Buddy up with the bank

The purpose of a bank is for THEM to pay YOU for doing business with them.  Being able to manage everyday cash flow with the lowest fees will increase the amount of wealth you can hold on to.

Your money needs to be working as hard as you do. That’s why you need to look at the interest that you earn.

If you are not earning interest on your money than you are at the wrong bank. Paying fees is not acceptable! Look at what your bank offers–and hold on to your wealth.

Relationships for life…and business

Guest Blogger for Rich Chicks, Cathy Paper of rockpaperstar and Dream Job Lab

Most people want more sales and more career success.  Growing healthy relationships is the key to making a stronger impact as a business person.  Yet, 9 out of 10 people think expanding their network means pushing themselves on other people and feels “slimy.”  There are several ways to grow your relationships and heighten your reputation without becoming a slick image of your authentic self.

 Here are five ways I’ve seen people quickly become effective at increasing the power of their relationships:

1.  Define your style.  What kind of a person do you want to be known as? A giver, a taker, a connector, a writer, a self-promoter, a volunteer etc.  Spend half an hour defining your personal brand.  Ask someone you trust and respect what they think about you and how they would describe you to someone else.  If they hesitate and can’t answer the question, you have some work to do to be seen as a value-add.
2.  Get involved and give back.  Building relationships is not just lunch after lunch or 50 cold calls to grow your contact list.  One of the best ways to get to know other people is to serve on a committee or a volunteer team.  You can make a difference to an organization you are passionate about and meet great people along the way.  Making connections starts with thinking about someone other than yourself.
3. Start small.  Five nights a week out with high hopes of business development and networking and you’ll burn out.  Everyone gets busy and needs to hunker down with billable time or project deadlines.  The best relationship people know that being a consistent but authentic presence out and about is one of the ways to stay top of mind.  So pick one night a week or a Friday lunch to get to know someone new.  
4. Find a wingman or wingwoman.  I first learned of this concept through a New York Times article on dating.  A pair would scope out a “prospect or potential date” and send one of the other people over to ask questions and talk up the other person.  Brilliant.  Find a person to attend an event with you and they can do your promoting for you. It’s much better to have someone else say what you do and why you’re amazing than to toot your own horn. 
5. Be strategic.  Who do you want to meet?  Do your homework.  Sam Richter, author of Take The Cold Out Of Cold Calling, has a toolbar where you can research people and companies in great detail using the “invisible web.”  Before an event, research people and study the guest list if possible.  You will make the most of your time and the people you meet will be impressed by your thorough knowledge.

 These are just a few of the ways to build strong relationships in today’s virtual world of connections.  I recommend a combination of virtual connections and face to face to cement what you want most, a lifelong network to champion your work and serve as your best business development tool.

Cathy Paper is a guest presenter at the May 19 NW2 Mastermind Group   

  RockPaperStar acts as a growth catalyst for authors and small businesses. Current clients include Harvey Mackay, #1 New York Times Best Selling Author of Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, Virtual Officenters, MorseKode and Fruitshare. As one customer said, “We are thrilled with the results of our business consulting work with Cathy Paper of Rock Paper Star. She helped us come up with new revenue sources and ideas based on our business planning and strengths work.  She provides a fresh, fun and enlightening perspective to our business planning. We imagine calling on her again and again.” Char Mason- Coleman Mason Events

Ten things that other teens have done to save at college- Part two

6)      I opted for a big name college and it had a big price tag, so I would go home every summer and take classes at the community college near my hometown to ADD credits. I could take a full load during the summer and it cut my tuition requirements down by almost 10K a year for three years. I had those community college credits transferred in each year. NOTE: You have to know in advance if the credits are transferrable. Check it out–it saved me more that I could have earned in a summer job- Maijja

7)      I learned to cook and every Sunday I made a plan about what I was going to eat all week. Then I packed my own lunch and snacks.  It was fun to try new recipes and have healthy food and it also helped me stay out of the fast food places. -Mua

8)      I made a blog and a wish list online that anyone in my family or the friends of our family could log onto. I would talk about what was going on at school and I would ask for what I needed like care packages of laundry soap, quarters, and fun stuff like movie passes.  It became a way for me to be closer to my family than I was at home because they could also comment back. Linsday

9)      Finding a skill that you can trade to other students is crucial. My aunt was a hairdresser and she taught me how to wax my own eyebrows and then gave me a wax machine to take with me to college.  I was able to trade eyebrow waxing for all sorts of favors and Friday Night fun money. -Serina

10)      Never underestimate the power of a coupon or online search engines. I was able to get many of my reading books for my literature classes online for a tiny fraction of the bookstore rate and they ship in just three- five days usually.   Double coupon grocery stores are totally worth finding because those days will save you a TON of money and you can get coupons online.  -Grace