Have you ever considered the power that just one connection can make in your business and your life? Once you start to notice this you'll make an effort to get out and connect even more than you currently do. Recently I met a woman named Stephanie Mulac at a business event and from that one chance meeting, three major business deals were forged.
As I thought back on how it all began I realized how powerful our thoughts and intentions are and that even when we might be scared to move forward, if we just trust ourselves and go for it, amazing things will happen!
In January 2006 I was sitting in my hot tub setting some goals for the year (I always do my best manifestation work in the water!). One of the goals I put out there was to work with Internet Marketing Guru, Tellman Knudson. I think it was the very next day that I received an email from Tellman inviting his list to apply for the Internet Marketer's Death Match. He was planning to throw 5 marketers into a virtual boxing ring (on a conference call) and let them duke it out over some pretty intense questions on Internet Marketing. Whomever got the most votes from the listeners would win the match and go on to compete against Alex Mandossian.
Now I have to tell you, I got excited and nervous all at once! Here was my chance to work with Tellman! But man! Were my marketing skills up to snuff to go at it under intense pressure with 4 other big shots? And what if I won??? Going against Alex Mandossian... could that be ring side suicide for me?
Well...I decided not too think about it too much and to just DO IT! In fact, I didn't even tell Pat (my husband) until after I applied in case he tried to bring me to my senses! I had asked to work with Tellman and now here was my chance...I couldn't very well slap the universe in the face, now could I? (You know what they say...be careful what you ask for!)
So I applied. A few days later I received the email from Tellman; I was accepted. No turning back now! As it turned out, I PULVERIZED my opponents and WON! After the instant rush and gratification, it hit me. Next week I had to jump in the ring with Alex Mandossian, one of the most revered marketers on the Internet. Alex, the reigning champ was competing as Alex "CHAINSAW" Mandossian. I couldn't just show up as little ol' me so that's the day "POWER GAL" was born! Nice ring to it, Tracy "Power Gal" Monteforte Co Founder of WTPowers.com. Just saying it built my confidence.
Well, believe it or not, after 45 min of intense head-to-head, knock-down-drag-out, jargon-slinging, intellectual marketing combat, I was pronounced the winner! (There's more to this story...but that I'll save for another time.) ;-)
For the next several weeks I returned to the ring to compete with other marketers. I even got to choose a partner to spice things up and my coach Melanie Strick from SuccessConnections.com and I knocked out every male team they threw into the ring with us. Today, we're the undefeated reigning champs! In fact Tellman quit the Death Match altogether and it's my firm contention the guys just couldn't hang with the fact that the women were running circles around them.
But that's not what I'm here to tell you about. Long story, long...one of the contenders was Harris Fellman. Even though we clobbered him and his partner (tee hee) Harris and I became friends and stayed in touch via Instant Messenger. We shared marketing tips, bounced ideas, coached each other, etc. for the next year. Harris became a great friend and resource to me.
This past May, Harris invited me to The Launch Masters Retreat at his home in Arizona as a VIP trainer for a small group of Internet Marketers planning their next product launches. One of the other VIP guests there was Stephanie Mulac. Now, Stephanie and I didn't spend a lot of personal time together but we did share some battle stories of when we first started in business. I wasn't trying to sell Stephanie anything and she wasn't trying to sell me. We were just connecting and relating with absolutely zero agenda.
After the retreat, I sent a greeting card to everyone who attended with pictures I had taken of us all there. I always follow up with cards to further fortify my new relationships. Shortly after Stephanie called me. She had a client who needed some services that we provide so she made the introduction and a very significant partnership was forged. And now we have two other ventures inked and in progress as well. One connection, three business deals. Not bad!
When Stephanie shared with me why she chose to do business with us it really surprised me. She said it didn't have to do with any pitch I had given at the Retreat, or even the training I did. She said it was the battle stories I shared. The story of the struggles we encountered when starting WTPowers and the fact that we endured. She resonated with my story. She could relate. And she valued our resourcefulness and tenacity. It made us real.
Three joint ventures from one connection and this is just the beginning of the business we will do with Stephanie. There are so many lessons in this story, that's why I am excited to share it with you.
1. Take the time to set your INTENTIONS
2. Exercise SENSORY AWARENESS so you notice when your intentions are being answered!
3. Overcome any fear by JUST DOING IT!
4. Step into your new role and CLAIM IT!
5. Connect with people authentically - LISTEN with no agenda
6. Follow-up as simply as sending a card or making a phone call
7. Be OPEN to the power of POSSIBILITY!
Intention ---> Tellman ---> Harris -->> Stephanie ---> 3 Joint Ventures
--->> What's Next?!?!
There are all kinds of off-shoots to this story too... Alex M. and I are pretty good friends now and discussing a future JV. Pretty cool stuff!
What kinds of connections are you making, and how are you nurturing them? What small step can you take right now?
Please leave your comment below!
~Power Gal
P.S. Fortify a connection today! Send someone a heartfelt follow-up card on my dime!
PositiveMail.biz
P.P. S. Enjoy the slide show of Harris Fellman's Launch Master's Retreat!
Where's Stephanie?
