Great Job by Richard Frisch, RHFTech.com

20 07 2010

As usual, Richard did a great job. His presentation was interesting and the information valuable. Go to Richard’s blog rhftech.com/blog/ where he posted his chart showing the various software and online solutions for backup. If you would like to engage Richard to help you develop a plan for your business and set you up with a backup process, contact him at support@rhftech.com.

No meeting in August. We are trying to take it easy for the rest of the summer. Hope you do too.

Mark September 16th on your calendar, it’s the FINE 17th Anniversary meeting. Be there to help us celebrate! We will be at the Playhouse but in the Lucille Lortel White Barn Center. Our speaker will be Michael Ross, Managing Director of the Westport Country Playhouse, who will give us a behind the scenes look at the business aspects of bringing the wonderful performances to the stage.

We are offering something special to FINE members, the opportunity to display your wares. Tables will be available, contact John Mocker jmocker@johnmglover.com for the details and to reserve a table. 

We are looking for a home in October. We need a meeting space on 10/21. I meant to mention it at the meeting and forgot. If you have something to offer or know of a place, please let me know. ed.fitzgerald@cbmoves.com.


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Elizabeth Brown got us thinking about money

24 05 2010

Elizabeth Brown, Empowerment Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Workshop Facilitator helped us look at some of the unconscious beliefs that drive our decisions about making with money. 

It was thoughtful and interactive and she kept us involved and interested. The feedback I received was all positive.  For more information about Elizabeth and her work please visit  www.TransformationThroughEmpowerment.com.

We had about 35 attendess which is what we have been averaging for the past few months.

Coffee was available thanks to our “coffee sponsor”  Sara Cornwall, Certified Reverse Mortgage Consultant with Wells Fargo Reverse Mortgage. Sara.Cornwall@wellsfargo.com 866-494-1248 x5014.

Our speaker for next month was at the meeting. Rosann Levy, President of the Roart Group, LLC. , www.theroartgroup.com will be talking about how to save money by doing ”High Impact Low Cost Promotion”. I’ll be posting the details soon.

Geri Sutton, Business Development Manager for ActionCOACH – www.actioncoachnow.com offered to be the coffee provider for June.


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“How to Transform Your Relationship with Money” – May 20th Meeting Topic

6 05 2010

FINE Business Networking meets on May 20th, 9AM, at the Westport Country Playhouse. Elizabeth Brown, Empowerment Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Workshop Facilitator is our speaker. 

Would you like to feel and be in control of your finances? Enjoy more security and peace of mind? Be empowered to set new goals? Join Elizabeth on a gentle yet powerful journey where you will uncover & understand the unconscious beliefs that drive your decision making with money.  She has mastered the strategies to financial empowerment in her own life and has helped both men and women in all financial walks of life for the past twenty two years.

Combining her 22 years of experience as a CPA, business consultant, successful entrepreneur, and working mother, she now owns and operates a successful personal development business, Transformation Through Empowerment, where she specializes in teaching people who want more out of life, how to create it, with passion, joy, and ease. For more information about Elizabeth and her work please visit  www.TransformationThroughEmpowerment.com.

Coffee will be available thanks to our “coffee sponsor”  Sara Cornwall, Certified Reverse Mortgage Consultant with Wells Fargo Reverse Mortgage. Sara.Cornwall@wellsfargo.com 866-494-1248 x5014.


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“Growing Your Business in 2010″ was well attended

15 04 2010

“Got me thinking about my business in a different way”. This was one of the comments after Josh Slavitt of ActionCoach did his thought provoking presentation “The Five Most Powerful Things You Can Do to Grow Your Business in 2010” to FINE today.  It seemed like almost everyone in the audience participated by asking questions or offering their own experiences and advice.  

The networking activity was strong among the 28 people who attended.  We got started a bit late which seemed fine with everyone as they got to know each other better. And people lingered and stayed around after the meeting was over. 

Josh gave me a copy of a two page paper he did on networking to share with the group and I’ve uploaded it here. It offers some good practical pointers on what to do at networking events. 

Geri Sutton, Business Development Manager at ActionCoach, handed out a flyer about their services which range from one-on-one to group sessions and seminars. For more info, visit www.ActionCoachNow.com.


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“The Five Most Powerful Things You Can Do to Grow Your Business in 2010”

7 04 2010

FINE Business Networking meets on April 15th, 9AM, at the Westport Country Playhouse. Certified Business Coach Josh Slavitt is going to present:  “The Five Most Powerful Things You Can Do to Grow Your Business in 2010.”

Josh (joshslavitt@actioncoachnow.net) has had a highly successful 25-year business career. At the Philip Morris family of companies, which included Kraft and Miller Brewing, he created and implemented programs that netted more than $600 million in savings. Josh also selected and supervised more than 130 employees and consulting firms. In addition, Josh worked on Corporate Social Responsibility campaigns for a number of multi-national corporations including: Diageo, Darden, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline, Western Union and Mercedes Benz.  Visit the ActionCOACH of CT website at http://www.actioncoachnow.com.

The doors open at 9AM with the opportunity to network, followed by a welcome and each attendee giving their “30 second elevator pitch”. This is followed by the presentation and then additional time to network. The meeting concludes by 11AM. 

FINE is a networking group for small business owners, entrepreneurs, independent professionals, consultants and those in transition from the corporate world who are considering going out on their own. FINE provides a forum to meet people, exchange ideas and grow your business. Meetings are held in either the Westport Library or Westport Country Playhouse and are open to the public. A small donation (five dollars) is requested to cover expenses. For more information, contact Ed Fitzgerald, via email at ed.fitzgerald@coldwellbankermoves.com, go to www.finenetworking.org or call 203-227-8424.


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Franchising at FINE

18 03 2010

If you are thinking of buying a franchise, you’ve got to talk to Luc Deslauriers, owner of FranNet CT (http://www.frannet.com/ldeslauriers). He shared his years of franchise business ownership experience at the March 18th meeting in a clear and concise manner.  He can help you go through the steps of what you need to consider to see if franchising is right for you and if so, which franchise(s) to consider.   He can be reached at lucd@frannet.com.

We liked using the ‘barn” (the Lucille Lortel White Barn Center) at the Playhouse and will consider it for future meetings, otherwise we will be in the Smilow Lounge on the second floor. The Playhouse will be our home for the remainder of the year.   


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FINE will meet as scheduled on Thursday, 3/18

16 03 2010

I confirmed with the Playhouse that all is well there. They had minimal storm damage. So our meeting will take place as scheduled.

Ed.


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“An Introduction to Franchise and Business Ownership” – March 18th FINE Meeting

4 03 2010

Have you ever thought about owning a franchise? Thinking about going out on your own and wondering which type of business ownership would work best for you?

If you’re not sure of the costs involved, if the timing is right, if you’re cut out for it, what business makes sense and if it is safe, then come to the FINE Business Networking meeting on March 18th, 9AM, at the Westport Country Playhouse. Luc Deslauriers, owner of FranNet CT (www.frannet.com), will share his years of franchise business ownership experience in this informative seminar.

Topics will include:
• How to identify franchise business choices that best fit your skill set, needs, and goals
• Why consider business ownership now
• Growth trends and choices in franchise ownership that offer stability and success in weak and strong economies
• Safely and affordably transitioning from employment into business ownership
• Costly mistakes to avoid
• Advantages of buying a franchise vs. other businesses
• What franchises cost and how to finance the purchase

The doors open at 9AM with the opportunity to network, followed by a welcome at 9:15 and each attendee giving their “30 second elevator pitch” as an introduction. This is followed by the presentation and then additional time to network. The meeting concludes by 11AM.

There will be coffee at the meeting! Thanks to Elizabeth Brown, CPA, Tracy Boyce, FSPO and Bette Lynn Paez, MBA, CFP™ who are conducting  a “Keys to Financial Well-Being” seminar on March 20th. For more info. 

Note we will be meeting in different place at the Playhouse, the Lucille Lortel White Barn which is a building next to the Playhouse to the left of the main entrance where we usually enter.


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John Carroll did it with style!

19 02 2010

It was our second largest turnout at a FINE meeting, on Feb. 18th 47 attendees listened to John Carroll (www.JohnCarrollInternational.com) talk about style. We went through an exercise to identify our own style. It was fun, interactive and insightful. We ranked our characteristics and then scored the results using the DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Compliance) method. We then learned more about our style and how to interact with others who have different styles.

Here are a few of the comments taken off of the MeetUp site –

“Well organized and attended. Good information presented by speaker.” 

“The meeting was very interesting. The group was well diversified and the people were very nice. Good presenter.”

“John Carroll was an EXCELLENT speaker. Great topic. Well presented. Thanks.” 

A big thanks to our coffee sponsors for the meeting, Arty and Rosann Levy of the Roart Group.  Here’s a brief overview of what they offer and how to get in touch with them.    

The Roart Group LLC, “Your Link To Financial Success”, an accounting, tax and business consulting firm for small and family businesses is now able to provide financing for restaurants and other retail businesses. We offer funding when traditional lending institutions will not. There is no fixed time or schedule of repayment and no fixed interest. No personal guarantees are required and funding is available much more quickly with a fraction of the paperwork. We believe small businesses need money to survive and grow. If you are a restaurant or retail business owner email arthur@theroartgroup.com for further information. 

Check our website www.theroartgroup.com for more information and learn how you can grow a more profitable business.


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“A Matter of Style” – February 18th Meeting Topic

2 02 2010

John Carroll, business consultant, professional speaker and former human resources executive will draw upon his diverse experience to help you identify your own ”imprinted” style and share ways to effectively use that knowledge when communicating for maximum effectiveness with others. 

Individuals, at birth, are “wired at the factory” to be different.  Behavioral and communication styles further develop as a result of upbringing, parents, education, etc.  By adulthood all of us have an established style with our communications and behavior with other adults.  When you understand your own unique style and that of others then you can adapt yours to fit the situation …. whether it be working with someone in your office or business, cold calling, closing a sale, or making a product or service presentation.

Don’t miss this entertaining, useful and memorable presentation.  You can learn more about John at www.JohnCarrollInternational.com.


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