Note: this series concludes with this issue. In the meantime,
if you have any questions for all three businesspeople, send them to
me: mailto:judyvorfeld@ossweb.com?subject=Interview_Questions
Click Here.
QUESTION 1. Do you hire subcontractors? If so, what kind of criteria
do you have?
TERENCE KIERANS http://www.virtualservices.com.au
No I don't. My current workload is insufficient to need them.
MARTHA RETALLICK: http://www.westernskycommunications.com
I sure do! I hire people to do:
1. What I don't have the in-depth expertise or the equipment to do.
Programming and professional-quality printing fall into this category.
2. What I shouldn't be doing because it takes time away from revenue
generation. Clerical work falls into this category, and for this work,
I have a Virtual Assistant.
PEGGI RIDGWAY: http://www.wordpix.com
I could not have grown my business without the benefit of subcontractors.
Early in the history of my company, I was the writer, editor and technician.
Now, seventeen years later, professional (degreed) graphic designers produce
the visuals for our brochures, books and websites. My partner, our technical
director, has several programming and database experts he calls upon as
needed. Subcontractors are the lifeblood of Wordpix Solutions.
QUESTION 2. What value do you place on networking, local or online? Why?
TERENCE KIERANS
As a virtual professional the majority of my networking is conducted,
well, virtually. Although I attend business functions and am a member
of my local business association I have yet to find the networking
productive.
MARTHA RETALLICK
Networking, if done with one's eyes open, can be quite useful to one's
business. However, I see too many people jumping into networking
organizations and online discussion boards with the idea that they'll
quickly get business out of them.
Sorry to break the news to you, but getting business via networking can
take a long time. We're talking months, if not years. Can you afford to
wait that long? If the answer to this question is no, then you'd be
better off focusing on advertising and direct mail, rather than
investing a lot of time and money in the networking circuit.
Furthermore, the most effective networking is a give-get process. Which
means that you're expected to give before you can get. Alas, the reality
of many networking groups is that your giving may be far in excess of
what you get back. So be careful. Check out the groups /before/ you sign up.
PEGGI RIDGWAY
Recently, I analyzed my networking activities to see if they were paying
off. Here's what I learned: Networking at the local level has generated
only a handful of real customers (about six direct customers), BUT those
customers have consistently referred other customers and the referred
customers are now referring new customers. I've learned that it sometimes
takes multiple exposures (numerous encounters at networking functions) to
sign on a new customer and that the nurturing of the customer relationship
results in customer satisfaction and referrals. When you realize that
networking is a PROCESS, rather than a meet-and-sign-up event, you see
results.
QUESTION 3. What organizations contribute the most to your ongoing
professional growth? Why are they effective?
TERENCE KIERANS
Despite trying many, and contributing when it was required, I have yet
to find any of them
worthwhile. I get the feeling that because I am a male, and also not
operating in the US of A tends to put me on the outer. No, I am not
paranoid. My professional growth has taken place over too many years to
remember - I gained my electrical engineering degree in 1956 and entered
the IT environment in 1978!
MARTHA RETALLICK
Over the years, I've built up my own network of contacts through various
means, which include:
1. My clientele
2. Volunteer work
3. Networking groups
4. Employment
5. Community organizations and project
6. Family and friends
Call it "Martha's Network" or some other catchy name, but it's what I'm
most reliant on when it comes to growing as a person and as a professional.
PEGGI RIDGWAY
Toastmasters is directly responsible for beefing up my ability to speak
to strangers one-to-one and to address groups of all sizes. There are small
Toastmasters clubs everywhere, and I encourage everyone to check out their
local Toastmasters club (see www.toastmasters.org .) Also, some chambers of
commerce offer educational programs for small business (Evaluate each
chamber carefully before joining.) Finally, the American Business Women's
Association, although its chapters in my area appear to be populated mostly
with Mary Kay cosmetics reps and retired professionals, offers some
excellent educational programs (with CEUs) online - www.abwa.org . I'm sure
others do as well.
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