Success

Ideas soar, genuine belief in you is the 'norm'
and excitement and laughter fill the air.

Hope Network

www.HopeNetwork.info

Becky’s Question:

I would like names of organizations in the non-profit arena where I can speak on my expertise and get paid.

I attended the “Brainstorming On A Train” event because:

I was so frustrated with my business not growing fast enough. I felt like giving up. I had lost my enthusiasm and the newness was gone. I needed some fresh new ideas that had not yet been thought of? Beth’s enthusiasm is a real draw for me. She told me that the women in her events really want to help other women in business succeed. They were genuinely enthusiastic to help others as well as receive help themselves.

Specifically, I wanted some new ideas for income streams and I felt like the Brainstorming would give me that. I came with the question wanting names of organizations where I could speak and get paid. I had no idea that I would leave with so much more.

Benefit:

The fun and structure that was provided helped me jump-start my company. Feedback from others at the event helped me find prospects and line up paid speaking engagements.

Value:

I had a renewed energy for my business – it was like a booster shot in the arm. As a solo-preneur, you don’t always get that important pat on the back and you must rely on yourself to keep pushing forward. It was a great way to get that camaraderie. I felt so supported and nurtured by the other women at my table; it was awe inspiring to see the BELIEF in my business coming from women I didn’t know.

Outcome:

With my renewed energy I was able to pursue new “warm” contacts that I received from my team on the train. They made sure I was connected through them—I’m not that big on making cold calls. In addition, while I was on the phone with my new contacts, I was able to make new connections.

I am in continued conversations setting up dates for speaking engagements and my renewed energy has resulted in me attracting new coaching clients and being busier than ever making connections. I’m well on my way to being able to have a part-time assistant and now have a mentor, which was a goal of mine. I’m also much more content as I see so many new opportunities coming my way. I was interviewed on the local news and thanks to Beth interviewed for the Star Tribune about this Trainstorming!”

Connection:

I was able to reconnect with a woman I had previously met and we are getting to know each other better and stay in touch and other networking events.

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Kathy Franzen
Professional Organizer
www.projectpartnerservices.com

Kathy’s Question: I am looking for creative avenues to market an idea I have for a new workshop and how to best present my idea.I came to the “High Tea” event because:

The Brainstorming On A Train Event was so much fun. On the train I discovered something important about my style of networking. I’m an introverted person. I discovered that I was more comfortable networking because there was a specific purpose with your format. I’m more comfortable networking with women and building those relationships and your program provides that.

Benefit:

I was able to brainstorm the ideas I had already been thinking about and it was important to get feedback from other professionals. As a single solo-preneur I don’t typically work with anyone I can bounce ideas off of and I need someone outside of the profession. Your event provided me with a wide variety of professions to be able to gather all of the feedback and ideas. It was ALL valuable information. Sometimes my group went off into a different direction and even that information was valuable and then I was able to easily direct it back to the original focus.

Value:

I was able to go back to my office with some concrete ideas to move forward and expand my business. One of the directions that we went in my group had to do with speaking opportunities.

I received leads on speaking training programs, which reminded me of a previous contact I had been introduced to in the past. I reconnected with Sage Presenting to gain more training and confidence in providing effective presentations.

Outcome:

Through the feedback I received from my group I changed some of the wording to my descriptions. I hired someone to edit my press release and spiff up my content.

It was suggested to go where groups are already gathered such as Community Ed classes and mom’s groups. That has been a successful method in promoting my new offerings. I am also creating a focus group to gather ideas and feedback on how to create and promote specific workshops and other income streams, also a result of suggestions from the event. I’m so happy to have found this combination of networking and brainstorming. It’s better than I ever expected.

Connection:

Seeing some of the same people from your previous train event allowed me to deepen past connections. I met new people that complimented my business and have a connection I’m excited to explore in the near future. It really gets beyond connection. Your events provide an opportunity to build relationships through your small, intimate, directed groups, which, in turn, provides meaningful referrals.

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Joan GillesFinancial Consultant

jmgilles@pressenter.com

Joan's Question: I want to do a survey to my client database and would like your ideas and feedback on the most precise and effective wording.

I attended the “High Tea Event ” because:

I used my brainstorming team as a focus group to get just the right wording for my survey question(s). The group was very diverse in their professions, which made it even more valuable. I tested out the wording of the question(s) to see how they responded. They had no idea what I was asking.

Benefit:

I thought I had the perfect wording for a survey question to my clients. I would have sent a question to my client list that was not clear, creating responses that wasted my clients time and give me the wrong information. I was able to formulate the right question with feedback from my group.

Outcome:

I sent a survey to my client base with the new question formed with my brainstorming team. I received incredibly valuable feedback, which has resulted in better communication with my clients.

Value and Results:

I was searching for my ‘best’ delivery style in the eyes of my clients. Their survey responses made it very clear. They informed me what they liked about my style of delivering information and how I personally worked with them. I found out I was doing everything right and to continue with that same commitment. With this valuable survey information I have a new commitment to be who I am and continue with my current information and delivery.

This has also given me affirmation on how to approach new clients. It provides more value to my customer, highlighting me as the expert with more credibility in my business.

Connections:

I met a new strategic partner at the High Tea Brainstorming session. Our businesses compliment each other and we are working on co-marketing ideas.

There is value for both of us in this new alliance. We can be a resource for our clients by offering each other’s services. It allows us to solidify relationships with our clients, builds our credibility, brings in more business and highlights us as the experts.

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Wendy Houser Blomseth
Photographer
www.inbeautephoto.com
wendy@InBeautePhoto.com

Wendy’s Question: What photography products can I add to my current product offerings?

I attended the “High Tea” event because:

Beth saw the value of having a professional photographer at her Women’s Brainstorming events, but she was very particular in choosing the right photographer for her group and saw the need to capture the energy, excitement and emotion to tell the story in photographs.

I was hired to be the Women’s Brainstorming photographer, which was an automatic endorsement that I was the right photographer for this event. I also came to the event because I wanted to expand my business products. With your format, I knew I would walk away with new ideas and information.

Benefit:

I received many ideas that I had never thought about with “outside of the box” creativity. I had been stuck thinking in my comfort zone. I was able to get connected on an individual level about several specific ideas and was affirmed with my current ideas.

In addition to the new ideas, some of which I immediately put into action, I received referrals of other people and services for new connections. These connections are now working beyond the group and continue to build.

Value:

The value was tremendous. I had my own focus groups, which would have cost me a lot of time and money to arrange on my own. I was given the time and the space and it was all about ME for 30 minutes. Two different custom focus groups at 15 minutes each were set up specifically for me and of course, for each person at my table.

I also noticed that having a 4-hour event provides time to get to know one another and build relationships even further than the usual 1-2 hour events. I noticed that it was a very comfortable setting for women to get to know one another – even those women that are not always comfortable at events.

I experienced something unique to other events. The energy is very different having them at your creative environments: a Train, a Showboat and a Tea Room. The Tea Room offered lovely Victorian hats to wear for those that really wanted to get into the theme. Whenever you can have a costume it changes and enhances the dynamics.

I know that your events are built on the foundation of women helping women, high energy, laughter, having fun and leaving with connection and value. Top that off with a beautiful Victorian hat and it creates more of the same. I think it would be fun for you to have a hat theme at each one of your events.

Outcome:

I have secured portrait sessions from participants at the High Tea. I have received referrals for portrait sessions and I have had the opportunity to connect with your entire group and have added several participants to my email newsletter list. Women attended that I already knew and we got to know each other better. It brought more trust and knowledge of each other and created more of a bond. What was really nice is that we got out of our cities and our comfort zones – we shared a common experience we will remember forever by being at the High Tea.

Connection:

I further deepened my connections with others that I already knew and made new connections. I received referrals of other people and services for additional opportunities. These connections are now working beyond the group and continue to build. The key is to take the action to make it happen.

InBeaute Photography works with individuals, families and small businesses who
want a “go to” source for all their portrait photography needs.

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Dee Bailey
Grief Specialist and Life Coach
CoachDeeBailey@msn.com

Dee’s Question: “I had a question(s) about the words I was using to communicate what I do. I was looking at the effectiveness of my business card and my upcoming web page.”

I came to the “High Tea” event because:

I wanted to know if the words on my business card effectively communicated what I do best.

From previous experiences in your brainstorming events, I knew that objective feedback from other business women I did not know could offer me a fresh perspective.

Benefit:

The feedback I received centered on the impact of the word “grief” and the broader scope of my services. As a result, I immediately changed the focus of my tagline from “grief” to “what’s next” because people aren’t attracted to grief work but they are drawn toward feeling good again. “What’s next”’ balances the current pain with the hope of the future.

With the new perspectives and verbiage I received from my group feedback I will be able to attract and help more clients with their grieving journey.

Value:

The value of this process began at the High Tea and continues to unfold as I implement the feedback that came from the brainstorming. Six weeks later I’ve processed and absorbed more, and I’m integrating things now that I didn’t see at the time. The value continues long past the event! This was a surprise bonus for me. Beth, for me, your event is like the planting of a garden. The brainstorming ideas may take a little time to germinate and begin to sprout.

Outcome:

I thought I was going to just edit my card to better communicate my work to potential clients, but the higher outcome has been a perspective and energy shift in myself. Now I’m more intentional about focusing on what’s next, and expanding the way I’ve done it in the past into an exciting new process called “Grieving My Way.”

Connection:

Connecting with a variety of women yields a diverse spectrum of ideas. A woman new in business had the clearest sense of what I do well. Another woman that I had heard of and respected gave me the most feedback on the word “grief”. This combination of objective feedback coming from other business women and the power of connection has made a very positive difference for me.

P.S. “Beth, I was motivated to give you this information to show others the benefit of your brainstorming events. Having you personally help me remember what I received through the focus of Value, Benefit and Outcome has brought even more energy and more depth to my business.

Revisiting my experience, has been extremely helpful to me to lock in all of my learning and helped me recognize how a simple shifting of the words on my business card actually shifted my energy. I didn’t realize this until we were doing this Value, Benefit and Outcome process. I think you should offer this as a follow-up in-between your brainstorming events for those who benefit from time to assimilate. Integration is a high value for me and I know it must be for some others as well.”

Thanks again!

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Gloria Englund
LifeStyle Options
Co-Founder, Entre Team
gloria@gotolifestyleoptions.com
www.gotolifestyleoptions.com
http://my.sunrider.com/lifestyleoptions
www.entreteam.com

Gloria's Question: I attended the “Brainstorming On A Train” event because I wanted to get some feedback from other women entrepreneurs who were not in my industry about how I could get more exposure and marketing success with my business.

Benefit:

The event was fun!!! And, when people are having fun they are more open and giving and also take in more. Fun creates a great atmosphere for giving and sharing ideas.

Value:

Women just have a knack for doing business while they are having fun. One of my mottos in regard to my business is, “It’s got to keep being fun, or it’s got to stop.” So, I fit right in, and met many like me. Remember, just because you’re having fun doesn’t mean serious business ideas don’t happen. It is serious work, but we had a great time doing it. It was a WIN WIN for everyone!

Outcome:

I have always enjoyed public speaking, but the focus has been within my industry and business. The ‘brainstorm” that was offered was to translate my training into a generic offering the small business community would find valuable. As a marketing effort, this was a great success! In my business personal integrity is so important. By developing my public speaking as another arm of my business, I not only gain more credibility, but am also able to promote myself and my business to a different audience within the business community.

Connection:

The connections that I made on the train began to develop as I attended more brainstorming events. These experiences made it easy to connect with these people as I met them again at other business events. Many of these connections have turned into valuable strategic partnerships.

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MORE OUTCOMES ON THEIR WAY...

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Types of Businesses attending
Adventures In Brainstorming

Fine and Designer Art

Financial Consultant

Nutritional Products

Chamber of Commerce

Mortgage Consultant

Human Resource Development

Insurance

Organizing

Business Building Networks

Office Furniture

Graphic Design

Employee Benefits

Business Consulting

Trade Show Displays

Coaching

Storganizing

Business Strategists

Organizational Development

Business Networking for Moms

Attorney

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Direct Sales

Women's Business Organizations

Photography

Family Village

Identity Theft

Promotional Products

Focus Group Coordination

Retail Jewelry

Public Relations