Yes! Network Seminar Highlights 3/15/11

Seminar Reviews by Clarity Patton Newhouse - Clarity.tv
Compliments of Metropolitan Lincoln of Garden City - MetroMichigan.com

The Yes! Network is one of America’s leading seminar training companies. President Michael Jeffreys offers complimentary workshops that can take place at your business, networking group or association meeting. For more information, visit YesMidwest.com.

March 15, 2011 - Novi, Michigan. This month’s Yes! Network speakers brought two totally different and highly engaging topics to the event. Niurka presented “The Art of Materialization” in the afternoon followed by Shawna Schuh with “Winning Interactions: Face-to-Face Networking Skills for Making High Quality Connections.” Both speakers successfully connected with the audience, delivering informative and motivational seminars. In case you missed either of the sessions or would simply enjoy a little refresher, here are some of the highlights.

AFTERNOON SESSION: THE ART OF MATERIALIZATION

In Niurka’s engaging program, “The Art of Materialization,” she set out in detail the method she recommends to harness our creativity and make our dreams a reality. Niurka calls this process ‘the art and science of materialization’ or ‘purposeful transformation.’ It is a synthesis of what she has learned from scientific disciplines such as physics, psychology and linguistics and years of personal study and practice.

According to Niurka, we are all creators inhabiting a universe of infinite possibilities. But we tend to see - and therefore create - the same things over and over again, due in part to our mind’s Reticular Activating System or ‘RAS’. This is the part of our mind that tells us what to pay attention to among the countless things vying for our attention. We can’t take in an infinite number of ideas and sensations, so our RAS “sifts” reality for us like a search engine. Though we think we describe the universe that we see, because of this sifting system, we actually ‘see what we describe’ i.e. what we’ve unconsciously chosen to pay attention to.

We attract and see what vibrates in harmony with our thoughts. Our filter, through our suppositions and associative thinking, determines our reality since, as Niurka tells us, “where attention goes, energy flows” and everything is energy. Therefore, Niurka tells us that we should pay attention to the suppositions in the language we use and challenge them. We should describe ourselves as we want to see ourselves, if we desire to achieve our goals.

With this in mind, Niurka teaches a process to align our filter with our goals and thereby “materialize” them, i.e. bring them from the realm of ideas into the realm of reality.
Niurka tells us it is necessary to write down with specificity the goal we want to materialize. However, when formulating and working on materializing your goal, it is important to be in the proper emotional state. To get there, Niurka teaches meditation to create a state of grounded and centered presence, a materializing meditation to be practiced daily, because what you practice daily determines the quality of your life. This meditation helps us create the space to ground ourselves and harness our energy.

She suggests we imagine a cord, tree trunk or other connecting image stretching from our spines all the way to the center of the Earth. Then we are told to look around and notice that there is a release button or lever nearby. We press the release button and picture releasing any doubts or fears. Next, we imagine a golden sun above us. We use this sun to call back any energy we’ve left behind in any period of our lives we choose. Then we poke a hole in this sun, releasing the light, letting it flow into our heads, out through our eyes, down our throat and into our trunks and fingertips, down our legs and all the way down into the Earth. Through this practice we begin our day from a grounded and centered place, and from this center we materialize and create.

Following the session break, Niurka taught us an exercise to align our “pictures” with our goals. First, we picture a model on an imaginary screen, someone naturally gifted at what we wish to accomplish. Then, we pick one specific thing this “model of possibility” is doing or exemplifying that we would like to embody and we begin to align our vibration with theirs to mirror their behavior.

Next, we step into the model on the screen, paying attention to how we feel. What do we see through their eyes? At this point we are advised to imagine a future time when, without having gone through this exercise, we would have failed at our goal, but now we behave in concert with it.

Now, we step back out of the model, hold that state and breathe as the model did. We brighten, amplify and clarify the image and finally step off the screen and back into ourselves. Niurka says we can use different models but we are advised not to stay too long in a model’s image. We can imagine our model within a rose and then blow the rose away.

During the course of her dynamic presentation here are just a few more of the ideas Niurka shared with us:

“Whatever you feed grows. Whatever you starve dies.”
“In a universe of infinite possibility, the ‘wrong’ is always available.”
“Be aware of the space between the notes of your life.”
“The quality of your questions determines the quality of your life.”

Throughout her presentation, Niurka reminds us that we have magic around us all the time. We are creators with the freedom to choose and the power to create.

If you’d like to know more about Niurka beyond these highlights, additional information is available at NiurkaInc.com. Also, you can read my review of a 2010 seminar presented by Niurka by visiting this link.

EVENING SESSION: WINNING INTERACTIONS

During the evening session Certified Speaking Professional Shawna Schuh presented “Winning Interactions: Face-to-Face Networking Skills for Making High Quality Connections.” It was an engaging seminar on how to get the most out of networking. Throughout her presentation Shawna emphasized her core belief that when we network properly, it’s a win-win for everyone. She also provided a specific analysis of why we have networking difficulties and how to address them.

Shawna began by relating the story of her start in business when, young and unsophisticated, she barged into the office of a very successful and polished businesswoman. Shawna realized immediately that she had failed to make an appointment or even plan for the meeting. Yet rather than dismiss her out of hand, the business woman gave her a chance to make a proper appointment, come back and present her ideas. Shawna related this story to illustrate a number of points, not the least of which was that by not prejudging Shawna, the businesswoman created a win-win situation that resulted in a 20 year business relationship.

Shawna went on to describe the five most common fears related to social interaction. First, we don’t take risks because we fear we’ll be judged. That fear exists because we ourselves judge others all the time! Next, we fear being dismissed. Dismissal frequently happens when someone we’re talking to in a networking setting decides we don’t have anything they need. She points out that this is also something many of us are guilty of ourselves and should make an effort not to do. Third, we’re afraid of appearing to be stupid. In addition, we’re concerned we haven’t anything worthwhile to contribute. And finally, we’re afraid we’ll say or do something to jeopardize our reputation so we just keep quiet.

At this point, Shawna shared her philosophy of networking and the importance of focusing on helping others. This, in turn helps us. And we have to speak positively. Too often, we talk about what we don’t want. We don’t want to loose our market share, our homes or our jobs. However, when we’re focused on the negative, we’re not focused on helping anyone or achieving positive outcomes.

“First,” she tells us, “we have to ask ourselves, ‘What do we want’? We want to make connections.” To achieve that objective we have to address our five big networking fears, and to accomplish that, Shawna offered a number of practical suggestions.

For example, to damp down concerns about being judged, arm yourself by becoming better at your job and more knowledgeable in your field. Rather than asking a new acquaintance right off the bat for a business card, Shawna suggests we ask what magazines or books they are reading. “This is a good technique because I learn from the other person and the other person feels valued and appreciated. We’re getting to know each other. You’ll never be judged if all you’re doing is asking questions that make others feel engaged. “

Shawna also reminds us that “leaders are readers.” For example, make a habit of reading leading magazines in your field. When you are knowledgeable you become a resource and build your reputation. Even if your new acquaintance can’t use your services, she may know someone who could.

In keeping with her advice that we focus on others, Shawna tells us to be prepared when we go to a networking event. “If you show up someplace and you’re not prepared, not dressed properly or don’t have business cards, you’re apologizing and focusing on you. Instead we need to focus on “them.” And, speaking of apologizing for such things, Shawna tells us to avoid it.

Shawna also pointed out a number of other things to be wary of. Don’t give anybody your card unless they ask for it. Otherwise, they are likely to throw it away. The other ‘no’ is, don’t just ask for someone’s card. Instead, engage them in a meaningful conversation. Ask about books, classes, hobbies etc. Then you can sincerely say something like “I like the way you think…we should stay in contact. You’ve taught me something today that was interesting. Is it alright if we stay in contact?”

Surprisingly, Shawna advises that if you’ve ever called yourself a business ‘problem solver,’ stop. If you solve problems, when the problem is over others don’t need you. Instead be a ‘solution finder’. That way, you become an ongoing resource for clients.

After the break, Shawna reemphasized the theme of helping others. “I think sales are one of the most interesting, exciting careers in the world. Salespeople are also the wealthiest people in the world. If I were to wake up and say, ‘I don’t like sales’, but I’m in sales, then I’m in trouble. Instead wake up and say ‘I’m going to help people’.” Shawna reminds us that in networking, ‘don’t worry about you, worry about them’. Develop ongoing relationships instead of onetime sales.

Toward the end of her informative presentation, Shawna gave us a number of helpful tips. She suggests that when attending networking events, wear something to help others remember our names. For example, Shawna wears a pin in the shape of a shoe to remind people of her last name, Schuh. In the same vein she offered advice on the three ‘Cs’ of dressing: colorful clothes, cover your skin (don’t show too much) and wear a coat or blazer because it gives you more credibility and makes other people more comfortable. Shawna also pointed out that ‘integrity’ is an over used word. Don’t put this on your business card. Your actions should demonstrate that you have integrity.

Shawna reminds us life is networking. And networking, i.e. face to face interaction, is about the small details. Too often we’re in such a hurry to get the big sale, the big job, that we’re not paying attention to the details that would really make our lives magnificent. In conclusion Shawna asks us “What are you doing every day to increase your value to people, and how are you sharing that value. That is the challenge!”

For more information about Shawna Schuh, visit http://www.shawnaschuh.com/ .

Your comments and feedback on these seminar reviews are welcomed and appreciated. Sincerely, Clarity