A New Year, A New Mastermind for Masterminds

Now is the Time to Elevate Your Passion for Life and Work to Overcome the Fears that are Holding You Back!

♦ Do You Feel Stuck and Need Inspiration for Your Career or Business?
♦ Are You In Search of a Strong Peer Network of Trusted Colleagues?
♦ Do You Want to Increase Your Confidence and Boost Your Positivity?

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution: THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS.

A MEMBER TODAY, A MASTERMIND FOR LIFE!

The Mastermind for Masterminds is a private meeting among dedicated business professionals looking to exchange honest feedback, help refine new ideas and concepts, and share insights and potential leads. In The Mastermind for Masterminds you will help others succeed and achieve your own goals in the process.

You will leave with important takeaways, such as ideas for the future and solutions to problems you’ve been stuck on. There is no limit to the things you might learn during your time in our Mastermind Group. Join us on Friday, January 5th and broaden your professional horizons.

Event Details:

WHEN: Friday, January 5th, 12:00-3:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932 www.parkavenueclub.com | (973) 301-8233
COST: $197.00 p/person; Includes Holiday Luncheon

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why Should You Attend?

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

NEW CONNECTIONS with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
LASTING RELATIONSHIPS with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
NEW IDEAS for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be

Coaching Solopreneur

2 Simple Ways to Be a More Effective Solopreneur

coaching for solopreneurs

Starting a new business can be both an exciting and daunting prospect. If you’ve made the decision to begin your next life chapter solo, you might have more questions than answers. Being a solopreneur can be a rewarding career, but it’s not without its challenges. Apply these tips to become the most savvy, effective solo business owner possible.

Set Clear Expectations from the Beginning

When you land your first project or client, it can be tempting to say yes without asking many questions about the scope of the work. This could prove to be a costly mistake. Here’s an example: say you’re a web developer and a client asks you to put together a more responsive landing page. After completing the project, the client sends it back, saying it needs more revisions. After a revision, you send it back and the client still requests fine tuning. Here, you have two unattractive options:

do more work than you signed up for, or;
say no and run the risk of never getting any work from this client again.

Unclear expectations can wreak havoc on entrepreneurs, especially since soloprenuers have less time and fewer resources than other companies. Rather than finding yourself in a situation that’s “no one’s fault and everyone’s fault,” set clear boundaries and stick to them when necessary. When approaching a new job, ask a new client: “What are your expectations and desired outcomes for this project?” This will make it much easier for you to deliver.

Hire A Solopreneur Coach

why solopreneurs need a coach Being a solopreneur is uncharted territory. A coach can help you achieve your goals in a measured, achievable, and consistent way. Solopreneur coaching:

Teaches you about current marketing trends. Being a solopreneur means you’ll have to be the whole package: a marketing guru, a sales lead, an analyst. A solopreneur coach will teach you tactics about marketing your clients and reaching your target demographic.
Helps you identify your assets and liabilities. Each business owner has their strengths and weak spots. A solopreneur coach will help you maximize your strengths while filling knowledge gaps and addressing potential weaknesses in your business plan.
Helps you manage your time effectively. There are so many hours in the day, and applying effective strategies can help you make the most of them.

Being a solopreneur is rewarding, yet hard work. With the right approach, you can become an effective business owner and retain your customers for years to come. Follow these tips to make the most of your new enterprise.

Additional Resources:

Career Career coaching Culinary Connections Networking Videos

Networking Outside Your Comfort Zone

The networking landscape has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Once a rarity, business professionals are now bombarded by numerous networking events making it difficult to discern which opportunities are the right opportunities.

Watch below for Susan Ascher’s latest tips on networking for business professionals and catch a sneak peek into Susan’s highly acclaimed networking series, Culinary Connections, recently held at The Manor in West Orange.

About Culinary Connections

Culinary Connections is an exclusive networking event for professionals from all walks of business who are passionate about making the right connections over great wine and food. Our intimate settings and five-star venues provide the perfect backdrop for making lasting connections – unlike any other networking event you may have attended.

Be sure to check our EVENTS page for the next Culinary Connections or join one of our Mastermind for Mastermind Groups to take your business or career to the next level.

Mastermind

December Edition of The Mastermind for Masterminds

Now is the Time to Elevate Your Passion for Life and Work to Overcome the Fears that are Holding You Back!

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution: THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS.

A MEMBER TODAY, A MASTERMIND FOR LIFE!

You will leave with important takeaways, such as ideas for the future and solutions to problems you’ve been stuck on. There is no limit to the things you might learn during your time in our Mastermind Group. Join us on Friday, December 8th and broaden your professional horizons.

Event Details:

WHEN: Friday, December 8th, 12:00-3:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932 www.parkavenueclub.com | (973) 301-8233
COST: $197.00 p/person; Includes Holiday Luncheon

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why Should You Attend?

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

NEW CONNECTIONS with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
LASTING RELATIONSHIPS with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
NEW IDEAS for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be

Coaching Sales Sales coaching

Why Sales Coaching Will Make You a Better Seller

what is sales coaching

Sales can be a tough business, especially if you’re not well acquainted with the practice. Often, entrepreneurs begin a business with a good idea, only to find they don’t know how to sell that idea to someone else. Given the fact that most businesses close rather than become successful, there is little margin for error. Hiring a sales coach can be a valuable tool that will provide a solid return on investment, instilling practices that will benefit you for years to come.

What Is a Sales Coach?

A sales coach is just what it sounds like: someone you hire to help you learn strategies to improve your company’s sales and gain new customers (all while retaining the customers you already have). If you don’t have a sales manager or your sales manager is too overloaded to take your new sales reps under their wing, you might want to hire a coach.

If you have your own sales department, you might be surprised to learn that 3 out of 4 salespeople aren’t effective at their jobs. The main reason is because they’ve received no formal education or training about how to sell.

sales coaching NJ Professional sales coaching differs from sales training. While training occurs in a classroom setting with a group of reps, coaching involves an individualized, one-on-one relationship. Sales training happens over a matter of weeks; sales coaching takes place over months.

Here’s an example: a sales training seminar might guide reps through a sales call or encourage workers to follow a script. What happens when a call goes off script? Your sales rep will be in a lurch.

A coach, on the other hand, may help reps prepare for calls by role-playing and anticipating the different turns a call might take. A sales coach also has the time to review the call with the rep and discuss strengths and weak spots. This individualized attention will make anyone more savvy with their sales, whether it’s members of a department or a solopreneur.

Choosing a Sales Coach

It’s important to remember that there are several different coaching styles. You should choose someone who aligns with your personal and business philosophies and goals. If your personalities don’t mesh in your initial meeting, you might not get as much out of your experience.

In short, sales coaching can take your business to the next level. If you want to improve your bottom line, garner more business, and make your sales team more effective employees, consider hiring a sales coach.

Additional Resources:

News

Susan Ascher Honored By SmartCEO Magazine

On November 7th, 2017, Susan Ascher was honored by SmartCEO Magazine, along with 40 of the region’s most accomplished female CEOs, at the Brava Awards Gala held at the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City, New Jersey.

View Our 2017 Brava Awards Event Gallery

About the Brava Awards

The Brava Awards program celebrates high-impact female business leaders in three categories: CEOs, executive directors of nonprofits, and C-suite executives. Brava award winners combine their irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community, and are exemplary leaders of both their companies and their communities. They encourage local philanthropy, mentor up-and-coming leaders and set their companies on the path to tremendous growth. Each year, an independent committee of local business leaders selects winners based on company growth, community impact and mentoring.

Mastermind Uncategorized

November Edition of The Mastermind for Masterminds

Now is the Time to Elevate Your Passion for Life and Work to Overcome the Fears that are Holding You Back!

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution: THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS.

A MEMBER TODAY, A MASTERMIND FOR LIFE!

You will leave with important takeaways, such as ideas for the future and solutions to problems you’ve been stuck on. There is no limit to the things you might learn during your time in our Mastermind Group. Join us on Thursday, November 16th and broaden your professional horizons.

Event Details:

WHEN: Thursday, November 16th, 8:30-11:00 a.m.
WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932 www.parkavenueclub.com | (973) 301-8233
COST: $197.00 p/person; includes Breakfast

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why Should You Attend?

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

NEW CONNECTIONS with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
LASTING RELATIONSHIPS with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
NEW IDEAS for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be

Career Coaching Communication Workplace

4 Ways to Fix Your Next Communication Breakdown

communication breakdowns

Have you ever been the victim of a communication breakdown? There’s nothing more frustrating than failing to complete a task on time or to the best of your ability because of a miscommunication between a coworker, client, or boss. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve communication and customer satisfaction. Try one of these strategies to avoid communication breakdown:

Be Upfront About Expectations and Goals

Workplace communication becomes a lot easier when you’re all coming from the same place. Don’t kick off a brainstorming session or meeting by assuming everyone knows their roles, goals, and other action items. This leads to missed deadlines, unclear objectives, and confusion about roles.

Start every meeting with a review of your action items and when to expect deadlines and other assignments. Once assigning who is responsible for what, send a follow-up email or call to confirm.

Avoid Over-Communication

avoid communication breakdowns At the same time, be wary about communicating too much with your employees and teammates. If you’re sending someone 20 emails a day, they’re more likely to tune you out. Communication breakdowns can result from the best intentions. Instead of haranguing your workmates virtually, consider following this golden rule: a dozen exchanges an hour between all team members can maximize productivity – any more will actually detract from your efforts.

Communicate Wisely

At the same time, not all communication is created equally. According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, email can be an ineffective way to complete work tasks. If you want to know how to avoid a communication breakdown, consider this tried-and-true method: a good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation. According to a recent study, over 35% of a team’s performance is attributable to their face-to-face exchanges.

However, this doesn’t mean that you need to call a board meeting every day. Simple, informal exchanges like coffee breaks can be just as effectual. If you’re spread out over multiple companies, consider adding video collaboration to your routine.

Leverage Collaborative Technology

Finally, technology makes it easy for us to collaborate effectively. Consider using Slack for quick team exchanges and Trello to keep track of items on your to-do list. With a little prioritization and organizing, you and your team can eliminate communication breakdowns and complete your tasks on time and to the best of your ability. Apply one of these tips to your next project and see your productivity skyrocket. A job well done is worth celebrating!

Additional Resources:

Culinary Connections Networking

November Edition of Culinary Connections

networking events

FINE DINING AND EXCLUSIVE NETWORKING AT THE MANOR!

Join us on November 30th at at The Manor, an elite venue of pure elegance and indulgence!

Culinary Connections is an exclusive networking event for professionals from all walks of business who are passionate about making the right connections over great wine and food.

The Manor

networking

The Manor is situated on 20 acres of beautifully-manicured gardens bordering Eagle Rock Reservation, with spectacular architecture and Italianate fountains. The Manor offers breathtaking beauty inside and out with a team devoted to bringing any event to life in grand fashion, with meticulous attention to details. The Manor offers unparalleled perfection and sophisticated taste delighting its guests from start to finish.

Come join our sponsors, Christal McElroy, EisnerAmper; Karolina Dehnhard, Budd Larner; Vince Egan, Benjamin Edwards; Stuart Vorcheimer, Peapack-Gladstone Bank; and your gracious host, Susan Ascher, at the The Manor in West Orange. We’ll enjoy lots of great food and fabulous conversation. Bring your appetite and lots of business cards!

EVENT DETAILS:

Hors d’Oeuvres & Networking at The Manor

WHEN: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 • 6:00-8:00pm
WHERE: The Manor, 111 Prospect Ave., West Orange, NJ, 973 731-2360. www.TheManorRestaurant.com.
COST: $99.00 p/ticket

Due to the nature of this very special event, attendance will be capped at 40 attendees.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

With Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Here’s What People Are Saying:

“Thank you for having me last Wednesday! I really enjoyed the culinary portion of the event as well as the networking.”
– Richard Sodeke, Media Sales Associate at Felix

“What a lovely evening last night. I loved that we were standing in the kitchen watching the handsome chef with his adorable French accent, cooking delicious food that we could eat immediately. How often does one get that opportunity to see behind the scenes, other than on television where it sometimes seems scripted? The event was beautiful, the location was stunning, and the camaraderie in the room – priceless!”
– Eileen Berman, eileenbergman.com

“Great event last night, truly. Thank you! When I hit the road and sat in the driving rain and traffic coming from Newark, I thought about how nice it would be to go home! Boy am I glad that I made the commitment to you (and to me) to come because I would have missed a wonderful time meeting great folks.”
– Lori Chapin, Attorney, Sedgwick, LLP

“Thank you for a great event! I adored your friends and clients.”
– Denise Gaffney, Area Development Manager, Etcetera; Regional VP, National Association of Professional Women

“The Restaurant Serenade installment of Culinary Connections was excellent – great food and wine as well as great new faces to share it with. I look forward to the next Culinary Connections event in April and joining the Course Connections group in the spring.”
– Marty Eide, Attorney, Markel Corporation

Mastermind

October Edition of The Mastermind for Masterminds

Now is the Time to Elevate Your Passion for Life and Work to Overcome the Fears that are Holding You Back!

If you answered YES, then we have the perfect solution: THE MASTERMIND FOR MASTERMINDS.

A MEMBER TODAY, A MASTERMIND FOR LIFE!

You will leave with important takeaways, such as ideas for the future and solutions to problems you’ve been stuck on. There is no limit to the things you might learn during your time in our Mastermind Group. Join us on Thursday, October 19th and broaden your professional horizons.

Event Details:

WHEN: Thursday, October 19th, 8:30-11:00 a.m.
WHERE: The Park Avenue Club, 184 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932 www.parkavenueclub.com | (973) 301-8233
COST: $197.00 p/person; includes Breakfast

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why Should You Attend?

You want to tap into the experience and skills of others!
You are “stuck” and need a new perspective which can come from brainstorming with the group!
You need to increase confidence in your decisions!
You need to validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals!
You need or want to find an instant and valuable support network!
You want to find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position you find yourself in!
You need to find new ways to jump-start your business!
You want to boost to your everyday positive mental attitude!

Who Should Attend?

Realtors
Accountants
Lawyers
Small business owners
Consultants
Fund Raisers
YOU
And anyone responsible for driving their business!

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT will you take away from The Mastermind for Masterminds?

NEW CONNECTIONS with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
LASTING RELATIONSHIPS with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
NEW IDEAS for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be