8 Ways of Building your Professional Network

8 Ways of Building your Professional Network

TundeGold  

Establishing a strong professional network can benefit your business several ways, from receiving feedback by bouncing ideas off successful entrepreneurs and business owners to opening doors that were once closed — building your professional network should be something you are always working on.

You have undoubtedly heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” right? I’m such a firm believer in building business connections and relationships

The right connections can open doors with some amazing opportunities behind them, so here are eight tips to help you grow your professional network.

1. Make your presence noticeable.

You have to make sure people know what you are doing and what you have in the works — otherwise nobody will ever know. Keep in touch with your professional contacts via email, social media and face-to-face meetings.

When you maintain contact you remain on their radar, which can result in them name-dropping you to their contacts. A simple, “Oh, I actually know somebody you should contact” can occur simply because you kept your presence noticeable.

2. Attend networking events — online & offline.

Every industry has conferences and trade shows that provide great networking opportunities. There are also local meet-ups and local organizations that hold regular events that are great for building your network.

Many people forget that there are also plenty of networking opportunities online. LinkedIn groups are great and Twitter chats are becoming very popular these days. I personally love Twitter chats because they allow a huge group of people to participate regardless of their location.

3. Hang out at the same places the people you want to connect with hang out.

This applies to both online and offline — as mentioned above, LikedIn groups and Twitter chats are great places to connect. If you want to connect with a certain group online then participate and introduce yourself.

Offline this could be a particular lunch spot or a happy hour bar after work. Frequent the places that the people you want to connect with can be found at. Be friendly and social and you will make new connections.

4. Don’t always take — give as well.

When networking don’t always make it about you — make sure to share you knowledge and expertise and offer to help when you see an opportunity. Helping other people will often come back to you tenfold. Helping someone is going to give them extra incentive to return the favor.

Being a connector will also help your long-term networking — connecting two people you know who will benefit from knowing each other strengthens your network. The key takeaway: don’t be selfish and think of how you can help everyone you come in contact with.

5. Be a good listener.

When out networking don’t always try to dominate the conversation by talking about yourself - instead, listen to other people talk. First, people naturally love to talk about themselves, so if you can show that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say it will help to build that connection.

Also, by listening you can identify specific challenges someone may be having — and if you can help in any way or offer a suggestion it will help to strengthen the relationship.

6. Never be afraid to ask.

This one is short and sweet — if you want something you can’t be afraid to ask for it.

Want an introduction? Ask for it.

Want a meeting? Ask for it.

Want advice or feedback? Ask for it.

7. Always think about long-term relationships.

Making a connection and exchanging business cards is a foot in the door, but it’s long-term relationships that lead to business deals. Concentrate on forming long-term relationships that are mutually beneficial for both sides. Make a conscious effort to establish a two-way street for all of your professional connections.

8. Follow up with everyone you connect with.

Make sure that you follow up with every connection you make. If you come home with a few business cards make sure to take a few minutes the next morning and send an email letting the person know it was a pleasure to meet them. This is also a great time to let them know they should reach out to you in the event that you can ever help them in any way.

Also, if you promise to do something — do it. There is nothing worse than not following through with something you told someone you would do.

-(Credit: Huffpost) 

BUSINESS TIPS 01: Everyone is not your Customer.

BUSINESS TIPS 01: Everyone is not your Customer.

TundeGold  

<<<<< I WILL BE STARTING A TEACHING SERIES TAGGED 'BUSINESS TIPS,' STARTING FROM TODAY. (IT WILL BE A SEVEN(7) POST SERIES.) DROP YOUR COMMENTS AT EVERY POST,  LET'S LEARN TOGETHER,  yippee 🙌>>>>.... .

BUSINESS TIPS 01: Everyone is not your Customer :

Don't just reach out to everyone,  make sure you are targeting to those people who really need your product or service. This would only amount to waste of resources, time and energy.
The best strategy is to focus all your marketing campaign to only those who have the potential of becoming customers.

Lead generation is Bae in Marketing,  but how do you generate leads that will convert to real sales?
DIGITAL MARKETING IS THE ANSWER.
. . .
#work #working #job #myjob #office #company #bored #grind #mygrind #dayjob #ilovemyjob #dailygrind #photooftheday #business #biz #life #workinglate #computer #instajob #instalife #instagood #instadaily

PARENTING A CHILD SHOWING GAY TENDENCIES

PARENTING A CHILD SHOWING GAY TENDENCIES

TundeGold  

PARENTING A CHILD SHOWING GAY TENDENCIES:

First of all,  this topic is one I normally wouldn't want to discuss,  cos of its sensitivity and the controversy it can generate.

In some advanced nation,  people's sexuality and sexual orientation are seen as their personal rights and choice that should be respected.

But in Nigeria,  where i come from,  the only sexuality and sexual orientation culturally permissible is  that you are STRAIGHT.  Gay/Lesbians often practice their sexuality Discreetly.

However,  due to influences,  we see some kids of around 10yrs, exhibit sexual tendencies that are foreign to our culture and parents are at cross road on what to do.

Usually,  the first thing is for most Nigerian parents expectedly to take such child to a pastor for deliverance session. Painfully, such parent is going about it the wrong way because of ignorance.

First of all, such boy needs to be interrogated. He wasn’t born gay, he might have been abused by a gaudy person and his first perception of sex was with a male and it became his reality. While I was in the boarding school,  a friend wrote,' I woke up one night to see a guy on top of me sexually harassing me. I was naive and young, I felt so dirty though I didn’t know what that was. If I wasn’t strong I would have turned out gay because when that happened, I’ve never had sex with a girl. This is how people are influenced at a young age'.

Therefore, such boy should be questioned, then, he needs a psychologist or a therapist because he is still young and his psyche can still easily be altered. Parents shouldn’t take such child to a pastor,  though, it’s not a bad idea, however,  such case is not a spiritual problem.

Issues like this are formed habits and you don’t pray out of habits. The same way you ‘behaved’ into it, you ‘behave’ out of it. It’s a behavioral thing.
This marked difference is what Nigerian parents need to know while parenting.

Yours inspirationally'
@iamtundegold

#tundegoldinspires #mondaymotivation #lagosbrand #lagos #lagosbrand #lagosbusiness #lagosnigeria #digitalmarketing #abuja #LEADERS #bellanaijastyle #bellanaijawedding #trendy_tots #leadershipexcellence #WisdomSnippet 

RELIGION AND THE NIGERIAN POPULACE: A WORRYING PERSPECTIVE

RELIGION AND THE NIGERIAN POPULACE: A WORRYING PERSPECTIVE

TundeGold  

Hitherto, Religion has been the weakest point of Nigerians, both for the right and the wrong reasons.

When a fraudster wants to defraud, he comes in the name of religion;
when a beggar on the street seeks for alms, he comes in the name of religion; When a terrorist seeks accomplice for his destructive agenda, he comes in the name of religion; also, when some Politicians and political parties are campaigning and Canvassing for votes from electorates, they (both the electorates and the candidates)  uses religion as the game changer or a yardstick to determine who fits the elective position; and the Chief of all the mischief in this narrative is that some of the Religious leader themselves,  uses it as a tool to enrich themselves from gullible members.

If we are the most populous black nation in the world, would we also be the most populous black nation in heaven or paradise?

This question begs answer from you and I as God would not judge us based on our religious activities but rather on our uprightness.

QUIT BEING 'RELIGIOUS', RATHER, LET YOUR NAY BE NAY,  AND YES BE YES. IF YOU GIVE ME YOUR WORD,  LET ME FIND TRUTH AND HONESTY THERE,  ELSE ALL OUR PRAYERS FOR NIGERIA MAY JUST BE EXERCISE IN FUTILITY.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!

Yours inspirationally,
@iamtundegold

#tundegoldinspires #motivationtoday #inspiration #nigeria #nigeriayouth #lagos #abuja #LEADERS #nigeriayouth #nysc #nollywood #lagos #lagosbrand #lagosbusiness

RE-EVALUATE, RE-INVENT AND RE-ADJUST

RE-EVALUATE, RE-INVENT AND RE-ADJUST

TundeGold  

RE-EVALUATE, RE-INVENT AND RE-ADJUST:


Today is 30th of July, 2018 and the month is just about to be ended in few hours to come. 

As I sat down in my office during my break hour,  I began to reminisce on the happenings of this year hitherto. 

In a swift,  we are beginning the 8th month out of 12 months? Hmmmm,  how time flies. Just like yesterday,  I had greeted people around me, 'Happy New Year,'  the memories and the euphoria of the new year celebration was still fresh as I glory in this thoughts, and unconsciously,  smile crossed my face intermittently. 

And as I wondered away in this thought, one scripture from the Holy book jolted me back to life and inspired this write up: 
'So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.'(Psalm 90:12, KJV) 

Essentially this scripture is a prayer that God would instruct us to estimate our days aright: their number; the rapidity with which they pass away; the liability to be cut down; the certainty that they must soon come to an end; their bearing on the future state of being etc

How much wisdom are you applying when numbering your days on earth? You get older each seconds. How much of purpose are you fulfilling by each passing seconds? Do you sit down once a while to appraise yourself and then reinvent? What are the achievements you've recorded in this first Seven(7) months? What target did you set in the beginning of the year? How much of it did you achieve? What steps are you taking to meet the deficiencies? How are you dealing with common weaknesses like procrastination, pride,  anger, lack of self control etc. What targets have you set for the remaining months in the year? 

These and many more similar questions are required to be answered by you,  if you want to be fair to you. 

Yours inspirationally, 
@iamtundegold 

#mondaymotivation #mondaymotivation #tundegoldinspires #facebookmarketing #videomarketing #lagos #lagosbrand #lagosbusiness #lagosnigeria #digitalmarketing #abuja #LEADERS #bellanaijastyle #bellanaijawedding #trendy_tots #leadershipexcellence #WisdomSnippet #lekkiwives #nysc #nollywood 

BUILDING CLIENTELE

BUILDING CLIENTELE

TundeGold  

BUILDING CLIENTELE: 
While it is important for a business or a new start up to consider building her clientele or her customer base by employing several strategies like advertising,  Sales promotion etc,  it is very important to note that the most far reaching strategy is when customers help you advertise your product or your business. 

The Purpose of a business is to create a customer who will create several other customers. Until an entrepreneur gets to this stage, he/she may keep expending energy on ventures that is not certain to be commensurate with the gain. 

When a satisfied customer,  not only comes back again, but brings with himself/herself other customers,  then such business/brand would enjoy continuous increased sales volume and increased customer base in the long run. 

A Customer will only come back,  become loyal to your brand and refer others to your business,  if the business communicates INTERGRITY AND TRUST in all their business dealings vis-a-vis employing other strategies for its overall survival.

INTERGRITY is key in building Clientele. Before commit their finances to you most times,  they would want to be sure they can trust you enough. 

Is your business not doing well? How trustworthy are you? 

Yours inspirationally, 
@iamtundegold 

#tundegoldinspires #branding #lagosbrand #lagosbusiness #lagosnigeria #abuja #lagos #nysc #digitalmarketing 

ABOUT SERVANT LEADERSHIP

ABOUT SERVANT LEADERSHIP

TundeGold  

 ABOUT SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world.

While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, Greenleaf said: “The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…

The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.
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It is rhetorical to ask if servant- leaders exist in Nigeria,  because your guess is as good as mine. However, before we start pointing accusing fingers to our political leaders,  let us note that this theory can be applied to every level of governance, right from family,  the head of the home is supposed to be a servant leaders,  also in the classrooms where we have class prefects,  he/she is supposed to be a servant-leader etc. If we as a people hold tenaciously unto this philosophy in every unit of leadership,  then we won't be where we are as a Nation,  cos it is the units or fragments of leadership that eventually produces the ultimate national leaders.
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Furthermore, let's always be conscious that as citizens, we are all stakeholders in the  Nigeria Nation. The prosperity and Destiny of our Land solely depends on us , ONLY NIGERIANS CAN FIX NIGERIA .

Going forward, the way forward out of the mess we have found our serve as a Nation,  is to deliberately use our vote to entrench servant leadership by allowing people with such tendencies to ascend the throne of our polity. .

Yours inspirationally,
@iamtundegold

#tundegoldinspires
#LEADERS #leadershipexcellence #WisdomSnippet #GodblessNigeria

12 FAST SELLING SKILLS IN NIGERIA AT THE MOMENT

12 FAST SELLING SKILLS IN NIGERIA AT THE MOMENT

TundeGold  

12 FAST SELLING SKILLS IN NIGERIA AT THE MOMENT:

The need for acquisition of skills in a country like Nigeria where poverty and unemployment rate is high cannot be over emphasized.

It is unfortunate that the Nigerian education system does not  allow for talent identification, development and skill acquisition. Where there is no availability of white collar jobs, one has to make good use of a skill to survive. Parents should go extra-mile to ensure that their children and words acquire a skill or two in addition to school certificates.There are many vocational skills in high demand in Nigeria that can earn you more money than a four year degree, if you are willing to try out any vocational skill, you can pick from any below

1. FOOD SERVICES

There is an endless demand for food all over the world; I do not believe there can be too many food handlers or vendors because all human beings irrespective of their social strata must eat to survive and not every meal can be prepared at home.

I know excellent fine dining restaurants that are owned by people who have obtained degrees in non-food related fields.

Many young Nigerians have acquired training as chefs and have been able to build popular and successful food brands that have earned them both money and fame, some of them operate from the comforts of their home with the help of social media and the internet.

There are many caterers, bakers and their likes who make good money by running their brands online. Food service is an in demand vocational skill that enjoys a healthy outlook that keeps growing steadily.

Anyone with food service skills must definitely find a job if they are not yet ready to run their own business.

2. COMPUTER SUPPORT AND SERVICES

Computer software and equipment is a fast rising market, because the computer is useful and complex, creating a need for more specialists and technical support.

The good thing here is that one can acquire moderate vocational training on computer support and technology to earn a reasonable amount of money.


READ ALSO: 7 Digital Marketing Skills that Nigerian companies are hiring in 2018

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3. HAIR STYLING AND BEAUTY SERVICES

There is a rise in demand for beauty services in Nigeria. Young men and women have broken boundaries in this industry by becoming owners of beauty brands and employers of huge labour.

Banke Meshida of Bmpro and Tara Durotoye of house of tara are owners of Nigerian leading make up lines that employed and trained many young Nigerians to be successful in the line of beauty.

Hair styling, like makeup is a trendy skill that is high in demand especially bridal hair styling. Individuals generally want to feel and look good and beauticians can help them achieve that.

This industry has grown and is still growing with good opportunities especially for people who are and desire to be self-employed.

4. DIGITAL MARKETING SKILLS:

Social media is proven to be an effective marketing tool in today’s world. Social media platforms are an effective vehicle for reaching millions of people simultaneously for business or leisure purposes.

There is a lot of money to be made on social media if its properly harnessed. Companies and brands recognize this and have begun to make use of it by hiring digital marketers.

Maxmise your social media accounts today by learning how to market goods and services online. All you will need is an internet connection, a mobile device or laptop.

5. MANUFACTURING SKILLS:

People acquiring vocational skills in the manufacturing trade are often hired to pass on the knowledge to another set of people or to work in manufacturing agencies.

Some of them have been able to manufacture their own products for sale. Products manufactured include liquid soaps, bar soaps, ointments, balm, detergents, disinfectants and stain removers.


6. TAILORING AND FASHION DESIGNING SKILLS:

Like beauty and hairstyling, the fashion industry is another industry with a very high demand rate that has provided an escape from unemployment and poverty for the Nigerian youth.

The driving force here is passion. Under six to twelve months, people who are passionate about fashion are able to acquire enough skill to help them start up their own tailoring shops and fashion lines.

Consistency in this industry actually pays off, some indigenous fashion labels that we have watched grow from scratch to top are designs by Mai Atafo, Deola Sagoe, LanreDasilva Ajayi and many other young ones doing remarkable jobs. They style celebrities and top government officials, royalties and others who can afford their services.

7. AUTO SERVICING SKILLS:

Commonly and fondly refer to as mechanics in Nigeria, provide essential services that cannot be overlooked. You will find mechanics shops in almost every Nigerian street or areas to provide fast relief and aid to people whose cars break down at odd places and times.

Regarded as a dirty job that requires much labour, it is a skill that is high in demand and if handled with expertise and professionalism will yield very good returns.

8. CONSTRUCTION SERVICES SKILLS:

Construction services include brick layers, electricians, elevator installers, building inspectors and others involved in the entire construction process.

Humans need shelter just like the need food and clothing. The demand for construction services is high because we need for our homes, schools, roads, hospitals and every other buildings for different purposes.

Most people who render these services did not acquire the knowledge from universities but from vocational training. You too can train in any of these fields and be successful.

9. CARPENTRY SKILLS:

Carpentry deals with wood carving, production and repairs. It is a high skilled trade that plays a vital role in our lives.

Our furniture at home, schools, offices, churches, recreational centres, hospitals and virtually everywhere are made by carpenters. It is a beautiful skill that is mostly underrated in Nigeria. The demand and returns on carpentry are equally high.

10. PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS:

This involves the creation of durable and beautiful images by use of an image sensor or other related materials. Most people love to create and keep memories by taking photos while others communicate their stories to the world by photos.

There is a good market and demand for photographers in Nigeria with weddings as the largest market. One will be amazed at the costs of making photos and videos at weddings and other events.

There are many budding photographers showcasing their talents on the internet. Lagos state seems to be the home of photography because you will find many training schools here as well as many job opportunities.

Parties take place almost every weekend in lagos, photographers here are able to get gigs on regular basis

11. Video Editing is the manipulation and arrangement of video shots. Video editing is used to structure and present all video information, including films and television shows, video advertisements and video essays. Video editors are highly sought for in Nigeria today especially in the age where Organizations like Churches wants to put high Quality and professional videos online, a video editor is often needed in this regard. To be a Professional video editor, you will need to be versatile with different Video editing software like Adobe Premier Pro etc

12. Graphic Design/Animation: is art with a purpose. It involves a creative and systematic plan to solve a problem or achieve certain objectives, with the use of images, symbols or even words. It is visual communication and the aesthetic expression of concepts and ideas using various graphic elements and tools. In this age, Graphic designers have evolved using computer software like illustrator to craft out powerful designs. Graphic designers and Animators are highly sought after by Brand organizations.

Do you Know any other fast Selling skill in Nigeria as at today? Drop your comments below!

-(excerpted: infoguidenigeria)

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