Last Saturday, months of planning and anticipation came together for one very special unconference. I had the privilege of co-organizing and marketing NetSquared Camp, a full day event combining social change and technology in one undeniably powerful combination. With just over two weeks to spread the word about the very first NetSquared in Canada, this Ninja embarked on a furious journey of media sponsorship, press releases, and social media. And, as I’m happy to report, the first NetSquared Camp Vancouver sold out and hit the blogs and twitterwaves with resounding success– so much that a followup event is in the works.
The questions that came up the most were ones pertaining to the unconference structure itself and what to expect on the day. With this in mind, I want to share a general guide of unconference survival tips and how to make the most of your unconventional day of learning and networking. Read more…
I’ve been asked this a lot by other entrepreneurs recently: where do you find your mentors?
To answer this question properly, you first need to know why you’re on the lookout. What kind of advice or expertise are you hoping to get out of mentoring? Conversely, what knowledge, skills or enthusiasm can you offer in return? Mentoring isn’t about finding the one key individual who will solve all of your problems by dolling out connections and sagely wisdom on a timely basis. Read more…
The Networking Ninja will be contributing to the Metro Blenz News Squad during the 2010 Winter Olympics. This innovative way of centralizing the efforts of local bloggers here in Vancouver is spearheaded by independent chain Blenz Coffee and Metro Vancouver News. Updates on twitter will be under #MBNS, so please follow @CeciliaLu and @Kiwano for all the latest happenings. Highlights from our posts will also be displayed on the Metro Vancouver Newspaper’s online website and in their daily print edition.
Here’s Cecilia’s specific ‘mission statement’: “As a Networking Ninja, I will sneak around focusing on sustainability initiatives and the effects of the Olympics on small businesses.” Care to help a Ninja out? Get in touch on twitter or leave a comment below! Read more…
This week, the topic of discussion for my mentorship group was sales. We discussed many ideas around the art of selling, but there was one that stood out in my mind. A common barrier in the presale process was that certain clients focused on telling us about their problems, instead of fully listening to our solutions. Others were only interested in the facts and benefits of our services; in other words, the hard numbers and measurable ROI.
My next ninja tip is: in order to sell, you first need to invest in your client. Read more…
The Kiwano’s green launch party was a success! We loved connecting with our great business supporters and Vancouver’s top green leaders. Read more…
