ASK CHERI S HILL

Participating in Trade Shows, Expos, Festivals, Seminars, Exhibitions, Conventions, Conferences, Fairs and Swap Meets is one of the best ways to expose your business. I call it a “golden” marketing opportunity. Any event that allows you to have the opportunity to display and showcase your products and services face-to-face with potential new customers in your target market gives you numerous benefits and advantages. This year, more than 13,000 trade shows in the United States will be attended by more than 59 million people.

Being involved with these types of events has always been a part of my working history.  I spent seven years on the road. First doing tradeshows for a major French pharmaceutical company along the Eastern Seaboard and then representing my own chocolate manufacturing business at hundreds of events up and down the West Coast.  Tired? Absolutely! However, I am not suggesting that you need to do hundreds of events but at least two a year which is what I continue to do.  Why?

Because within a few short days, your company can gather leads, build your brand image, interact with new and current customers, launch new products or feature existing services. Unlike many other marketing media, tradeshows allow you to control your environment and the image of your company, so you can make a big impression on current and prospective buyers.

The costs of exhibiting at a trade show can be a stretch for a small firm, of course, yet doing so could prove to be a solid investment for growth. The high energy and good vibes generated on the exhibit floor contributes to your motivation and success, plus they’re lots of fun!  Join me to learn how to maximize this fantastic marketing technique and to make sure that all of your investment in an event actually pays off.

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BizFlash - Tips to Tradeshow Success

May 7, 2009

7:30 am - 9 am

Sparks Holiday Inn, 55 E Nugget Ave - First Floor

Cost: Free

Register online through the Sparks Chamber of Commerce (sparkschamber.org) or NSBDC (http://www.nsbdc.org/education/calendar/).

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See you there!

I read this great article by Jay Goltz the other day and right at the beginning was this profound statement about the three stages every business goes through: Start up, throw up and grow up.  I agree with Jay that with the current economy it’s as bad as I’ve ever seen it and because I talk to so many business owners around the country every day, it appears that many of us right now are experiencing stage two: THROW UP! 

Stress levels are high, cash flow is low and the anticipation of what may collapse (besides ourselves) each day has certainly played a key role in the direction of this country.  I don’t know about you but I am working harder than I have worked in a very long time. 

The one saving grace about Sage International, Inc.  is that we happen to offer products and services that tie beautifully into the current economic crunch because as more people lose their jobs, the more they start to think about starting their own business.  And the fact, that we form corporations and LLCs in all 50 states allows us to reach out and help so many people from all over the nation who get to enjoy the start up stage!

The other day I wrote in giant black letters across my entire whiteboard the word BREATHE.   Breathe in deep and slow from your belly, not your chest and hold it, then slowly let it out.  It works beautifully to calm the nerves, regain focus and control and to just stop for a moment and allow yourself the pleasure of sitting still for one moment.

If that doesn’t work…just grab the pepto bismol!

Here in the State of Nevada we have a long history of some pretty amazing women - pioneers who were forced to settle in parts of Nevada that honestly, I find it shocking that rocks survive.  I mean in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing but vast space, heavy winds and lots of snow in the winter.  Yet, they survived it all and many managed to get an education and raise children.  You have to admire their tenacity, shear will and strength to endure such conditions.  (If you ever have the opportunity to visit the ghost town of Bodie, CA - go and you will see exactly what I’m talking about.)

Has much changed today?  Maybe the walls in our house are thicker and we don’t have to bring our groceries home on a donkey, but I still feel like one of those pioneering women.  Any woman who owns her own business knows exactly what I’m talking about.  The ups, the downs, the joys, the tears, the fun, the struggles.  I consider myself one of today’s pioneering women, blazing a unique trail of financial education designed to enlighten so many.  I hope one day in the future, successive generations of women will look back at what so many of us (fabulous women from all around the world) have accomplished both personally and professionally, and in turn admire us for our courage, strength and tenacity to move this planet forward into better conditions.  We all leave an imprint and I strongly believe it has to be even that much better for those who will follow in our tracks.  Celebrate Women’s History Month by celebrating all of the wonderful women in your life!

I have been busy educating myself about a new (new to me) strategy which is without question, one of the best wealth protection models for Real Estate Investors.  I will be unveiling this strategy at this event. 

I have spent many years working with Real Estate Investors around the country teaching them “what they don’t know they need to know” about growing, protecting, and leveraging their hard-earned wealth.  And in today’s economic climate as it relates to real estate, it becomes even more important that you do everything you possibly can to reduce your taxes and protect your investments today and in the future.

If you are interested in learning more about this event (which is FREE!) please call 916-393-5400 or email staff@TeamGuting.com.  It is being held at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 3021 Advantage Way, Sacramento CA 95834.

Also, I want to share very quickly my thoughts about Asset Protection and the so-called Asset Protection Guru’s that work the seminar circuit.  I have sat through hundreds of seminars (a lot of real estate) and am always amazed that someone (often an attorney) can stand at the front of the room and sell asset protection in a box (or silver suitcase as I have often seen).  It’s CRAP!  There is no one answer, no silver-bullet or magic formula that solves it for everyone.  Our approach at Sage International, Inc. is to tailor a wealth protection strategy to you.  What are you doing? Where are you doing it? What are you planning to do with it? etc.  Only then, can we come up with a strategy that makes the most sense for you right now. 

How do I know this?  Because I have spent the last several years cleaning up the confusion for a lot of clients that bought those suitcases full of asset protection.  It’s called our SageFacilitator Program (Dept. 409) and we have become famous for creating clarity from all the confusion.  I cannot even begin to tell you all of the positive responses (finally, Peace of Mind!) we have received from our clients that have participated in the program.   

Anyway, I hope to see you at the Millionaire Real Estate Workshop. I strongly believe, Knowledge + the Right Actions = Prosperity.

Happy New Year!

Peace & Blessings to all of our family, friends, business associates, and clients.  All of us at Sage International, Inc. look foward to your continued success in 2009!

Happy Holidays!

I was very fortunate this year to have been invited to speak at the Ralston Massage Center located in Reno, NV.  All of the attendees were licensed massage therapists.  As my parting gift, several of them gave me gift certificates for a free one hour massage.  I have spent the last four months taking advantage of their services.  What was fun is that each one specialized in a different form of massage.  From Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue, Relaxation, and Sports massage.  They worked out EVERY single muscle and sore spot and for the first time in a long time, I had no pain.

I can honestly say that I have never felt more relaxed.  Years ago part of my monthly routine was to get a massage.  I had forgotten how that consistency totally helps you stay focused and relaxed.  I would encourage everyone as they run through the Holidays, to treat yourself to a total rejuvination of your mind and body. 

Look for licensed massage therapists because they have gone through training and they understand the connections between your bones, muscles and tissues and how to manipulate appropriately.  No one wants to walk away from a massage in pain. 

I can’t think of a better hour spent and will definately make a monthly massage part of the New Year!  Let’s face it, I got totally spoiled!

For one week, millions of young people around the world have joined a growing movement of entrepreneurial adventurers, to generate new ideas and to seek better ways of doing things.  More than 75 countries are coming together for the first time to host Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, inviting them to think big and to turn their ideas into reality.

I was invited to participate as a panel member for the Sierra Nevada College’s Entrepreneurship Summit in Incline Village NV on November 22, 2008.  Our topic: The Entrepreneur Within

We focused on the mindset of an entepreneur (passion, faith, team, why you are the viable investment everyone is looking for, and why it’s important to keep it simple).  I’m pretty sure I told a story that started with your guts and ended with, “Just put your big girl panties on and deal with it!”  I’m always one for being direct when it comes to offering my advice.   

Being an entrepreneur is a fascinating journey.  Sage International, Inc. is here to help you put the foundation (corporation or LLC) under your dream.  It’s so much easier when you have help and support from a team of experts because being an entrepreneur does not mean you have to go it alone.  In fact, it becomes even more important to have positive people all around you. 

The goal of Global Entrepreneurship Week is to help the next generation of entrepreneurs to find their inspiration and create the businesses and ideas that will appear in the future.  By participating, they will have access to the knowledge, skills, networks and values needed to grow innovative, sustainable enterprises that will have positive impacts on their lives and the lives of those around them.

Yahoo!  Sage is all about creating successful entrepreneurs.  A special thanks to Gary Jesch - CHOPS & Associates Live Animation and Rick Normington, Chair of the Entrepreneurship Department at Sierra Nevada College - a four year liberal arts college which sits on a beautiful campus.

I am currently taking a class developed by a friend of mine, Linda McLean, which in my opinion is the missing piece after The Secret.  I did watch it again last week and was reminded about the importance of knowing what you want and how you have the power in your own mind to manifest it.  Which leads me to the vision board.  I have spent the last four weeks defining all of my goals for 2009.  Financial, Personal, Health, Community, Recreation, Spiritual, Social, and Business.  I realized in some areas I am doing great and don’t really have any specific goals.  I just need to keep doing what I’m doing.  Certainly there were a couple of areas that will require more of my attention.  By focusing on those, I was able to boil it down into six specific goals I want to accomplish in 2009.  I found the process a lot of fun and it forced me to think about my life - where I am - where I want to be.

By creating a vision board it allows me to visually see the results that I desire.  It has been fun cutting out pictures, creative words, pretty much anything that resonates with my goals was attached to my board.  I now have a picture that I can look at everyday that will keep me emotionally attached to my goals.  This will also serve as a reminder to direct all of my attention, resources, time and energy to accomplishing those six and those six only until complete.  Not 40, not 100, SIX!

I encourage all of you to take the following steps:

1. Imagine.

2. Write it all down.

3. Hone it down to six goals next year.

4. Visualize it (create the board).

5. Stay focused and take the right actions.

6. Sit back and enjoy your accomplishments. 

If you want to learn more about Linda’s progam, Next Level Living, email me at cheri@sageintl.com

While October is my favorite month - Halloween is definately my favorite day.  While I often struggle to remember things from yesterday, so many of my fondest memories are of Halloween.  I can remember every costume and certainly all the laughter!  I dig the costumes, the candy, the colors…everything fun and goulish!  No, I do not do cute Halloween.  My philosphy is you can be anything you want for Halloween as long as your dead! 

I decorate my house inside and out, sometimes even more than Christmas.  In fact, I have an entire village of haunted houses, shipwrecks and graveyards.  The house is lit up in purples and oranges, blacklights and spiderwebs and many candles burn with the scent of fall.  Haunted sounds play outside while a fog machine swirls its mist in the spooky courtyard.  Giant ghosts, crime scene tape and bodies drawn on the driveway greet you as you approach the house and then a tree with hanging heads is what you must walk through to get to the front door.   Scary…YES!

It all goes up the week of Halloween and comes down the very next day.  A lot of work…a lot of fun…oh and the capper is one outrageous Halloween Party that totally rocks the house.  Each year about 75 friends all dressed in fantastic costumes show up with plenty of food and festive libations.  

Lot’s of Tricks…Lot’s of Treats!

Happy Halloween

I have to admit I love the Sparks Chamber of Commerce because they have allowed me to introduce Power Networking to the entire chamber membership.  Good networking will enhance both your personal and professional life by increasing your power, position and influence, and quality of life.  It’s a lifestyle, not a workstyle. Top networkers don’t even know they are networking because for them its a way of life. They network because they love helping people and playing matchmaker. It starts with the understanding that networking is a reciprocal process based on the exchange of ideas, advice, information, referrals, leads, and contacts where resources are shared and acknowledged.  In fact, Zig Ziglar said it best: “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” 

• Networking is much more than meeting someone and getting a business card to add to your collection.
• Much more than “working a room” and handing out a stack of your own cards.
• A vitally important skill that most people don’t take seriously enough. (In fact, most people are bad at it.)

Networking is about building relationships.  It’s about being visible and earning people’s trust so that at some time in the future they, or someone they know, may want to do business with you.  Once you gain that trust the next step is credibility.  Following through on your promises and doing what you say you are going to do. 

If you want to learn more about Power Networking, join me on November 6 for the Sparks Chamber BizFlash.  This is a very hands-on, interactive program that every time I do it, gets tremendous positive feedback!  Fun, fun, fun!