LinkedIn is hardly a new phenomenon, but do you really know how to utilise it properly for your business? Our guest this week, Jason Miller, certainly does. He’s the worldwide group manager for content marketing, so you can be pretty sure that he knows what he’s talking about. He came into the world of marketing after a career in music, first as a band member and then as an artist development professional for Sony Music. He became fascinated by the potential of the internet for bands/musicians to interact with their fans, but his employers didn’t share his enthusiasm, so he left and made it his mission to become an expert on all things internet marketing. He’s also written an Amazon #1 bestseller, Welcome To The Funnel, but if you want some of his insight without buying the book, see below, and then have a listen to the show!

** Write a good headline on your profile, and it doesn’t have to be short and snappy. This is your chance to give a brag summary of the services you offer.

** Don’t forget that LinkedIn profiles are searchable on google, so make sure they are optimised properly.

** The most effective blog posts on LinkedIn are commentaries on current news in your industry.

** Remember that anyone who interacts with blog posts on LinkedIn is directly contactable – they are not just faceless usernames like you would see below most other articles.

** Although a lot can be done on LinkedIn for free, it’s worth fully understanding the power of the premium services + also the potential of sponsored content.

** A LinkedIn company page is an absolute must.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** How to write an appropriate profile

** The power of LinkedIn blogging

** When it’s appropriate to connect with people

** What you get from LinkedIn Premium

** How LinkedIn integrates with Slideshare

** LinkedIn Sales Navigator

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Ben’s LinkedIn Profile: (https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/benfewtrell)

** Jason’s LinkedIn: (https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/jsnmiller)

** Slideshare: (http://www.slideshare.net/)

** The Sophisticated Marketer’s Guide To LinkedIn (https://business.LinkedIn.com/marketing-solutions/c/14/1/sophisticated-guide-for-marketing)

** Jason’s site: (http://www.welcometothefunnel.com/)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group – What should we do for the 100^th show? Post your ideas to the group! (facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Sponsor the show: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au, put in subject line “interested in sponsoring BBF”

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Facebook (facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  As Jason says, “people spend time on social networks, but they invest in LinkedIn”. Can you really afford to not be an expert on the biggest networking facility in the world? Jason will show you the ropes! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Richard Maloney knows what it takes to build a winning team. After having done his time as an AFL player, he became an expert on motivation and mind coaching in the sporting arena. He was so successful (to the tune of 25 Premierships) that directors and fans of the teams he worked with recruited him into their businesses, and he now has a worldwide business that helps companies maximize their potential through team building.

Rich has seen proof that the main teambuilding techniques in the world of sport are applicable to the world of business, and has authored a great book called ‘The Minds Of Winning Teams’. See below for a sneak preview of some of his best advice. As you’ll see, it’s surprisingly simple.

** When things are at their worst, it is a great window of opportunity to make change.

** A key responsibility of a leader is to keep learning and growing.

** Taking pressure off a leader by dividing it among other members of the leadership team is one of the best things you can do to improve your business.

** Create a critical mass of ‘we’ people rather than ‘me’ people.

** Hierarchy is basically a thing of the past.

** Don’t see millennials as a problem – see them as the solution.

** Social connection is the most important aspect of teambuilding

  And there’s plenty more where this came from. If you listen to Richard for 45 minutes, you can’t fail to find something that will help engage your team in business. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** What a true leader really is

** How to re-engage employees

** The ‘quality, unity, trust, truth’ equation

** How to create social connection

** How to create a leadership group

** How to define a business in terms of its ‘heart’ and its ‘brain’

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group – What should we do for the 100^th show? Post your ideas to the group! (facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Richard’s teambuilding website – check out the free employee engagement survey (http://www.engageandgrow.com.au)

** Richard’s mind training site: (http://www.qualitymind.com.au)

** Richard’s email address: richard@engageandgrow.com.au

** Sponsor the show: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au, put in subject line “interested in sponsoring BBF”

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Facebook (facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  ‘Engagement is the new leadership’ as Richard says, so understanding how the likes of Richard build engagement is vital to the future of your business. And we don’t just have his word for it either. Deloitte recently released the results of a survey that listed ‘employee engagement and culture’ as the number one priority for every business, so make it your priority today by having a listen! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

We’ve got an interesting twist this week, as we speak to one of our loyal listeners about how he’s helping businesses around the world. Paul Higgins has a great corporate track record after having worked 18 years at Coca Cola, and now he has his own business which helps other companies automate those fiddly day-to-day tasks in order to free them up the time to think big and scale up the business. What’s more, Paul somehow managed to listen to 80+ BBF podcasts in just a couple of weeks, with my voice at double speed!

Paul talks specifically about a software package called Podio, which is what he uses to empower businesses to free up their time. In short, it is a different take on a CRM/internal reporting system, modeled on the concept of customisable templates and themes that we would normally associate with web building packages like Wordpress. Paul has a particularly personal stake in this. Because of a debilitating kidney disease, there will be a time when he will have to be on a dialysis machine for a number of hours every day, so this inspired him to find the perfect methodology for how to delegate day-to-day tasks and free up time. He wants his business to be able to run without him, and he wants to teach you to do the same. Below are some of the key points from the conversation:

** It takes a human being on average 16 minutes to refocus on a particular task, so it’s vitally important to eliminate distractions like constantly replying to emails.

** There are apps out there that can prevent you from opening certain applications on your computer or phone at certain times, and thus can help you focus on the job in hand.

** Poor implementation is of a system is a more likely reason for system inefficiency than a poor system itself.

** For implementing a new task-management system, it’s best to tailor it so it suits those at the very top of the company first. Once it has been proven to save time at executive level – the level where there is normally the biggest bottle-neck – then the value of the system can be fully ‘sold’ to the rest of the organisation.

** Successful entrepreneurs spend 20% of their time working on their business rather than working in it.

The last point is the most telling. It’s very easy for people at an executive level to be swamped by day-to-day tasks which distract them from the bigger picture. The solution is not to ignore them, but to find a system that can process them efficiently enough to free up time to think about developing the business beyond the day-to-day. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The concept of the “the time target”

** The inner workings of Podio

** The ‘discovery’ methodology

** How to fight ‘superman syndrome’

** How to use offshore virtual assistants to maximise efficiency

** How emails can be turned into tasks without actually having to read them

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Paul’s website: (http://www.bolloempire.com)

** Sponsor the show: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au, put in subject line “interested in sponsoring BBF”

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Facebook (facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  Have you ever thought “I’m sure I can find a better system of working, but I don’t want to go through the hassle of implementing it”? It’s an understandable view, but listening to an hour of Paul talking will persuade you that it’s the wrong view, and that you should go out and make the effort to automate your business as best you can. As Paul says, “most people’s fears never come true”, and in the case of the business information system that Paul uses, he has the evidence to prove it. Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Anyone who is part of a company of a certain size will understand the difficulties of the recruitment process. It simply isn’t automatic that a new recruit is going to fit in, and one key reason is because of the vast range of ages and generations that work under one roof. It’s perfectly common for a new employee to be working under somebody who is the same age as their parents, and while it is generally accepted that children and parents will see the world in a different way, employers often fall into the trap of expecting all generations to behave the same way in the workplace.

It was certainly a very interesting chat. See below for a sneak preview of some of the great advice Lee shared with us on how best to manage younger employees: As well as giving his incredible first-hand account of what happened on flight 1549 that day, Dave was kind enough to share with us some of the lessons he learnt from the incident that he has been applying to business and to life ever since:

** Outline company rules from the very beginning, ideally at the interview stage, i.e. working hours, social media policy etc.

** Again, from the earliest possible stage, clearly outline the prospects of career progression.

** In many cases, there is no such thing as ‘normal’. What one generation assumes as ‘normal’ could easily not be reflected by another generation.

** Accept that people are going to leave, sometimes after a relatively short time. Remember that there is a high value in having your employers leave on good terms.

The key thing to remember is that younger workers have grown up in an era where information is more readily available than it was to certain older generations. Therefore they expect a lot of feedback, and a lot of clarity on company policy. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** What ‘the millennial generation’ actually means

** How technology has shaped the perceptions of the millennial generation

** How the concept of ‘end of day’ is being challenged

** A reasonable expectation of staff loyalty and length of service today

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Sponsor the show: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au, put in subject line “interested in sponsoring BBF”

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  As Lee saliently pointed out, if your company doesn’t cater for younger employees then it doesn’t have much of a future… you simply cannot afford to dismiss the challenges that younger employees bring. Learn about how best to work with them, and take action! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

This has to be one of the most extraordinary BBF episodes – it isn’t every day you get to speak to a survivor of a plane crash. Dave Sanderson was on the now infamous US Airways flight 1549 which was struck by a flock of Canada geese just moments after takeoff on January 15 2009. The pilot was forced to ditch the plane in the Hudson river. This quick thinking helped save all 155 people on board, but it was not the only quick thinking on the plane that day. Dave Sanderson was also lauded for his quick thinking during the rescue. As he was making for his nearest exit, he heard the voice of his late mother in his head, and proceeded to step up to lead the rescue effort for all the passengers on his side of the plane. He became the last person to be rescued from the scene, and has since used his experience to become an internationally renowned motivational speaker.

As well as giving his incredible first-hand account of what happened on flight 1549 that day, Dave was kind enough to share with us some of the lessons he learnt from the incident that he has been applying to business and to life ever since:  

** Think hard about how you manage your time. If you were faced with an impending tragedy, would you regret having not spent enough time with your family?

** Don’t take anything you learn for granted. You never know when you might need the knowledge to save yourself or someone else.

** Communicate with people in the way they are most comfortable, not the way you are most comfortable.

  Dave has written a book called ‘Moments Matter’ which outlines 12 different lessons like the above. His story is a great lesson of what can be achieved when people seize the moment. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** A first-hand account of the Hudson river crash

** The concept of post-traumatic growth syndrome

** How to help people out of a trance situation

** How to manage focus

** How an extreme situation can focus the mind

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Dave’s site: (http://www.davesandersonspeaks.com)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  Dave’s story is an unforgettable one. Listen to it in full and prepare to be inspired! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Joshua Belanger is living proof of the power of email marketing. Originally a Wall Street options broker, he used email marketing to reinvent himself as an options-trading adviser to the public. He now has a big enough following to be regularly quoted by the likes of the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, while his own website Option Sizzle continues to go from strength to strength. Here are some of Joshua’s top tips:

** Don’t go overboard with bells and whistles. The more obstacles you remove from the process, the easier it is to maintain regular output.

** Most mass-email software is similar. Don’t waste too much time worrying which one is best.

** Leave people wanting more from your content so they become active rather than passive.

** Manage subscribers’ expectations from the very beginning, i.e. be honest with how often you will be sending them emails.

** Opt outs are not always a bad thing. Don’t allow your strategy to be driven by the need to avoid them.

** Repeat business is more easy than you think. If someone has bought once, don’t be afraid to try to sell to them again.

  Joshua’s strategy is unashamedly aggressive. He focuses on the simplicity of daily output over any concerns about offending his subscribers. To him, someone who unsubscribes would never have been a paying customer anyway, so any strategy should not concentrate on trying to placate these people too much.   In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The potential impact of capturing emails

** How to design a mailout

** How to properly understand your audience

** The pros and cons of free giveaways

** Average email open rates

** How to be entertaining in short form

** The optimum length of an email

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** 8 recurring themes of leadership and culture: (http://actioncoachanz.com/8-recurring-themes-of-leadership-and-culture-lessons-i-learned-from-john-eales)

** Joshua Belanger’s site: (http://www.optionsizzle.com)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  Despite what some people might say, email marketing is still an immensely powerful tool, and for many companies can still be the most important part of the marketing mix. If you want to maximize the power of email marketing for your business, listen to Joshua! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

We’ve all heard of webinars, but how many of us actually know how to use them to make money for our business? This week’s guest Steven Essa certainly does – he travels around the world showing people how. Webinars can be useful for so much in the course of business, i.e. more sales, lead generation, increasing your own authority etc.; but like most people, Steven didn’t realise their value at first. He’d always struggled to write good sales copy so was always frustrated at the low quality of his online output, until one day he was completely inspired by the quality of a seminar he attended. He realised that if he simply projected his own personality online in the same way, he could make money online without the need for the conventions of sales copy and mailshots.

Steven was full of great detail about the art form when he spoke to BBF. Here’s a sneak preview of some of his insight:

** Webinars produce higher conversion rates than ‘conventional’ online marketing channels.

** The concept of seeing someone projected on a video can often actually qualify the speaker better than if you were to meet them in person.

** All webinars need a title that identifies a specific target market, and then a specific benefit.

** Break all webinars into pre-defined steps.

** Don’t sell during the main content of the presentation. Any calls to action must be at the end.

** Forget about branding. Plane ole black & white looks more believable and less salesy than a properly branded message.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The first steps towards getting started with webinars

** How a webinar can replace cold-call sales scripts

** How to find the perfect webinar title

** How to create the all-important Segway between impartial information and a sales pitch

** How to automate webinars

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Best place to host webinars (Gotowebinar.com)

** The Webinator Software (http://www.webinator.biz/)

** Steve’s website (http://www.stevenessar.com)

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  It really was astonishing to find out that conversion rates from webinars have been measured as approximately 10 TIMES higher than from mailshots. Those figures alone should be enough to convince you that Steven is worth listening to! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Chris Gray has truly built an empire… an AUD 14m property empire to be precise! As a result he has gained great notoriety as a commentator on the marketplace… you may have seen him appearing on his fortnightly slot on Sky News called “Your Property Empire”. Perhaps what has made him so successful is his schooling beyond property. Chris is also qualified as an accountant and as a mortgage broker which has enabled him to see beyond the bricks and mortar. It is a great privilege to have such a great all-rounder on the show, so if you aren’t listening already, have a look at a few of these highlights from our chat:

** Buying property in capital cities is generally a safe bet.

** Second guessing a more ‘provincial’ property marketplace can offer high rewards, but also high losses.

** Do not underestimate the value of mortgage brokers.

** Refinance your portfolio regularly to ensure a consistent release of equity.

** Use zero emotion when investing.

** Remember that someone else can do all of the donkeywork for you.

  Beyond the above, Chris was very keen to point out that when you have multiple properties, paying off mortgage debt can often be pointless. Using spare equity to increase an asset base is generally more productive than paying off a mortgage, especially if you refinance regularly. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** How to raise finance to build a property portfolio quickly

** Differing attitudes to money across generations

** How best to reinvest equity

** The benefits of a “buyer’s agent”

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Podcast Addict app: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bambuna.podcastaddict&hl=en_GB)

** Smart Passive Income Podcast Tutorial: (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/how-to-start-a-podcast-podcasting-tutorial/)

** Cliff Ravenscroft: Podcast Answerman (http://podcastanswerman.com/learn-how-to-podcast/)

** Chris’ Website with free book (http://www.yourempire.com.au)

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  Chris’ story shows that you don’t necessarily need to be a slave to property day-to-day in order to earn a full-time living from it. His own company and many others like it specialize in doing the hard work to acquire and trade property, so you might be surprised at just what returns could be open to you in double-quick time if you shook off the fear and took the plunge… Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

This man is a serious legend in the world of human performance, so much so that Ben credits him as the person who inspired him to get where he is today. Having studied the art for a total of 43 years and having authored 40 self-development books, John is now revered as a world authority on the matter.

What makes John such a good guest is the practicality of his theory. He is not a generic ‘guru’ who simply deals in top-level philosophy – he distills everything in to day-to-day goals that we can all use for ourselves. BBF listeners will also be enthused by the fact that he succeeded in business before he became a human-performance expert; building up a chiropractor firm in double-quick time that made him the envy of the industry. If you still aren’t persuaded that you need to listen to the episode, have a look below for a summary of some of the advice he gave. Once you read that, you’re bound to give it a listen!

** Find out what really is valuable to you, not what other people decide is valuable

** If you please everybody on the outside, you’ll ultimately be displeased on the inside

** Your goals will be mere fantasy unless your values actually link properly to your goals

** It is possible to change your values

** When your values shift, you can better see new opportunities

** If you struggle to be motivated to do what you say is important, then it is probably not all that important to you at all

  What Dr John keeps going back to is the concept of aligning values with high-level goals. On paper this might sound like an obvious way of being a high achiever, but simply beING clear about both values and goals is not enough. The key is for the path between the two to be clear. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The 6 things common to wealthy people

** The “200 benefits” method

** The definition of ‘fear’

** The workings of the ‘executive centre’ of the brain

** The myths of depression

** The benefits of saying no

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips podcast (http://www.dbtpodcast.com)

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Dr Demartini’s website, including the “Determine Your Values” exercise: (http://www.drdemartini.com)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  Dr Demartini’s methods are an important lesson in what is possible if you think laterally and are honest with yourself. Just because Bill Gates is a billionaire doesn’t mean that you actually need to be. You might be surprised at how much more achievable your goals suddenly become when you use Dr Demartini’s methods to properly align your values. Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Matt Holmes is so passionate about networking that he has become known as Matt “handshakin” Holmes. He even has a world record for the longest ever handshake, standing at the grand total of 46 hours! Matt first realised the power of networking when he landed a big contract as a result of his future employers seeing photos of him online shaking hands with people who had connections with that company. He now has his own agency (appropriately enough, called “Handshakin”), but in this week’s podcast he gave us some of his advice for free: Here are some of the highlights:

** When approaching someone online who you don’t know, be specific. Make them feel that they’re the only person capable of doing what you’re asking them to do.

** At networking events, don’t assume that just handing out your business card is the main goal. Have a conversation first before you go steaming in.

** Keep the ball rolling with the contacts you meet in real life. Follow up immediately online by adding them on one of your social networks.

** Wear a different hat depending on the networking event you’re attending. For example, consider if your goal is to find leads or if it’s to gain referrals. These two scenarios would require significantly different conversations.

** Get the job done quickly – it doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s more important to strike while the iron’s hot (i.e. when your new contact/audience is receptive) than to wait longer and aim for perfection.

  The ever-increasing use of the online sphere has led some to believe that the formality of networking in person is a thing of the past, but this really is not the case. There is no substitute for a face-to-face meeting, but the many online networking opportunities out there are great for making the face-to-face meetings more likely to happen. And while there is much networking and business that can be done exclusively online, it is more important to understand how an online networking tool can link to ‘action’ in the real world (i.e. meeting for a coffee, doing some business etc.) than it is to be an expert at building up a load of online contacts. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The future of real-life networking

** The viability of networking groups

** How to stand out online

** The importance of building a personal brand

** The Conspire and Any Mail apps

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth AUD$500.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Matt’s website (handshakin.com/about-matt)

** Matt’s Ebook “6 Networking Strategies For Entrepreneurs” (http://www.handshakin.com/free)

** Matt’s own agency site: (http://www.handshakin.com/)

** Matt’s username on Snapchat is “handshaking”

** Matt’s twitter is (http://www.twitter.com/handshakin)

** Any Mail app (https://anymailfinder.com/)

** Conspire App (https://www.conspire.com)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

** Twitter (https://twitter.com/bfewtrell)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes)

** ActionCOACH (http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher)

  “Network is net worth” as Matt so rightly said. If you’re starting out in business you’re going to need all the traction you can get, so networking is a must. And if you’ve got an established business, don’t be complacent and assume you have all the contacts you need. By networking you ensure that your business doesn’t stand still. Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000