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Kim Thomas of Ticklingyourfancy.com
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 Love
makes the world go 'round and sex and marketing are a great
mix as well, aren’t they? Just ask Kim Thomas who is
the President of Tickling Your Fancy Co., a sensual products
company that promotes self-love! Tickle Your Fancy creatively
showcases sensual adult products by promoting safe sex and
the enhancement of sexual relationships (with oneself or others)
through intimate gatherings or confidential consultations.
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Well,
not only is Kim Thomas a budding entrepreneur making
moves in her career, but she’s also one of my very
good friends. In the last few years, I’ve seen
her grow into having a "side-hustle" working
for someone else's sensual products company and then
expanding out on her own to develop Tickling
Your Fancy Co. With her selling style being tasteful,
discreet, and professional, she’s going to be tickling
a lot of fancies for many years to come! Oh come on,
that was too easy! You guys should know I’m corny
by now. LOL! GTHI interviewed Kim to find out what keeps
her going.
What
motivated you to start your business?
What mainly motivated me was boredom. As I got bored
with the same old routine, I began to conjure up all
the things I've ever wanted to do if I had the money
for them. I had school loans to pay now and I wanted
a car so I was open to new ways to get the things I
wanted. I went to a Romance Party that a friend of mine
had thrown and once I noticed how much money the rep
was counting once she had taken orders from just eight
attendees, I was hooked! She made a few hundred dollars
in a few hours and it seemed so easy and fun I had to
go for it. I soon joined her company as a rep, got some
experience and decided to do it on my own, and here
I am successful, happy, driving and financially comfortable.
What
have been your major obstacles and how did you overcome
them?
I think my major obstacle was overcoming my fear of
success. It's funny how anxious you get when things
seem to be going your way and your dreams finally become
reality. I have learned through this experience however
to take risks and believe in myself. There are no wrongs
when you’re accomplishing your dream, just a means
of knowing what not to do. With time, I've become more
confident with my glass being half-full rather than
half-empty.
What's
one of your favorite marketing tactics to promote yourself?
One of my favorite marketing tactics to promote myself
is networking and talking to people. I'm lucky enough
to have a business that almost everyone is interested
in. I mean who doesn't like sex? Very few. So, when
I introduce myself to new people I look forward to that
age-old question "What do you do?" The reaction
I receive is always positive. It's great being my own
walking spokesperson!
Do
you have any words of encouragement for people who are
making a career change?
If you are looking for a career change, make a list
of your attributes, start it out on your own and then
ask your closest friends and family to add to it, I
guarantee that once you’re done what you'll be
looking at is a map to your success. Follow your dreams
and stay true to yourself, as long as you do that, there's
no going wrong!
<shameless
plug>The Gots To Have It team designed the Tickling
Your Fancy Co. website, so go check it out and see what’s
making Ms. Thomas so popular! http://www.ticklingyourfancy.com
</shameless plug>
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FEATURED HERE and on http://www.socialstep.com/business?
SEND ME AN
EMAIL TO FIND OUT HOW.
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Order
Your Copy of Simone Kelly-Brown's New Book
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Work
That Room, Baby! By
Simone Kelly-Brown
Networking,
schmoozing, making connections. Call it what you want, it’s
something that is a necessity if you want to do business today.
Many of us either love it or hate it. Personally, I wasn’t
too fond of it in the past. Although I’m a outgoing person,
I just hated starting conversations with people I had no idea what
to say to. Oh yes, my friends reading this will laugh out loud.
"Yeah right, Simone, shy? She can talk anyone under the table!"
Ha ha, very funny, but that is beside the point. Many folks, even
extroverts, avoid networking for the simple fact that they don’t
want to talk to strangers. Some feel that they don’t have anything
to offer, or don’t feel like going to a pick up joint disguised
as a networking event. Yeah, you know the ones. I actually went
to one last week and I was asking where the 'networking' was as
I looked at the dance floor full of executives doing the electric
slide (I kid you not! The electric slide!) I thought, "Darn,
foiled again!" Hey, we all love to have fun, but if it’s
a party, just say it’s a party. Come on.
So, you see why I got fed up and started my own event, Give ‘N
Take Network: http://www.giventakenetwork.org?
There’s still hope for us all...we can make networking work
if we really think about the benefits and plan for a successful
outcome.
The
things that can arise from networking are amazing. Most of my best
contacts are people I met at business conferences and networking
events. I actually make it a point to tell my clients to schedule
in at least two networking events a month that target their audiences.
Being seen and heard will increase your chances of success! Not
only is networking good for business, but also for your personal
life!
Business Benefits
… Expand your customer base
… Get a new job or referrals
… Promote your business
Personal Benefits
… Meet new friends
… Build your self-confidence
… Have fun
Four Easy Steps to Working a Room
1. Be prepared
2. Introductions
3. Sealing the Deal
4. Follow Up
Be
Prepared
… Have a positive attitude
… Go with a purpose. What would you like to accomplish at this
event?
… Bring plenty of business cards. Have a cardholder for easy
access and also have a place to put cards of people that you meet.
… If you come with your buddies make sure they know you aren’t
joined at the hip. The worst thing you can be that night is a cliqué.
When you get to the event, make it your goal to split up. That will
encourage you to network even more. I know it’s hard, but you
gotta cut the cord sometimes.
Introductions…Don’t
be shy
… Walk up to someone and introduce yourself. Make eye contact
and give them a firm handshake. Okay, let me be clear: please, no
Incredible Hulk grips. I can’t tell you how many times
I’ve had my ring imprint make me want to cry from one of those
shakes. What are you people trying to prove with those grips? LOL!
However, you must by all means avoid the wimpy damp-palm handshake
that just collapses within the other person’s hand. If you
do that, you come across just like that -wimpy or even worse, like
you’re royalty and you want them to kiss your hand.
… Say your first and last name while introducing yourself.
Once they tell you their name, here are some tricks to remember
it:
1. Listen for the name and repeat it, "Nice to meet you, Nadine."
2. Use the name in your conversation.
3. Play name association games to remind yourself, such as Nadine
from New Jersey or Navy Nadine (because she had on a navy blue suit.)
This is my personal favorite since I have the memory of a 90-year-old
sometimes.
… With a little dash of confidence and charm, share with your
new acquaintance who you are. Make sure you smile and maintain eye
contact with them. Plan your 30-second introduction beforehand.
Your intro is just your tagline. Basically, it’s a couple of
sentences of who you are, what you do to get them interested, and
start the conversation. Make sure you ask them about themselves
as well.
… Small Talk: A little small talk makes folks feel comfortable
and at ease. Try not to brag, or impress, but just act natural.
You will already have something in common since you are at the same
event, so why not start by talking about that. Common interests
can be excellent conversation starters. Understanding your similarities
takes the edge off.
e.g. : So, you’re an entrepreneur too? How long have you been
in business for yourself?" or something like
"Nice to meet you too! First time at a National Squirrel Lovers
Convention?" (just making sure you are awake.I crack myself
up, excuse me.)
As suggested by Networking Guru, Susan Roane, try using the OAR
TACTIC.
1. Observe
2. Ask
3. Reveal
It’s
a great way to break the ice and begin an engaging conversation.
Remember…being a good listener is key!
Seal
the Deal
So, you’ve had your small talk, found out how you can help
each other and have exchanged cards. Make sure you LOOK at the card
when they hand it to you. Don’t just shove it in your pocket.
That’s rude. Looking at the card will help you remember their
name as well. After you walk away, you can write on the back of
their card what you are going to do for each other, or some tips
to remind you who they are, i.e.: Guy in the black hat who is friends
with Bill. Has a client that needs my service.
Follow
up
You might want to end the conversation saying: "I’ll
send you an e-mail tomorrow regarding blah blah blah." or "I’ll
call you on Tuesday." Oh yeah, following up is not only the
best part, but the MOST important part of networking.
I
get on my members of Give ‘N Take Network about this, because
like I always say: Talk is Cheap! If you don't follow up, you just
wasted precious time shooting the breeze.
Hope these tips will help you work that room at your next event.
Happy networking!
Your
Business’ Technology Vision:
An 8-Step Plan to Create It and Stick with It
by Lena L. West
Without proper long- and short-term planning, technology mishaps
can wreak havoc on your overall business goals. To get value from
your technology investments-- whether it’s a networked office
or a customer relationship database- -a plan must be developed,
tweaked and followed. Your plan will help you to increase productivity,
streamline your processes, and the natural by-product will be increased
revenue.
Here
are eight tips that will help you to create a technology plan and
stick with it:
1. Get your priorities straight. Examine your most important business
goals. Write them down in order of importance.
2. Enlist an "A" Team. Who are the people with the know-how,
the experience and the savvy to land your company where it needs
to be? To get maximum mileage out of a project, assign team members
to specific aspects of the project.
3. Take stock. Make a list of all the ways your company currently
uses technology. Then add to this list any technologies you think
your company may need.
4. Play matchmaker. Match the priorities from step 1 to the technologies
in step 3. If you have any items that are not a "pair",
carefully evaluate them to ensure that the technology or the priority
is actually critical to your business operation.
5. Timing is everything. Tie deadlines to your technology projects.
A to-do without a deadline doesn’t get done.
6. Count your chickens. Determine what portion of your budget will
be required to implement your plan? Are those funds immediately
available? If not, how will you gain access to the monies needed?
7. Check yourself. Set small, challenging easily measured milestones
for your team. Carve out some time to conduct regular reviews of
your plan. Be sure to include the members of your "A"
Team in this process.
8. Put it in writing. Create a working document that your team can
adapt and change as your company grows. Refer to the document often
and use it as a guide. Remember, your plan is written on paper,
not stone.
I’m sure you’ll find that once your team has a comprehensive
planning document on which to focus, sticking to it will come naturally.
Lena L. West is the Founder & CEO of xynoMedia Development
(http://www.xynoMedia.com),
a technology-consulting firm that specializes in helping companies
make strategic decisions about the use and implementation of technology
solutions. When she’s not snorkeling, she can be reached at
LWest@xynoMedia.com
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