Episode #9 – Steve Sweeney of Going Concern

In this episode of the Network Connections podcast, Steve Sweeney, Writer at Going Concern explains how his passion became his business that is being promoted by helping others. His testimony is one of the many proofs that networking particularly that of BNI is a crucial but enjoyable means of letting people know what you can do for them. Watch the Video Show Highlights Some of the highlights of this episode include:Steve's educational and yet entertaining rules of engagement on his writings can sell products and services.He has to maintain 15 acres of property with horses, a dog, and a donkey when not writing and he is doing the mowing, and weeding himself.Steve admitted that BNI has taught him huge amount about networking because it's a structured form of networking.His advice to other business people who wanted to grow their business is to go to networking events and learn how to be a successful networker. Referral Round Answers Here are Steve's answers to the questions in our Referral round. Watch the interview to get the full scoop.Bread and Butter ReferralsWriting websites for a lot of small businesses out there that are either startup, or fairly new to the game, or they have had ads but perhaps the copy isn't as good as they would like it to be.Cream ReferralsThe ones I really love doing, so the next level of the cream referrals are the blogs, I really love writing blogs.Dream ReferralsAnybody who needs a book written, here I am. Reach Out You can reach out and thank Steve at the BNI Melbourne West and Geelong website, and of course meet him in person at our Thursday meetings at 10 am at the Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex in Geelong. Links Going ConcernTorquay Commerce and Tourism Board Full Transcript Click to Read Jürgen: Hi my name's Jürgen Strauss, and I'm from Innovabiz. I'm also a member the network connections chapter of BNI that meets every Thursday in Geelong at the Wool exchange complex in Corio Street from 10 am to 12 am. Today I've got with me on the network connections podcast our member Steve Sweeney who is the writer at Going Concern. Welcome Steve.Steve: Hi Jürgen how are you doing?Jürgen: Yeah I'm well thanks how are you?Steve: Very well thanks.Jürgen: I just want to make sure that all our viewers and listeners know that they're really welcome to come along, if they need Geelong come along to our meetings on Thursdays. Meet not just Steve and myself but all the professional businesses that are there that are really outstanding at what they do. They're not only committed to your own success and the other members of our team but also enhancing the image of their profession. As I say they're really outstanding business people - in their own right and Steve certainly is one of those.Steve, tell us a little bit about how you became a writer.Steve: Well Jürgen it seems like it started a long time ago but in a fairly haphazard kind of way. I was a Mr. Mom for the duration of my kids' lives. During that time like anyone who is a Mr. Mom you need a bit of mental space. You know you love your children to death but you don't want them to be the result of your death. Anyway I took to writing in order to just keep the mental pathways looping over. I worked for a variety of different publications of various sorts. I found that I just had a little bit of a talent for it and I seemed to get published relatively readily, and I thought, "Well you know maybe when the time comes and the kids have grown up a little bit more that might be how I choose to earn a living." My wife sort of thought to ourselves let's give that a go about a year and a half ago, so here I am.Jürgen: Yeah and certainly you've been writing for all kinds of different blogs and businesses, and putting together brochures. I know there're lots of different things that you've been doing.Steve: Yes I recently did a brochure for a garden care center. The guy that runs it - he's a lovely fellow and he just wanted something special to tease his client...