Shownotes
Motivational Quote
Business Building Insights
Being an authentic “YOU” [3:15] Power Partners defined [5:44] 3 Ways to find your Power Partners [8:26] How to use Power Partner relationships [9:06] Power Partners and networking for sales [9:52] Long term benefits of a Power Partnership [11:48] Contents of the e-mail introduction [15:15] All about listening [17:52]Success Trait
Julie’s genuine interest in people and her ability to truly listen has proven valuable all her life. She says it really helps with the “Know, Like, and Trust” factor and has given her access to information that truly helps move people forward in their business. [26:58]Valuable Book
Return to Your Core: Priciples for a Purposeful and Respected Life by Jay C. Rifenbary
Contact Links
Website Facebook Twitter LinkedInIf you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts. That helps us spread the word to more makers just like you. Thanks! Sue
Transcripts
Gift biz unwrapped episode 56,
Speaker:It's putting deposits in the karma bank.
Speaker:It's increasing your value in terms of the know like,
Speaker:and trust factor.
Speaker:Hi, this is John Lee Dumas of entrepreneur on fire,
Speaker:and you're listening to the gift of biz unwrapped.
Speaker:And now it's time to light it up.
Speaker:Welcome to gift biz,
Speaker:unwrapped your source for industry specific insights and advice to develop
Speaker:and grow your business.
Speaker:And now here's your host,
Speaker:Sue Monheit and welcome to the gift bears Podcast.
Speaker:Whether you own a brick and mortar shop or you sell
Speaker:online, or you're just getting started,
Speaker:you'll discover new insight to gain traction and to grow your
Speaker:business. And today I have as our guest,
Speaker:Julie YUSA,
Speaker:Julie is the executive director of the Wilmette Kenilworth chamber of
Speaker:commerce, which is located on the Chicago's North shore.
Speaker:She recently returned to the helm after a six year stint
Speaker:as marketing director for circle complete auto care,
Speaker:which is a family owned chain of auto repair shops through
Speaker:her chamber of commerce and retail marketing experiences.
Speaker:Julie is fine tuned her skills as a master networker and
Speaker:a connector of strategic partners.
Speaker:Welcome to the show,
Speaker:Julie, thank you so much.
Speaker:I'm really happy to be here.
Speaker:Is there anything that I should add to your intro before
Speaker:we get there?
Speaker:No, you did it perfectly.
Speaker:I couldn't describe myself better.
Speaker:All right.
Speaker:As our listeners know,
Speaker:we like to align the conversation around the life of a
Speaker:motivational candle.
Speaker:The light shines on you while you share all your stories
Speaker:and experiences.
Speaker:So are you ready to light it up?
Speaker:I am ready.
Speaker:Oh, okay.
Speaker:Motivational candle.
Speaker:What is the color and what would be the quote on
Speaker:your candle?
Speaker:The color of my candle would be a cool blue color
Speaker:and it's a little bit of a long quote,
Speaker:but is that okay?
Speaker:Sure. Personal honesty is achieved.
Speaker:When, how you view yourself is in alignment with how others
Speaker:view you.
Speaker:It takes courage to be personally honest because each day there
Speaker:are temptations distractions and your own vulnerability influence that alignment.
Speaker:But do you know who said that?
Speaker:Quote, Julie?
Speaker:I do Jay rife and Barry.
Speaker:I like that because when we introduce ourselves to the public,
Speaker:it's so easy for us to feel like we need to
Speaker:change who our images like to make a better impression or
Speaker:something. And that gets so strong.
Speaker:That is so totally true.
Speaker:One of the reasons I like that quote is because I
Speaker:think it's a constant challenge to achieve personal honesty that way.
Speaker:And I think it helps keep you on your toes when
Speaker:you always bear that in mind,
Speaker:You say it's a constant challenge because we're always evaluating ourselves
Speaker:and trying to present ourselves in a different light.
Speaker:I think because the temptation to not stay in alignment with
Speaker:how others view you,
Speaker:it's hard.
Speaker:It's something that you have to constantly work on,
Speaker:I think.
Speaker:Okay. Got it.
Speaker:So really what you're saying,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:you need to be your authentic self,
Speaker:whoever you are,
Speaker:because that way people who see,
Speaker:you really know who you are.
Speaker:So the impression is going to be the same.
Speaker:Correct. And I also think that,
Speaker:well, the temptation,
Speaker:like you said,
Speaker:is to be making a good first impression or possibly agree
Speaker:with the person that you're talking to,
Speaker:because that seems flattering.
Speaker:And maybe you think that will be easier to close a
Speaker:sale or something like that.
Speaker:But in the end,
Speaker:it's achieving and keeping personal honesty is your best policy.
Speaker:And so I think especially people who do a lot of
Speaker:networking or in a position where they're meeting with people all
Speaker:the time,
Speaker:you have to keep yourself in check.
Speaker:And I think it's important to remember that Really interesting.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:I've never really thought of it this way,
Speaker:Julie, but it also makes,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:there are times when people will have an impression of one
Speaker:person and they'll be talking to someone and they'll say,
Speaker:well, I don't see the person that way.
Speaker:It's true.
Speaker:Then there's that in congruence,
Speaker:if you will,
Speaker:like one person you're giving one person,
Speaker:one pressure and one person,
Speaker:another impression,
Speaker:because you're looking like a totally different person.
Speaker:Exactly. Also what is the expression?
Speaker:Perception is nine tenths of reality,
Speaker:right? So there's some of that too.
Speaker:But I think if you're always presenting your authentic self,
Speaker:you can't go wrong.
Speaker:You can't control how others perceive you,
Speaker:but you can control presenting your authentic self.
Speaker:Totally agree.
Speaker:So give biz listeners,
Speaker:I want you to know that Julie and I have known
Speaker:each other for awhile,
Speaker:and I will say,
Speaker:we're not getting into this topic at all on this conversation,
Speaker:but I just have to say it.
Speaker:When I think of you,
Speaker:Julie specially at networking events,
Speaker:you are a rock star elevator speech person.
Speaker:While someday we might have to talk about that because it's
Speaker:not your standard off the cuff.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:here's who I am.
Speaker:She always relates it back to what's happening in the environment,
Speaker:the season,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:all different types of things.
Speaker:So that's running on a different tangent,
Speaker:but that's one of the things that I think you really
Speaker:Excel in and going back to your bio,
Speaker:when we talk about master networkers,
Speaker:that is absolutely what you do because everyone can really resonate
Speaker:and understand what you're about today.
Speaker:However, we are going to be talking about you in terms
Speaker:of connections of strategic partners.
Speaker:And I know Julie,
Speaker:that one of the things you talk about,
Speaker:you've given several presentations that I've attended on a topic called
Speaker:power partners.
Speaker:And I wanted to bring you on specifically today.
Speaker:Cause I don't think very many people have any idea what
Speaker:that's about.
Speaker:So that's what we're going to dive into and focus on
Speaker:today. Would you start off by just giving us a definition
Speaker:of what a power partner is?
Speaker:Sure, absolutely.
Speaker:Well, I call them power partners because I like the term
Speaker:and I like having power in the name,
Speaker:but most people have heard of them before as strategic partners.
Speaker:And what that means is that you share a common client
Speaker:base and,
Speaker:or provide services that are complimentary to another business person that
Speaker:enables you to share a constant stream of referrals.
Speaker:And when that is happening,
Speaker:you are power partners.
Speaker:So what would be an example of a power partner?
Speaker:And I know we're going to get into some details of
Speaker:how these work later,
Speaker:but just a little bit more clarification.
Speaker:Is there an example of a couple industries or people that
Speaker:are power partners together?
Speaker:Absolutely. I know people who end up forming almost power clusters.
Speaker:For example,
Speaker:you have a financial planner and a CPA would be a
Speaker:great power partnership because the CPA is consulting and working with
Speaker:people about their money,
Speaker:either their personal money or their business and a financial expert
Speaker:or advisor would be also serving that clientele and would also
Speaker:need to refer people to the CPA so they can easily
Speaker:refer business to each other,
Speaker:their business compliment each other and their clients will have needs
Speaker:for each of those professions.
Speaker:Does that make sense?
Speaker:It does.
Speaker:And I really liked the word compliment.
Speaker:That's what makes this so easy and so powerful because you
Speaker:can work with people,
Speaker:you share an audience,
Speaker:but you don't compete for that audience because your services are
Speaker:different. So one person in either of the audiences can actually
Speaker:be using both businesses.
Speaker:Exactly. That is not to say that sometimes there's an apparent
Speaker:conflict. It looks like that on the surface,
Speaker:but when you dig more deeply,
Speaker:they actually are complimentary.
Speaker:So for example,
Speaker:two attorneys,
Speaker:but one of them is a divorce attorney and one of
Speaker:them is a business attorney.
Speaker:They're not competitors,
Speaker:even though they're both attorneys.
Speaker:So that makes them great strategic partners because they can refer
Speaker:each other,
Speaker:even though on the surface,
Speaker:they're both attorneys,
Speaker:they're complimentary A good example by way of explanation,
Speaker:just to understand that it might not be obvious that you
Speaker:can be power partners,
Speaker:but you providing different services,
Speaker:et cetera.
Speaker:Exactly. Let's talk through how this works.
Speaker:What's the value of a power partner?
Speaker:How would you use power partners?
Speaker:How do you identify them?
Speaker:And maybe that's a little bit more of where we should
Speaker:start as the identification.
Speaker:How do you use one or how do you,
Speaker:how do you put this together and use it to gain
Speaker:business? Sure.
Speaker:One of the best ways to help define who your power
Speaker:partners are or who they should be is to look at
Speaker:who tends to already send you referrals or who you send
Speaker:referrals to.
Speaker:That's a really great place to start.
Speaker:Some people haven't had a lot of practice with defining who
Speaker:their audience is or who their target market is.
Speaker:But if you've ever delved into that,
Speaker:that's also a great way to look at that picture and
Speaker:then ask yourself what types of business people also share this
Speaker:audience and who then do I know that I can reach
Speaker:out to,
Speaker:to become power partners?
Speaker:I think the way that it's used then is in networking
Speaker:overall. So first of all,
Speaker:when you are introducing yourself at a networking event,
Speaker:or you're just meeting people at a networking event,
Speaker:it's really smart to ask people who are your power partners,
Speaker:because sometimes you can't necessarily refer business as someone really easily
Speaker:are. You don't have anybody in your world right now who
Speaker:might need their services,
Speaker:but chances are,
Speaker:you are already connected to people who would be good power
Speaker:partners for them.
Speaker:So I think it's a great question to ask people.
Speaker:The flip side of that is you should tell people when
Speaker:you're introducing yourself,
Speaker:who your power partners are for the same reason,
Speaker:because they can then look at their circle and see how
Speaker:they can help you with that.
Speaker:How our partnering is level two of networking,
Speaker:it involves a lot of faith and trust and maybe karma,
Speaker:when you are trying to become a successful power partner connector,
Speaker:you have to say to yourself,
Speaker:okay, I am ready to give to these other people.
Speaker:And I'm going to focus on that.
Speaker:And I'm not going to worry so much about,
Speaker:are they returning the favor?
Speaker:I'm going to do my best to look at the people
Speaker:in my circle and help them.
Speaker:I guarantee because it's a deposit in the karma bank,
Speaker:it comes back to you in spades.
Speaker:I see it happening all the time And gift biz listeners.
Speaker:We talked about this before about networking and how you approach
Speaker:networking events with always the attitude and the idea that you
Speaker:are looking to go help.
Speaker:Other people,
Speaker:you don't go into networking events with what am I going
Speaker:to get out of it?
Speaker:I want to sail right today.
Speaker:It's more the feeling of what can I do or who
Speaker:do I know that can help other people as Julia is
Speaker:talking about right now that comes back to you.
Speaker:So Julia,
Speaker:just for clarification.
Speaker:So what you're saying is if you're at an event like
Speaker:this and I know BNI,
Speaker:I think what tip does this,
Speaker:several others,
Speaker:they have that quota that you have to do in terms
Speaker:of sales and all that type of thing.
Speaker:Are you suggesting that just the opportunity to be able to
Speaker:provide the name of someone who could be a power partner
Speaker:is equally possibly more value down the road than just giving
Speaker:a lead for a potential?
Speaker:Absolutely. What I like about referring power partners is it's a
Speaker:longer term benefit.
Speaker:It's not a one-off sale.
Speaker:You're not sending somebody one time because they need new carpet.
Speaker:You're connecting somebody who cleans carpets with somebody who sells carpeting.
Speaker:So that's a long-term relationship.
Speaker:I think that's a really great gift to give to somebody.
Speaker:And it's also the gift that keeps giving because as each
Speaker:continues on their networking path,
Speaker:they're going to meet more potential power partners for other people.
Speaker:So that keeps it stimulating and exciting.
Speaker:But it's also a bit of a responsibility because you have
Speaker:to keep your antenna up all the time.
Speaker:When you're meeting people,
Speaker:you have to remember who's in your network so that you
Speaker:can then go back and connect people.
Speaker:Yeah. There's a couple of things there.
Speaker:Number one,
Speaker:let me ask you this question.
Speaker:I don't think a lot of people know the concept yet
Speaker:of power partners.
Speaker:So I thinking that when you're doing that,
Speaker:you also have to explain to them then how they could
Speaker:use that,
Speaker:how that,
Speaker:how it would be to their advantage,
Speaker:to know the person,
Speaker:because initially it might look like,
Speaker:well, you know,
Speaker:why does that matter?
Speaker:In other words,
Speaker:you're saying that when you're meeting somebody,
Speaker:you're going to say my power partners,
Speaker:our bankers,
Speaker:CPAs, and attorneys,
Speaker:and it would really be beneficial to me.
Speaker:If you could think about the people in your network,
Speaker:who it might be good to connect me with.
Speaker:Yeah. It could go that way too.
Speaker:I'm just thinking this whole concept of power partners.
Speaker:People don't really understand yet.
Speaker:So right when,
Speaker:so absolutely with you,
Speaker:when you're talking to people who else in their network are
Speaker:power partners,
Speaker:you almost have to give them the industries like you were
Speaker:just saying.
Speaker:And then likewise,
Speaker:if you know someone who could be a power partner for
Speaker:somebody, it's an opportunity for two things.
Speaker:Number one for you to give that referral over and then
Speaker:to explain what power partnering is all about.
Speaker:So you could give an example of,
Speaker:I don't know someone who owns a gardening shop.
Speaker:I'm going to say that because it's spring and it's almost
Speaker:time to plant flowers,
Speaker:but someone who owns a gardening shop might want to be
Speaker:connected with someone.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:who's a landscaper because people want professional services to put in
Speaker:the flowers that they are purchasing at their shops,
Speaker:something like that.
Speaker:It's a great way to elevate the conversation.
Speaker:So they understand what power partner is all about.
Speaker:True. And sometimes when I asked the question,
Speaker:who are your power partners and somebody doesn't understand,
Speaker:then I say,
Speaker:well, who is it that you would like to meet?
Speaker:Who could refer business to you sort of prompt them just
Speaker:along the concept so that their thinking changes.
Speaker:A lot of times,
Speaker:people fall into the trap of thinking that power partners are
Speaker:there, customers who refer them.
Speaker:And so sometimes a conversation can go astray because the person
Speaker:you're speaking with starts talking about their customers.
Speaker:And really what you're asking for is,
Speaker:well, who are the other business people that you share a
Speaker:clientele base with,
Speaker:or who tend to give you referrals,
Speaker:lead them along the path.
Speaker:So they get,
Speaker:So it is not just your customers and your customers then
Speaker:referring other people.
Speaker:Well, it could be,
Speaker:If you are a service provider that let's say you sell
Speaker:office products,
Speaker:maybe you also want to power partner with someone who sells
Speaker:office furniture or a leasing agent or a business attorney,
Speaker:also dealing with the people who are office supplies.
Speaker:Got it.
Speaker:All right.
Speaker:So now let's say we've identified power partners.
Speaker:What do you do then?
Speaker:What's the next step?
Speaker:I Generally write the information down or make note of it
Speaker:in my phone,
Speaker:something like that.
Speaker:So I remember because later that day or the next day,
Speaker:I'm going to sit down and I'm going to send an
Speaker:introductory email to both parties.
Speaker:I will introduce the one to the other.
Speaker:I'll describe a little bit about how my relationship with them,
Speaker:how I know them to remind the person that I said
Speaker:I was going to connect with why this is happening.
Speaker:And then I describe a little bit about each of the
Speaker:businesses. And then I say something to the effect of,
Speaker:I see a lot of synergy and I see a lot
Speaker:of potential for you to be strategic partners and encourage the
Speaker:two of you to get in contact and set up a
Speaker:coffee date or something like that.
Speaker:And then I provide each with the other's contact information and
Speaker:I send it out.
Speaker:One thing that I really like is when the people that
Speaker:I'm connecting include me in the response to each other CC
Speaker:or something so that I know they've connected,
Speaker:right? It works really well.
Speaker:I do it well.
Speaker:Now it's part of my job.
Speaker:But when I was out there networking,
Speaker:I did it every time after networking,
Speaker:I was connecting at least one person that I met.
Speaker:So you definitely are a master Connect.
Speaker:Well, that's flattering,
Speaker:but I,
Speaker:I actually really enjoy it.
Speaker:And it's quite fulfilling to be able to make that connection
Speaker:work for people.
Speaker:It feels really good when you hear their success story.
Speaker:And I personally have found that it is a little bit
Speaker:more immediate than necessarily waiting for someone in your circle to
Speaker:say, Oh my gosh,
Speaker:I need an attorney.
Speaker:Do you know anybody good?
Speaker:Okay. So you're really looking at entering into networking with two
Speaker:frames of reference.
Speaker:One is of course you're looking for people who you can
Speaker:work with as a power partner,
Speaker:but then you're also taking yourself out of the equation and
Speaker:saying, okay,
Speaker:because a lot of people don't understand the concept of power
Speaker:partner. And yet,
Speaker:as you're looking at the whole group who could power partner
Speaker:together within the group,
Speaker:and then who else do you know within your network?
Speaker:Yes. Who aren't attending,
Speaker:but that you could link them up with based on people
Speaker:who are in that group.
Speaker:Exactly. Got it.
Speaker:Perfectly described.
Speaker:Okay. Wonderful.
Speaker:Another thing I like about this,
Speaker:Julie is our listeners because they're listening to this podcast to
Speaker:get better themselves,
Speaker:either within their business or their personal presentation or whatever it
Speaker:is within a business atmosphere.
Speaker:What you're describing here puts a networker at a higher level
Speaker:because it's a different mindset of how you're approaching networking meetings.
Speaker:And it positions people as leaders because you're connecting people at
Speaker:a different level and a different level and a deeper level,
Speaker:I would say,
Speaker:Yes, it requires a deeper level of listening as well,
Speaker:which benefits everybody on both sides,
Speaker:because then you're getting to know the person you're trying to
Speaker:help better.
Speaker:And they feel good because you're making the effort to really
Speaker:listen and learn about them.
Speaker:When you ask this question of somebody who are your power
Speaker:partners, you tend to learn a lot more about them,
Speaker:more facets about their business than you would have assumed on
Speaker:the surface.
Speaker:That happens to me all the time.
Speaker:Suddenly you learn something that they do that they never brought
Speaker:out in a 22nd intro or something.
Speaker:And then the light bulb goes off over your head and
Speaker:you say,
Speaker:Oh my goodness,
Speaker:I need to connect you with so-and-so right.
Speaker:That happens all the time.
Speaker:Can You give us another example of power partners?
Speaker:Sure. In fact,
Speaker:I've just seen a little power cluster forming within my own
Speaker:chamber. There's a financial planner who has formed a really great
Speaker:partnership with an insurance provider.
Speaker:So the insurance provider does home property,
Speaker:casualty auto.
Speaker:She does not sell life insurance products or annuities like he
Speaker:does, but he likes to position himself with his clients as
Speaker:somebody who can be a great resource to them.
Speaker:So when those kinds of needs come up,
Speaker:he sends them over to his power partner and back and
Speaker:forth because she's,
Speaker:she doesn't sell annuities and things like that.
Speaker:She says,
Speaker:I have this really great person I'd like to connect you
Speaker:with and they're doing great.
Speaker:And so now they're looking to expand their network into a
Speaker:cluster, possibly with different kinds of attorneys,
Speaker:like maybe a state planning attorney or divorce attorney.
Speaker:They're also looking to add a CPA to their network.
Speaker:I'm very excited to watch and see how this expands into
Speaker:a really good chain of referrals that just keeps on giving.
Speaker:Boy. I could also see if their whole network's got to
Speaker:be really big,
Speaker:not in terms of the number of people,
Speaker:but the people who are interested in taking part in that
Speaker:that could lead to like a one day informative conference for
Speaker:the group of them,
Speaker:or just a number of different spinoffs.
Speaker:Exactly. It's a perfect match.
Speaker:And that's a very common group that gets together for sort
Speaker:of a referral network.
Speaker:Those particular types of professions Was money,
Speaker:normally exchange hands for the referrals or is it so much
Speaker:give and take back and forth?
Speaker:It's kind of people don't start putting that financial layer over
Speaker:on top of it.
Speaker:No, and I think that's a great point.
Speaker:I'm very glad you brought that up.
Speaker:It has nothing to do with compensation.
Speaker:It's putting deposits in the karma bank.
Speaker:It's increasing your value in terms of the know like,
Speaker:and trust factor.
Speaker:As far as I know,
Speaker:no referral fees,
Speaker:nothing like that.
Speaker:I think it keeps it more genuine as that's a good
Speaker:point. I have heard of power partnerships where there is compensation,
Speaker:but the one I'm thinking of fell apart and I think
Speaker:it had to do with The one you're thinking of that
Speaker:was more financially based.
Speaker:Yeah. They tried to give each other a royalty or something.
Speaker:When a referral came,
Speaker:It's an accounting nightmare too.
Speaker:Well, it takes The focus off of,
Speaker:I think while you're doing it in the first place and
Speaker:you're right,
Speaker:then there's accounting and then possibly one person in the partnership,
Speaker:places, a different value on it,
Speaker:then the other,
Speaker:and it could lead to bad feelings.
Speaker:I think most successful power partnerships just come from the karma
Speaker:base and it works better that way.
Speaker:So give biz listeners just to kind of put this all
Speaker:in a nutshell for you,
Speaker:what I'm hearing from you,
Speaker:Julie, and I'm going to ask you to expand if there's
Speaker:anything else that I'm leaving out is now that you've gotten
Speaker:the idea of what power partners are and the value for
Speaker:your business.
Speaker:Overall, there's three steps that you could take.
Speaker:If you're looking at doing this.
Speaker:Number one is resetting your mindset when you enter into a
Speaker:networking event or you're just meeting people as we always do
Speaker:in our business trade shows on the street meetings,
Speaker:coffee meetups,
Speaker:anywhere, think of things in two different ways.
Speaker:Number one is this person,
Speaker:somebody who could be a power partner for you.
Speaker:So they're not just handing over someone who could buy one
Speaker:of your beautiful necklaces or have a gift basket made.
Speaker:It's what other types of things could you to possibly do
Speaker:together to share your customer base for the mutual benefit of
Speaker:both of you and not everyone's going to be your power
Speaker:partner. That's clear.
Speaker:The other way to look at somebody is maybe you are
Speaker:not part of that connection at all,
Speaker:but you're the collaborator to get two people together who can
Speaker:strengthen their business through unifying their customer basis,
Speaker:not for everything,
Speaker:but just for certain things or set up just as the
Speaker:opportunity presents itself.
Speaker:So those are steps one and two,
Speaker:and then step three would be to truly link two people
Speaker:up just as Julia was talking about with an email,
Speaker:giving the information.
Speaker:So each of them have their contact information and then a
Speaker:little bit of a reason why you think they would be
Speaker:good to connect with each other because they may not naturally
Speaker:get that linkage.
Speaker:Exactly. That's a great point.
Speaker:It definitely helps to lead them in the direction of how
Speaker:they might collaborate because not everyone gets power partnering yet.
Speaker:Exactly. Anything else you want to talk about with the power
Speaker:partners before we move on?
Speaker:I don't think that you really summarized it very well.
Speaker:Okay. Are you seeing now that since you've exposed while you've
Speaker:been exposing everybody that you were networking with when you were
Speaker:at ducks slur on this,
Speaker:because that's how I started seeing presentations that you would give
Speaker:on power partners.
Speaker:Now that you're back with the chamber,
Speaker:are you seeing people capturing that mindset and actually doing it
Speaker:regularly? Or do you have to continually bring it up now
Speaker:all the time?
Speaker:I am always He's reminding and trying to teach the power
Speaker:of power partnering.
Speaker:I think because it,
Speaker:like you said before,
Speaker:it's not something that is really familiar to everyone when I'm
Speaker:working with someone or where I'm learning about how I can
Speaker:help them better.
Speaker:I always bring it into the conversation and try to open
Speaker:their mind to how they could be better looking for other
Speaker:power partners.
Speaker:For example,
Speaker:we had a business after hours event last night and I
Speaker:was working really hard to connect a couple of people that
Speaker:were there with each other.
Speaker:They were both chamber of commerce members,
Speaker:but they had never met.
Speaker:And when I saw them together in the room,
Speaker:I realized these two need to meet.
Speaker:And I explained,
Speaker:one of the reasons I wanted you to meet each other
Speaker:is because you both serve such and such customers.
Speaker:And I think you could be great strategic partners and gave
Speaker:a little example as they learn about it and they practice
Speaker:it more people just naturally go to it.
Speaker:Right? I think it's really important that final element,
Speaker:because when people Connect you,
Speaker:what if you were to Connect at them and just say,
Speaker:I think you guys could be good strategic partners.
Speaker:It might just get dropped there unless you give that a
Speaker:final example.
Speaker:Exactly. And other things I do now that I have a
Speaker:different role,
Speaker:I will meet someone or I'll see someone at a networking
Speaker:and I'll say,
Speaker:have you ever met so-and-so I know that you are acquainted
Speaker:with this person.
Speaker:And I think the two of them would be great power
Speaker:partners. So I like to train my members in helping people,
Speaker:even with someone outside of our small circle.
Speaker:Does that make sense?
Speaker:It does.
Speaker:And it's a great way to show another version of using
Speaker:this whole connectivity and the whole power partner concept.
Speaker:Just to finish up this segment here,
Speaker:I'd like to really bring it back to some of the
Speaker:industries that I think our listeners are involved in and give
Speaker:you some additional ideas of what Julie's calling power clusters.
Speaker:Let's say you're a Baker,
Speaker:or you own a chocolate shop.
Speaker:Some of the people that you could link up with either
Speaker:one-on-one. So it's only the two of you or to create
Speaker:a cluster would be event planners,
Speaker:entertainers, or perhaps you have some type of an outdoor event
Speaker:or restaurants within your area.
Speaker:All of you guys could be a power cluster.
Speaker:Another example,
Speaker:let's say you are a woman's accessory shop.
Speaker:Some of your potential one-on-one power partners or a cluster could
Speaker:be a makeup studio.
Speaker:How about someone who does yoga or even a nail salon
Speaker:or a blow dry bar for that matter?
Speaker:All of you could also be power partners and form a
Speaker:cluster. All right,
Speaker:Julie, I'd like to move on now into our reflection section.
Speaker:This is a look at you and what you feel has
Speaker:helped you to be successful and get you to the point
Speaker:where you are now,
Speaker:if you were to think of,
Speaker:just take a little eye and focus it inside,
Speaker:what is it about you,
Speaker:Julie, that you think has led to all your success?
Speaker:I think I have a natural interest and curiosity about people.
Speaker:I just find them interesting.
Speaker:So that gives me a natural inclination to be a listener
Speaker:and ask questions.
Speaker:And so I think that believe it or not is where
Speaker:it all starts.
Speaker:Because when I ask questions and learn more about people that
Speaker:opens all kinds of possibilities,
Speaker:I learn how I can help them better.
Speaker:I learn who I can connect them with.
Speaker:It makes people feel that they are valued by me.
Speaker:I hope that doesn't sound phony,
Speaker:but because they feel it because it's genuine.
Speaker:I make other people understand that I value them.
Speaker:And I think that adds to my credibility.
Speaker:People understand that I genuinely want to help them.
Speaker:But again,
Speaker:I think it all starts from that natural curiosity and interest
Speaker:in learning about people.
Speaker:I love the way you said that,
Speaker:and it doesn't sound disingenuous or anything.
Speaker:Have you ever been talking with somebody and you're at a
Speaker:networking event,
Speaker:whatever it is,
Speaker:and they keep looking over your shoulder,
Speaker:they're looking at,
Speaker:so who else is coming in or they'll answer with something
Speaker:totally unrelated to what you were saying.
Speaker:You feel like they're really number one,
Speaker:not participating in the conversation.
Speaker:And you're like a fill in until they get to the
Speaker:right person that they really want to talk to.
Speaker:It's a terrible feeling.
Speaker:It's a terrible feeling.
Speaker:And it's definitely not the know like,
Speaker:and trust factor.
Speaker:You would Just then forget about whatever happened prior to that,
Speaker:because you know,
Speaker:they, weren't connecting with you on any level weren't listening to
Speaker:you and that's probably not going to be a good one
Speaker:and you probably need to move on to You're totally right.
Speaker:Okay. And then as you go on with your day,
Speaker:what tool,
Speaker:or what types of things do you do that you think
Speaker:our listeners could find value in,
Speaker:in terms of how you stay productive or create balance in
Speaker:your life?
Speaker:I do a lot of Outside reading on my own time.
Speaker:And I think that helps to keep me very stimulated and
Speaker:creative in other ways.
Speaker:And so that balance,
Speaker:I read a lot of fiction aside from reading professional development
Speaker:books. And I really think that makes me a better,
Speaker:more creative,
Speaker:more attentive person in my work life as well.
Speaker:So I just have to ask you,
Speaker:I'm starting to take a little personal survey,
Speaker:hard cover books or online books.
Speaker:Well, my husband bought me a Kindle several years ago and
Speaker:I was a diehard hardcover book person.
Speaker:So I was really not sure that was going to work,
Speaker:but now I'm a huge fan.
Speaker:I never having taken Evelyn Woods speed reading.
Speaker:I don't know if you remember that,
Speaker:but I read really fast.
Speaker:And so being able to get books online feeds my voracious
Speaker:appetite. So I don't have to wait.
Speaker:I can just order my next one or go get it
Speaker:from the library when I'm getting close to the end of
Speaker:the first one,
Speaker:that is great for me.
Speaker:But I also occasionally will read a hardcover book.
Speaker:If I see something,
Speaker:I buy it right now,
Speaker:I'm reading a book.
Speaker:That's a hard cover that I went to a seminar and
Speaker:found this gentleman,
Speaker:Jay rifled,
Speaker:Barry really inspirational.
Speaker:And so I bought his book and one thing that's nice
Speaker:about a hardcover book is it's really easy to underline.
Speaker:It's hard,
Speaker:even though you can do it,
Speaker:the online underlining or note-taking I find challenging.
Speaker:I do too.
Speaker:I don't want to stop.
Speaker:And yeah.
Speaker:And what is this book by J w what's the book
Speaker:you're talking about?
Speaker:This one is called returned to your core principles for a
Speaker:personal purposeful and respected life.
Speaker:Talk to us a little bit about the book.
Speaker:Basically his premise is that your success is directly connected to
Speaker:staying true to your core principles and values.
Speaker:And I think,
Speaker:especially as you get a little bit older or you've been
Speaker:in business a little bit longer,
Speaker:you understand more how that makes sense,
Speaker:because if you're integrated with your values,
Speaker:you don't feel discomfort.
Speaker:You don't have to go against principles that you hold very
Speaker:true. And I think it leads to a more fulfilling life.
Speaker:It reduces stress.
Speaker:I'm finding his book very interesting.
Speaker:I have a lot of aha moments when I'm reading or
Speaker:I read a quote from Gandhi.
Speaker:He puts a lot of coats from Gundy in here,
Speaker:but it just really strikes me as perfect for my point
Speaker:in my career and just in my life.
Speaker:And you know what strikes me about that?
Speaker:It spins right off of your candle,
Speaker:your motivational candle from the beginning of our interview,
Speaker:it's the same concept,
Speaker:exactly. Being true to yourself.
Speaker:And it is authenticity.
Speaker:And all of that just reduces stress and makes life easier.
Speaker:You're presenting your unique self to the world in business,
Speaker:in personal life everywhere.
Speaker:It makes it a lot easier.
Speaker:Oh yes.
Speaker:I actually,
Speaker:that, it's my new mantra that I'm recommending to people.
Speaker:I wish everybody learned this early on,
Speaker:because if you just start on that path,
Speaker:everything is simpler and you see more clear.
Speaker:I totally agree.
Speaker:And give busy listeners just as you're listening to the podcast
Speaker:today, if you're interested in audio books,
Speaker:if you're a virtual reader versus a hard cover reader teamed
Speaker:up with audible.
Speaker:So you can get an audio book for free.
Speaker:All you need to do is go to gift biz,
Speaker:book.com and you can make a selection and get a free
Speaker:book. Okay,
Speaker:Julie, now I'm going to invite you to join us and
Speaker:dare to dream.
Speaker:I'd like to present you with a virtual gift.
Speaker:It's a magical box containing unlimited possibilities for your future.
Speaker:So this would be your dream or your goal of almost
Speaker:unreachable that you would wish to obtain.
Speaker:Please accept this gift in our presence and open it.
Speaker:What is inside your box?
Speaker:There are a couple of things inside my box.
Speaker:It's more of a gift basket.
Speaker:Let me say,
Speaker:I wish that learning new technologies came easier to me and
Speaker:that I had more patience for the process of learning new
Speaker:technological things without getting frustrated.
Speaker:That would be a huge gift.
Speaker:I don't know if it's my age or that I tend
Speaker:to be more of a creative person,
Speaker:but it's very frustrating to me to have to stop and
Speaker:learn how to do something.
Speaker:So that's number one.
Speaker:If I had my dream kind of work to do,
Speaker:I would be more of a consultant and I would just
Speaker:be meeting with small businesses on a one-to-one all the time,
Speaker:learning about how I could help them grow through marketing,
Speaker:through networking.
Speaker:That would be my dream job.
Speaker:And I also would like my shoulder injury to heal so
Speaker:that I could get back to more physical activity.
Speaker:Those are the things in my gift basket.
Speaker:There you go.
Speaker:Well, all three of them just putting them out there.
Speaker:I think,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:hopefully with your shoulder,
Speaker:that's going to just keep happening,
Speaker:right? Yes,
Speaker:I hope so.
Speaker:And I see You coaching already.
Speaker:I mean,
Speaker:you do that with the chamber business right now,
Speaker:but who knows?
Speaker:Maybe you'll take it on as another job someday all by
Speaker:yourself. That would be super cool.
Speaker:That was one of the great things about returning to this
Speaker:work for me,
Speaker:because it enables me to do more of that all the
Speaker:time. Sure.
Speaker:It's probably as close as I could get to,
Speaker:to doing that without actually being a consultant.
Speaker:So quick question for you.
Speaker:I know.
Speaker:And I'm going back to now the power partners,
Speaker:just for a second,
Speaker:you've done presentations,
Speaker:have you put anything up on SlideShare or not to get
Speaker:to this new technology thing or anything?
Speaker:Right. Do you have anything online authored by you that talks
Speaker:about power partners?
Speaker:I do not have anything online,
Speaker:although you're giving me a good idea.
Speaker:That is something I could and should do because I do
Speaker:have something I've written,
Speaker:but never have posted anywhere.
Speaker:So I will keep in touch with you on that.
Speaker:It's more of a down and dirty outline,
Speaker:but it,
Speaker:it gives people the basic tool kit to get started.
Speaker:You could put that up as a SlideShare.
Speaker:That could be like your first audience attraction to this new
Speaker:coaching profession that you just put out in the invite.
Speaker:Thank you very much.
Speaker:That's perfect.
Speaker:If someone was interested in just asking you more questions or
Speaker:maybe they think that you could be a power partner with
Speaker:them, or they want to connect you up with someone,
Speaker:how would someone get in touch with you?
Speaker:Probably the best thing to do would be to contact me
Speaker:through my work email,
Speaker:which is julie@wilmettechamber.org.
Speaker:And If his listeners,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:there will be a show note page connected with this,
Speaker:and that will have information just like Julie's been talking about.
Speaker:It'll have her information on the book.
Speaker:Little more detail.
Speaker:Again, if you want to review this after you've listened and
Speaker:go back to specific points,
Speaker:we have all the show notes,
Speaker:timestamped, you can go dive right into the specific point that
Speaker:you want to think about and I'll challenge each of you
Speaker:to at your very next networking event.
Speaker:Maybe it's even right after it.
Speaker:Maybe you're listening to this as you're driving to a network
Speaker:event, you never know,
Speaker:but I want you to think of this in terms of
Speaker:power partners and how could you enact something like that in
Speaker:your very next networking event?
Speaker:All right,
Speaker:Julie, thank you so so much.
Speaker:I really appreciate your coming on sharing this different spin on
Speaker:how to approach people that you're working with on a regular
Speaker:basis. I just love the whole concept of being authentic,
Speaker:which you talked about both in the candle and in your
Speaker:dare to dream question.
Speaker:I think it's really valuable.
Speaker:It's equally as valuable as power partners in my mind.
Speaker:And I think they,
Speaker:I guess,
Speaker:I guess they play into each other.
Speaker:So thank you so much.
Speaker:I wish you continued success and may your candle always burn
Speaker:bright. Thank you very much.
Speaker:Learn how to work smarter while developing and growing your business.
Speaker:Download our guide called 25 free tools to enhance your business
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