Gary McKinsey

http://www.garymckinsey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Breakeven.xlsx

Worksheet to calculate sales, expenses and profit

UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland gave an update on opportunities and challenges that are taking place on the UC Merced Campus to the members of the Modesto Rotary Club during their Tuesday noon meeting.

The question of jobs was raised during the question and answer portion of her presentation.

“More Internships sponsored by local businesses” was her answer to the question, “What is the UC doing to help graduating students find jobs in the local area?”

I left the meeting wondering if more jobs and opportunities exist for the college graduates then meet the eye. Perhaps part of the answer is for the civic and business leaders to rethink how employment opportunities are presented here in the California Central Valley.

Stanislaus Business Forum

The business knowledge that you will gain from attending the Stanislaus Business Forum will help you prepare for 2012.

The forum will be held September 29, 2011 in Modesto, California.

For additional information visit: The Alliance SBDC website.

I always gain new insights into business processes at the Business Forum.

The Five Second rule.

How many times have you turned off a sales presentation or worse yet lost a sale because you violated the Five Second rule?

This site discusses this rule:

 http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/marketing-sales/2011/03/09/second-rule/?intcmp=obinsite

Toast Breakers 50-year celebration.

Modesto based Toastmasters club 3389 and it members have touched the lives of numerous individuals over the last 50 years.

It was inspiring to hear the stories people told of how their Toastmaster experience has changed and improved their lives at the 50th anniversary celebration held at Samaritan Village in Hughson California   on August the 25^th.

This club meets at 6 a.m. on Thursday morning at JC coffee shop on Kansas Avenue in Modesto. It is hard to imagine people up and eager to practice their speaking at the hour of the morning.  However, there are almost always 20 to 30 people in attendance,

Overcoming the fear of public speaking opens doors and provides great opportunities.

It has certainly opened doors and given me the confidence to step thorough them and experiences successes I had never dreamed of.

Join the Modesto Chamber of Commerce!

Do you dare to increase the numbers of people that you tell about your business and the benefits you offer?

Are you thinking,” I wish, I knew an affordable fun way to do this?”

The answer: Join your Chamber of Commerce!

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce provides numerous opportunities for you to meet business owners, in an affordable, relaxed, enjoyable social setting, that need your products.

If you have attended my workshops on developing business, you would have heard me say: “People do business with people they Know, Like and Trust.”

Your future customers need to meet you in order to know if they Like you and Trust you.

You think, “How do I accomplish this? I’m busy; I don’t have a lot of time.”

Have you tried investing 90 minutes a month in attending a chamber of commerce mixer? Now, in order for this to work, you will need to follow the 11 keys to networking success.

Her are three of the Keys…

Key #1 ~
Prepare to be sociable. There is more to this than you might think.

Key #2 ~
Know why you are going. The answer may not be as obvious as you think.

Key #3 ~
Be prepared to meet new people. There are proven tools that you can learn to accomplish this.

Join your chamber of commerce today. Make a promise to yourself  that you will for 93 days faithfully and enthusiastically attend the mixers. Keep a record of the people you meet and the new business you earn.

P.S. Be sure the Chamber takes a New Member Photo of you and publishes it with at least a paragraph telling about your unique business and what makes you stand out.

Presentation tip.    How to say it.

Most speakers take way too long to say what they have to say and risk losing their listeners.

By applying these Three Keys to your presentations you will hold your listeners attention.

The Three Keys to Economy of Words.

Key #1. Start by telling your audience what they want to know.

The key question for you to answer before you speaks.

How does this Information influence your audience members decisions or actions?

Or what does this have to do with them.

There are three questions Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE  suggests you ask yourself before you speak.  These questions will help you answer the question:  What do they want to know?

The questions:

1. What is the topic you are speaking on?

2. Why is it important enough for your audience to care?

3. What questions are your audience members likely to have that you can answer?

Key #2. Tell them, what you think they need to know.

Structure your presentation so it is:

Short, quick and to the point.

Be sure to match the level of detail of information you’re presenting to your audience’s interest.

Management probably wants to listen to the big picture presentation.

On the other hand the individual that is responsible for doing the job will want to listen to details.

Key #3. Stop, when you are finished. Resist the temptation to add detail.

When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.
Dale Carnegie

Small businesses need to be represented at City Hall.

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce is very active in representing the interest of small business at both the City Council and  the Board of Supervisors.

The local level is where laws and regulations are passed that can have enormous impact on you the small business owner. Fortunately, Modesto has a politically active Chamber of Commerce.

As the saying goes you can not fight City Hall. However, when we the small business owners unite our voices we can.

I am please to be a member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

If you are not a member of your Chamber of Commerce,

join , get active and encourage your Chamber to be your voice.

How to Control Your Fear of Public Speaking

The following eleven steps will help you feel more confident when you are the presenter.

1. Remember you are the expert.

2. Research your audience

3. Before you practice your speech visualize yourself giving the presentation.

4. Use a system of memory pegs to help you visualize your topic and move smoothly

     through your presentation.

5.  Don’t memorize your speech, internalize your speech and re-live it as you give it.

6.  On the day of the presentation arrive early.

7.  Maintain a friendly open facial expression. Be likable and approachable.

9.  Find the speaking area walk around in it and get comfortable.

10.  Find out who is going to introduce you and go over your introduction with them.

11. Greet the people.  Act as the door greeter. Stand by the door or the registration

table and welcome people as they enter the room.  By doing this you are creating

a contact you are  making a friend.

“The ability to speak is a shortcut to distinction.”

-Dale Carnegie

Consider these facts…

1) The average person will increase their salary by only 2-3% annually.

2) Each year inflation increases by approximately 2-3% annually.

3) That means that, without lifelong learning, it’s virtually impossible for the average person to get ahead.

However…

1) Top Achievers, people who are continually learning and growing, DOUBLE their income every 3-5 years.

2) This is why the top 10-20% earns more than the bottom 80%! To separate yourself from the pack, you often need to know just one additional skill… and that will make all the difference in your pay scale.