What we discussed:

• Have a change of scenery in your work every now and then, it makes a difference.
• Or maybe bring something rejuvenating in your workstation to give you a kick during the days.
• Believe in your #selfie shirt available from TeeJohnson.com where there are a bunch of fun little ones and even create your own hashtags and shirts.
• Networking is about what you can do for me, what I can do for you and most importantly what we can do together.
• When doing a business, figure out what you're looking for and they become your target clients. These are the best people you are going to work with.
• Your target partners would be the people selling to your target clients.
• Tip# 1: Find your niche. Narrow it down to specific businesses and don't go after generic businesses. Know who you want to work with.
• Want to be the first person that people would think of when they hear an opportunity for you.
• It is counter intuitive if you're asking for anyone but you'd be way better asking for more specific people.
• You're doing a disservice to yourself, your potential clients and the referrer by being broad and generic.
• Facebook ads, when you use it, would need to know the specific target market for your specific product.
• The trap of entrepreneurship is you're always looking at how do I make more money.
• You create additional sales channels by giving referrals out.
• Happy clients are the best clients.
• Tip# 2: Find clients who will pay you on time, though you'll only gauge this as it happens.
• Tip# 3: Find businesses where you can have more opportunities and build more.
• Membership programs are good for creating the residual.
• The ask is something concise, specific, to the point and thrives at the heart of the matter.
• The main purpose of asking is to allow for the right people to show up.
• Basic content of the ask: It contains your name, your business name, your business category and then who's the one person or one company or one idea that if someone in the room could connect to you right now will absolutely make your week.

Action steps:

• Create your ask to be around 15- 20 seconds and practice that in a video.
• When you've created your ask video, put this in your LinkedIn profile.
• Figure out 3 to 5 people who you absolutely need to meet to grow your business and start incorporating that into your ask.
• If you have't joined us on Facebook, you may at Business Growth Time.

Background of Lisa Mininni: Lisa is president of Excellerate Associates. She is the best-selling author of Me, Myself and Why? Secrets to Navigating Change. She also hosts a radio show that reaches tens and thousands of people with that same title, Navigating Change.

What we discussed:

• Everything including networking, stems from natural hardwiring which is part of biology.
• Hardwiring becomes apparent at about one and a half to two years of age and stays with you your entire life.
• Natural hardwiring is part of our nature.
• Behaviors are part of our nurture.
• AcuMax Index is the only tool available that objectively reports and measures natural wiring.
• When talking about behavior and sales, all you've got to be is YOURSELF while understand how you are naturally wired.
• Being aware how another person is wired would make communication effective.
• There are different factor combinations for people;

1. A factor - determine the amount of autonomy you need.
2. B factor - deals with communication that determines how you process thought.
3. C factor - patience factor
4. D factor - amount of information that you need to know.

• B factor is what's pronounced in people when meeting them.
• High amount of B factor in your index shows a person likes to create ideas by talking aloud. They are called the external thinker.
• External thinkers need to be acknowledged to feel understood and heard.
• External thinkers are energized by face-to-face interactions.
• Internal thinkers are those that process thoughts on the inside who usually gives out the "blank" processing stare.
• Internal thinkers need silence to process their thoughts.
• Internal thinkers are energized by being in their thoughts.
• Knowing individual indexes, at an organizational level, is important in improving their productivity, improving team work, improving their profitability.
• Wired to Win Program gives an individual their AcuMax Index.
• Knowing individual AcuMax Index can help you understand people.
• Project Forgive by Shawne Duperone is one event this classification of people was experienced.
• Next Authentic Leadership Day is on May 20th.
• Me, Myself and Why? The Secrets to Navigating Change, one of Lisa's books talks about hardwiring and helping a person through the change.
• Lisa's life vision:

A world that embraces quality, nurtures wisdom and values integrity. A world, where together we share our uniqueness to motivate others to strive for excellence while demonstrating courage, character and balance.

• Entrepreneurial Edge System is a self-study course where she goes through the three steps of mastering your inner entrepreneurial, systematizing and monetizing your business and executing your business blueprint.

Where to reach Lisa: You may go to Excellerate Associates.

One more reminder...be sure to join our Business Growth Time Facebook Group!

What we discussed:

• Tip# 1: When using Google Hangout, look at the camera!
• Not all people think of YouTube as a social network.
• Facebook usually used for social interaction.
• LinkedIn usually used for business interaction.
• Twitter used for up-to-the-moment news and sports info.
• Google+ has the fun, power and ability Facebook has minus the audience.
• Pinterest and Instagram may be used as mix for personal and business.
• Google Hangout is basically YouTube.
•  Pinterest drives traffic to the blog and/or videos; also it has longevity.
• YouTube also has longevity.
• LinkedIn has become prone to spammers and scammers, alike.
• Tip# 2: When invited to an event, don't RSVP when you don't really intend to join.
• When using Google+, you're ensured that your posts are searchable.
• Tip# 3: Do not randomly endorse people in LinkedIn just so your face appears on their profile.
• Tip# 4: You may focus on two social networks but you cannot be everywhere and do it consistently.

Reminder: Be sure to join our Business Growth Time Facebook Group!

Background of Ralph and Carol Lynn Rivera: Ralph and Carol Lynn Rivera are the owners of Web Search Social specializing in small to medium-sized businesses for web search and social marketing. They have a podcast with a fan-base that they call Fred. Web Search Social is one of service lines of Rahvalor Interactive where they do app and software development.

What we discussed:

• They call their audience, in a collective way, as Fred.
• They are frequent guests of Nuclear Chowder, Content Warfare, The Superheroes of Marketing, Oh So Pinteresting.
• Podcasting affords ability to be flexible.
• Watched a movie with original content about walrus, called Tusk.
• Both Ralph and Carol Lynn are fascinated with content creators because they believe marketing starts with content creation.
• Ralph shares fascination with TNT Joel for Stay Puft.
• They have a good working relationship which includes fun.
• Discussed which social media they would possibly work on a daily basis.
• Discussed their love for mojitos.
• They have a "relaxed" format with their interviews for their podcasts.
• Re-purpose content by taking 1-3 minute clip of a tip or something funny from video contents.
• Reminisced about the direction we took after senior high school and where we are today.
• Creativity in reaching out to difference age group when teaching social media.
• Everyone has the capacity to be creative.

The show is about the Facebook group created,  Business Growth Time. Join the community for some updates on revamping of the podcast.

In our group we'd like you to:

• Ask questions
• Give feedback
• Talk to us
• Talk to the guests
• Learn business tip that will grow your biz!
• Just have FUN!

Also a shout out to Joel's YouTube channel, TNT Joel where kids can have fun.

One more reminder...be sure to join our Business Growth Time Facebook Group!

Background of Ravi Shukle: Ravi loves to help online retailers create happy customers for life through customer service.  He's had over ten years of experience in online customer service and he has used this to help organizations better understand and connect with both their employees and customers to help increase the impact on sales, marketing and word of mouth.

What we discussed:

• Ravi working with Post Planner, who has recently launched their web app with more feature  and functionality than the older version.
• Ravi have streamlined social media for Samsung in UK.
• Customer service is crucial in some business as people don't want to email and want to take it up on Facebook or other social networks.
• One good rule to follow for customer service is acknowledge the comments, queries, etc.
• A happy customer will tell friends but an angry customer will tell more friends.
• Set up FAQs and escalation systems.
• In social, people expect response within an hour.
• Customer is entitled to their opinion but it doesn't mean they end up always right.
• Work issues out with customers before deleting or banning people.
• The customer service team should be empowered employees to have smoother experience dealing with customers.
• Do not take negative feedback personally.
• Show actual people behind the brand for authenticity and personality.

Where to find Ravi: 

• facebook.com/Ravishukle
• Twitter: @ravishukle
• RaviShukle.com

Background of Jacob Hagberg: 

Jacob Hagbert is a full time internet marketer. He helps  different small businesses and larger corporations get found online through search engine optimization.

Terry Bean's Background: Started the Motor City Connect in 2006 where the idea was to empower people and help them grow their business.

What we discussed:

Three main points were discussed about becoming authentic in social media and have a goal and purpose in doing social:

1. What do you do?

Janet's: To help businesses grow with specific strategies to be noticed and heard by trying to simplify marketing, those in-depth marketing strategies and bring it down to elementary levels.

Terry's: To connect, select businesses and individuals with the knowledge, resources and opportunities that they need to succeed.

2. Why do you do it?

Janet's: Love seeing the people's results.

Terry's: Because he spent a bit of time in training and trying to figure out what his place was in the universe.

3. What's in it for them (audience or customer's point of view)?

Janet's: Simplify the way they do business so that they can increase their revenue.

Terry's: Talk about speaking and it's part inspirational, and it's part educational and it's part entertaining.

As the show has been revamping, we are launching the Business Growth Time. As with Social Media Hangout Time, the show covers social media and it encompasses the business world, too, thus the show name change. In this show we'll get to know Terry Bean and his special event called #313DLove.

Terry's upcoming major project this coming March 13 - #313DLove

What the #313DLove is about:

• Started as a Twitter campaign way back in 2012 by tweeting what you love about Detroit.
• Project name came out basically from the original Detroit code 313 and the first event was done on March 13 (03/13).
• The event is partnered with great sponsors, organizations and prominent Detroiters.
• This year's event masters of ceremony is David Farbman who has a book The Hunt.
• Dr. Nandi of Ask Dr. Nandi Show is one of the event speakers.
• Another speaker is Satori Shakoor who runs the The Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers.
• A good book,  Odyssey of Forty Days by Leon LaBrecque, one of the speakers of 313DLove.
•  Another speaker is Robby Eimers, founder of The Eimers Foundation.
• Tickets sold for $31.30 at facebook.com/313dlove. You may also sign up here.
• You may also register at www.313dlove.com

Background of Dafna Michaelson Jenet:  Dafna had this amazing journey to all fifty states in one year to look for stories of people that have been empowered, in their own ways, to solve problems and building the community. She is the author of of a newly launched book It Takes a Little Crazy to Make a Difference.

What we discussed:

• Economic depression around 2009 doesn't mean the society would, too.
• Human capital was so powerful, far beyond the dollars that were being lost in the economy.
• in our society we continue to look at belief in your own ability as crazy which we need to debunk.
• The moniker "crazy" shouldn't be an issue if you are using it in context with branding yourself, and it is a memorable one.
• A good rule for social media is to post something what we would say to everybody.
• In social media, we should learn to communicate respectfully and use it as a platform for our passions and for elevating people.
• Everything that you post should re-enforce your brand but don't forget authenticity.
• 80-20 rule on posting - 80% adding value and 20% may be used for selling.

Action steps to take in the next 24 hours:

• Create a social media mission statement by answering the following questions in 2 minutes;

1. What is it that you do?
2. Why do you do it?
3. What was that lipo-smashing moment, something that happened in your life that triggered what it is that you do?

• Pull out the powerful words from your answer and formulate it into a 3-sentence statement which will be your social media mission statement.

Where to find Dafna? You can find Dafna on www.dafnamichaelsonjenet.com