Are Facebook Ads Really the Right Choice for Your Limited Marketing Dollars?

If you are like a lot of small business owners, you don't have the time or money to waste on advertising campaigns that don't work. 

As promised, Brad Solomon from Solomon Strategic Business Development is back this month to talk about how to use Facebook ads to connect with the people who want and need your services.  

He's going to be sharing his insider tips on how to:

• target the right audience
• make an offer that people care about
• use graphics and videos to capture attention and foster engagement

It might sound a little overwhelming, but it's a lot easier and way more cost effective than you think. (Hint: He's even got tips on how to find out who has seen your ad before a purchase and how to make today's customer a repeat customer by using targeted Facebook advertising.)

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Brad Solomon, Partner Solomon Strategic Business Development
Web: sc-nh.com/
Phone:603-670-4213
Facebook: facebook.com/SolomonStrategic/

How do you know if you're winning if you don't keep score?

We are into October, the end of the year is coming up fast and if you've been paying attention the past three years you'll know that means it's almost time to talk about my favorite topic.  Nope, it's not networking.  

My favorite topic is goals.  

GOALS!!!

One of the keys to creating goals is to make sure the task you want to achieve is something measurable, and when it comes to business goals, the measurements usually revolve around revenue.  

You need to know how much money you've made, how much you've spent, where you're spending it, and who still owes you money.

Unless you've kept up on your bookkeeping, it can be an overwhelming task. The good news is that this is one of those things that can be easily and affordably outsourced.On this month's episode of Live from the Hive I am speaking with Diane Bertrand from Perfectly Balanced Bookkeeping.  She's going to be demystifying some of those confusing accounting terms and explaining how a professional bookkeeper can help you save time, money, and your sanity, and telling us why a bookkeeper should be an essential player on your business team

Diane's video: Profit and Loss Statement Explained

Do you have a bookkeeping question?  Give Diane a call!

-----

NOTE $$$$$: One thing that didn't get mentioned in the podcast is that because Diane is a Certified Quickbooks Pro Advisor, she is able to offer her clients a discount on their Quickbooks Pro subscription.  

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Diane Bertrand, Perfectly Balanced Bookkeeping
Web: www.perfectlybalancedbookkeepingllc.com
Phone/Text: 860 205-4278
Email: PerfectlyBalancedBookllc@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/perfectlybalancedbookkeepingllc

September is all about sales and in this month's episode of Live from the Hive I'm talking to interior decorator Piper Turgeon from Eco Chic Interiors about how to get the best price for your home with a little help from a professional home stager.

Hint: Think de-clutter and clean, then clean again.

Keeping with the sales vibe, I'm also talking to sales expert Brad Solomon from Solomon Strategic Business Development.

Brad is going to be sharing some tips, tricks, and insights on how to effortlessly find leads and convert them sales without feeling like a used car salesman.

If you're struggling to drive traffic to your website or make the sale when people call, Solomon Strategic Business Development has the sales products you're looking for at a price you can afford.  

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Piper Turgeon, Eco Chic Interiors
Web: www.ecochicint.com/
Address: 908 Hanover Street, Suite 8, Manchester, NH 03104
Phone/Text: 603-553-9050
Email: paturgeon@mac.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ecochicinteriors

Brad Solomon
Web: sc-nh.com/
Phone:603-670-4213
Facebook: facebook.com/SolomonStrategic/

A Little Help for Your Tech and Style Woes

When you work in the corporate world you have an IT department to handle all those tech challenges - computers, software, and data security. It all seems so easy when the guy from IT shows up, plugs in a few cables, taps a few keystrokes and says "Okay, you're all set." But when you're on your own one of the first things you notice is that all that tech is a little more complicated than it looks. Especially nowadays when everything we do is on a computer or in the cloud.

In this month's episode of Live from the Hive, IT tech Joe Tauras from Team Logic IT will be on hand to talk about software, hardware, and those pesky ransomware viruses. We're also going to be sharing a major announcement about a new podcast.

I'm also going to be joined by featured guest Sharon Jensen from Embrace Your Wardrobe.

Sharon is a professional image and color consultant who will be sharing her top tips to help you define your personal style.

• Discover the best colors for your hair & skin tone
• Define the best styles for your body shape
• Create the perfect wardrobe for your lifestyle

She's also going to be talking about how to save money by shopping your closet, using a tailor, and shopping at consignment stores.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Joe Tauras, Team Logic IT
Web: http://www.teamlogicit.com/manchesternh901/
Address: 908 Hanover Street, Suite 8, Manchester, NH 03104
Phone: 603-505-4665
Email: jtauras@teamlogicit.com

Sharon Jensen
Web: https://www.embraceyourwardrobe.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EmbraceYourWardrobe/
Phone: 603-670-4213
Email: Sharon@EmbraceYourWardrobe.com

Sharon's upcoming classes/events:

8/19/17 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at Hangers Crossing 62 Portsmouth Ave, Stratham NH
9/24/17 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Brookline Wedding Expo
9/28/17 Polish Your Image 5-week Adult Education Course

Two Local Business Owners Find Success as Problem Solvers

In this month's episode of Live from the Hive I am talking with Manchester business owner and Ward 6 aldermanic candidate Ryan Van Orden.

As the owner of Uni-Star Cleaning Service, Van Orden has overcome a lot of obstacles to start and grow his business and will be sharing some of his insights and experiences as a parent and small business owner in the Queen City.

Also this month, Candy Osborne, owner of Snowbird Creatives, is giving insider tips and tricks for taking control of your business content so that you reach your target audience and make the sale.

• Identify your audience
• Know your end goal
• Create a plan
• Reuse existing content
• Build relationships

For more tips about content marketing be sure to check out the blog at http://www.snowbirdcreatives.com/blog/

Reminder: Coffee Buzz Networking will be back from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM on Monday, August 14th at Aroma Joe's Coffee, 2 S. Beech Street, Manchester.  

If you like the podcast please take a minute to click the subscribe button, like us on Itunes, and share the podcast on your favorite social media platform.  

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Ryan Van Orden

Web: http://unistarcleaning.com
Phone: 603-867-MAID (6243)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unistarcleaning/

Cleaning for a Reason http://cleaningforareason.org/

Candy Osborne

Web: http://snowbirdcreatives.com
Email: candy@snowbirdcreatives.com
Phone: 603-557-4805
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SnowbirdCreatives/

Above & Beyond Childcare

In this month's episode of Live from the Hive, we're talking about daycare with Rebecca Collins, owner of Above & Beyond Childcare.

Whether you're self-employed or work in a cubicle, day care is a big issue for a lot of parents and Rebecca is going to give us some insider tips for finding the right daycare provider for your family as well as some news about upcoming rule changes to the State of New Hampshire's licensing for day care providers.

Rebecca's Tips for Finding the Right Day Care:

1. Verify center is licensed
   1. Ask if they've gone to the next step to obtain License Plus rating
   2. Ask for teacher qualifications, training, or certifications
   3. Check with the state
2. Do an unplanned site visit
   1. What is the condition of the facility?
   2. What is the ratio of teachers to children?
   3. Are the children engaged?
   4. Are activities age appropriate
3. Think about your child's comfort zone
   1. Does your child prefer smaller groups or do they like a lot of social activities?
4. Review the security
   1. Are all the doors locked?
   2. Are outdoor play areas enclosed?
   3. Are classrooms, play areas, and public spaces free from common hazards (cleaning products, tools, etc...)
5. Meet with the teachers
   1. Your daycare provider should be a good fit for both your child and your family

Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Your Catering & Marketing Solution (Yes, I said marketing...)

Also this month, Sarah Coletti, the regional marketing director for Uno Pizzeria & Grill will be sharing the latest news on networking events, summer specials, and how Unos can help you cater your next event while earning some money for your favorite charity.

When it comes to marketing on a budget, you've got to think out of the box. Uno's budget conscious catering and Dough Raiser program can help you help the community, improve your company's visibility, impress clients, and network with potential customers. That's a lot of bang for your buck. Listen to the podcast and hear what Sarah has to say. Trust me when I say it's amazing how far your marketing dollars can go when you partner with Uno Pizzaria.

• Catering for almost every taste (Including many gluten-free options!)

• Dough Raiser - helping you raise money for your favorite charity!

• Event Hosting

603 Networking

Monday, June 19th 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at UNO Pizzeria & Grill, 593 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH 03063 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/603-networking-619-530-730pm-nashua-open-networking-tickets-34635206836

Monday, June 19th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM UNO Pizzeria & Grill, 120 Laconia Road, Tilton, NH 03276 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/603-networking-619-6-8pm-tilton-open-networking-tickets-34635087479

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Rebecca Collins Above & Beyond Childcare
web: https://www.aboveandbeyondchildcare.com/
email: Rcabc1461@aol.com
Manchester address/phone: 47 Depot Road Manchester NH (603)782-5689
Hooksett address/phone: 1461 Hooksett Road Hooksett, NH (603)627-4161

NH Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing Unit: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/oos/cclu/

Sarah Coletti Uno Pizzeria & Grill
web: https://www.unos.com/
email: scoletti@unos.com
phone: (978) 914-0514

In this month's episode...

In this month's episode of Live from the Hive, the incomparable Tammy Downing from Out of the Box Tours is back in the Hive. Tammy is always a lot of fun and you will definitely want to stay tuned to hear about her latest paranormal and foodie tours around New England.

Also this month, I am super excited to have special guest Jordyn Mastacouris from On Point Consulting.

If you've ever dreamed of starting your own business, you need to put Jordyn on speed dial.

On Point Consulting is your fast track to success!

Her agency can help you with everything you need to put your small business on the fast track to success!

• Find an attorney
• File the paperwork
• Business Planning
• Sales & Marketing Strategies
• Insurance, permits, & more!

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Tammy Downing

Web: http://www.tourotb.com
Phone: 603-660-8427
Calendar: http://www.tourotb.com/contact/

Jordyn Mastacouris

Web: http://onpointconsultingnh.com
Phone: 603-361-1384
Email: info@onpointconsultingnh.com

Overwhelmed by Social Media?

Has anyone else noticed that the only people who think using social media to market your business is easy are the people who don't actually have a business?

Don't get me wrong, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are great options for a budget conscious business owner, but they're not easy.

They require careful planning, a commitment to regular posts, and a willingness to engage not only with the people who follow you but in whatever group or conversation you find your target market. And this all has to be done without sounding like you're spouting a canned sales pitch.

As if that wasn't enough, you have to block off time away from running your business for each and every social media platform you use. It's not hard if you have the time and tools, but when you're a small business owner there is never enough time.

This month's Live from the Hive guests are Stephanie Edwards from Social Wize, LLC and Graham Gifford from the NH Telephone Museum.

Stephanie will be sharing insider tips and tricks on how to tackle your social media marketing, and Graham will be talking about glow worms and how to overcome perfectionism. And yes, you read that right, I said glow worms. (Hint: They play an important role in the latest Telephone Museum special exhibit.)

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Stephanie Edwards

Web: http://socialwizellc.com
Phone:603-206-5846
Email: info@socialwizellc.com

Graham Gifford

NH Telephone Museum http://www.nhtelephonemuseum.org/

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living, Shauna Niequist

How to Mentor a Perfectionist, W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith, Harvard Business Journal

In this month's episode...

In this month's Live from the Hive I am talking about office design and functional workspace with Justin Mikolyski from Creative Office Pavilion and how to promote your business using video with Chris Pastrana from the NH Business Show.

It doesn't matter if you are a one man office working from your apartment or if you have a hundred employees in the Millyard, every office needs the right design and equipment to keep your staff healthy and productive.

• chairs
• lighting
• work surfaces

Justin Mikolyski is here to share his insider tips on things to think about when you need to add more desks without moving to new office space. He's also talking about how to keep up with next generation needs in an evolving workplace, and how hiring a professional design team can make the transition to your new office space worry-free.

I'm also catching up with Chris Pastrana from the NH Business Show. He's sharing how testimonial videos can be a very affordable way to create social proof in competitive markets. We're also talking about his new Elevator Pitch coaching product and the new veteran's business networking group.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Justin Mikolyski:

phone: 603-339-1649

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mikolyski-80048956

email: jmikolyski@cop-inc.com

http://officepavilion.com

Chris Pastrana:

http://nhbusinessshow.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NHBusinessShow

email: nhbusinessshow@gmail.com

NH Business Partner Finder Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8587625

New England's King of Networking

On this month's episode of Live from the Hive I am talking with New England's un-official King of Networking, the one and only Kevin Willett.

For anyone who hasn't met Kevin, I can guarantee you that it is just a matter of time.

This man is everywhere and he's connected to just about everyone in southern New Hampshire and the Greater Boston area.

In addition to his role as a professional networker through his eponymous Friends of Kevin networking group, Willett also manages the New England B2B Networking group, hosts the Friends of Kevin Radio Show, and the Business as Usual television show.

You might even say when it comes to networking, Willett has been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, and wrote the book about it.

And it would be true.

He tells me that he did make Friends of Kevin t-shirts when he first started the Friends of Kevin Networking group and he's also the author of One Connection: How You Can Grow Your Business (and Change the World) One Connection at a Time.

Whether you are taking baby steps or ready to jump right in, Willett is the man to help you connect with the right people in New England.

For more information about Friends of Kevin, you can them on the web at friendsofkevin.com. and if you're looking for strictly B2B connections take a look at New England B2B Networking . Or, if you're feeling really bold, send an email or reach out to him on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Friends of Kevin Networking

New England B2B Networking

Friends of Kevin Radio

One Connection: How You Can Grow Your Business (and Change the World) One Connection at a Time

Business as Usual YouTube Channel

What do you get when you mix wine, chocolate, ghosts, and toner?

Would you believe a boat load of savings and a whole lot of fun?

Happy New Year everyone! I don't know about you but I am super excited about 2017. I spent the last couple weeks networking and I am on overload at this point. I'm bouncing off the walls and running around like a lunatic and it's driving my husband and everyone else around me a little nuts.

One of the things that got me so excited is that we are kicking off the new year with not one, but two guests on this month's edition of Live from the Hive, Tammy Downing from Out of the Box Tours and Mike Lynch from Inkspot NH.

Tammy Downing is one of those high energy people that make you want to jump right in and join the fun. Stayed tuned for some sneak peeks and details about some of her upcoming tours and maybe she'll give us a few insider tips on finding the hidden gems when you travel.

• wine and chocolate tour — Saturday, January 14th, February 11th, March 11
• ghost tours — next tour is Tuesday, March 28th
• custom tours

Also this month, Mike Lynch is going to share how he can save you 30% on your ink and toner, give the facts about remanufactured vs. OEM cartridges, and help you keep all those old toner cartridges out of the landfills.

• save money
• less than 2% defect rate
• no shipping/delivery fee
• stays in the community
• 100k cartridges from local landfills

He's been in business for over 11 years so I'm thinking he must be providing the best product and service.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

To reach Tammy Downing and Out of the Box Tours:

• email: touringtammy@gmail.com or call 603-660-8427
• https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wine-and-chocolate-tour-of-southern-nh-tickets-29963339154?aff=es2
• www.traveladventureswithtammy.com
• She's also on Facebook as @TouringTammy

To reach Mike Lynch and Inkspot NH:

email: InkSpotNH@gmail.com or call 603-490-1311

http://www.inkspotnh.com/

https://www.facebook.com/InkSpot-Stores-115974511764543/

Not so guilty pleasures...

It may make you feel pampered and decadent, but massage is actually an affordable luxury that should be part of your healthy living plan.

Whether you've got that nagging neck pain or are simply feeling overwhelmed, the healing power of touch can bring a welcome relief to many of today's stresses.

• pain relief
• relaxation
• improved focus & concentration

In a 24/7 world where there is no down time, making a commitment to give yourself a 30 or 60-minute timeout every month is a necessity for anyone who wants to be on top of their game and feel their best and Lisa Poole from Peaceful Strength Massage makes it easy to fit into just about anyone's busy schedule and budget.

• 45-minute lunch-time massage (special discount!)
• convenient evening hours
• easy online booking
• pricing starting at $40
• IRS approved for HSA/FSA

Join me for this month's Live from the Hive podcast as massage therapist Lisa Poole from Peaceful Strength Massage shares her top tips for how to relax and enjoy a stress-free lifestyle. And no, it doesn't require daily massages, winning the lottery or quitting your day job.

NH Business Partner Finder

Don't forget, the first meeting for the NH Business Partner Finder group is 6:30 PM -8:00 PM Monday, January 2nd at Aroma Joe's Coffee 2 S. Beech Street, Manchester.

The new year is traditionally a time for new beginnings and I am launching the new NH Business Partner Finder group on Monday, January 2nd, the first business day of the new year.

If one of your goals for 2017 is to find a business or project partner this is your opportunity to start the new year strong. For more information please visit Start the New Year with a New Business Partner.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Peaceful Strength Massage is located at 167 South River Road, Suite #5, Bedford.

For more information about Peaceful Strength Massage, please visit their website, www.peaceful-strength.com or find them on Facebook

1. Stress Busters article mentioned in the podcast: http://peaceful-strength.com/stress-busters-manchester-nh/
2. Lisa's quick stretching videos can be found on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/PeacefulStrengthMassageTherapy/videos
3. Current discounts & promotions are listed under Massage Rewards on the Peaceful Strength website: http://peaceful-strength.com/massage-discounts/

Those toothpaste commercials were right...

Way back in the day, when I worked for the City of Manchester I noticed that if I smiled at people they yelled at me a lot less and started smiling back at me.

Just so we're straight, people would come in off the street and start yelling about things that neither the city nor I had any control over, this was not a personal response to me or a reflection on my (superior) customer service skills.

"Breathe, breathe again, smile and relax"
- Thich Nhat Hanh

The results from the smile test were so compelling It inspired me to write a poem called SMILE and start using the simple act of smiling as a way to relax, diffuse unpleasant situations and boost my own day.

In this week's podcast, I am going to share the hows and whys of embracing the silent power of a smile.

While my own experience with this powerful tool (a smile could never be a weapon) is purely anecdotal, there is clinical scientific data that supports the idea that a smile can make you and the people around you feel good. If you're interested in learning more about the science and psychology of smiles please visit:

• The Science of Smiling: A Guide to the World's Most Powerful Gesture
• There's Magic in Your Smile - How Smiling Affects Your Brain
• The Surprising Psychology of Smiling

Remember, a smile can help you improve your mood, help you relax, and influence the people around you so they are more calm and relaxed. As Thich Nhat Hanh says, "breathe, breathe again, smile and relax." It really is that simple.

Black Friday Ad Deadline

Don't forget that the deadline to submit your FREE Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday ads has been extended to Tuesday, November 22nd. For more more information about this promotion please visit "Promote Your Holiday Specials for FREE on Queen City Buzz." If you have any questions you can reach me at buzz@queencity.buzz. Please use Black Friday as the subject on the subject line.

Stop the Madness!

Is your weight causing health problems like diabetes or hypertension?

Are you tired of being sick and tired?

Whether you need to lose 20 pounds or 100, this month's guest, Stephanie Edwards from Ideal Health, LLC, can help.

Edwards is a nutritionist and a weight loss coach who has helped dozens of people not only lose weight but keep the weight off.

• quickly lose 2 - 5 pounds a week
• learn how to read labels & plan meals
• understand how your body processes food so you can make better choices
• enjoy a healthy lifestyle!

The Ideal Health program is a scientifically proven, easy-to-manage weight loss plan and maintenance system. No gimmicks, no magic pills, and no requirement to buy expensive supplements for the rest of your life.

This program will help you adopt a healthy lifestyle, eating real food so that you lose weight and keep it off forever.

If you're on the fence about trying another weight loss plan, check out the podcast to learn more about Stephanie Edwards and Ideal Health. Depending on your weight loss goal, you can be half-way there by New Years, and you won't have to skip Thanksgiving Dinner.

To reserve your spot for the FREE weekly introduction workshop please call 603-206-5846.

For more information about Ideal Health, you can find them on the web at http://idealhealthllc.com

Even the people we look up to have those moments...

Poser, faker or fraud. No matter what you call it, there comes a time when we all look across the conference table and felt like an impostor.

No matter how much experience, skill or education there comes a point when we meet someone or come across a work situation that makes us feel like we're lacking some essential quality that distinguishes as a qualified professional.

Trust me, it happens to everyone.

On this week's episode of Kickstart Monday, I am sharing my top three tips for overcoming Impostor Syndrome.

Virtual Saves You Money

In the business world time equals money, and when you're a small business owner it's super easy to convince yourself that doing everything on your own will save money. I'm here to tell you that mindset is a false economy.

This month's guest on Live from the Hive is John Morgan from Island Breeze Virtual Assistants and we are going to be talking about how to save your money and your sanity by hiring a virtual assistant.

Island Breeze offers just about every service a start-up or small business owner could need.

• Accounting/Bookkeeping
• Billing
• Administrative Tasks
• CRM Management
• Email Newsletters
• Meeting/Event Planning
• and many, many more!

Thanks to the internet, it's easier than ever to hire an administrative assistant to take care of billing, set up your newsletter or simply manage your social media, and it's a lot cheaper than you think.

Whether you pay by the hour or the project, a virtual assistant can save you money by freeing up your time so you can spend it on activities that make you money like sales and servicing clients.

Listen to the podcast then click on the link to see what Island Breeze Virtual Assistants can do for you.

Veterans Week November 6 - 12, 2016

Don't forget that we are 2 weeks away from Veterans Week.

If you are a local veteran small business owner who missed the deadline but would still like to be included in this year's event, give me a call. If you're a little flexible with time, I will work with you to try to get you on the schedule.

You can reach me at 603-264-0788 or send me an email to buzz@queencity.buzz be sure to use Vet Week as the subject.

For more information about the Veterans Week promotion please visit Promoting & Supporting NH Veterans One Business at a Time.

Stop the Excuses!

Everyone has an excuse, and it's usually something reasonable and valid, but at the end of the day all it takes are three easy little steps to overcome almost any situation and be productive.

This week's podcast isn't so much about finding the right time management system as it is about how to get yourself into position to use whatever system you use effectively so you can get to the things you need to get done.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Weekly Roundup:Manchester Meetings & Tech Events 10/3/16 - 10/7/16

603 Networking - Concord: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Uno Pizzeria & Grill, Fort Eddy Road, Concord. The 603 Networking Group is starting October with an open networking event in Concord. If you're looking to connect with other local business people or simply want to put a face to the people you talk with on Linkedin why not stop by? Please be sure to sign up as they do need to know how many people are coming. RSVP: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=i8v19-iteklujq-pa&t=plh&midToken=AQFHWgd4kn36rg&ek=group_announcement_message&urlhash=sBys&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeventbrite%2Ecom%2Fe%2F603-networking-103-530-730pm-concord-open-networking-tickets-27991076062 NOTE: This link worked when I tried it the other day, but was broken when I tested before posting. If you want to RSVP and it is still down please visit the group post on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2737743/2737743-61...

Coffee Buzz Networking: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM at Aroma Joe's Coffee 2. S. Beech Street, Manchester. This month's topic is "How to Overcome a Bad Networking Experience"

Finding Your Groove

Do you ever feel like you work, and work, and work but you're still not where you want to be?

On this week's episode of Kickstart Monday, I'm sharing tips on how to figure out what's holding you back and how to find your mojo when you're in a slump.

At some point or another, we've all been there and we'll probably go there again, but there are a few easy things you can do to get yourself back on track.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Weekly Roundup:Manchester Meetings & Tech Events 9/19/16 - 9/23/16

Veterans Week 2016 - We are doing interviews through the end of the month.

If you're a veteran and would like to have your business featured on Queen City Buzz and the New Hampshire Business Show, let us know.

For more information please visit: Vet Week 2016 or click the Uncle Sam graphic on Queen City Buzz or New Hampshire Business Show. And if you're feeling old school give us a call.

Chris Pastrana, NH Business Show 603-493-2843

Pat Hammond, Queen City Buzz 603-264-0788

Did you know there is a video version of Queen City Buzz?

In this month's episode of Live from the Hive I am talking with Chris Pastrana from the New Hamsphire Business show and he is going to share insider tips and answer questions about using video to market your small business.

• How to use video
• Why it's more cost effective to hire a pro to shoot your video
• Why he offers free video interviews for you to use on you website & social media
• How to think outside the box with video

We're also going to talk about the Veterans Week promotion, why we're doing it and why it's so important to us.

Click on the link and find out what a free video interview with the New Hampshire Business Show can do for you!

For more information about the NH Business Show, you can find them on the web at http://nhbusinessshow.com or you find all of Chris' social media links at Clyxo.com

Reminder!

There is still time to participate in the Veterans Week promotion.

If you're a veteran and would like to have your business featured on Queen City Buzz and the New Hampshire Business Show, let us know.

For more information please visit: Vet Week 2016 or click the Uncle Sam graphic on Queen City Buzz or New Hampshire Business Show. And if you're feeling old school give us a call.

Chris Pastrana, NH Business Show 603-493-2843

Pat Hammond, Queen City Buzz 603-264-0788

You Want to Get Paid? You Gotta Follow the Rules!

In this week's podcast, I'm going to talk about the three rules for handling clients, why they are important and what to do when a client doesn't comply.

If you're not familiar with them, the rules are:

1. Always get a contract
2. Always get a deposit/good faith payment
3. Never fall in love with a project

In twenty-five years as a freelancer and small business owner, I've had two occasions when I didn't get paid. In both cases, I broke the rules. I didn't get a contract, I didn't get a deposit, and I fell in love with the project.

These are not my rules. These are standard business guidelines that go back to when people first started doing business and we have them for a reason.

At the end of the day, people are people. Some are good, some are bad and most will take advantage of any opportunity they can get. If you want to save your sanity, your business, your reputation, and your wallet, all it takes is following these three simple rules.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Coffee Buzz Networking: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Tuesday, September 6th at Aroma Joe's Coffee 2. S. Beech Street, Manchester. This month's topic is "How to Deal With Problem Clients"

Merrimack Motivators Toastmasters: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tuesday, September 6th at Merrimack Town Hall Meeting Room, 6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack

Toastmasters - Amoskeag Better Communicators: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Wednesday, September 7th at Manchester Community College 1066 Front Street, Conference Room 267, Manchester.

Nackey S. Loeb School: Public Speaking: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Saturday, September 10th at Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications 749 E Industrial Park Dr, Manchester. Taught by Southern New Hampshire University Professor Andrea Bard, this workshop allows participants to develop important oral communication skills and knowledge through information and application. Cost for workshop $50 For more information/enroll please visit http://www.loebschool.org/classes-and-workshops/classes.aspx or call (603) 627-0005

To find more business, networking, and tech events in and around the Queen City, visit Weekly Roundup: Manchester Meetings & Tech Events 9/5/16 - 9/10/16

Review, Refine, and Re-boot

No doubt about it, September is the best time to call a do-over.

Think about it, when you were a kid September meant a new school year. You were in a new grade, with new teachers, and everything was new and exciting.

If you are like most people you spent 13 of your first 18 years starting fresh every fall. This is a learned behavior that was repeated over and over again. Embrace it. Make it work for you.

You weren't looking back at what you did or didn't achieve in March or April, you were looking ahead to figure out what you could to reach your goals today.

I'm not going to say to forget about the goals you made in January, but if you are looking at the calendar today and you're not happy with where you are, it's time to put on the brakes and call a do-over.

• ask yourself if you want the same things
• figure out why you did or didn't meet your benchmarks
• find a way to apply what you've already accomplished to another goal

There are a lot of reasons people fail to reach their goals. Sometimes it's because they were over optimistic with their timeline, other times it's because once they got started they realized their goal wasn't something really wanted to do. Whatever is keeping you from succeeding, it's okay.

Take an honest look at what worked and what didn't.

With four months left in the year, there is plenty of time to review, refine and re-boot so that you can reach your goals in 2016.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Weekly Roundup Manchester Meetings & Tech Events 8/29/16 - 9/2/16 - A weekly listing of business, networking and tech events in and around Manchester.

International Game Developers Association - NH: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM The Shaskeen Pub & Restaurant 909 Elm Street, Manchester. IGDA NH Presents: Gary Freeman - An Introduction to Concept Art. Open networking and a presentation by artist Gary Freeman. This is a great opportunity for local artists who have wondered how to break into the complex world of digital art.

Toastmasters of Manchester: Humorous Speech Contest 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Manchester Community College, Room #Main 240 1066 Front Street Manchester. Who said that speeches and presentations had to be boring? Three clubs (TMM, ABC, and Millyard) will compete in back-to-back contests. Come and hear the incredible speeches. Note the earlier start time.

Currier After Hours: Cocktails and Color 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Currier Museum of Art 150 Ash Street, Manchester. Looking for a way to socialize and unwind? The Currier is hosting an evening of food, cocktails, and coloring at the Winter Garden Cafe. The event is free with museum admission. Coloring books and markers will be provided.

Feeling like this summer has been one big challenge? You're not alone...

I'm hearing from a lot of people that things have been spiraling out of control lately which got me wondering how people wade through the crazy without losing their mind.

In my world, the first step is always going to be to define the problem.

Is it a demanding client? Is it family, friends or co-workers? Is it a technical or mechanical issue?

Is the challenge just one person or are you being bombarded with people and problems all demanding your immediate attention?

My experience has been that crazy doesn't happen in a vacuum.Like attracts like and once you've got one disaster in your personal gravity field you end up with multiple people and challenges orbiting planet-you. And since I've already tortured my astrophysics analogy, I going to go all-in and say that if you do not take control of the situation you will end up like a big black hole sucking in whatever debris enters your personal space.

Life is full of challenges and left unchecked those little things will start to add up and overwhelm you.

Which brings me to the next question, is it really your problem?

This may sound like a no-brainer, but it's pretty common for people to dump their problems on other people with the hope that someone else will fix them.

If it's something that you feel obliged to fix and you can actually do something about it, then add it to the to-do list. Otherwise, let it go.

Lend a shoulder or an ear, give some advice or point them to someone who can help, but let it go.

If it really is your problem then you need to determine if it's something that you can fix.

If the answer is yes all you have to do is break down the problem into manageable chunks.

Start by fixing critical items first, then extend your timeline so that you're dealing with a workable to do list.

It may take a little longer than you'd like and you may need to get some outside help, but you'll feel a lot better once you have a well-considered action plan.

If it's something you can't fix yourself, the next question is why.

Is it lack of resources like money, time, or skill? What can you do to overcome those obstacles?

The idea is to keep drilling down until you have something actionable.

If the resolution is truly out of your hands then you're going to have to let it go. Maybe that means handing it off to someone else, or maybe that means walking away entirely.

At the end of the day wading through the crazy without losing your mind comes down to three steps.

• define the problem
• make an action plan
• let it go

I'm not going to lie here. Letting go is a learned skill, and it's hard.

If you can be objective and master all three of these skills you will have the confidence and vision to deal with your own crises, help your friends and wade through the crazy without losing your mind.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

603 Networking - Manchester (Open Networking): 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Portland Pie Company 786 Elm Street, Manchester. Here's another of the very popular 603 Networking Group's August events. If you're looking to connect with other local business people or simply want to put a face to the people you talk with on Linkedin why not stop by? Please be sure to sign up as they do need to know how many people are coming. RSVP https://www.eventbrite.com/e/603-networking-822-530-730pm-manchester-open-networking-tickets-26867451270

Friends of Kevin - Nashua: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friends of Kevin Networking is holding a FREE networking event at the Millyard Technology Park 10 Technology Drive, 3rd Floor Cafe, Nashua. Registration is required and you can register on Facebook or meetup.com.

Alpha Loft Hoopla Party: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Alpha Loft 844 Elm Street, Manchester. From their website: "Hoopla is a gathering for you and a hundred of your favorite peoples who love all things creative, tech, and entrepreneurship in the Manchester area. Enjoy a beverage, hang out with your peers, and relax. No presentations. No fuss. Just a whole lot of Hoopla. " Registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hoopla-party-manchest...

For more information about the 7 Veteran-Owned Businesses in 7 Days promotion please visit Veterans Week 2016 or give us a call.

Chris Pastrana, NH Business Show 603-493-2843
Pat Hammond, Queen City Buzz 603-264-0788

Why You Need a Personal Image Consultant

You've been dressing yourself since you were 5, you love those skinny jeans and there is no way you'd ever be caught dead in pantyhose. You have a clear idea of how to dress for comfort, but is it really your best look?

• Do you struggle to find the right outfit for business meetings or interviews?
• Do you look in the mirror and wonder why your favorite top makes you look pale?
• Do you wish you could just run in the mall and find the perfect pair of jeans on your first try?

If you said yes to any of these questions it might be time to talk to Sharon Jensen from Embrace Your Wardrobe.

In spite of what you see on tv (Trinny & Susannah, Clinton Kelly & Stacy London or even the exalted Tim Gunn), working with an image consultant is a stress-free process of learning the best styles and colors for your body and lifestyle.

Jensen offers one-on-one consultations for men, women, recent grads, and bridal parties as well as a regular line-up of workshops and seminars designed to keep you comfortable, confident, and on trend.

She even offers a 5-week course through the Derry Adult Education program.

If you want to take your confidence to the next level think about trying a consult with Embrace Your Wardrobe.

Still not sure? According to Jensen finding the right style can help you look 15 pounds thinner! That's right, no diet, no exercise. All you need to do is choose the color and style that flatters your existing body, and she can show you how.

Upcoming Classes/Workshops

August 22, 2016 - Scarves - How to tie - 6 - 8 pm - SubZero, 495 Amherst St, Nashua NH August 29, 2016 - Business Casual - What does it mean? - SubZero, 495 Amherst St, Nashua NH

September 7, 2016 -De-Clutter your CLOSET - Ideal Health, Cilley Rd, Manchester NH September 22, 2016 - Ladies Night Out - 6 - 8 pm - Salisbury MA

September 28, 2016 - Ladies Night Out - 6 to 8 pm - Castleton, Windham NH September 29, 2016 (6-8pm) Derry Adult Education - Polish Your Image - 5 week class October 2, 2016 - Bridal Expo - Brookline Event Center - FREE - Noon to 4:00 pm - BRIDES should register to PRIZES

For more information about Jensen's upcoming workshops and classes please visit http://embraceyourwardrobe.com

Building Relationships

Do you know what's even better than a Monday? When Monday is the first day of the month.

I don't know why, there's just something clean about it, a new month, new week and a new opportunity to succeed. Can it get any better?

Since this month's Coffee Buzz Networking is tomorrow I thought it would be a good time to talk about How to Leverage the Power of Your Network.

As a lot of you know I recently teamed up with Chris Pastrana from NH Business Show for a Veterans Day promotion and this would never have happened if it wasn't for our network.

We didn't know each other and even though we do basically the same thing as far as promoting local businesses, we haven't been to any of the same events and don't know all that many of the same people. But we had one person in common, Piper Turgeon from Eco Chic Interiors.

Piper met Chris at one of the Gold Star Referral Club meetings, one thing led to another and she gave us an introduction. Now we're working a joint project and it's kind of big.

This is what I'm talking about when I say the "power of your network."

In it's purest form, networking is about building relationships.

Relationships open doors and give us credibility. They put us in touch with potential buyers and business partners, but that's it. Some of the people in our network may end up as clients, but that's not why we cultivate the relationship.

I know a lot of sales people are going to disagree with me on this. And if you are a sales person whose sole purpose is to find customers and make the sale, I get that your perspective is different from the rest of us. Your goal is to find a prospect and sell, that's it. You have people to handle all those other pesky business details like product development, production, front office, back office and everything in between. Your focus is the sale and anyone who isn't buying isn't important to you.

No business can survive without revenue so yes, sales are always important, but the average small business person has a wider scope. And this is particularly true for people who work on their own.

Which brings us to the question of how do you leverage your network?

Introductions

One of the biggest benefits of a strong network, if not the biggest benefit, of having a network is the ripple effect.

When you carefully tend and nurture your network it opens doors far beyond the person standing in front of you. And yes, I am talking about introductions.

Sometimes it's someone knowing the gatekeeper for the person you need to meet, other times it's being introduced to potential partners or new clients.

And this is where the sales guys and the people who go to networking events for the sole purpose of making a sale get it wrong.

A sale today doesn't guarantee anything tomorrow, but when you build relationships it opens the door to tomorrow's possibilities.

That's huge because when you combine your address book and all of your connections' address books at least one, if not two or three people, can put you in touch with the right people at the right time.

Product Development

Product ideas and development are another great use for your network.

You can spend a lot of money and do focus groups and A/B testing, but it makes more sense to start by talking to people in your network. Ask questions and listen to what they're saying.

You don't have to specifically tell anyone you're trying to develop a new product, just pay attention when they start talking about the things they hate or the tools they need to make their job easier.

It doesn't really matter what kind of product or service you provide. Get to know the people in your target market and listen to what they say. This will put you a step ahead of everyone else and because you've already established a rapport you'll have one foot in the door when it comes to selling it.

Credibility

The third way to use your network is to leverage the credibility factor.

We all know that people want to do business with people they know and it's not enough that they met you at a networking event.

Before someone entrusts you with their kitchen remodel, their wedding photography or their website, they want to know that someone they already know and trust is willing to vouch for you.

Again, this is why we build relationships and why it's so important to have those relationships with the right people.

People who are trustworthy, who are upstanding citizens and are connected to the audience that you want to reach.

Wield the Power

When you're an entrepreneur, especially a solo entrepreneur, your network is probably the most valuable tool in your toolbox. As a one person shop, you don't have a development team, a production manager, accountant, or marketing team on hand to help you get things done. But when you have a strong network, you can easily get the help or introductions you need to get reach your audience and get the job done.

So Take the time to make quality connections and build relationships. And Remember, it's not all about you.

All relationships are a balance of give and take so be a good networking partner. Answer questions, give introductions and referrals. And trust me when I say that as a small business person there is nothing more reassuring than knowing that people have your back.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

603 Networking - Concord (Open Networking): Concord (Open Networking): 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Uno Pizzeria & Grill Fort Eddy Road, Concord. The 603 Networking Group is kicking off August with an open networking event in Concord. If you're looking to connect with other local business people or simply want to put a face to the people you talk with on Linkedin why not stop by? Please be sure to sign up as they do need to know how many people are coming. RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/603-networking-81-530...

Coffee Buzz Networking: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM at Aroma Joe's Coffee 2. S. Beech Street, Manchester. This month's topic is "How to Find Clients"

Yoga + Fitness in the Park: Weekly yoga and fitness session are 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM at Victory Park 119 Concord Street, Manchester. Why not duck out of the office for an hour and enjoy an open air class? For more information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/510240419181789/

Gold Star Manchester Business Network

The Power of No

A couple weeks ago my mother-in-law's looked at me and said "Pat, you've got to learn to say no once in a while."

Being a reasonably polite person I smiled and said "I do. In fact, I say no to people all the time."

I may be in the office six days a week and my calendar may look overwhelming to my mother-in-law, but I'm well aware how many hours there are in the day and I carefully plan how many of those hours can be spent on any given project.

I make sure that I include time for working out, reading and down time every day and I even schedule mental health days where I can either do nothing or go crazy and just do whatever I want. I also never eat lunch in front of my computer.

None of that was true when I worked in a cubicle. And it probably wouldn't happen now if I hadn't learned the power of NO.

No is a powerful word. It's a statement of autonomy that lets people know that you are in control of your own choices. And It doesn't have to be harsh or rude, it just has to be firm.

No doesn't require excuses.

You may feel like you have to give a reason, but if you're doing it right, no stands on its own without justification.

You may think that it's being kind or tempering the blow, but adding a reason weakens your position and gives false hope.

Think about it.

What happens when a parent says no to a child? If it's a resolute no the child will (eventually) back off, but as soon as mom or dad adds a reason that child sees it as a hurdle to overcome.

It's no different for adults.

What do you hear when you ask someone to do something and they say "No, I don't have the money right now?"

If you're most people, you interpret that as "I'd like too, but the price is wrong" and you go out and find a way to make it cheaper.

That's fine if the person really does have a problem with the cost, but you and I both know that chances are good that as soon as you come back with a solution to the cost problem the person will come up with some other excuse that skirts around the fact that they just don't want to do it. So why not skip all the hassle and just say no right from the start?

It's all about awareness & self-control

It's easy to say no when it's something we don't want to do, but it takes a lot of control and awareness to say it when it's something that appeals to us.

And this is where it's easy to get into trouble.

We're all working for the day when opportunity comes to us instead of us having to find it, which makes it hard to say "no" when someone shows up with an interesting project or offer.

It's easy to jump right in and say "Yes, yes, yes," but you have to remember the big picture.

• If the project doesn't support your stated goals, then say no
• If taking on the new project means changing timelines to the point where they are meaningless, then say no
• If taking on the new project means giving up important projects that do further your stated goals, then say no

This is how you take control of your life.

Being able to say no, even when something sounds good is the number one key to avoiding overwhelm and saving your sanity.

Give it a try.

Most people understand and respect your decision. The ones who don't are probably people you don't want to work with anyway.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Granite State Fitness Networking Event Wednesday, July 27th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM at Granite State Fitness 880 Page Street, Manchester. The cost is $5 in advance and $10 at the door and food and beverages will be provided. For more information you can click the link or call Chris at 603-361-0892.

Fix-It-and-Forget-It is Not a Marketing Strategy

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times. Fix-it-and-forget-it is not a marketing strategy.

Forget about all those stories you've heard about people who put up a website or got a business page on Facebook and became an overnight success. They're urban legends.

It defies logic that with over a billion websites and almost 1.6 billion Facebook users that any one person is going to get noticed in all that noise without at least a little bit of effort.

That effort is what we call marketing and in this month's episode of Live from the Hive I am talking to local inbound marketing strategist Daryl Eames from the Paid Search Society about the ins and outs of maximizing your budget and getting your website in front of the people who want your products and services.

We're talking about the difference between SEO and SEM.

SEO = organic ranking, optimizing site with content and key words that will improve your page pank over time when someone does a key word search

SEM = search result pages when someone actively searches for a key word and display ads on websites

Eames is also sharing insider tips about current trends and digital marketing strategies for how to get the best bang for your buck in Google ad campaigns.

Top Tip: Google doesn't let you allocate specific dollar amounts to a particular ad group within a campaign, so if you have ten ad groups in the campaign you have no control over which ad groups gets the money. This is important because you may find that one ad group does a lot better then the other nine when it comes to actual sales or lead generation. The work around on this is to have one ad group per campaign.

Learn why the search engine results you get from SEM are a better choice than waiting for organic SEO results. (Hint: It has a lot to do with the ability to infer intent and qualify prospects based on what words people are using to search.)

And finally get a sneak peek at the Paid Search Society the incredible new online marketing resource right here in New Hampshire.

Eames is billing the Paid Search Society as a "collaborative environment where people can come together to share and learn and get better at their craft" and has built a platform that offers information, coaching and consulting services for every budget.

At the free level there are "tips, tricks and strategies" as well as articles, white papers and ebooks to help you build and improve your marketing strategy. The paid level offers in depth guides and strategies to take your marketing efforts to the next level as well as a mastermind group that includes peer-to-peer support, webinars and training, Q&A with noted local experts and a wide range of tools and marketing services.

Join me for this month's podcast as Eames tells us about designing campaigns, choosing ad words and setting price points. He also sheds some light on the truth about budgets (you don't need to spend a lot to get results!), and using Google and social media networks like Facebook and LinkedIn to get leads and drive traffic.

And don't forget, visit the Paid Search Society. Take their survey, sign up for the newsletter and stay on top the rapidly changing rules and trends of internet marketing.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

To contact Daryl Eames you can find him on the web or give him a call (603) 669-1512

Paid Search Society

Google Ad Words

Knowledge is Power

Have you ever heard someone say that knowledge is power? Did you know some of that knowledge comes from things we've learned in books, but an equal part comes from experience and learning from our own mistakes?

We may not always have the information we need or want, and there may even be days where we feel like complete idiots, but the truth is no matter where we are on our own path, we all have knowledge, skills and experience that someone else needs.

Which brings me to this week's topic, how to discover your strength by paying it forward.

I went to the new Software Entrepreneur group's meetup last week.

It was an interesting experience and it kind of got me thinking about how a lot of people get stuck and dwell on the things they don't know how to do instead of focusing on the things they can do.

And it's something we all do. We undervalue the skills we have today and forget that chances are good someone else needs or wants the knowledge we take for granted.

A lot of people suffer from impostor syndrome. They compare themselves to people who have a lot more experience than and feel like a fraud because they're not at the same level yet.

It's very easy to lose track or undervalue the knowledge you do have when you're focusing on what you don't know.

In my case, I know a lot of software engineers. These are people who seem to effortlessly build incredible products. They can write code in multiple languages, understand advanced developer concepts and have experience in areas of development I've never even heard of. When I compare myself to them and dwell on the many things that I don't know how to do I am completely overlooking all of the things that I do have experience with and it drives people nuts.

Which brings us back to the idea of finding your own strengths by paying it forward.

Rediscover Your Value

When we reach back to lend a hand to someone climbing the ladder behind us it gives us the opportunity to see ourselves through someone else's eyes. Not only do we get a new perspective on the value of the knowledge and skills we take for granted, but it forces us to learn new lessons from our old experiences.

In the heat of the moment, when we overcome a challenge we tend to focus on the next hurdle rather than taking a minute to consider how we made it to this point. When we're in the zone our focus is on the horizon and how to deal with the next step. We don't ask why certain steps did or didn't work, and we certainly don't pause for an atta boy.

Taking the time to lend a hand forces us to step outside ourselves and consider how to apply our own experiences to different situations. It forces us to look for the commonalities and let go of the "that's the way we've always done it" mentality so we can effectively apply what we know to the other person's situation.

Sharing your skills by paying it forward also acts as a catalyst to find a new way to use your old skills.

For example,Cami Baker is known as a real estate expert. Not only does she have a stellar track record as an agent, but she has years of experience training other realtors how to reach the same level. Instead of building on that experience to focus solely on real estate she found a way to apply many of the skills that made her a successful agent to becoming an expert on networking. Now she has tv shows, books, speaking gigs as well as an entire line of workshops and products created to share that knowledge and they are all built from the same skill set. A skill set that many small business people have and take for granted. The ability to walk into a room and introduce yourself. The ability to listen to what people are saying and recognize what they really mean when they say it.

Helping someone else is a great way to shift your focus away from the status quo, to see how other people view the skills that you don't even realize you have and find strength in the knowledge that you do have what it takes to make a difference and succeed.

There is power in knowledge and that power becomes exponential when you share your knowledge to help someone else. Not only is there the karmic benefit from giving the assist, but there is the enlightenment that comes from seeing the value other people put on your skills.

When you pay it forward by sharing your skills it shifts your focus away from what you don't know or haven't done and helps you appreciate what you have already achieved. It's a win/win and it's something that each and every one of us can do.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Software Entrepreneur

Cami Baker

Daryl Eames (Paid Search Society)

What's YOUR Why?

This week I am talking about motivation. Not the kind of motivation that propels you through the tedious tasks, but the motivation that explains why you chose to be an entrepreneur.

I found a quote from recording artist Kid Cudi that really resonated with me. He says "I just want to go on more adventures. Be around good energy. Connect with people. Learn new things. Grow."

He nailed it. I can't speak for everyone, but that one statement succinctly sums up what a lot of us want.

It's that elusive dream from when we were teenagers. We had no idea what it meant to be an adult, but when you're sixteen life is an adventure and anything is possible

And that is the goal, that is the dream and that is the reason so many of us become entrepreneurs, but is it why you want to be your own boss?  Is it why you gave up the certainty of a regular paycheck to do whatever it is you do?

And trust me on this, knowing why you want it is important. It might even be more important than knowing what you're going to do or how you're going to do it.

When I started my first business it was all about the money and I was miserable. Not at first, I was happy to be making money when I first started out. The rent got paid, we went on vacations and everything was great, but when it got to the point where I had to seriously consider moving out of my home office so I could hire people I looked around and realized that I didn't want to do it anymore.

Taking the business to the next level was going to require a greater commitment of time and energy and money wasn't enough of a motivator for me. So I quit and got a day job.

Starting and growing a business takes a lot of time and effort and it's impossible to sustain twelve hour days six or seven days a week if you lack motivation.

I couldn't do it with my first business because it was just a way to make money. I had basically traded a day job for what was essentially just another job. I liked the idea of having more control over how much money I made, but it wasn't enough.

I suspect some of you are looking for the control that can't be found in an office job. You may not always get a paycheck, but the one thing you can guarantee when you are your own boss is that your income will always be a direct result of your effort and you will never be outsourced.

For the majority of us, I think that Kid Cudi had it right. We just want to go on more adventures. We want to be around good energy, connect with people, learn new things and grow. Things that are hard to accomplish when you're stuck in a cubicle wondering if your job will be sent to India before the end of the year.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Weekly Roundup: Manchester Meetings & Tech Events 7/4/16 - 7/8/16

Coffee Buzz Networking: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM at Aroma Joe's Coffee 2. S. Beech Street, Manchester. This month's topic is "Your Quick & Dirty Guide to Finding Clients"

Alpha Loft Startup Meetup: 12:00 PM 1:00 PM Alpha Loft 844 Elm Street, Manchester.

There is one voice that is always with us, the one that has seen all of our actions and knows the truth of our desires even when we aren't ready to admit them to ourselves.

Are you smart? Are you pretty? Do you suck?

We all have an internal monologue, what do you tell yourself?

On an average day we're all bombarded with criticisms, other people's expectations and conflicting messages, but the most important voice is our own. Sometimes it gets lost in the babble, but it's the only one that is always there.

Why not build ourselves up instead of tearing ourselves down?

Why believe you're bad, unworthy or flawed when you can believe that you're kind, caring and successful?

With belief comes possibility,

Believe the best about yourself and you will achieve it.

Have a great week!

Pat Hammond

Editor & Queen Bee at Queen City Buzz​

Have You Ever Worked With Your Husband, Wife, Boyfriend, Girlfriend or Partner?

Do you like your partner enough to work with them? Have you ever thought about it?

This is a challenging topic for a lot of people. There seems to be this idea that if you love someone you should be able to work with them and that's not always realistic.

This month I've invited special guest Mike Hammond, co-creator of the Yankee Ninja digital comic and my husband to join me in a conversation about "How to Work With Your Husband at the Office."

I waffled a bit about having my husband on as a guest, but we've worked together in office settings as well as on our own projects so he seemed like the right person to talk to about how to successfully blend the lines between home and work.

Key Points

• start with a strong relationship
• you absolutely have to have compatible personalities and work styles
• set boundaries → there has to be a clear division of duties

Things to Think About

• skills → need to have some overlap of skills, but each person also has to be stronger in one area of another
• personality → probably need to have enough similarities that you're not clashing all the time.
• work style → this one is really important → if one person has a do it now mentality and the other person is a wait until the deadline then there will be some issues.

The bottom line is that working with your spouse is not for everyone.

Mike suggests, "You might want to give it a trial first to see if you're compatible in the workplace." And he is right.

We had the benefit of working on term papers and school projects before we started working together in the real world. I'm not sure we would have been as successful if we jumped right in at the same company without that past experience. It wasn't the same as working in an office, but we knew we would be able to work well together.

Yankee Ninja

The Yankee Ninja is the project that always get pushed back in the closet when other things pop up.

It started out as a fun side project we could do in our spare time then it snowballed into a major production involving comics, t-shirts, short stories and novels. We even considered doing a video game.

We both want to get the Ninja back in production, but neither of us has the time to work on it on a regular basis so it is in a state of hibernation.

Quick Reminder

I will be at Aroma Joe's 2 S. Beech Street, Manchester on Thursday, June 16th from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM if anyone wants to stop by, compare notes and talk about how to keep this year's goals on track. We still have six months to get things up to speed. Even if you got sidetracked somewhere along the way, there is usually a way to use the progress you have made to salvage this year's business plan. NOTE: You don't have to own a business. Personal goals are important too, in fact, my business and personal goals tend to intertwine.

Forget about "Do What You Love" and embrace "Love What You Do"

We live in a society that collectively values money over happiness because they think money will bring them happiness. Don't waste your time trying to point out the irony in that belief because these people are true believers and you will not sway them.

I follow a different belief. I define success as having enough money to pay for the things I need and the time to do the things I want to do. It's called a work-life balance and the only way to achieve that is to LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

Some people say we should find our passion and do what we love. It sounds good, who wouldn't want to spend their days following their bliss? The thing is most of us have no idea what that is. Do you know what would you do if you could earn a living doing anything? I certainly don't.

What we can do is find a happy medium. We all have days that are frustrating, but there have to be more good days than bad. When you love what you do it makes it easier to overcome the challenges. When we spend that much time pursuing a single activity it cannot just be about the paycheck. There are going to be days when you hate the menial tasks, you can't stand the sound of your coworker slurping his coffee and you wonder if the stick could go any further up your manager's butt and that's okay.

But it becomes a problem is when that describes your job every day.

People are hardwired to be productive. We enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from doing things and a large part of our ability to be productive and accomplish things relies on enjoying what we're doing. I don't know about you, but I find it a whole lot easier to overlook an annoying co-worker when I like what I'm doing.

It's all about the return on your investment.

We all do things every day that we don't particularly enjoy because we know that the reward is greater than the effort. Maybe you hate bookkeeping, but you know you won't get paid if you don't send the bill or maybe you really, really dislike doing laundry, but you like clean clothes even more.

It's much easier to overcome the small hurdles when we know there is a reward on the back end. It's what successful people do. They set themselves up so the value of what they're getting is greater than the cost.

It goes back to how you define success.

What's important to you? Is it money? Prestige? Being able to make your own hours or spending time with family? What do you enjoy doing? Are you a troubleshooter? A techie? Maybe you enjoy working with people. And what are your skills, what are good at?

Make a simple Venn diagram and put the answer to each of these questions in a separate circle

• what's important to you?
• what do you enjoy doing?
• what are you good at?

Your perfect job is where those three circles intersect.

Once let go of other people's ideal and embrace your own, you may just find that the job you love is 180 degrees different than what you're doing right now. 

The next time you have one of those soul-crushing moments take a step back and consider what you love about your job and what drives you nuts. 

You may find that it's something you can fix, but if you truly hate everything about what you do then it's time to find a way to use your skills in a new way and move on.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

Weekly Roundup: Manchester Meetings & Tech Events 6/13/16 - 6/17-16

When you start a business there are a lot of unknowns. Will you succeed? Are you smart enough? Do you have the right skills?

They're all valid questions, but they're not the fears that create that gnawing sense of dread. They are not the questions that keep you awake at night and they are not the fears that kill your ambition and actively hold you back from achieving greatness.

This week I am talking about the five fears that stop you from doing what you need to succeed.

1. Fear of saying no

2. Fear of failure

3. Fear of asking for the sale

4. Fear of taking on side jobs

5. Fear of being yourself

The truly frightening thing about these five fears is that they can happen to anyone.

The good news is that you can overcome them and it's a lot easier than you think.

Join me for this week's podcast as I share my insider secret to overcoming small business owners' top five fears so that you can confidently reach for your dreams.

Misc. Links From the Podcast

6 Things You Should Never Be Ashamed of from e-buddhism.com: http://www.e-buddhism.com/2016/04/6-things-you-should-never-be-ashamed-of.html

Coffee Buzz Networking: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Tuesday, June 7th at Aroma Joe's Coffee 2. S. Beech Street, Manchester. This month we are talking about "How to Make the Right Connections with a Limited Network" a pro and con discussion about the benefits of small networks.

Cami Baker will be speaking at the National Association of Professional Women event on Wednesday, June 8th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at The Common Man Restaurant 304 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack. For more information/RSVP this event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mingle-to-millions-ne...

Get Hired - Resumes, Interviews, and More!: Thursday, June 9th from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM at New Hampshire Metaphysical 3 Sanborn Rd (Rt. 28) (On top of COZY KIDS), Londonderry This week they're talking about *FREE* Interview Myths & Reality. http://www.meetup.com/Get-Hired-Resumes-Interviews...

It's a three-day week here at Queen City Buzz, so this week's episode is going to be short and sweet.

When you're first starting out it makes sense to do some research, read books, watch interviews and get a sense about what other people in your industry have done to succeed, but there comes a point in every entrepreneur's career where you have to step off the tried and true path.

Maybe it's finding a new production method, maybe it's making a slight change to your product or service and introducing it to a new market. Whatever it is, there comes a point when you realize that if you want to succeed, you have to set aside the "that's the way we've always done it" mindset and make your own rules.

Bend the Rules, Break the Rules, Make Your Own Rules!

You don't have to reinvent the wheel to become an industry leader.

Simply shift your focus 10 to 15 degrees in either direction.

• Listen to your customers, they will tell you what they want.

• Research what your competition is doing and think about what product or service you can add to create value.

• Ask yourself what small change you can make that will set your offering apart from the rest?

Break the rules. Be the person who sets the trends instead of following them.

Remember, if you want to succeed you have to make your own rules.

As we say in New England, "they hate us 'cause they ain't us..."

I'm on vacation this week so I'll keep this short and sweet.  

At some point or another we all get ambushed by negative people.

Whether they're the know-it-alls who feel compelled to tell you how to do things better, even though you've already reached a level of success they they can only dream of, or the people who just seem to take their limited measure of joy in trying to make other people as miserable as they are, these people will suck your energy until you've got nothing left in the tank. 

This week's podcast is about how to deal with all those people who go out of their way to bring you down.​

Have a great week!

Taking the work out of networking

When I first started working as a small business consultant every client seemed to struggle with something different. For some it was marketing, for others it was sales, accounting or even product development. Networking almost never came up as a topic of concern so you can imagine how surprised I was after starting Queen City Buzz that the number one thing people want to hear about is networking.

Who knew?

In my mind networking is probably the easiest task on a small business owner's to do list. You meet people, have a conversation, shake hands and follow up. Easy peasy, right? Apparently not.

For a lot of people the fine art of networking is confusing, terrifying and completely overwhelming.

The good news is that this month's guest has the tools and tips you need to take the work out of networking.

This month we are talking networking with Mingle to Millions maven and creator of the New Rules of Networking, the one and only Cami Baker.

For some weird reason I always want to add a "the" before I say Cami Baker. I'm not sure why, but I think it probably has something to do with the fact that Baker is a human dynamo. She's in perpetual motion and in between her many workshops and speaking engagements she manages to squeeze in at least three networking activities a week and to be perfectly honest, it seems unlikely that there are too many people she hasn't met in the great state of New Hampshire.

Just in case you are one of the ten or twelve people who hasn't had the pleasure, Cami Baker is a former top selling realtor who leveraged her networking skills into a successful coaching practice before moving on to developing personal development workshops and seminars for real estate professionals.

It seems unlikely that there are too many people she hasn't met in the great state of New Hampshire...

In addition to being a highly sought after local speaker Baker is the creator of the Mingle Your Way to Millions and New Rules of Networking systems for improving and monetizing your networking skills and a co-star on the Real Estate Road Show. And if that's not enough, her Mingle to Millions - Drastically Increase Your Net Worth Through the New Rules of Networking book is due out later this summer. 

Did I mention that she keeps herself busy?

Listen to the podcast and check out the list of her upcoming engagements. Baker has built a career out of networking and is passionate about the subject. If you struggle with going to mixers and events or are looking to up your game it's well worth your time to make one of her events.

New episode of the Real Estate Roadshow!!

• May 2016 episode The Real Estate Road Show: https://vimeo.com/164736380?utm_source=email&utm_m...
• Real Estate Road Show Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Realestateroadshow/

Upcoming Events:

Note: Many of these events have just been posted and do not have venues and/or confirmed dates please visit: http://camibaker.com/upcoming-events/ for details.

May 19, 2016 Fearless on the Phone: https://www.facebook.com/events/778825802217711/

May 24, 2016 10 Listings in 30 Days Dialing for Dollars Bootcamp: http://www.camibaker.com/10-listings-in-30-days-dialing-for-dollars-bootcamp/

May 25, 2016 Digital Marketing in Just a Few Hours: http://digitalmarketingtrendsnh.com/

June 1, 2016 Lowell Cares Car Show to Benefit Hope Dove: date is tentative please visit: http://camibaker.com/upcoming-events/ for updates

June 8, 2016 National Association of Professional Women: http://camibaker.com/upcoming-events/

June 14, 2016 Mingle to Millions "Networking to Stop Working": http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mi...

June 21, 2016 Cami Baker and Larry Quemere Joint Event: http://camibaker.com/upcoming-events/

July 12, 2016 Cami Baker and Larry Quemere Joint Event: http://camibaker.com/upcoming-events/

July 28, 2016 Cami Baker and Larry Quemere Joint Event: http://camibaker.com/upcoming-events/

Finally, Cami Baker is available for speaking engagements as well as workshops, training seminars and one-on-one coaching. If you would like to meet Baker or find out more about her products please visit her website www.camibaker.com

And suddenly it's Tuesday...

I'm going to start by saying, yes, I do realize that it's Tuesday and I am suitably embarrassed and mortified that episode 2 is late. My only excuse is that sometimes, no matter how well you prepare, even when the podcast is taped, edited and ready to go, things go sideways. It happens.

And since there is no graceful way to segue, I'm just going to jump right in with this week's topic, crafting your brand.

When was the last time you thought about your brand? 

Do you even have a brand? Would you be surprised or maybe even a little horrified to hear that you have a brand whether you've actively cultivated it or not.

Define Your Brand

Good, bad or otherwise, you get one chance to make a first impression and if you let people draw their own conclusions it's like playing Russian roulette with your reputation.

People are unreliable. They come to the table with their own experiences, prejudice and expectations and you don't know what you're going to get until they walk in the door. The only way to overcome this bias is by showing them the image you want them to see before they have a chance to draw their own conclusion.

The good news is that defining your brand is a lot easier than you think. In fact, I've even created a super simple system that makes it easy to define your brand so that you can project a consistent brand image.

Your Brand in Three Words

Basically, what it comes down to is choosing three words that describe how you want people to see you and your business then using those words as the basis of your branding. This isn't going to give you a Madison Avenue branding package, but what it will do is help you focus and give you a checks and balance system so that you have an easy way to verify that everything you do is projecting a unified, cohesive image.

So, are you ready? Grab a pen and a piece of paper and pick three words that describe how you want people to see you. They can be personal characteristics or they can describe a specific feature or focus of your company.

If it helps, my words are creativity, skill and passion.

The key is that the words you choose should project the image you want people to see when they think of you or your business.

Take a minute right now and write down the three branding words that best represent you and how you want to be seen. Remember, three words, no sentences and don't put too much thought into this.

if you let people draw their own conclusions it's like playing Russian roulette with your reputation...

Now that you've got your words you're probably wondering what the heck you're supposed to do with them.

Let's start by backing up a little and taking a look at the big picture. You know that people judge everything you do. Every action you take, every product or service you develop, every time you meet someone, send an email, post on social media or walk into a meeting you are being judged.

You don't know what's going on in people's lives. Maybe their two-year old had a meltdown when they dropped him off at daycare. Maybe they're on a deadline and their mind is on the next task. Maybe someone who kind of looked like you didn't hold the elevator door for them. Whatever the situation is, you can't control it.

But you know what you can control? You can control how you present yourself.

This is where the three branding words come in. They are the core to your brand and everything you do, every piece of communication, every product and service and every interaction must support them.

You do this by asking yourself if your actions, interactions, products or services clearly represent the words you chose for your brand.

Let's pretend that your words were confident, smart and skilled.

Take it down to basic things that you can control every day and ask yourself:

• How's your posture and eye contact? What about your handshake? Do they project confidence?
• Are your written and verbal communications riddled with typos and spelling errors or do thy look and sound professional?
• What about your work? Does it look professional?
• Do your products and services present a unified brand?

My general rule of thumb is that your actions should support at least one of the three words. Ideally they would represent two of your brand words, but as long as at least one is there and is clearly supporting the brand you're good.

It's about cohesiveness and consistency and if you're doing it right anybody should be able to look at your website, your products or any other public facing aspect of your business and recognize that they come from you.

Remember, you can't control the bits and pieces that go into someone else's judgments, but you can make sure that no matter what else is going on in their world, people will see you the way you want to be seen if you make sure that every action you take, every product you sell and every piece of communication, whether it's in person, written or smoke signal, clearly represents your three keywords.

Have a great week!

Pat Hammond

Editor & Queen Bee at Queen City Buzz

I don't know about you, but I am wicked excited to be launching Kickstart Monday.

I'm one of those people who absolutely loves Mondays. To me Mondays are all about the possibilities. It's like a do-over every week, so let go of whatever you didn't finish last week, this is your chance to regroup, tweak that plan and start over fresh.

To kick off the very first Kickstart Monday I am sharing an article from one of my favorite business writers, Geoffrey James. The article is titled 23 Ways to Get and Keep Motivated and it is chock full of ideas for how to overcome those nagging every day challenges so we can get and stay motivated all week. (Note: I may start the week all wide eyed and giddy, but even I start to slump by Wednesday...)

The thing I liked about this article is that it's like a one page road map for pretty much any situation you're going to have to deal with as a business person.

It doesn't matter whether you're just starting your journey, are in the middle of a big project or if you're trying to deal with an unexpected detour, this article has the tools to reboot your motivation and keep you going all week.

I'm going to share my top three picks and they are definitely a reflection of where I am right now, but I'd love to hear your favorites. Click the link and take a look at the article. Which of James' suggestions speaks to where you are today?

1. Realize that you are in control. "You cannot control the outside world, but you can control your reaction to it."
This is such an important message because unless you live under a rock there are going to be people who disagree or challenge your ideas. And that's absolutely fine. Sometimes we need a different perspective to tackle a problem or build a better product, but at the end of the day, you will never succeed if you give away your power.

2. Have goals—but remain flexible. "No plan should be cast in concrete, lest it become more important than achieving the goal." 
This one should probably be my mantra. It would not an exaggerating to say that I am an obsessive planner. I make plans, backup plans and backup plans for my backup plans. I even make what-if scenarios for the things that aren't on today's to do list but might someday quality as a maybe. And yet with all of my planning I know at the end of the day that my plans have to be flexible enough to respond to change. The important message here is to keep your eye on the big picture. Your goal is your destination, but sometimes you have to take a few detours to get there.

3. Don’t expect perfection. "Perfectionists are the losers in the game of life. Strive for excellence rather than the unachievable."
Perfection is a fools game and the only way to overcome it is to start with a well defined end goal. If you have a clear idea of what the end result is, how it should look or what it should do you won't get sucked into the insanity that goes with striving for perfection.

The ability to get and stay motivated is about being in control of your own choices, actions and reactions. Take a look at the article. Which of James' suggestions speaks to the biggest challenge you have today?

Don't forget to check out the article 23 Ways to Get and Keep Motivated by Geoffrey James and leave me a message. I'd love to hear what you do to stay motivated.

Have a great week!

Pat Hammond

Editor & Queen Bee at Queen City Buzz

Links:

For more information about Geoffrey James please visit his website: http://www.geoffreyjames.com.

After a five month hiatus Live from the Hive is back in the pod-o-sphere and we are hitting the ground running.

In addition to the return of the monthly Live from the Hive podcast, we are adding a weekly 5-minute Kickstart Monday podcast and are talking to a few tech leaders about launching a monthly NH tech podcast. As usual coordinating availability is the biggest challenge, but we will be taping and posting as soon as we iron out the details.

In today's podcast I am talking with Jen Ryan from Jen Ryan Coaching.

Jen is a woman on a mission to help women build a life of purpse, peace and prosperity and she is pulling out all the stops to reach as many women as possible in 2016.

She started the year by offering a free 1-hour coaching session to to five women, she co-hosted a networking event at the Currier Museum of Art and has since upped the ante by creating a Facebook group called Purpose, Peace & Prosperity for Career Women. She is also launching a free five-day challenge on Periscope and Facebook to motivate women to get a better picture of where they are and will be sharing a few tools to help them get to where they want to be.

Jen Ryan Coaching Groups & Events

• Facebook Group Purpose, Peace & Prosperity for Career Women
• Learn to Use Energy to Heal Physical and Emotional Blocks Sunday, April 17th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Riverflow Yoga 198 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett with Lonna Carter The cost is $20 and you can RSVP to jen@jenryancoaching or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1695895100659709/
• 5 Day Challenge for Career Women - Monday, April 18th on Periscope and Facebook → every day you do something different that will lead you to a life of purpose and prosperity

For more information about the programs offered by Jen Ryan Coaching please visit JenRyanCoaching.com or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenryancoaching

A quick note about Periscope

Periscope is a Twitter product that can only be viewed on iOs or Android devices. There is no native app for Windows, but if you don't have an iPhone, iPad or Android device or if you can't tune in for Jen's 10:00 AM daily broadcast she will be posting video to the Purpose, Peace & Prosperity group on Facebook.

9 More Weeks 'Til 2016 -- Time to Make Some Changes!

Lot's of great conversations this month. I am super excited to sit down with Your Creative Solutionist, the one and only Peter Jude Ricciardi who is sharing the details of his recent re-branding experience, a quick primer on mining content to share on social media and a little insight into what you can do to promote your small business.

I'm also joined by regular pod partner Jen Ryan from Jen Ryan Coaching. As usual, Jen is full of great tips and info as we brainstorm about how your service based business can add products to reach new markets and create new revenue streams and how to recover from an epic fail. Jen always has the best tips and advice and she makes everything seem so do-able.

Before I forget, I need to share a quick reminder that the Coffee Buzz Networking group meets the first Tuesday of the month from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM at Aroma Joe's Coffee, 2 S. Beech Street, Manchester. The next meeting is Tuesday, November 3rd and I hope to see you there.

Last up I want to give a shout out about the Pro Image Automotive's 4th Annual Pet Food Drive.

Between now and November 30th Pro Image will give you a 5% discount on most auto services and repairs when you bring a pet donation into the shop.

This is an annual event to collect pet food and supplies for the Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter. Donations are distributed by the shelter to needy families to help pets stay with loving families and out of the shelter.

or contact Christine at 603-644-8480.

That's it for this month. Thanks for stopping by the Queen City Buzz Live from the Hive podcast. If you have and questions, comments or suggestions for guests and topics leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you! 

Resources:

Peter Jude Ricciardi, Your Creative Solutionist http://www.yourcreativesolutionist.com/

Brown & Company Design, Portsmouth, NH http://browndesign.com/

Jen Ryan Coaching http://www.jenryancoaching.com/

Things are Hopping Here in New Hampshire! (See how I cleverly avoided saying buzzing?)

It is no exaggeration when I say that these are exciting times to be in the Queen City. Here at Queen City Buzz we launched the new website this month and we're rolling out the long awaited Coffee Buzz Networking Group.

And if that isn't enough we have three guests in the hive this week who will educate you, get your finances in order and teach you how to wow your friends with cool new skills. 

Financial planner Jeff Boutin will be talking about his free financial planning workshop, Surviving Financial Meltdown. Jeff is a Christian financial planner who preaches the fundamentals when it comes to making a budget, organizing your expenses and planning your goals. The workshop is free and it's a great opportunity to go into the expensive holiday/heating season on top of your money.

Graham Gifford is talking all thing MOOC (that's massive open online courses to the rest of us). As a virtual education junkie Graham has all the details for taking advantage of all those great FREE online courses to up your game and stay relevant in today's tight job market. Hint: Coursera is her absolute favorite!

Last up David Barron from New Hampshire Hypnosis is giving us the 411 on his upcoming hypnosis training workshop. Not only does the seminar cover the nuts and bolts of how to do hypnosis, but he's sharing all his insider secrets about building and sustaining a successful practice.

On top of all that, our last podcast has had over 1900 downloads!

Crazy times here at Queen City Buzz headquarters.

Let us know if you have any questions or if we forgot any links.

And don't forget, Graham wants to hear from you if you've taken an online course.

Resources:

Graham Gifford/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamgifford 

• Skillshare.com: https://www.skillshare.com/teach?via=header
• Udemy.com: https://teach.udemy.com/

Jeff Boutin

• event RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1619777458291893/
• NH Christian Directory: http://nhchristiandirectory.org/special-event-surviving-financial-meltdown/
• Financial Peace University: http://www.daveramsey.com/store/financial-peace-university/financial_peace_university_lifetime_membership/prod614.html?ectid=bing.fpu3
• Mint.com: https://www.mint.com/ - the budgeting program Jeff mentioned

David Barron

• Event Info/Mind Control Publishing: http://mindcontrolpublishing.com/
• New Hampshire Hypnosis: http://newhampshirehypnosis.com/

This week's Live from the Hive guest is licensed massage therapist and local business owner Cathy Clement from Clement Massage and after talking to Cathy, there is no excuse for anyone not to be enjoying this affordable luxury.

As a veteran therapist with ten years experience, Cathy is trained and available to meet your massage needs.

• chair massage
• table massage
• reiki
• reflexology

In addition to her studio space at Haircutters Salon and Day Spa, 454 DW Highway in Merrimack, Cathy offers on site massages both in your home and at your office.

Anniversary Special: $10 off all Cathy's services with coupon!

In honor of her 10th anniversary as a massage therapist Cathy is handing out coupons for $10 off all of her massage services.

Whether you're recovering from an injury, looking for a quiet moment or just treating yourself to a little well deserved luxury, there is no time like the present to book a massage.

For Cathy's current availability please visit her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ClementMassage or give her a call at (603) 493-2843

For more information about Clement Massage, please visit her website: http://catherineclement.amtamembers.com/

Being your own boss can be a great option in today's unreliable job market, but it's not for everyone.   

On top of the challenge of finding clients, paying bills and taking on all those pesky chores that your former co-workers used to do, like billing, accounts receivable and marketing, you still have to find a way to service your customers and mix in enough down time so that you don't get burned out.  

Join me for this week's edition of Live from the Hive as David Barron from New Hampshire Hypnosis and I compare notes and discuss the ups and downs of being self-employed.

• time management
• projects & side jobs
• networking & marketing
• when to say no

I know it'a a cliche, but if you looked up the word success in the dictionary you would find a picture of Graham Gifford.  

I'm totally serious.

It's not that she is superhuman or magical, though you may the odd fleck of pixie dust trailing behind her, it's because she has that rare ability to apply the lessons she learned yesterday to tomorrow's tasks.  

Think of it as a hybrid of common sense and insight.  

Whatever you want to call it, she's figured out how to define goals and choose the right path to gather the skills and experience needed to reach them.  And lucky for us, she has a consulting practice where she will happily share that skill with you.  

• personal and business branding
• business planning
• product development
• marketing 
• networking
• social media consulting

Join us for this week's podcast where Graham shares her tips for creating your own mission statement, developing a personal brand and leveraging the power of social media.  

Links:

To reach Graham Gifford:

Facebook: facebook.com/grahamgiffordconsulting

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/grahamgifford

New Hampshire Telephone Museum: nhtelephonemuseum.org/

New Hampshire Telephone Museum Events: nhtelephonemuseum.org/calendar-of-events.html

Please join us as we welcome this week's Live from the Hive guest, Piper Turgeon.

It's been a busy week of collaboration for Piper and Queen City Buzz.  Not only did we publish her first article as a Queen City Buzz contributor, but Piper very graciously stepped in as this week's Live from the Hive guest.  

For anybody who hasn't met her, Piper is the owner of the local design firm Eco Chic Interiors as well as being the New England Regional Director for the Gold Star Referral Clubs.  To put it plainly, Piper is one of those people who rolls up their sleeves and gets things done, and she always does it with a smile.

Networking = $$$

I know you're tired of hearing about it, and I've heard all the reasons that you hate it,

• it doesn't work
• it takes too much effort
• there's nowhere to meet people

but the simple fact is that networking = money and no business can survive without it.  

Three weeks ago I introduced you to David Barron, a hypnotist with a thriving business.  This week we're talking with Piper Turgeon.  

Piper runs an interior design firm.  It's not the kind of service that the average person on a tight budget is going to spend their money on yet, like David, Piper is always busy.  

How is this possible?

Because they network.

You too can be a networking god/goddess in 5 easy steps

Networking is about meeting one person and making a connection.  You may never do business with that person, but your relationship with them can open the door to new sales opportunities.

Piper has taken the task of networking and distilled it down to five easy steps.  (See Stress Free Networking in 5 Easy Steps)

1. Start with a plan
2. Only take a couple business cards
3. Listen
4. Connect
5. Follow Up

That's it.  

If you would like to contact Piper Turgeon she can be reached at 603-553-9050 or by email at paturgeon@mac.com

For more information about Eco Chic Interiors please visit their website at www.ecochicint.com

For more information about Gold Star Referral Clubs please visit their website at www.goldstarreferralclubs.com

Join us on Live from the Hive as this week's guest, Jen Ryan from Jen Ryan Coaching, talks about finding your why, discovering your talents and how to figure out what your new direction should be.  

I met Jen back in April when I was researching a story about her New England Goal setting group and I knew within the first 5 minutes that she was the real deal. 

That's all it took for her to help me drill down and not only see the patterns of my choices, but the why behind them. She also gave me some super tips for recovering from an injury so I could safely get back into yoga, but that was just an added bonus.

Sometimes all it takes is an impartial third party to help us see the truth of our actions.

"Discovering your unique talents allows you to achieve your ultimate goals"

 As Jen says, most things come down to finding your why.

•  Why you make the choices you do

•  Why you can't break bad habits

•  Why you struggle to achieve your goals

Once you can answer these questions you can achieve anything.

For more information about Jen Ryan Coaching please visit:http://www.jenryancoaching.com/

Not ready for one-on-one coaching?

Try New England Goal Setting, Jen's networking and professional development group for small group support with creating goals and overcoming obstacles.

For information about the New England Goal Setting group please visit: http://www.meetup.com/New-England-goal-setting-personal-and-professional-growth/

I stopped by last week's Gold Star Mill City meetup at the Airport Diner and had the good fortune to meet David Barron from New Hampshire Hypnosis.

Unlike a lot of people I meet, David's business isn't something that every person or business needs. He serves a small niche market in an even smaller state and I was blown away by how well he has leveraged all the free and low cost marketing tools to build and maintain his business.

David accepted my invitation to be the first guest on the full-length version of Live from the Hive where he shared anecdotes about clients, think dominatrix, business tips and his experiences bootstrapping from an underfunded startup to become New Hampshire's preeminent hypnotist. 

• looking for paying clients
• networking
• advertising
• overcoming financial challenges

 Whether you've ever thought about using hypnosis to or not, David's experiences as a small business startup might give you some insights into your business challenges.

For more information about David Barron and New Hampshire Hypnosis please visit http://www.newhampshirehypnosis.com