By Pat Howlett   Tue, Jul 07, 2009

By Pat Howlett   Tue, Jul 07, 2009

A little about myself first (it's my Blog entry :) before I share the next inSide919 Sponsor (Amy Shair) with you.

I am the middle child from a (practicing) Irish Catholic family of 7 children. 4 boys and 3 girls. I am now the Father of 2 young ladies and if you’ve met my wife Mickie yet (she is on inSide919) you’ll know that I married up.

I share this with you to validate a point my sisters informed me of when I was quite young and that I witness with my daughters and sweetie. Women are simply smarter and more active risk takers than us guys.

So far inSide919 has attracted 3 incredible business women - I work for inSide919 so I, of course call this Smart.

Why is this (why no guys)?

I’m starting to think that maybe the idea of ‘giving’ before receiving is easier for some. I know my Mom never eat a hot meal as long as I lived in her home – she was always serving people – and she “loved” it, it wasn’t work to her (although I soon learned it was a ton of work - another story).

As I previously shared in my blog Olalah and Leslie contacted me before I had decided to launch the Sponsors option. Amy contacted me shortly thereafter.

You don’t hear much about the Sponsorships because I’m still working through everything I want to offer (info is there to be found for someone looking). But that did not stop these 3 local business women from jumping in.

Amy and I met very much like everyone else on inSide919. I left her a Welcome email and she replied back with a Thanks!

Time passed and she reached out to me to talk about this “Sponsor option” and we set up a time to talk.

If you ever talk to me about Sponsorship you’ll think I’m the worst sales person in the world. I lead with “this might not be for you”, then we more quickly to “I can’t really promise you more than doing my best to extend and enhance your Brand”.

We then get into the “this is NOT advertising” conversation and the ‘”you’ll have to be active and help others” part of the offer.

Already sounds like something you should “pay for” :).

I then end with ‘let me look at your past contributions, your website and anything else you have so I know we’re compatible (because the Sponsorship term is for 6 months) and we’ll reschedule another phone visit.

This is where other protential sponsors and I have lost each other.

But not Amy – she is actually really pleased with this process and shares her passion about what she does – she really loves being in Real Estate, that she is NOT expecting immediate results - but wants to make sure that her current and future clients “KNOW’ that she is Active in a down market – she’s in Real Estate in good markets and bad.

I tell Amy that I’ll “NOT” be getting back with her. I want to let the idea of Sponsoring inSide919 percolate in her head and reach out to me if it makes sense.

Thanksgiving comes and shortly thereafter I get an Internal Email from Amy saying it’s time to revisit and that she has a couple more questions - but has been able to “explore the network” and really likes what’s going on inSide919 and is very interested in sponsoring.

Our next conversation goes into finding out if we share the same values (again this is a 6 month relationship and entails us connecting our brands and reputations - it’s NOT advertising – she will have to do some ‘work’) – I ask how long she has been into real estate, why she is in that business, what she thinks of the economy and so on.

I’m blown away with her and pretty much like everything about the way she carries and represents herself. She is firm in her questions, yet easy to communicate with.

SO… we move to the 3rd leg of the Sponsorship process – we need to get offline and visit in person (it’s what you should be doing too).

We schedule some time at a coffee shop near me and visit. She, in person is as Businesslike, Professional and Kind as she is online and so we agree to work together. She “knows” real estate, is keen about the current market conditions and is very active in positioning herself for growth, Amy Shair is a smart Realtor AND net worker.

Success of this network financially will rest on the shoulders of sponsors like Amy who even in times when others put on a helmet and go deeper into their fox hole – instead want to do something positive and move their line forward.

Amy is obviously comfortable (even without knowing all the answers) with technology and the emergence of the new marketing world of “Social Networking” (which will become more and more important to selling a home), to me this will be a competitive advantage to those in the Real Estate profession and Amy is jumping in head first.

I am sooo pleased to introduce Amy Shair to the inSide919 Network and hope that you’ll take a minute and reach out to her. If you’re not in the market for real estate no problem – simply thank her for supporting inSide919.

By Pat Howlett   Tue, Jul 07, 2009

Decided I'd write about Leslie while she was away on a Cruise doing exactly what she try’s to help everyone she works with do...

"Living life to it's fullest - doing exactly what you were meant to do." that’s my quote about her, taken from the conversations we've shared.

After the 1st couple minutes of meeting Leslie one immediately knows that she is meant to work with people; helping them become better leaders, chart and achieve their goals, live an abundant life and clear the air of all that unproductive 'noise' that seems to hold them back.

She has committed her life to this work and it shows.

Her background is worthy of a book (but for now she'll have to settle for my personal Blog entry)...
'60's Coffee shop Folk Singer in 'San Fran', acting for Burt Lancaster, flying troops into Viet Nam, (and now co-star of that feature production "Sockfather Part 1")

Which brings up a neat thing about Leslie that I've learned just by following her contributions to the inSide919 Network; she must believe in abundance, "because she is always giving freely of her time".

She will commit her time and knowledge to you via her free 10-week in depth Mastermind studies on Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich!

I'm not talking about her doing a 2 hour 'lunch & learn' in order to introduce you to some info so you might be interested in retaining her for 'what she sells' - I'm talking about making a 10 Week Commitment to anyone interested in Learning and Studying the work of Napoleon Hill to enrich their life - now that's pretty cool.

When I meet people I always try to find out their 'Passion' - why they do what they do. Never had to ask Leslie! As her cruise shows 'she lives what she teaches'.

Then you dig in and get to meet some people she has worked with and you learn that 'they hold her in high regard'... for helping them do exactly what she set out to help them do.

She is someone to visit with if you're looking for a life coach - (by one who is living an interesting life). Want to become a Leader? Leslie is someone you should at least have a cup of coffee with.

Last thing I'd like to share with you about Leslie Flowers is that she was a bit disappointed with me when I started to launch sponsorships - she had shown an early interest 'in doing whatever she could to help this network succeed' and wanted to know why I had not contracted her.

I shared that I'd not be 'selling sponsorships' - I'd let the power of the network go to work and thought that in a reasonable time I'd get the 20 sponsors that I'm after. She liked that and became one.

I'd like to encourage you to meet Leslie and get to know her and what she does. It just might help you go on a Cruise or accomplish one of your goals.

By Pat Howlett   Tue, Jul 07, 2009

Anyone who spends time on inSide919 or our other emerging Micro Networks, realizes pretty quickly that I spend a bit of time doing this and that I have a real passion for it, so it does not end up being 'work'.

There are real benefits that go with creating this network. I get to meet - and get to know a much larger group of people than I'd ever meet via any other forum. I don't think that there is a 'need or want' that I could have for myself, my family or business that I could not find provided by a member of inSide919 or someone they would refer me to. To me that's a powerful thing.

When I got here 3 years ago, I did not know anyone (as many recent transplants can relate with), I did not know a good machanic, where to get good pizza, where to go have fun with my kids.

Recently, I was able to connect with Olalah Njenga with YellowWood Group - a marketing consulting firm in Raleigh. We started as I suggest everyone does, with a comment made on each others Profile wall, mine was to 'Welcome her' to inSide919 and her's was a simple 'thanks!' (that really does work BTW).

Later we became 'Friends' which basically allowed us to send Internal Emails to each other to speed up communications and make them richer. Olalah and I then took to the phone and started to talk about what 'we did' and what our approach to 'what we did' was and quickly found that we were singing out of the same song book.

Our shared focus was NOT on Internet Marketing and we both felt that we were 'meant to serve' the markets we had chosen.

Long before there was enough value on inSide919, Olalah asked how she might help the community. In frankness I didn't know other than to advise her to be active and help folks - I was still getting my mind around 'micro social networking' as well.

Recently, the Network started to get traffic, visits, pageviews and all that other metrics that some find important (and they are... but targeted conversions are more important - I digress) but mostly we all started to create a community of people intent on doing positive things to grow their businesses.

inSiders understood that growth could be done in a slower manner, 1st taking the time to start the relationship by 'telling' and not 'selling' - then taking it offline to visit in person, get to know the other person for more than 'what they did' (which of course is important as it's how we all make our living) and see where it went - maybe a joint venture, cross-pollination marketing, referral partner or simply someone who knew you better in a positive way - no real downside.

The success stories I get are very appreciated.

So, why am I writing this blog entry.

Quite frankly, it's to introduce you to Olalah Njenga, the Communities 1st Individual Sponsor and someone that after taking the time to get to know her would have no hesitation in referring you to.

Please take the time to get to know her, shoot her some questions, check out her website and see if there's a fit. I think you might thank me.

Her Profile - YellowWood Group - Marketing with Ease

By Pat Howlett   Tue, Jul 07, 2009

Trustees are the true Local element of each inSide### Network. 

We will constantly try to attract up to 12 Local Netizens to assist with decisions and provide input to constantly improve each network to better serve inSiders. 

Interested in becoming a "Trustee"? Make contact with Pat Howlett via the Network that serves your area code.