StartUp Ladies™

(Congratulations Kymberlee - our very own Reno Managing Director)

Networking -Yuck! Most networking events are about as fun as going to the dentist or watching a really boring movie. I’m sure that most of you will agree with this statement. That is, except those of us who are members of an amazing, gives you goose bumps and a lighter than air feeling, organization called eWomen Network.

The eWomen national conference was just recently held in Dallas from July 10 - 13th and there are not even the proper words in the English language to describe this event. The only phrase I can come up with is that this was an out-of-this-world experience. Not to mention the blast we all had at the Nordstrom’s VIP event and the Chocolate Decadence dance party. I do have to preface this with adding that it is my belief that unless you attended this event with the right thoughts and feelings in your mind and heart and set your intentions before going you most likely did not experience the same euphoria as I and most attendees. Another way I have taken to describing this is that if you could bottle what was in the air and sell it you would make billions!

I made the most amazing connection at this event and I know that others experienced this as well. The connection I made does not even have to do with my main business endeavors through Corner Your Market Reno. Those endeavors are authoring the Blogging for More Business book and teaching/assisting business owners the power of and how to market their business online with email marketing, blogs and social media/online networking. My connection was a step forward with the company I am getting off the ground with my daughter, Lillian. The company is Pink Elephant Books, named by Lillian, and you can expect some great growth with Pink Elephant Books as 2008 comes to a close and we begin 2009.

eWomen Network is not your typical networking organization. Don’t expect to attend these events, have 50 - 70 people giving you their card (unasked for) and telling you what they can do for you or sell you and why you should buy from them. How many of us keep those cards? (Oh, except to add them to our email newsletter!) eWomen is about building relationships, trusting one another and supporting one another. The eWomen motto is “What can I do to help you?”.

Now, it does take a commitment of time and energy. You can’t expect to go to one or two of these events and build relationships that are going to increase your sales by 50%. I have been a member for 1 year now and have not missed one eWomen event to date. The benefit is that I have developed some very sound and trustworthy relationships with many of these women. I have established strategic partnerships with some of them as well.

It’s not only about increasing sales for me. I just finished teaching the Build a Blog Workshop through University of Nevada’s Business Development Center. Halfway through the workshop I needed and wanted some emotional support (that self talk kind of beats you up sometimes - you know what I mean?). I did something I have never done before. I reached out to a few of the eWomen members I have connected with and asked for words of wisdom and guidance. The response I got brought me to tears (good ones!) and helped me put the foundation back under my feet to continue on with my endeavor full of confidence and knowing that just taking on the task of teaching this “never been done before” class was a success.

So, what’s the networking secret? Find your local eWomen organization and attend some of their events to experience this unbelievable group of women and learn the secret for yourself! It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it can be and has been life changing for some of us!

(I’ll add pictures from the conference as soon as I get them!)