Things that I have learned

This is what I have learned from each seminar so far

1) Know your audience. This makes the seminar more meaningful to the participants.

• Each seminar needs to be a bit customized, based on the needs of the participants.
• Before presenting ask the organization what their major concerns maybe about the topic. Have they had any major incident or problem that has made them want the seminar?
• Try to learn as much as you can about the organization and the people that are part of it.

2) Always get feedback from your audience. How else will you improve? How else will you know if you gave meaningful information?
These are some helpful questions

• Ask your participants at the end of the seminar to write their comments
• Ask your participants if they would change the seminar in any way
• was the seminar interesting---why?
• was the seminar helpful--why/how?
• will they be using the information that they learned--where/how?
  

3) Have a handout. This will help the participants remember what you presented. This may also give you another seminar some where else---networking

• place your contact information
• summary of information---short one

4) Sell---something that you have written, recorded, items...etc.

• ask the following questions before doing this step

1. does it pertain to the seminar topic
2. is it something that the participants will find a value in

Tuesday is a long day

Tuesday I have an appointment, in the early evening, to go and explain what my seminar is to an organization that helps women. I look forward to learning more about their organization.

Later during the night I will be giving a seminar to a group of women that belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They belong to the Niagara Falls Ward Relief Society and young women

Team Building Seminar

Recently I was given the idea to ask for feedback from my participants after I give a seminar. Ideas; create surveys, hand out post it notes, hand out pieces or paper. In the education world we sometimes call these Ticket Out the Door. Give the people time toward the end to collect their thoughts and write them down.

The last seminar I co presented at (Team Building) we gave out post it notes to each participant and a pen. Each one of us that presented stood strategically around the room so that we would make sure we got the post it back as well as the pen. I stood right at the door.

The seminar went very well. We received a great deal of positive feedback from our presentation. I think I will be creating another blog that just shows the different feedback from the seminars that I am involved with.

Too Funny

Today while making follow up calls to offer my seminar to women's groups I called one and asked to speak to my contact. The secretary told me that my contact wasn't at that specific office today. I than asked the secretary if the contact was at the other office. The secretary told me yes, and than put me no hold. After being taken off of hold the secretary came back on the line and asked me my name and what I was calling for. I was put on hold again. Than the secretary told me that she wasn't sure where my contact was and if I wanted I could leave a voice mail for her. I left a voice mail. I have made three calls and 1 email to this contact within January and Feb. She hasn't returned my calls yet, so I'm moving on.

This weeks agenda

This week I will be giving two seminars. The topic of one is Bullying and Self-Defense and being taught to youth. The other topic that I will be giving a seminar on is Team Building and that will be taught to 60 social workers.

Disappointments

I am posting this in the attempts of helping any women that ever thinks of going into business for herself or is trying to achieve a dream. I hope that my posts can encourage, uplift, as well as show you how I accomplished my dream.

At this point my dream is now a major goal, it has not yet come to fruition, but I am working on it. I have to tell the truth some days are a bit disappointing and I some times even wonder if this business will ever come together and actually earn me money one day.

In the process of trying to start my business I have called many different businesses and offered them free seminars and many of them just don't return my calls. Some tell me that they will call me back but never do.

What's still propelling me forward in my endeavors? My husband is my greatest cheerleader and believer in my cause. I am grateful to him. I also have a fairly strong vision of what I want---and to continually remind myself of that.

Any thing that I have ever have wanted I have had to work for. I don't mean just work a bit and than get it but really work for it, some times blood, sweat, tears and mighty prayer. I am pulling on those experiences also when I get discouraged, realizing that I have been able to do all the things in my life due to hard work as well as divine intervention....this is where my power lies.

How do you get business?

Most days that I am not giving seminars or working, I am calling businesses and offering them a free seminar. Angela Dayton, a very successful women business owner, suggested that I give 10-15 free seminars before I start charging people. I am fairly an unknown speak at this point, so Angela told me to be a known speaker I need to get out and show people what I'm made of---make a name for myself.

After giving my first seminar one of the other presenters that day asked me for my business information because she was interested in getting me to give a seminar at her place of business. She gave me her information also. This is what people call networking. After the seminar I called the other presenter and offered the same seminar to her company, which she was very pleased with. I sent her an outline so she could get it okayed with her company.

When any one requests information about this seminar I send out an email that outlines the basics of the seminar along with my background. When the women saw my back ground she invited me to come to her office and gave my resume to her boss. They asked me to fill out an application for an adjunct instructor. I filled out the application and there is probably going to be a position come open in April that I will take.

So the first seminar was very good for me for a number of different reasons; 1) I gave an excellent presentation and feel that I was able to empower a group of women that are vulnerable, 2) I was requested back in May to give a follow up seminar, 3) I networked and got another seminar day scheduled, 4) I may be working as an adjunct instructor at a good college where I maybe able to network more.

I am grateful for the wonderful guidance from Angela Dayton. I believe that I will be able to succeed due to her guidance as well as doing my part. My part? Calling, making appointments, following up, networking, and giving great seminars (always reflecting after each one).

Got Lemons? Make Lemonade.

What inspired me to start this business?

I am a Math teacher by profession, I have a permanent NY State Teaching Certificate. I have a Masters in Education a Bachelors in Communication and an Associates degree in Math, Science and Liberal Arts.

Since November I have been substituting with no full time work. Before that I was teaching full time at a WNY school. I left that school over principle. I as a teacher was not allowed the autonomy to provide the education I proved I could provide in a system that has year after year failed those children. The curriculum became more important than the student, that is to say a certain pace needed to be maintained department wise wether the students were "getting it" or not. Many teachers were upset with this, but were able to live with it and tow the line. I could not. Perhaps the system isn't ready to get fixed yet but I can't voluntarily be part of the problem. In my oppion maintaining integrity is more important than keeping a job.

Since Christmas there hasn't been a great deal of need for substitutes at the schools I sub at, so in essense I am unemployed. My husband was laid off right after Christmas from his job so he's unemployed too.

So what do people do when they are unemployed? They write tons of resumes, go to career fairs, register at temp agencies and wait for a job.

On top of that, my husband and I decided to review our talents, skills, abilities. We have both decided to start business's.

I have been taking martial arts for the last 5 years clocking over 1000 hours. I have been teaching in inner city schools for the last 5 years. Before becoming a teacher I worked in corporate and volunteer capacities mostly involving teaching and/or presenting.

I realized I have a talent for teaching and presenting. Seminars just made sense---why not make money doing something that I enjoy so much?

As for my husband, he is starting a business as a web designer as well as computer repair and computer training.

We both are working on a book.

What a great year, what a great new adventure!!!

Got Lemons? Make Lemonade.