check it out early and you can too.

Here is what I know and like: Steve Smith, co founder of EXCEL communications is at the helm of this network marketing opportunity plus I was invited to offer my thoughts on the portal and it is world class.  The distributer investment is $150 plus $20 a month for the personal web page and online office.  Click for detailed info on the iJango Compensation plan.   Happy to share this opportunity.  Tough economy out there and the world wide web is not going away…this might be something worth checking out.  What do you think?

Click to check out more.

Be sure to watch the video and read the iJango compensation plan.

Because I think iJango is super cool and right on time (plus I believe in the compensation plan and iJango leadership), if you decide this is the right opportunity for you, I pledge to provide FREE personal coaching along with my full support to anyone who was turned onto iJango because of this posting.

 Feel free to give me a buzz to discuss - 214-457-5656.

Be Progress.

 

Free Trade Show Booth Tips - Running a Successful Trade Show Booth (part three)

Insight from CODE Cracking for Trade Show Booth Success

Working a booth at a trade show can be such a powerful way to network, reinforce existing relationships, and build name recognition that I wanted to offer some trade show tips into making the most of the investment. The key is to find ways to encourage visitors to stop and comfortably begin building a solid relationship with you. Here is the third (and final) batch of trade show tips from Cracking the Networking CODE.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip # 11
Do not badmouth your competitors.

Badmouthing competitors makes you appear less confident about your products/services and especially about yourself. It also shines an unnecessary spotlight on the competitor. Bring up the good points about your stuff and leave badmouthing the competitors to your ecstatic customers.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip #12
Do not eat at your booth.
I’m sure you would agree that it’s not attractive to watch someone chow down on nachos smothered in that bright orange fake cheese gunk. What is worse is when they see you coming and they lick their fingers while looking around for a napkin to wipe off the grease so they can reach out to shake your hand. The need for nourishment is another solid reason to find someone you can trust to run your booth while you go get a bite to eat.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip #13
Get a list of attendees and contact them before the show.
Send them an invitation to your booth. Make them want to visit your booth. Offer a giveaway, or announce that you are unveiling something new to the market they must know about. Look over the list of attendees for heavy hitters and ask them personally to visit your booth.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip # 14
Get business cards/contact information.
This is HUGE. How else are you going to follow up? Offer your company’s free e -mail newsletter. Don’t have one? Start one. Have a giveaway, a drawing, or some kind of contest. Ask for cards. You have to be able to reconnect and market to these people after the event.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip #15
Take notes.
So many people, so little brain space! Write a few words on the back of cards that will help you remember the person, the conversation , or the opportunity. This will go a long way toward making # 16 happen.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip #16
Follow up in a timely manner.
This is where it so often falls apart. You MUST reconnect with the folks you met. Thank them for visiting your booth. Mention something interesting they shared with you. Look at your NOTES. Do not do this three weeks after the show. Do it the next day. Don’t try to hard-sell them in the follow-up, just make a pleasurable second impression and see if there are ways you can serve this person, even if it is not with your stuff.Trade shows are powerful and profitable places to grow your network if you are prepared and know how to work them.Our new program: CODE Cracking for Trade Show Booth Success is now available. Contact us for Details.

Listening Skills, Tips - Listen as if Your Lifestyle Depended on it… IT DOES!

Insight from Cracking the Networking CODE by Dean Lindsay

“No man ever listened himself out of a job.” — Calvin Coolidge

Everyone has a need to speak and be heard, especially in the challenging business landscape we are presently in. To build truly priceless business relationships we need to treat others as if they are the most important people on the planet because - in their minds - they are.

Everyone wants to feel that they are significant and have meaningful ideas to share. Those who choose to really listen will always have someone to talk with. Notice that I wrote talk with, not talk to. The key is to: Turn people ON to you by tuning IN to them.

Good listeners absorb and reflect on what they hear. They are active in the listening process. This requires energy and motivation because listening is more than just hearing. We must become active listeners rather than passive hearers.

Often our motivation to actively listen is not all that high. We think we can get by without really focusing. This is a mistake. The ability to value what others say is critical to building priceless relationships. Be determined to understand completely what others are trying to communicate. It helps to collect our thoughts and focus only on present conversation.

How often do you catch yourself thinking about some unrelated issue when you should be listening? It is difficult to tune in when you’re preoccupied with previous conversations or unfinished tasks.

Business philosopher Jim Rohn is quoted as saying, “One of the greatest gifts you can give anyone is the gift of your attention.” Rohn is right. Don’t get distracted by other people’s nearby conversations. If you have to, walk the person you are speaking with to a quieter place in the room to have your initial chat.

Try this. Look directly at the person and when they stop speaking, count to two (in your mind!) before you speak. Committing to this brief pause:

A. helps you avoid interrupting the other person, who may have only paused to gather his or her thoughts.
B. establishes that what has just been shared was worth contemplation.
C. gives your brain time to digest the information and ask a good clarifying question or make a comment.

Good clarifying questions offer the person the chance to rephrase their thoughts and say precisely what they mean. Repeating back (as questions or tentative statements) what you think you’ve heard the other person say also makes people feel wonderful, and it avoids mind-misreading errors.

We also should be careful not to turn into an overanxious talker and overpower the fine folks in the dialogue and not letting anyone else talk. Active listening can help prevent this from happening. Think about it:

In the past, at the end of a conversation, did you tend to know more about the person, or did they learn more about you?

Discipline yourself to uttering no more than four sentences in a row without stopping. This ensures that others will have the opportunity to express themselves.

Two ears, one mouth. You know the saying.

Crack the Networking CODE.

Be Progress.

Trade Show Booth Tips - Running a Successful Trade Show Booth (part two)

Insight from CODE Cracking for Trade Show Booth Success

Working a booth at a trade show can be such a powerful way to network, reinforce existing relationships, and build name recognition that I wanted to offer some trade show tips into making the most of the investment. The key is to find ways to encourage visitors to stop and comfortably begin building a solid relationship with you. Here is the second batch of trade show tips from Cracking the Networking CODE.   Stay tuned … more to come.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip # 6
Wear your corporate logo.
This shows professionalism and teamwork and makes you easily identifiable with the booth. Also, when you walk around the show, you are getting a little extra exposure. Don’t have quality shirts with your logo on them? Get them. No time? Wear your professionally made company nametags. Do the trade show, then get some shirts.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip #7
Wear comfortable shoes.
You should be on your feet all day so do not wear new shoes or high heels. Come 3:45 P.M., you will be glad you took this advice.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip #8
Do not leave the booth unattended.
This means you will need to have a team. Trade off so you can take breaks and roam the show.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip # 9
Make the most of every meal.
Prearrange breakfast, lunch, and dinner meetings with key people at the show.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip #10
Do not complain about being at the show, use inappropriate language or off-color humor. You’d be stunned at how often I hear people dissing the show, swearing, or cracking a risqué joke. Bad form. Bad business, or should I say, no business!

Our new program: CODE Cracking for Trade Show Booth Success is now available. Contact us for Details.

My Business Networking Book Gets Thumbs Up from American Coal Council

Cracking the Networking CODE is “packed a lot of useful information.” — American Coal Council

Cool. I was vanity searching the WWW this morning and came across this review of my business networking book, Cracking the Networking CODE. I had not seen it before. Solid well rounded review — plus they liked it!   

To Jason and American Coal Council - Thanks for the great review.

My favorite line of the review — “First things first, Dean’s style of writing is quick, fluid, and to the point. No showy grandstanding, or unintelligible words (unless they’re defined right there, in the book) that make it a tough slog to get through. Dean offers up straightforward information and loads of personal anecdotes to help you become more effective at networking.” Right on!!

Of course I like this line too — “Cracking the Networking Code is one of those books that everyone who wants to be effective in business networking will want to read and have on their shelf.” — American Coal Council

What can I say, I told you it was a great review.  Check out: American Coal Council’s Review of Cracking the Networking CODE

Thanks again American Coal Council.

Be Progress.

Follow me on Twitter.

More on Cracking the Networking CODE

“Perhaps the most powerful way to leverage and multiply your talent and ability is by expanding your personal and business network. THIS BOOK SHOWS YOU HOW.”
– Brian Tracy, Author,
Getting Rich Your Own Way

Cracking the Networking CODE is Recommended Reading by the United Professional Sales Association and Profit magazine.

The Dallas Morning News says the book serves up “networking advice with wisdom, humor and concise guidance.”

“For over three years, our entire sales team has benefited from Dean sharing his topnotch business-building insights, insights now found in his smart, engaging, and powerful Cracking the Networking CODE. While utilizing Dean’s fresh insights, along with his personal coaching and mentoring, our sales professionals have taken their success to the next level! ”
– J. Lee Ripley
Field Vice President
Pacific Life & Annuity Company

Cracking the Networking CODE features:

• The Top Ten Benefits of Networking
• 37 Questions for Defining a Powerful Networking Plan
• The Way Around the “Do Not Call” List
• 16 Examples of Proven Places to Network
• 16 Tips for Running a Successful Trade Show Booth
• 9 Strategies for Opening Face-to-Face Relationships
• 6 Often Overlooked Networking Strategies
• 20 Quick Tips for Delivering Solid First Impressions
• 10 Ideas for Creating a Series of Positive Impressions
• Insight on Business Cards and Note-taking

As well as How to:

• Be a Success in Your Own Eyes
• Conquer the FEAR of Networking
• Harness the Power in Numbers
• Gain Confidence Talking to Strangers
• Ask Progress-Focused Questions
• Listen As If Your Lifestyle Depended on It.
• Design Your Rise & Shine (30-Second Commercial)
• And of Course How to …Crack the Networking CODE!!!

“This is a book that everyone will wish they read 20 years ago. Dean’s CODE reminds me of every successful person that I know. What a tremendous asset it would be if we could only memorize all of the quality pointers in this book.”
– Frank Bracken President and COO
Haggar Clothing Co.

“Dean Lindsay is a master of progress, and in this book will show you how to be the same. He’ll take you by the hand - a pleasurable experience, because the man is an awesome writer - and lead you into the land of networking nirvana.”
– Jay Conrad Levinson
The Father of Guerrilla Marketing ( Brief Excerpt taken from Jay’s Foreword for Cracking the Networking CODE)

“Dean Lindsay writes on the subject of networking and relationship building with conviction and authority. His writing, Cracking the Networking CODE, will be of immense and immediate value to anyone aiming for greater effectiveness in marketing and selling.”
– Jack Kinder, Jr. and Garry D.
Kinder Speakers, authors, consultants

“This book is a hip, fun, easy read that is filled with specific tips for connecting and staying connected with others. It is also filled with enough trivia and “significa” to give you even more to talk about. Read, laugh, learn and improve.”
– Jim Cathcart
Author of Relationship Selling

“Whether you are looking for a new job or thinking about changing careers, Cracking the Networking CODE is the book for you. It reveals what the human resource community has known and kept secret for years. Networking is the key to unlock the door to any position and this book gives you the combination to that lock.”
– Gayle Ciupak
Manager, Human Resources
General Motors

“Dean Lindsay has redefined networking from the mindless, self-serving distribution of business cards to a connecting, collaborative, communicative process. Reading this book is an absolute necessity in today’s changing environment.”
– Helen Harkness, Ph.D.
Founder, Career Design Associates, Inc.
Author of Capitalizing on Career Chaos

“What an important book! I have never seen anything like this in Sweden. Highly informative yet extremely entertaining, this is a book I would give to all my colleagues. It’s perfect for any professional wanting to make his or her way in today’s global business environment. An easy read - and a must read!”
– Jonas Milton (Stockholm, Sweden)
President (VD) of Almega

Six Overlooked Business Networking Opportunities

From Cracking the Networking CODE by Dean Lindsay

We all know social networking (web networking) is a BIG DEAL. Heck, you are reading my BLOG.  However face-to-face business networking is FAR from long gone. In fact, with our economy on the rebound (yes you read it here first), now is a great time to get your personal curb appeal in check and get out there.  Business networking events are everywhere, but they are NOT THE ONLY WAY to CONNECT.  Here are six often overlooked business networking tips (opportunities) for opening face-to-face relationships from my book, Cracking the Networking CODE : 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships.

CODE Overlooked Business Networking Tip # 1  Speak at Conferences.

TRUE, speaking in public strikes big fear in the hearts and minds of the unprepared, and TRUE is the #1 fear for a lot of people, one slot above death.  But speaking at conferences that match your industy or your prospects’ industries is a business networking opportunity that has the power to position you as an expert, a leader, a thinker in your community and your industry.  It might be worth joining Toastmasters ( www.toastmasters.org ) to get over the fear and polish the tools needed to become a confident speaker and a successful business networker. Toastmasters can help you become an interesting person and a valuable resource to others by sharpening your communications skills.  You’ll gain self-confidence and learn to present a great first impression. Get ready, because with Toastmasters there are live speaking opportunities from the get -go.

CODE Overlooked Business Networking Tip # 2  Follow Your Money.

Who are your suppliers?
Where do you spend money?
What places do you frequent?

Get to know your vendors better. If you are their customer, they probably serve other topnotch business professionals like you , right? Find out who else they know. Their contacts could be worth more than the service or products they provide.  Work to build the exchange of contacts into the relationships.  Ask them to recommend you.  A nifty by-product of relationship-building is you will likely improve the quality of your service.

CODE Overlooked Business Networking Tip # 3  Help Everyone That Thinks You ROCK Become a Great Business Networker

Offer others opportunities to grow their network as well proven strategies and techniques for effective self-marketing and relationship-building.   As your contacts’ networks grow and strengthen , so do yours. 

“The greatest good we can do for others is not to share our riches, but to assist in revealing their own.”
– Benjamin Disraeli

CODE Overlooked Business Networking Tip # 4  Hug a “gatekeeper.”

Make friends with the executive assistants of those you want to create a relationship with.  Often executive assistants either become solid allies or your worst nightmare.  Do not make the mistake of taking them for granted or seeing them as obstacles to be overcome.  Heck, they’re the ones who set up appointments for the decision maker. And in a lot of cases…THEY ARE THE DECISION MAKERS.

Get to know everyone in the office as individuals.  Talk with them.  Learn all the front-office folks’ names, special interests and hobbies, the names of their kids, and stuff like that. Check for clues from what they display on their desks.  Be dependable and genuine. If you can build a solid bond with these key individuals, you will differentiate yourself from run-of-the-mill sales punks who ignore gatekeepers and just try to barge in to see the big chief.

If gatekeepers know and respect us, they can recommend us when the need for our service arises. They can keep us in the loop.  They can be our greatest champion. Plus, executives respect us more if we have an authentic interest in their whole staff. Most executives like and respect their assistants and value their insight, so if the assistant likes we , so will the person in charge.

Added business networking tip   *******  To gain a possible inside track, ask assistants what groups their boss is active in.  Join those groups and get involved those events.  When decision makers see you engaged in activities outside of the office, they develop more confidence and respect for you. That’s good.

CODE Overlooked Business Networking Tip # 5  Include Friends and Neighbors.

Far too often, we already know people with the right contacts or expertise, but we do not know it. It is imperative to get to know everyone in your existing network on a more solid footing.

Find out who your closest friends and colleagues know. It is probably worthwhile for you to get to know more of your friends’ friends and your neighbors’ neighbors (of course, you are first going to have to actually meet your neighbors). You never know where your next opportunity, job, or client will come from, so do not rule out your friends and relatives as possible contacts. Your Uncle Abbott may have a neighbor who has a son who needs exactly what your company has to offer.

CODE Overlooked Business Networking Tip # 6  Bond with the spouses and significant others of the influential.

The influence and power wielded by spouses and significant others is grossly underestimated.  And because of this, they often go ignored.  When offered the chance at a function , invest the time to make a solid connection with them.  Get to know them as people, and after the event they are likely to speak well of you to the very person you targeted.

As I mentioned at the top of this post, things ARE GETTING BETTER.  I hope these business networking tips help you get out there and  Crack the Networking CODE.

Be Progress.

P.S. As I also mentioned at the top of this post, SOCIAL Networking (web networking) is a big deal.  Do you twitter? I do and am at: www.twitter.com/deanlindsay  All my new blog posts get a tweet.

Trade Show Booth Tips - Running a Successful Trade Show Booth (part one)

Insight from CODE Cracking for Trade Show Booth Success

Working a booth at a trade show can be such a powerful way to network, reinforce existing relationships, and build name recognition that I wanted to offer some trade show tips into making the most of the investment. The key is to find ways to encourage visitors to stop and comfortably begin building a solid relationship with you. Here is the first batch of trade show tips. I will offer more insight from on running a successful trade show booth over the following weeks.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip # 1
Build rapport by being friendly and nonthreatening.
A smile goes a long way in welcoming people to visit your booth.

“Every business is built on friendship.” — James Cash Penney

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip # 2
Create the right first impression.
Stand and be interested in making contact. Do not sit, read, drink, eat, or smoke in the booth. Don’t just chat away with the people working the booth with you. This makes you less approachable.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip # 3
Keep the booth looking sharp.
Do not let the booth get disorganized, cluttered, or untidy. Throw trash away. If skirted, the space under the table is a great place to store boxes and stuff. Many trade shows last weeks. Even if it is a lengthy show, do not let your booth get run down.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip # 4
Avoid drinking alcohol or eating spicy or garlicky foods.
Bad breath is bad business - as is slurred speech and inappropriate behavior. You do not want to be remembered as the drunk guy, or halitosis girl.

CODE Trade Show Booth Tip #5
Ask open-ended questions — Avoid asking questions that can be answered with a yes or no. Create a list of questions to ask that begin with who, what, where, when, why, or how. This will stimulate thought and encourage conversation. Relate questions to the event, industry, product/service and its benefits, or to a specific situation.

Examples of Stimulating Questions:

What brought you out to the show today?
How could you see using this (product/service)?
How important is (benefit) in your present situation?
What are your most important needs in (situation)?
How familiar are you with our product/company/service?

Be careful not to overuse common and overused questions, like:How are you doing today?
Can I help you?
Are you enjoying the show?

Our new program: CODE Cracking for Trade Show Booth Success is now available. Contact us for Details.

Volunteering to Connect

 Six Quick Practical Business Networking Tips by Dean Lindsay, Author of Cracking The Networking CODE

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

A great way to help others while gaining visibility and developing priceless business relationships is through volunteering. All organizations could use a hand. Step out and step up. Look for volunteer jobs that match your passions as well as provide you opportunities to show off your skills and personality, and meet, network and interact with new contacts.

Here are Six Quick Practical Business Networking Tips on Volunteering to Connect:

CODE Quick Practical Business Networking Tip #1
Serve on committees. You can help shape the association’s policy, as well as work closely with and learn from other experts.

CODE Quick Practical Business Networking Tip #2
Chair a committee or run for office. Let people experience your leadership, communication, and organizational skills in action.

CODE Quick Practical Business Networking Tip #3
Work the reception desk. You can network with people as they sign in.

CODE Quick Practical Business Networking Tip #4
Help direct people to the right rooms at a large convention (often called being a people mover).

CODE Quick Practical Business Networking Tip #5
Be a greeter. The greeter spot is ideal for the self-diagnosed shy, because the title alone forces you to connect.
Plus, as a greeter there is an automatic assumption that you are “in the know” and others will naturally come to you for info and help.

CODE Quick Practical Business Networking Tip #6
Join the board. You will connect with key industry leaders and gain a reputation as a leader yourself.

“Volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience. It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one’s ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits, and know one had a hand in them.” — Harriet Naylor

Make business networking an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience. Volunteer to Connect. We increase our positive impact as well as increase the potential for new priceless business relationships when we pro-actively participate.

Crack the Networking CODE.

Be Progress.

Selling In A Down Economy and Tough Times : Harnessing the Power in Numbers

“One of the most beautiful compensations of this life is that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson

When challenged with selling in a down economy, it is important to remember that there is still power in numbers.  And by numbers I do not mean the stock market average or the sinking worth of our homes.  I mean people power.  It is well documented that most people have some form of relationship with around 250 people (widely referred to as their Circle of Influence).   These are not 250 people we would invite to our Christmas - Hanukkah - or even Festivus party (just a little something for the Seinfeld fans).

These are 250 people we know directly or indirectly, ranging from family members to random contacts that involve some amount of persuasion.  This persuasion is used all the time to recommend a good restaurant, shoe store, plastic surgeon, energy drink, personal trainer, handyman , florist or _____(insert your profession here).

Theoretically, each of our 250-some-odd contacts could recommend us and our services to 250 additional people.  That is cool to think about and empowering to consider!

But here’s the rub:
Just because they COULD recommend us, our products, and our services to 250 others does not mean that they ARE or that they WILL.

It comes down to trust and value. 

This is especially true when selling in a down economy and tough times.  Trust is a feeling.  It is a buzz.   Trust is fluid.  It is fragile. Value is established in the mind of the beholder.  Trust between people is built moment by moment, year to year. Value is established over time.   It takes a series of progress based impressions.

How do we build trust?

How do we establish value?

Think about the people you trust.

Why do you trust them?

Is it because they said “Trust me” or “You can trust me”?  No, these people have proven themselves trustworthy by continually doing things in a way that has built our trust.   They got to know us.   They care about us.   They are reliable.

Some quick questions to ask yourself:

Do people have a trusting impression of you and your services?  Why, or why not?

Do they see you, your company, and your services as providing progress?

Do they value what you do for them and others?

Enough to recommend you to others?

Enough to use your service themselves?

Do they value their relationship with you?

Do they feel that a relationship with you means progress for them?

In short, they earned our trust by “giving a hoot.” Few people give a hoot these days. When we show genuine interest in others, it shines a big attractive spotlight on uw as someone with whom to cultivate a relationship. Work diligently to increase the number of people you actively support and who support you.  Helping others to progress is the proverbial two-sided coin. It helps us to progress in equal measure.

Be Progress.

Selling in a Down Economy and Tough Times : Harnessing the Power of Numbers by Dean Lindsay (Author of The Progress Challenge and Cracking the Networking CODE)