Staying financially secure and making it through tough economic times demands that you treat yourself better and also focus on your health or you will not make it when it counts! The healthier you are, the more you will be able to achieve financially as well.

However, Canadians’ may be surprised how much exercise they really need to do to keep in shape. At least 60 to 90 minutes a day. Currently, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes a day, along with resistance training and flexibility.

In Canada, the message on exercise has been mixed, said Dr. Marco Di Buono, the Ontario research director for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

“It’s only when federal government and provincial governments and all health organizations are talking about the same 60 to 90-minute target that we’re hopefully going to get Canadians understanding that that’s what they need to do every single day.”

(Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/01/27/exercise-guidelines.html#ixzz0dveuMN8c)

You need to stay healthy to keep financially secure! If you are looking to make a loan with a friend or family member, please make sure you document it with http://www.kasu.ca

 Contemplate Several Alternatives and then Ask These Questions and go for the first answer. Mentally preparing to take a loan from friends and family or bringing on investment involves and requires mental peace with your decision.

1.  In my heart what do I really want to do … emotionally … what do I really want to do?
2. Which option best supports my long term mental and spiritual well being?
3. Which option would generate the least guilt?
4. Which option offers the greatest opportunity? This could be on opportunities for Love, Money, advancement or Growth.
5. If I choose what I most want to do would I be hurting anyone else – and if so can I live with that?
6. If I risk going for what I most want and fail what is the worst that will happen?
7. What is the best that could happen?
8. Is the potential loss greater than the possible gain?
9. What option would generate the best Karma if the universe really operates as a credit and debit system?
10. What will happen if I don’t choose at all?

Borrowing money from friends and family is a challenge mentally, consider these thoughts and hopefully they help you visualize what needs to be done. If you are going to ask for a loan, you must document your loan, www.documentyourloan.com.

The is copyright of Knowledge Brokers Internationa, Bill Gibson. For permission to use or duplicate this content, contact Bill@kbitraining.com.

Networking – A Great Asset: Part 4

This is the wrap-up article on Networking – A Great Asset. I trust you’ve already put a few of the others to work for you.

Maximize your business card

Give your business card to new contacts at the beginning of a conversation so they have something to refer to for remembering your name and company. The business card is a sales tool. When leaving tips, or buying merchandise, leave your card so people know you, your company and what you offer.

Set up a follow-up system

Organize a system so that you immediately follow-up your contacts. It could be a software program, a pending file and a Rolodex just for Networking. Always carry a small notebook with you when at Networking functions or cards to take details on.

Send useful materials

Become a researcher and photocopy information your networking leads would appreciate receiving. Whenever you visit a potential client, take something useful to them.

Edit your contacts

Within months of networking, most of us have far more leads than we can handle. Edit your names to establish priority leads and focus on those first. Think AAA, AA, A, B, C.

Thank-You Gesture

For people who give you a good lead that pays off come back to them with a thank-you. It could be a gift voucher, Sanlam promotional gift, dinner for two, tickets to an entertainment or sporting event. I often utilise theatre tickets.

Join the right organization

Your time is extremely valuable, so carefully assess which organization provides you with the strongest opportunity for networking. I am not suggesting that you drop out of your charity organisation role or “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” organization, but I am recommending that for the purpose of networking, “look before you leap”. Again, think AAA, AA, A, B, C.

Hold your own networking function

Hold your own VIP lunches and breakfasts or parties at specific times of the year. Invite the right people. Remember 4 people together over a dinner is still a VIP function.

All the best with your Networking Success!

Networking is a powerful way to expand your influence in order to find contacts to do business with. In addition, for finding contacts who may be able to invest in your business, lend money to your business or you personally. Always make sure that if you are going into a loan, that you produce a loan document with www.kasu.ca

The is copyright of Knowledge Brokers Internationa, Bill Gibson. For permission to use or duplicate this content, contact Bill@kbitraining.com.

Networking – A Great Asset: Part 3

Hopefully you’ve had the opportunity to put last month’s networking “How To’s” to work. This month we are going to give you more of them. Here they are.

■               Have your Elevator Presentation together and ready at all times. (1 minutes presentation) If someone asks you what you do … do you say I’m a Financial Advisor or do you say something like this: “I’m full time helping people like yourself build wealth and secure themselves and their families against the unexpected in the now and in the future. I’m in the “Peace of Mind” business. I’m a Financial Advisor.”

■               Make it clear what you do: Do your relatives, friends and business associates know what the many products and services are that you offer. Do they know the benefits your clients receive and what your unique differentiators are. Many Financial Advisors miss out on tremendous opportunities because their friends, relatives, and associates do not know exactly what their profession entails, what a good prospect looks like and the benefits received by the Financial Advisors clients. How often do people close to you say “I didn’t know you did that.”

■               Be the “Host” or “Hostess.” I have a friend who continually gets drinks and munchies for other people when at social functions. He does such a great job of doing this many people get the impression he is the host even though he is a guest. This demonstrates “who you really are.” Remember “caring is what caring does.” Try it … and watch the results.

■               Don’t’ attempt to sell during social functions. At networking functions the prime goal is to “break the ice” and set up an appointment for further discussions and exploration. By attempting to sell yourself and your product while your new contact is trying to socialize could be perceived as insensitive, selfish and inconsiderate. The exception to this rule is when the other party literally asks you to do business here and now. That’s when the two of you slide off to a quiet corner for a few minutes to complete the discussion.

■               Personal Introductions. Personal face to face introductions by the right people really fast tracks a relationship. On the AAA potential clients sometimes it is better to wait a week for a Referral Source Person’s schedule to open up … and have that person personally introduce you to the AAA Prospect rather than phone a week early just utilising the Referral Sources name. One Financial Advisor picks up the entire bill for happy clients to invite 2 or 3 AAA Prospect couples for dinner or a braai at the Referral Sources house. The Financial Advisor and his wife attend and he says he gets new clients very quickly this way.

We will wrap-up the Networking Series in the next post. Have a great day.

Networking is a powerful way to expand your influence in order to find contacts to do business with. In addition, for finding contacts who may be able to invest in your business, lend money to your business or you personally. Always make sure that if you are going into a loan, that you produce a loan document with www.kasu.ca

The is copyright of Knowledge Brokers Internationa, Bill Gibson. For permission to use or duplicate this content, contact Bill@kbitraining.com.

Networking – A Great Asset: Part 2

In this months article we will look at some of the “How To’s” of Networking for better results. They are as follows:

■               Who You Are: It is not necessarily who you know that counts. It is who you are on the inside that will determine how attracted people will be to  you and whether or not they will do business with you or refer you to a close associate. Today, most people will not endorse or refer you just because you are a friend or a relative. They have to believe you are a person with the “know how”, have a reputable character and have the right intent. You are on stage at all times. Treat all people with respect, and don’t burn bridges and the network doors will open and stay open for you.

■               Strangers Are Opportunities: Be extra cautious around strangers. That is good advice for children or inexperienced adults. For you this doesn’t fit. Strangers are usually just friends or opportunities you haven’t discovered yet. The opportunity could be someone you help to carry groceries, an individual you give coins to pay the parking vending machine or someone you sit along side of on a plane or in the Dentist waiting room. It may be someone serving you or attempting to sell you something. Introduce yourself. Find out what they do, where they are from and what their interests are. The person could be your next big client or top referral source. Be open and friendly … yet respectful.

■               Don’t Be A Social Climber: Networking is not just social climbing or seeing a Rand Sign stamped on everyone’s forehead that we meet. Roll up you sleeves and help out with associations, groups, and individuals. Offer to help without expecting something in return. Each time you do it you are making a deposit into your Networking bank.

Join me again for more “How To’s” of Networking.

Networking is a powerful way to expand your influence in order to find contacts to do business with. In addition, for finding contacts who may be able to invest in your business, lend money to your business or you personally. Always make sure that if you are going into a loan, that you produce a loan document with www.kasu.ca

The is copyright of Knowledge Brokers Internationa, Bill Gibson. For permission to use or duplicate this content, contact Bill@kbitraining.com.

Networking – A Great Asset: Part 1

 How powerful is networking? To give you an idea, consider the study that was done in the 1970s in which people in the United States were asked to try to get envelopes delivered to particular people in Africa. They had to pass the envelopes on to people they knew personally, who could pass it on to people they knew, and so on until it got to someone who actually knew the person in Africa and could deliver it there. The study tracked how many times each envelope changed hands before it got from randomly chosen Americans to a randomly chosen African through people who knew each other. On the average, the envelope changed hands five times. Apparently, a similar study was done with envelopes going from West Coast of the United States to the East Coast. The envelopes got there faster than they did through the post office. That’s the power of networking.

For this article and the next 2 articles we are going to focus on Networking – A Great Asset. This first article looks at What Networking Is and the Benefits of Networking.

Networking is the name for the process that often can bypass the hierarchy of organisations and also shorten the rapport and trust building process with individuals. In essence through the right introduction to a potential client from the right Referral Source you often by-pass the Attraction Stage AND Exploration Stage and move directly into the Development Stage of Relationship Building with individual prospects. You leverage your time and energy.

In addition, meeting and associating with the right individuals and groups of people you can also enhance your skills and increase your knowledge of a specific industry or target market. This is just as important as gaining the new contacts. New skills and knowledge helps you do more with the right people in less time.

In summary, here are some of the Benefits of Networking:

1. You shorten the relationship building process gaining trust much quicker.
2. You often can legitimately bypass unnecessary underlings in organisations, saving time and effort when trying to reach the influencers and decision makers.
3. You can quickly pick up valuable knowledge of industries and target groups.
4. Through association pick up skills that makes you more effective.

These 4 benefits will lead you to writing more business faster.

Networking has many benefits! The key is knowing “how to” network. Next we look at the “How To’s” of Networking.

Networking is a powerful way to expand your influence in order to find contacts to do business with. In addition, for finding contacts who may be able to invest in your business, lend money to your business or you personally. Always make sure that if you are going into a loan, that you produce a loan document with www.kasu.ca

Asset Purchase Loan: Friends and family will loan money for the purchase of assets as it is seen as advancing the ones they care for and inevitably it is secure as long as the asset is taken care of. These loans generally are car loans, home loans, office equipment loans, buying a business or franchise loan, etc. Friends are especially inclined to lend the money if it is an asset that both the buyer and the lender can enjoy, such as Boats, Motorcycles, seadoos or skidoos, a summer cabin, etc.

Last year in Canada approximately 21 million Canadians either lent or borrowed money from friends or family members, but only 17% actually put the loan in writing. Close to 54% of the undocumented loans were not paid back. It has been proven that if a loan is documented, the likelihood of repayment is significantly higher. Through this process we aim to lessen the default rate to under 5%.

Therefore, we encourage you to go to http://www.kasu.ca and create a loan document today to secure your friend and family loans, and ensure that you get paid back… eventually.

Medical Loans: Medical loans are in the cases where someone needs money for an operation, a medical procedure such as plastic surgery or dental work, or a medical emergency takes away income earning potential for a period of time in which help is required financially.

Emergency Loan: This is when a person is in dire straits and needs and immediate loan to make payment or they will be put in jeopardy. This may be for an emergency operation, to pay a loan to someone who is causing them personal problems or fears and aggravation, a check has been bounced, money has been stolen, they lost their wallet and can’t get money any other way over a weekend or during a trip, etc. The emergency loan is one of the more common loans, but generally is very small in size in comparison to the others.

Last year in Canada approximately 21 million Canadians either lent or borrowed money from friends or family members, but only 17% actually put the loan in writing. Close to 54% of the undocumented loans were not paid back. It has been proven that if a loan is documented, the likelihood of repayment is significantly higher. Through this process we aim to lessen the default rate to under 5%.

Therefore, we encourage you to go to http://www.kasu.ca and create a loan document today to secure your friend and family loans, and ensure that you get paid back… eventually.

Holiday Loan: The holiday loan can be similar to a pay day loan, where they will not have enough money until the pay check after Christmas. However, it also may be because the person needs money to have a good Christmas with their family and possibly travel to be with someone. In this instance, they need a loan they can pay back after the holidays or over the year.

Travel Loans: Before someone goes to take a trip, the first question friends and family ask is “Do you have enough money?” The travel loan is a very common loan between friends and family. This is the loan one would get before they go away, as the friends and family would like to ensure the safety of the traveller and that they have enough money to keep safe and take care of themselves. Often people underestimate the costs once they arrive at a location, therefore, any extra money always comes in handy.

Last year in Canada approximately 21 million Canadians either lent or borrowed money from friends or family members, but only 17% actually put the loan in writing. Close to 54% of the undocumented loans were not paid back. It has been proven that if a loan is documented, the likelihood of repayment is significantly higher. Through this process we aim to lessen the default rate to under 5%.

Therefore, we encourage you to go to http://www.kasu.ca and create a loan document today to secure your friend and family loans, and ensure that you get paid back… eventually.