Networking is one of my favorite topics and you would be surprised at how often it comes up. My listeners have even been asking me for a lot more content about networking, so here you go! I have three key things you can do today to add value to your online community. The first thing to remember is that the very foundation of networking is to bring value to others. If you don't have that, then you can come off as un-genuine or even sleazy.

So, how do you begin to create and foster online relationships with someone you respect or want to connect with? Step one: Promote their content. Step two: Refer people to them. Step three: Connect others in your network with them. Sounds simple, right? It is! I hope my three tips were helpful on how you can bring value to others, especially online. Always take the time to help others and it will always come back to you in positive ways.

Brandy Lawson is a common-sense problem solver and 2nd generation entrepreneur. She's been in business for herself for the past four years and had a career in corporate America. Brandy is a tech-savy chick and offers some great advice on why entrepreneurs should always have a password manager. Brandy also shreds light on some common problems and challenges entrepreneurs face on a day-to-day basis and how you can personally solve them. Love, love Brandy's advice and I hope you do too! Listen in for more.

Key Insights & Aha Moments:

*Thank you everyone for your iTunes reviews and feedback!

*Brandy is a tech chick.

*Why should you have a password manager?

*One of the biggest contributors to Brandy's success has been a business coach.

*Brandy loves Wordpress's community.

*Community is impactful both for individuals and for businesses.

*You need a business best friend. It's a little different than a coach and a community.

*The evolution doesn't stop as a business owner.

*Brandy's parents opened a restaurant the same year she was born. She's seen what the 'inside' looks like.

*Cashflow is one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs have.

*You solve your cashflow problem by identifying your target market.

*Who are the clients you're talking to and what are you helping them with?

*Are you overwhelmed? Well, that's because you haven't figured out how technology can strategically serve your business.

*Now that you have clients, who are your ideal clients?

*Have an exit strategy for your not-so-ideal clients.

*If it's not a right fit, then it's just not the right fit. Don't waste your time!

Maven Moment:

What really stood out to me in Brandy's interview was narrowing your focus away from money and on your target market instead. This solves sooo many cashflow problems, but it can be hard to see when you're so focused on generating more money to keep the business afloat! A bit of a catch 22, I know, but I hope you stay tuned for Brandy's interview and get a more in-depth explanation on how to get out of this loop.

Mentioned In This Episode:

http://lastpass.com/

http://www.roboform.com/

http://www.michellemcglade.com/tbe031/

http://www.bizbffs.com/

Connect with Brandy:

Website

Facebook

My listeners often ask me how they can get referrals or recommendations from their current client base.  I know this is something everyone struggles with, so I wanted to talk about it on the upcoming Making The Maven episode.

First of all there's three main components to getting great referrals. Number one, and probably the most important one of them all, is to ask. Nothing will happen if you don't ask! Number two, what kind of people should your clients send your way? Make that clear to them. Be specific on what you do and what kind of problems you help solve. Number three, set some clear goals in the next couple of days on which client you want to ask and then take action!

Feel free to let me know how these three things worked for you and keep sending in your questions!

I am passionate about communicating the importance of structuring your business to meet your lifestyle. It is far too common for wellness entrepreneurs to look around at others who they deem as successful and then try to copy their business elements.

Instead, understanding your strengths, unique skill sets, passions and interests and combining these to create a business that fits YOU is a recipe for success. That is why the cookie cutter business model does not work in my opinion.

When you place yourself in situations to show off and shine brightly, there is no competition.

I have been interviewed on a couple of different podcasts so far and through those conversations, I have thought about the highly important differences between being a manager of your business and being a leader for your business. The truth is you have to do both.

As a leader, you have to inspire others around your vision, seek new opportunities, and build meaningful business relationships. However, as a manager, there are many unsexy tasks that need to be handled such as invoices, employee management, and managing client expectations. I would like you to take the time to think about what percentage of your day you spend being a leader versus being a manager, and if it aligns well with your goals for your business.

This week I have a wonderful, wonderful entrepreneur named Liz Nierzwicki. Not only does she have her own yoga studio, but she's also a published author and speaker. Liz's work is fueled by passion and self-love. She is a big believer that there is nothing you can't do when you have passion and a focus. I really hope you can take Liz's message to heart as she is living the dream.

Key Insights & Aha Moments:

*What does Liz do? She's an entrepreneur!

*Liz is a single mother. She is currently raising a 13-year-old.

*Why did Liz leave corporate? She actually got fired. It was a blessing in disguise.

*Liz was burnt out during the first year of her business. She knew she had to make changes.

*A lot of entrepreneurs are self-taught because there are so many things that need to be done, especially if you're on a bootstrap budget.

*Entrepreneurs need to get offline to connect with their audience.

*One-to-one coaching gets better results than course programs.

*We need accountability and an outside support system, because we sometimes get in our own way.

*What has been a big contributor to Liz's success? She says being a single mother has helped her understand the key principles of entrepreneurship.

*People have a tough time understanding their own value. Don't put yourself on the back burner.

*Liz took a year off from dating. She decided to focus on herself instead. 

*You have to run fully towards yourself, if you don't, you're holding yourself back from your business.

*Smash through those ceilings!

*People try so many different things to be someone they're not. Just show up as you.

*You don't mess with energy! Listen to your vibes.

*No matter what, focus on your health. Make the commitment to love yourself.

*Your self-love shines and helps other people.

Maven Moment:

Liz talks a lot about showing up for yourself, throughout the show, and that message really stood out to me. Honestly, I'm horrible at making time for myself, so how do I do it? Well, if it's important to me, then I take the time to schedule it in my calendar. I schedule time to eat, learn, meditate, etc. This is the best way you can show up for yourself without losing track of all the little things in your day-to-day life. Don't forget that you need love too, and you need to have a special space for that in your life.

Connect with Liz:

Website

Facebook