As seen in the trade publication of the fitness industry, Club Industry
Attending Club Industry is like an invitation to a party, fraught with the same excitement and anticipation; should I meet and talk to as many people as I can , should I try to help my staff and others have a good time and what can I expect for my own involvement?
Lip Service AKA Networking
As a club consultant, professional speaker in and out (no relation to the movie) of the fitness industry, former club owner and the self proclaimed diva of networking, I humbly (not very often) offer my acronym to a successful conference experience (excerpted from my networking program at the last Club Industry)
| N |
= by definition, a network of people committed to helping each other personally and/or professionally. |
| E |
= it takes effort to network.....don't always sit in the same place, don't hang out with the people you came with, introduce yourself first. |
| T |
= it takes tenacity, stick-to-it-ness, just because you hand someone a business card, does not mean you've networked, you need to meet as many people as you can and keep doing it to build a successful network. (recommended reading, Harvey Mackay's "Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty". |
| W |
= have well-defined goals before you come to the Show. Who do you want to meet and why? |
| O |
= networking is a way to open doors, does not guarantee the sale, the job or a date (hey, you never know, ask Brenda Abdilla?) |
| R |
= reciprocal relationships add to the value of the time you invested by attending. People respond better to real people with no pretension who sincerely want to help them achieve their goals. Avoid listening to your local radio station, WIIFM (what's in it for me). |
| K |
= know the other people in your network and seek them out, let them know about the great new piece of equipment you've had success with, tell them which presenter you recommend they listen to (that's Mikki, M-I-K-, just kidding). |
Customer Service
I'm pleased that my customer service program at Club Industry has been so well received and that I will be offering it again in Chicago, (it's not too late to register). From the evaluations of that program and the club owners who have hired me as a result of that program, I can share with you why it is different and valuable for you to attend. As a professional in this industry for over !@#$%^&*() years, club owner, aerobic instructor, chief cook and bottle washer (I don't do floors or windows) and as IDEA's BusinessPerson of the Year, I sold my club and left the industry in 1987 to become a full-time professional speaker, trainer and consultant in the corporate sector and the association market. What does all this have to do with my customer service program,..........everything.
You see, I now bring a unique perspective as I will be sharing success secrets outside of the fitness industry from my Malcolm Baldridge Award winning Ritz-Carlton Hotel client to Disney and the like (by the way, the MB award is the highest service award in North America and I don't believe any fitness company has ever won or even applied) If you'd like to be the first, give me a call or better yet, attend my seminar. For those of you thinking, why do I care about service in other industries, you are no longer being compared with just the other clubs or business' that are similar to yours but to the restaurant your clients had dinner at last night, or the cab ride, hotel, dry cleaners or any service experience that had recently. DUH!
Self-Service
Too often, we are so focused on industry information that we neglect our own self improvement which ultimately affects our bottom line, our health, balance, growth and quality of life.
There is always a terrific mix of subjects offered in all the different tracks with incredibly knowledgeable speakers who've "been there, done that", from the technical to the managerial, and from the professional to the personal. Balance your show experience, visit the trade show, attend a good mix of topics, seek out new and different speakers.
I'll be offering two new topics this fall which can benefit you as a pro' and/or in your personal growth. Two areas of great demand and need.........time management and presentation skills. For those of you, who are Mikki groupies (all two of you) who have heard me for years and want to hear something new and to all those of you, I never met before and those who only attend the trade show, step out of your comfort zone and try something new, you might like it and it just might help your business and your life. Such a deal! |
