Walk into any business on a rainy day and for the most part, they’re empty. Everyone is relaxed. You get great service and lots of attention. No one seems to be really busy which seems to me like a perfect time to cold call. The owner is in. Business is slow. They don’t really have anything to do but talk to you. Chances are you’ll be the only sales person that walks in the door today. Why not?

This dawned on me early in my sales career. When you’re out there every day competing for the attention of a buyer or business owner, you look for ways to stand out. I realized that all my counterparts were in their little cubicles doing paperwork, making phone calls and setting appointments for tomorrow when it wasn’t going to be raining.

So, I grabbed an umbrella and hit the road. It was amazing. Very rarely did I walk into a business that I didn’t get to speak to a decision maker. I mean, think about it. I just completely set myself apart from everyone. I’m the one that will get out in the rain, get my feet wet and work a little harder for the business. This speaks volumes to someone you’re trying to do business with. Who wants to give their money to someone who only wants to work when everything is nice and sunny? Get it?

I went to a business networking meeting this morning and attendance was pretty bad. This is a weekly meeting that people pay to go to so they can get referrals to make more money. But it was raining. It was raining HARD. Apparently, that was enough to keep at least 50% of the regular attendees from venturing out. It just looked like another opportunity to me.

Do you know what a rainmaker is? Dictionary.com says a rainmaker is “One who is known for achieving excellent results in a profession or field, such as business or politics”. Is that you? What do you do when it rains? Are you one of those people who would have skipped the meeting? Do you sit in your office and try to get people on the phone? Are you doing your expense report? Stop.

Try it just once. You’ll be surprised at the results. Be a rainmaker. Next time it rains, put on your best suit. Give yourself a little pep talk, grab your umbrella and hit the streets. Take plenty of business cards and be ready. I bet you make a little money.

Michelle C. Ritter is a the owner of http://www.e-worc.com , a web design and sales consulting company where she works with many types of product and service based industries in developing sales and marketing plans and effective online programs. She specializes in cross-industry communication and teaches a series of seminars for MTI Business Solutions http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com that focus on teaching others to enjoy success in sales by learning how to speak in the language of the buyer.

Author: Michelle Ritter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital Camera Times

Many of the most successful chiropractic practices, in terms of collections, are not the best chiropractors. And, many of the best treating chiropractor are often the least successful… in terms of collections.

How is that possible? Simple, it is boils down to the type of practitioner who is leading the practice.

Technician Chiropractor

As a general rule, the best chiropractors are technicians. They love pounding down the high spots. They love caring for patients. They love improving their spinal skills and knowledge. They devour the latest research and attend seminars on technique.

They enjoy treating patients. They love becoming “friends” with their patients. They look forward to the results from their care. It’s a rewarding experience for any chiropractor. But, what they are not good at is rainmaking.

They don’t enjoy the operational aspects of owning a practice nor do they enjoy marketing, i.e., conducting spinal screenings, hosting chicken dinners, delivering speeches to groups or plowing money into advertising. They prefer that their skills be enough to attract an endless number of new patients and appointments.

You can be the world’s best technician… and you will eek out a living, but you will never grow a mega-practice on this alone.

Rainmaker

The practitioner with the largest practice is often owned and operated by a rainmaker. A rainmaker Chiropreneur is the one who feeds on getting out of the office and marketing his or her brand of chiropractic. The rainmaking Chiropreneur desires to dominate the marketplace. it’s their passion. 100 new patients per month, 500 office visits per week, two million in collections…. this is a rainmaking practice.

Sadly, this type of practitioner is not the best technician doctor. They can adjust and even get satisfactory results, but, it is not what they love to do… they would rather be delivering a speech to a Rotary club than adjusting 10 patients in the same time.

The Best Type

There is no right or wrong choice. You are whom you are. Statistically, about 90% of the licensed chiropractors are technicians and the balance are rainmakers.

If you are a Technician, does that mean you will never build a large, successful practice? Absolutely not. But, what you must do is focus on your strengths and pair-up or hire someone for the role of a rainmaker. You could join a rainmaker group, for instance. Or, you could employ a rainmaker who loves rainmaking…. and this person doesn’t even need to be a chiropractor.

A Technician can learn rainmaking skills, but the heart just isn’t into it. You could block one hour per week to be the rainmaker and in that one hour you could attract 6-12 new patients…. or deliver 6-12 adjustments. Obviously, you have a greater impact on your practice during the one hour of rainmaking versus one hour of adjusting.

A rainmaker on the other hand should ease out of treating and go full time into rainmaking. Employ the technicians to pound down the high spots as you focus your talent and skills on driving patients to your practice or chain of practices!

The profession needs both: technician and rainmaker chiropractors. The way to grow your practice is to use your respective strength and then delegate your weakness to complement your talent.

Peak your practice with the right combination of personal talent.

Lawton Howell is founder and chief executive officer of WellnessOne Corporation, a national alliance of chiropractic offices. The WellnessOne System includes marketing, leadership, human resources, legal, financial, architectural, protocols and systems for growing a practice using turnkey resources. You can contact the author toll free at 877 WELNES1 or 877.935.6371 x201 or email to: ceo@wellnessone.net. For more information on WellnessOne visit: http://www.wellnessone.net. Subscribe to the author’s weekly eLetter, CEObrief, at http://www.chiromarketing.net

It’s your future… be there healthy with WellnessOne

Author: Lawton Howell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Credit card currency-exchange fees

You are poised to start the race. You and all the other runners are crouched over the starting line. The starter raises his pistol into the air and begins his cadence, “Ready, set, ….

A good, strong start is essential in almost every thing we do, including being a rainmaker.

So how do you get off to a fast start rainmaking? How do you begin?

Step One: Get a blog. Today!

A blog can be the shortest distance between Point A, where you are now, and Point B, where you want and need to be. By starting a blog, you can cause all the pieces of your rainmaking puzzle to fall into place. And start building a very successful career right now.

For those of you who are not 100% sure what a blog is, let me give you the short answer. A blog is an easy to start, easy to maintain, web site that easily enables you write daily “posts” or short articles, on any topic you choose.

I use Blogger.com to host my blog because I am probably the most technically inept person you could ever know. Blogger makes it so easy you can have your site up and running in 10 minutes. Even if all you can do on a computer is send an email.

Step Two: Write at least two or three paragraphs a day on your blog. Every day.

What can 2 – 3 paragraphs a day do for you? Plenty.

Write these paragraphs every day, including Sundays and holidays, your birthday, your grandmother’s birthday, and even the day your favorite cat loses the last of her nine lives. If you will do this every day, these measly 2-3 paragraphs will accumulate surprisingly fast and you will soon have enough raw material to morph into publishable articles, seminar and workshop outlines, booklets and someday …. even a full-length book.

In other words, your humble little blog will produce the information products that will attract potential clients to you.

The beauty of blogging for a rainmaker is twofold. First, search engines love blogs, because they are frequently updated with fresh, new content. As a result, soon people who are interested in your topic will be finding your site.

And second, it will become a place to catch all those fleeting, but brilliant thoughts you have each day. And yes, you do have some brilliant thoughts, you just haven’t been conscious of how brilliant they are. But until now, you have not been recording them before they “fleet” right out of your brain.

Now I have a sneaky secret to tell you. After you get in the discipline of writing at least 2-3 paragraphs a day, somedays you will find yourself with more to write. Go ahead, it’s not against the rules. That’s why I said, “at least.”

As your blog produces information pieces in many different formats (articles, booklets, ebooks, etc) use them to promote yourself and your business or practice.

Within a year, that humble blog will be generating all kinds of new clients. Just keep writing.

It’s a small step you can take right now. Today. But the rewards for this small step are enormous.

So get started, you can do it.

” ……Go”

freelance copywriter, writing web content, copywriting tips

COPYRIGHT(C)2006, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.

Charles Brown writes about personal branding, search engine optimization, email marketing, social networking and many more ways to market yourself or your business online. Visit him at Web Marketing Coach and be sure to download one of his free ebooks or subscribe to his newsletter.

Author: Charles Brown
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Import duty tariff

When:
Monthly Event – Third Wednesday of every month: 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM (GMT)

Where:
The City
London
United Kingdom

Hosted By:
Erudyte Ltd

Erudyte Ltd is proud to bring to our clients, Rainmakers who have had hands on experience as being leaders, delivered on their goals and now share a vision to create a better world.

Our Rainmakers are driven by a deep passion towards making a measurable, significant and permanent difference in the world and are therefore people who have all made things happen – people who have brought an edge of demonstrable value into an organisational environment.

They do this by imparting their knowledge through popular methods such as speaking, consulting, training and one to ones or a seamless programme working alongside existing training schedules, consulting processes or conference events.

Rainmakers will take you and your organisation
to the edge – beyond the boundaries!

Register for this event now at :
http://rainmakerwednesday-rss.eventbrite.com

Event Details:

A Rainmakers dialogue: 

On the Third Wednesday of the month, we will be gathering for topical discussions. 

Each session will be led by a Rainmaker to give us direction and a theme.  The aim of the evening is to share experience, learn from peers and importantly, hear directly the latest thoughts from the Rainmaker themselves.

All Rainmaker Wednesdays are held under Chatham House Rule and subject to limited spaces.

Topics discussed so far:

• The Economy – Where do we go from here?
• Bonus Culture – Good, Banned or Evil?
• Interim Management and Part Time Workers – What’s next?
• The New Economy – Freeze, Flee or Fight?
• How to Get Great Performance in a Reciession

These topics can be ran again subject to request.

Venues have changed according to location requests from Rainmaker Club members.

If you wish to have a Rainmaker Wednesday event in a particular location, please register your interest upon purchase.

Rainmaker Thursday
Value 2.0 The Next Level -

- Thick Value or Creative Destruction?

Date: 6th May 2010

Venue: Castle Hill House, Windsor.

‘Adding Value’ is fast becoming an over used, worn out corporate buzz word and it could be damaging your organisation.  It’s taking some organisations to crisis point – especially those that are not even aware of it’s true nature.

Simply ‘Adding Value’ is no longer enough to get the attraction you desire.

Consider:

• After pulling your belt in for over a year are you sure you are not on the extinct list or can you rebuild and flourish?
• Has pulling in your belt over the last 6 months killed your next big thing?

Every day it seems yet another product or service is being labelled as ’added value’ and laying claims that it’s now better than ever before or better than its rival!  But lets really think about this… what IS the difference between one ’new added value’ offering  to another? How would your organisation’s value truly stand up to comparisons?

• Research has shown that many customers think value is intrinsictly linked to money either as a ‘how much can I get for my money’ or ‘How little can I pay for this?’ stance.
• ‘Value’, in the opinion of some, has turned into the ‘Spam’ phrase of the corporate advertising, marketing and PR collateral as well as some of the corporate thinking and strategy.
• Somehow ‘value’ seems to have become lost along the way as more people view ‘added value’ as a standard that a company should be offereing and thereby no longer a true added value!

So how do you do something which is better than others and more importantly seen to be better, valued to be better and talked about as being the best?

As rainmaker Gary Sage said in a recent interview:

“The global financial storm has produced a global shift in awareness, not only have the rules changed – future sustainable business will need to understand that there is a new value equation out there – value 2.0 if you wish – achieving great performance will depend on truly understanding how to deliver and support this value.”

This session is for those wanting to understand the future of ‘Value’ today and it’s impact to organisations before it arrives!  Do Not underestimate the value of ‘Value’!

To be held under Chatham House Rule

Thought Leader:

Rainmaker – Gary Sage of SageHagan.

Gary Sage is a ‘Super Skiller’.  He is a gifted consultant and Communications Coach whose personal clients span the globe.  Gary has coached and conducted seminars and workshops on five continents to thousands of people and successfully taken his unique methodology into organisations from as diverse a background of; international banks to luxury goods manufacturers to multinational computer companies, to sole traders.

Cost: All refreshments and lunch are included. If you are multi-booking, you may be entitled to a group discount.  Please contact Chris on 0 845 0941044 for further details.

All prices listed above exclude VAT.

Next step – book now: Places are very limited so click the button now to secure your place.  Alternatively, this can be delivered in-house and tailored if required.

Rainmaker Dialogue:
How to Get Great Performance Using
Social Media in the Corporate World.

Do you Need to do any of the following:

• Increase innovation and creativity
• Improve efficieny
• Create environments where staff can learn from each other

Business as usual?

• Do your managers know how to manage the internet generation?
• Will you attract the brightest new recruits and would you know where to find them online?
• Are your IT department enablers or gatekeepers and how much do they cost?

Driven by the networked communication, tools are flourishing on the web. Tools like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Not only is the way we communicate with those who benefit from our services are changing but also how we organise ourselves will be changed forever.

These changes mean business and they represent exciting opportunities to ensure that business is never the same again!

Forget the word “social” – what is happening now is a fundamental revolution in how we conduct business and sell products. Networks have always been around but the internet puts them on steroids.

Come and spend the day with Euan and leave with the answers on how to:

Give you competitive advantage in your industry by making you better informed about your customers and their needs
Make you better at running your own business by knowing what’s working, what isn’t and how to improve it
Give you the best chance you have ever had of being understood by your organisation and able to lead them effectively

This seminar will be held under Chatham House Rule

Thought Leader: Rainmaker -Euan Semple.
Euan Semple is a leading authority on the use of social media in organisations. He gained unparalleled experience as Director of Knowledge Management at the BBC. He was one of the first to introduce what have since become known as social media tools into a large, successful organisation. Euan hans since taken his knowledge to other large organisations, working with them and helping them learn how to make the most of this wired-up world of work.

Cost: Costs include light lunch and all refreshements. All prices are listed above and ex VAT. Discounts maybe available on multiple bookings. Please call for info.

Next step – book now: Places are limited as it is preferable to keep discussions to a small group, so please book using the above form or call 08450941044 now to speak to Chris and book your place. Secure payment can be taken over the phone, or an invoice can be raised if you prefer.

The Rainmakers Company has just published the first “The Changing Times” Newsletter. The first of many we hope.

It has a heads up on the industry from Our MD, an interview with a Rainmaker, leads to some fascinating blogs from the rainmakers and of course the ongoing programme of events from The Rainmakers Company.

Download the PDF here: www.rainmakerscompany.com/news

If you want to be on the Email list as a regular subscriber please email chris at
chris@speakerscompany.com
Regards – Maurice

Have you given thought to perhaps how valuable an employee you are where you are? Could you merely clock in and out because you have mouths to feed and be nothing more? When you took those first footsteps into the marketplace you probably didn’t anticipate a great depression, downsizing, outsourcing or the economy getting the slammers. The floundering cash flow that has your company put everybody out on the streets? That, despite the years industriously promoting and tooling yourself up the career ladder and arming yourself with a sharp set of skills – only to find out your company can’t afford to keep you around because it’s coffers have gone dry.

So what do you do now?

Here’s an idea to ponder. Considering that the wealth of a firm can be it’s employees, imagine how valuable you would be if you tripled your firm’s revenue this year. Or how about tripling the traffic to their website? How about saving the company from the hangman of dropping sales? What’s the likelihood your company keeps pace or even stays in business? Can you afford to sit back, stay oblivious and watch your hair turning color with the breaking news that the doors to it’s colossal entrance are closing forever in days! In today’s ever-changing marketplace, you need to be more than being what you are – you could be the rudder that turns the ship around from shipwreck! LEARN the tools a company needs to use to beat back it’s competitors. Take a good look at yourself and ask yourself: Could I be a rainmaker? Have I ever thought of being a rainmaker? What have I done for the company? Now is the time to be the Obi Wan Kenobi for your company!

May the force be with you!

Cally Rao

Author: Cally Rao
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Multi-cooker

A rainmaker is someone who attracts new clients to a service business or professional practice. In order to become a successful rainmaker, you must first learn how to become a recognized expert in your field.

Does this sound daunting? Well it shouldn’t, there are two steps to this process: 1) constantly be learning more about your profession or industry, and 2) share that knowledge with others.

The first thing to get rid of is that nagging sense of inferiority that plagues us all. You may be a new lawyer fresh out of law school, or you may have just opened your doors to your air conditioning repair business, but you can begin sharing what you know right now.

The problem is we all compare ourselves with the person who has thirty years experience and know how that just oozes out of every pore of his body. There will always be someone in your profession who is smarter and more experienced than you are. Even that guy who so intimidates you, is in turn intimidated by someone else.

So let’s come up with a definition of an expert. Experts are not the smartest, most experienced people in their profession. The are those who share what knowledge they have with others, and as a result build a reputation based upon that knowledge.

If you write and publish articles in the trade magazines of your prospective clients, write a blog that you post new information to three or four times a week, or if you teach a small class on your field at a local junior college or adult education school, your knowledge benefits more people than that guy with 30 years on you who makes you quiver in your socks.

I want to recommend three books to you that all belong on your bookshelf if you are serious about becoming a rainmaker. My copies of each are so thoroughly highlighted, bookmarked and full of notations in the margins. I regard each as pure treasures and essential tools for growing my own business.

Here they are: First, Robert Bly’s “How To Become a Recognized Authority In Your Field In 60 Days or Less.” This is a book that delivers on its title. Robert Bly is an expert on making experts.

Second, another great book that I wouldn’t dream of doing without. Rick Crandall, PhD.’s book, “Marketing Your Services For People Who Hate To Sell.” This book covers it all, from publicity to writing to networking to advertising. There is not a rainmaking stone left uncovered in this book.

Third, is a fairly new book called, “Book Yourself Solid,” by Michael Port. Michael was a solo consultant who was dying a slow death because he couldn’t market himself. Finally he reached the succeed or quit moment and came up with a plan to blast his business into the stratosphere. His book is nothing less than a turn-key system on how to become a rainmaker.

Remember, there are only two rules to being a rainmaker/expert. Keep learning and share that knowledge with others. Do those two things and you couldn’t stop success from knocking on your door if you wanted to.

COPYRIGHT(C)2006, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.

Author: Charles Brown
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: PCB Prototype & Manufacturing

A “Rainmaker” is defined as an executive who has the exceptional ability to attract clients, are you a “Rainmaker? Think deeply about this question. Can you deliver the rain when you need it? Are people attracted to you or do you find it difficult to bring business in?

Being a “Rainmaker” doesn’t mean you have to be loud, obnoxious and some glad-handing politico who’s the life of the party. In fact, truth be told these types of individuals are typically tolerated, but rarely are they admired. You can be a “Rainmaker” by putting yourself in the right places and of course the correct frame of mind.

Let’s first discuss the right places. Where do your clients and potential referral partners congregate? Are you there and there consistently? Are you a member and supporter of your client’s associations and charities? Be involved in what’s important to your clients, and eventually you’ll be noticed. Involve yourself with your local chamber of commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, Veterans Lodge, Toastmasters and a charity of your choice and forge the reputation as a community leader. People want to do business with those they consider chieftains in their marketplace.

As it relates to having the proper frame of mind it’s imperative that you be prepared to serve others first. Service to those around them is how “Rainmakers” establish themselves as “Trusted Advisors”. They are willing to give without consideration to immediate self gratification, but this is not to be confused with them being pushovers. They know when to say no when the other person is one, they could never trust.

“Rainmakers” know to dollarize their offering to their clients. Dollarization is actually defined by a country substituting its currency for US dollars, but as it relates to sales, we define dollarization as the substitution of our features and benefits with an actual dollar net benefit to the client and one that the client recognizes. When you dollarize your offering you reduce your client’s skepticism about those features that your service or product has that can’t be dollarized.

Becoming a “Rainmaker” is no easy task, but if you use the rule of 5 you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. The Rule of 5 simply states that if you do the same 5 things every day you will eventually reach your goal. One example is a logger’s attempt to bring down a huge tree. If he would take 5 swings at it every day eventually he would bring the tree to the ground! Choose your 5 swings and hit your goal!

In my next article, I will discuss the Principle of Integrity. Until then consider joining my weekly coaching calls by registering with this link. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/633060643

Author: Jonathan Klein
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Multi-cooker