My Pinnacle Network

Grow Your Business Through Networking

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How your mother taught you not to procrastinate

Hang up your coat! Put away your toys! Pick up your shoes! These may not break your top 1000 of memories of your mother. But it should because she was teaching you a lesson on how to avoid procrastination. Like many of us, I decided to wait until later to learn this.

Procrastination is a problem for many B2B professionals. With all the books, all the coaching, etc. our minds will tell us it’s easier to not do something than to do it. In doing some work for a professional organizer, I found a way to develop the habit needed to minimize and hopefully remove procrastination from your life. The irony is that it was a lesson my parents tried to teach me years ago.

According to the professional organizer client, procrastination is clutter. If you think about it, she’s 100 percent correct. Those e-mails you need to send, the books that need updating and other tasks on your to-do list clutter your mind and probably keep you from things you want to do. It can have a snowball effect in your mind and you get up getting nothing done or, worse, not performing to your desired level.

So, what do you?

Start by removing the clutter?

You’re probably saying “Oh, is that all. Why didn’t I think of that?” Well, that’s because you think of clutter in the big sense. To eliminate procrastination, you can start with baby steps and work your way up. And that’s where we finally tie into what Mom and probably Dad tried to teach you way back when.

If procrastination is clutter and clutter is (fill in the blank), just remove the clutter and you are actually doing something and NOT procrastinating. That can start with papers on your desk and putting them into the recycling bin. It feels better to work from a clean desk as opposed to a messy one, right? And you’re probably more productive.

You can start small with tidying up your desk or work space to larger more important items. Because even though you are only picking up a piece of paper or two or whatever that small task might be, you are actually removing procrastination. When you think of it that way, it actually makes you want to remove more. After all, who doesn’t want to remove procrastination in their lives?

And that brings us back to dear old Mom. How many times did she ask you to pick something up or put something away? Yes, she did not want your stuff lying around. But she also was teaching you how to remove procrastination in your life.

Thank you, Mom.

Happy belated Mother’s Day!

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May Days for b2b networking professionals

My Pinnacle Network has a full slate of business-to-business networking meetings for May. My Pinnacle Network meetings are as follows:

My Pinnacle Network – Westborough, Tuesday, May 3, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at Digital Federal Credit Union, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

My Pinnacle Network – Mansfield, Wednesday, May 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 20 Cabot Blvd., Suite 300, Mansfield, MA 02048.

My Pinnacle Network – Marshfield, Thursday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 165 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050.

My Pinnacle Network – Newton, Thursday, May 12, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 29 Crafts Street (Aflac offices), Newton, MA 02458.

My Pinnacle Network – Braintree Third Thursday, Thursday, May 19, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 200, Braintree, MA 02184.

My Pinnacle Network – Bourne, Thursday, May 26, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m., 550 MacArthur Blvd. (Route 28), Bourne, MA 02532.

Only one B2B professional will be selected for each category. Those categories can be found at http://mypinnaclenetwork.com/about/categories.aspx. Prospective members are encouraged to attend a My Pinnacle Network meeting before committing to join.

If you are interested in attending a meeting in your area, please contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061 to RSVP. There is no charge to visit a My Pinnacle Network meeting.

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Networking by phone dos and don’ts

In a perfect world, you can sit down with everybody in your networking group for a one-on-one. That’s why My Pinnacle Network encourages members to conduct one-on-ones before and after meetings so they do happen in person. When that’s not possible, it’s fine if the next-best option is to hold one-on-ones via phone–as long as you treat it as an in-person meeting.

What does that mean? Well, if you conduct a lot of conference calls, you know exactly what that means. In fact, I wrote a blog/newsletter about it not too long ago:
‘Is that your dog barking in the background’ and other teleconference faux pas.

The long and short of the blog is that your call deserves the same level of focus as an in-person meeting. So, find a quiet place and prep accordingly.

To read the entire post, click here. You can also read the sequel, Teleconference hell – You called in your favorites.

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Networking confidence: One more thing your mother was right about

ka-broucherGrowing up, how many times did your mother remind you to stand up straight? Begrudgingly, you complied, probably just to keep her from reminding you all the time. But what you didn’t know was Mom was trying to make you a better networker.

Okay, that was probably not exactly what she was thinking. Yet how you present yourself at a networking event does impact how you are perceived and the level of attention people give to your message. In short, those who stand up straight are more likely to be heard than those who don’t.

This was just one of the many nuggets gleaned from a presentation given at the last My Pinnacle Network-Westborough meeting by Alyssa Dver, co-founder of the American Confidence Institute (ACI) and author of Kickass Confidence.  Posture was just one example Alissa used as to how you can learn to be a better networker. After all, we can all remind ourselves to stand up straighter, right?

Alyssa also debunked the myth of the “born networker”. It may seem that some people take to networking more naturally than others, but there is a very good reason as to why. Chances are those individuals grew up with a role model in life who was a good networker. As children are prone to do, they modeled the behaviors of those around them until those behaviors became their own.In other words, those born networkers learned how to network–just at an earlier age.

Perhaps the most telling and touching part of the presentation occurred at the end of the meeting. Members, to a person, shared how much they received out the condensed presentation (our format allows for 20 minutes for speakers; Alyssa typically conducts much longer workshops). Yet Alyssa shared how even the founder of ACI has to work on confidence as she confided this was the first speaking engagement she had had since losing a parent. Based on her presentation, you never would have known.

For more information on ACI, visit www.americanconfidenceinstitute.com. You can purchase Alyssa’s book, Kickass Confidence, on Amazon.

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Don’t forget to talk about you

You have heard us discuss verbal brands in the past. That’s where you describe what you do in five seconds or less and in such a way that it generates a two-way discussion. While that exchange starts on business, do not be afraid to share a little bit about yourself as part of the talk.

You’re probably thinking, “Go off topic? Are you nuts?”

First, those are two very separate questions. Second, the verbal brand starts the getting to know you process. While a lot of that will be about business, it’s also about you. We tend to do business with people we know and, even better we like. People usually like people who they have things in common with. And that common ground could be anything.

For example…

“Your kids play soccer? Mine, too.”

“You’re in a band? I used to play the bass.”

“You live in Scituate? I used to go there as a kid. Do you know…”

It really could be anything. But part of the networking process has got to include a little you to break the ice and lay the foundation of the relationship.

In our My Pinnacle Network meetings, we will occasionally ask members to share a fact about themselves that nobody in the group knows. Over the years, we have heard a number of answers ranging from “I was a professional bowler” to “I keep bees and sell the honey”. Yet one of the more common responses is about playing an instrument and/or being in a band.  And it’s almost magical to watch the faces of people light up as they share their musical pasts.

Does this lead to more leads and referrals being passed among musicians? It’s difficult to document but the uneducated guess here is it improves the likelihood. But you can always ask MPN’s resident musician Jonathan LaMaster, shown here at a recent gig.

The point to all of this is networking is a package deal-what your business does and what you bring to that  business. Don’t lose sight of that.

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My Pinnacle Network announces April 2016 schedule of B2B networking meetings.

My Pinnacle Network recently announced a full slate of business-to-business networking meetings for April. My Pinnacle Network meetings are as follows:

My Pinnacle Network – Westborough, Tuesday, April 5, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at 1900 West Park Drive, Suite 230, Westborough, MA 01581.

My Pinnacle Network – Mansfield, Wednesday, April 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 20 Cabot Blvd., Suite 300, Mansfield, MA 02048.

My Pinnacle Network – Marshfield, Thursday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 165 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050.

My Pinnacle Network – Newton, Thursday, April 14, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 29 Crafts Street (Aflac offices), Newton, MA 02458.

My Pinnacle Network – Braintree Third Thursday, Thursday, April 21, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 200, Braintree, MA 02184.

My Pinnacle Network – Bourne, Thursday, April 28, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m., 550 MacArthur Blvd. (Route 28), Bourne, MA 02532.

Only one B2B professional will be selected for each category. Those categories can be found at http://mypinnaclenetwork.com/about/categories.aspx. Prospective members are encouraged to attend a My Pinnacle Network meeting before committing to join.

If you are interested in attending a meeting in your area, please contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061 to RSVP. There is no charge to visit a My Pinnacle Network meeting.

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Networking tip: Forget what Mom and Dad said

Mom and Dad may have told you otherwise. And in staying safe as a child, they were 100 percent correct. But when it comes to networking, you absolutely want to talk to strangers.

Business owners and B2B professionals attend networking meetings or functions with the intent of networking to find people with whom they can share leads, referrals and perhaps even do business. Yet how many times do you find yourself at a networking meeting talking most of the time to somebody you already know fairly well?

That’s not to downplay reconnecting with business owners you have a relationship with. Those kind of events can help that relationship evolve. Yet the primary goal of attending a networking event or meeting is also expanding your network. You can’t do that by only talking to people you already know.

So, when you’re attending a networking meeting or function, make a point to introduce yourself to visitors or people you have not met. If you are in the middle of a conversation with somebody who is part of your network, encourage them to walk over and introduce yourself to people neither of you know. A lot of times it will be easier to break the ice if two people approach a newcomer to a meeting or function rather than just one person.

As you approach new people at a networking , do so with a time limit in mind. Ask them about their business and who their customers are. Find out about where they’re from. Ask if they know people that you know from that same town.  If there’s somebody there you think they should meet, find that person and invite them over to continue the conversation.

This is not to say that people who are new to a networking group should not be making that first step to mingle and get around. They absolutely should. But even if somebody’s networking skills aren’t up to where they could or should be, it doesn’t mean they might not be a great source of leads/referrals or business. So, make that little effort to break away from the people you know to meet business owners you don’t.  You literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

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My Pinnacle Network recognizes region’s best connectors with Networking Ninja Award winners

MPN's Brightest Beacon, Nicole Connolly of PhotoFabulousYou.com, and MPN Founder Steve Dubin
MPN’s Brightest Beacon, Nicole Connolly of PhotoFabulousYou.com, and MPN Founder Steve Dubin

BOURNE, BRAINTREE, MARSHFIELD, MANSFIELD, NEWTON, and WESTBOROUGH, MA…

My Pinnacle Network, the business to business networking group with monthly meetings in Bourne, Braintree, Mansfield, Marshfield, Newton, and Westborough, MA, recently announced the winners of its first annual Networking Ninja Awards. The newly minted Networking Ninja Awards were created to recognize the region’s best networkers in four separate categories: Best Connector (helping bring people together); Most Ubiquitous (appears to be at every networking event); Most Altruistic (does most for others); and Brightest Beacon (adds energy to networking events).

Greg DeSimone, owner of Catapult Advisory Group located in Mansfield, MA took home the honors as Best Connector. He is a member of My Pinnacle Network-Mansfield.

Mitchell Zucker of ConnectPay based in Concord, MA won the Most Ubiquitous Networking Ninja Award. He is a member of My Pinnacle Network-Braintree Third Thursday.

David Allen, owner of Balance Wealth Advisors situated in Wellesley, MA won the Most Altruistic Networking Ninja Award. He is a member of My Pinnacle Network-Westborough and My Pinnacle Network-Newton.

Nicole Connolly of PhotoFabulousYou based in Westborough, MA won the Brightest Beacon honors for the second consecutive year. She is a member of My Pinnacle Network-Westborough.

“We had a number of networkers nominated for these awards and these individuals stood out as the cream of the crop in our region,” said Steve Dubin, founder of My Pinnacle Network. “Each of these winners has proven themselves to be first-rate connectors who are givers first, which is how they ultimately receive referrals for their respective businesses.”

Voting for the Networking Ninja Awards took place from January 1 through February 29 on the My Pinnacle Network website, www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. Others nominated for awards include: David DeBlasio of Deblasio Marketing located in Stoughton, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Mansfield; Alex Bungener of Customers at the Speed of Light situated in Cotuit, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Marshfield; Jay Nuss of Jay Nuss Realty of Braintree, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Braintree Third Thursday; and George Rohlfing of Brookline Transportation based in Hanover, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Braintree Third Thursday.

Additional nominees included: John Cotton of First Citizens Federal Credit Union based in Fairhaven, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Bourne; Gary Weinman of Marcum located in Needham, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Westborough; Sheldon Prenovitz of ABResources situated in Westborough, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Westborough; and Juddy Vedder of Web Image Designs headquartered in Shrewsbury, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Westborough.

“Networking, sharing information and opportunity, is what makes the world go round,” noted Dubin. “Both whimsical and pragmatic, the Networking Ninja Awards provide recognition for many who typically do great deeds and humbly hang is the shadows.”

For information about the Networking Ninja Awards, please visit www.MyPinnacleNetwork.com, or contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061.

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MasterMind groups are now forming

mastermind

  • Get help in solving your business challenges.
  • Be supported by other business owners.
  • Be held accountable to follow through on solutions.

1 hour session per month is led by a certified Business Coach.

  • $99 / year
  • My Pinnacle Network members only.




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Why celebrate the Ides of March?

The Ides of March, March 15, is not ordinarily a day of celebration. Unless you are My Pinnacle Network Partner Joe D’Eramo.

His father was born on that day in Introdaqua, a village in Italy.To hear Joe tell the story, his father wasn’t superstitious about that day either: “One great Italian went out, another came in.”.

For the rest of us, at least this year, the Ides of March is also a day of celebration as we name this year’s Networking Ninja Awards winners. The Awards event, which is doubling as a pre-St. Patrick’s Day party is being held on March 15, 5pm to 8pm, at the Mayflower Brewery, 12 Resnk Road, Plymouth, MA.

Admission is free to this event for both My Pinnacle Network members and guests. We’re serving food but you will need to bring money if you want to imbibe. And, we would still like you to register ahead of time so we can give Mayflower Brewery an idea of how many will be attending.

You can RSVP here or sending an e-mail to  Sdubin@mypinnaclenetwork.com.