Meet Cathy Berger, Development Director for Queens Chamber of Commerce

Since March of 2014, Cathy Berger has been the Development Director for the Queens Chamber of Commerce. She has worked to encourage new businesses to join the Chamber and to help make sure that existing Chamber members are making the most of their memberships. She describes her position in part as working to advance the visibility of each member through the connections this prominent affiliation has developed over the last 100+ years.

Cathy also shares her expertise in business and networking through her Queens Today blog at http://cathybergerqcc.blogspot.com/.

1. How did you first become involved with the Queens Chamber of Commerce?

One October morning back in 2013, I decided to visit a Queens Chamber of Commerce / HBA networking event. At that time as a business owner, I was instantly impressed with the people in attendance. They were true professionals, dead serious about getting to meet new people. Right on the spot I joined my company to the Chamber.

2. What do you like most about your job with the Chamber?

I love that NO day is the same, because I am always speaking to different types of businesses. I work in a wonderful environment--my coworkers are terrific. They encourage me to excel, which is very important to me. I believe that if you are genuinely supported by your team, this goes a long way to going above and beyond at work, no matter what position you hold.

3. How do you personally define effective networking?

Just attending an event and chit-chatting there is not sufficient to network. Your objective is to emerge from networking with one (or more) goals than when you went in. If there isn't a good fit between your goals of being there and the person you are talking to, don't change the topic from business to the weather, sports, the food, etc. Move on. It's lovely to meet new people, but if you are looking to connect with certain people and their needs, seek them out.

4. What are some of your tips for business people looking to make more connections in their community?

To make a definitive mark in your community, give thought to when you last felt your heart truly soar. If for example, seeing a young child achieve his/her goal gives you goosebumps, then point part of your business or career path toward helping the young students (or schools) in some way. Your true passion will easily translate to wonderful community benefits. Enlist help from your team to gain maximum support.

5. What projects are you looking forward to over the next months?

I just started a blog, and through it, I hope to connect to more companies. When I do, I can guide their business development by facilitating referrals to them, as well as sharing stellar networking techniques.

I have been getting great feedback from readers, and it is becoming a community of knowledge. I hope to continue growing it!!

Thanks, Cathy!

Introducing Handshakin.com, a Community for Entrepreneurs

If you're a new entrepreneur, where do you start? How do you find out the useful big and small pieces of information that can help your business grow and succeed? Well, if you're based in Colorado, you're in luck because you can turn to Handshakin.com, an entrepreneurial community that helps new business owners connect with experts and mentors.

The Handshakin site is run by Matt (Handshakin) Holmes. He earned an MBA in 2012 and is the founder of Holmes Real Estate Group, a real estate investment company that, in the words of the bio on his website, "funds his passion for helping startups and entrepreneurs."

By the way, you don't have to be in Colorado to learn from the resources of the Handshakin community. There is a great (and free!) library of videos on their website. These videos feature interviews with successful business owners in Colorado. So far, the videos include people from a variety of industries, from a physician/investor to an artist/entrepreneur.

If you're local to the Denver area, you can join the Startup Denver Meetup to connect in person with other businesspeople. Other local events include mentorship, apprenticeship, and internship programs to help you meet people who have found success as independent business owners.

For business tips every day and to find out about the latest local Handshakin events, you can like the Handshakin Holmes Facebook page.

Introducing Chameleon Social and Dating Software Script

Have you ever wanted to start your own online dating business? Think of all the unique niche dating sites you could start, with a little creativity and some tech know-how. Chameleon Social & Dating Software Script takes care of the tech part and allows you to open your own online dating website business in a matter of minutes.

When you purchase Chameleon's software, you can download and install it right away. You can also choose to have Chameleon install the software for you for free, within 24 hours of your purchase. You can also use their cloud-based hosting, which is a great option for start-ups or sites that are relatively small in terms of membership.

The software script has a lot of different options and uses. For example, you could start a dating site and charge members a fee to join the site. Or maybe your company would like to run the software to facilitate and online social network for employees. The software has both social and dating options.

There are a variety of templates/frameworks to make your site look the way you want it to look. There are lots of features like audio and video chat. In other words, it won't be a cookie-cutter dating and/or social networking site. Chameleon Social and Dating Software Script is meant to be flexible to meet a variety of different needs.

I have to say that this is a pretty clever business idea that I'd never really thought about, and I could see how entrepreneurs could use this software to build some profitable sites.

Introducing FresHires, A Unique Platform for Job Hunters

Are you a student or recent college graduate looking for work? When you have little work experience, it can be especially hard to find a job. FresHires (FresHires.com) is a new social platform meant to help people create an original and informative profile that allows companies to learn about their knowledge, skills, personality, and more. What sets the site apart from other job-search networks is that on FresHires, you create your own video to share with potential employers.

In addition to creating videos, job seekers can also upload pictures and documents to help communicate in a more original and concrete way with employers. By making a video resume, you have the opportunity to give employers your "elevator speech" from the comfort of your home--it's networking made easy.

People all over the world can use FresHires as the platform supports over 80 languages and allows collaboration among users. In addition to posting a profile for employers to look at, users can share documents with each other to do collaborative projects, research, and so on. There are audio and video chat features as well.

FresHires also features a job search engine, so you can use the site to look for jobs as well as create a profile and video resume for employers to view. It's a unique and creative approach to the job search arena, and if I were just finishing college, I know I'd be interested in giving it a try!

Introducing The Mumpreneurs Networking Club

You may not have heard the term, "Mumpreneurs" before, but you know the concept: a mother who is also an entrepreneur. The Mumpreneurs Networking Club is a group in Great Britain whose members coordinate business networking events meant "especially for mums and female entrepreneurs." The Mumpreneurs have a variety of meeting locations, and local mums can attend a meeting for free to decide if they'd like to join the club.

By attending networking events with other women in business, members of the MNC often see tangible results, such as new clients, friendly support and advice, and increased self-confidence. Lucy Ames, an artist who attends MNC meetings, described the group by saying, "There is such a diversity of knowledge on offer and so much energy in the group that it is quite unique."

By the way, dads and non-parents are also welcome at MNC events. To get a taste of the MNC, you can subscribe to their monthly newsletter; back issues are also posted online.

The mums of the MNC are currently engaged in a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise money to continue growing their organization across the United Kingdom.

The motto MNC uses on its website and elsewhere is: "Never underestimate the power of a good gossip!" By utilizing word of mouth marketing and one-on-one personal connections, the group is proving that good news travels fast when it comes to local businesspeople finding work and support by forging relationships with other businesspeople in their communities.

Meet Tim Houston, Author and Networking Expert

Timothy M. Houston is the author of the #1 international Amazon.com bestseller, The World's Worst Networker and a contributor to the New York Times bestseller, Masters of Sales.

Crowned The Czar of Networking by CBS Radio, he has positively impacted thousands of business people through his high-energy workshops, motivational presentations, and mentoring sessions held around the world. His latest book is Leads to Referrals.

1. What distinguishes the best networkers from the worst networkers?

First and foremost is attitude. The World's Worst Networkers typically have what I call a "mercenary mentality." They believe networking is all about them. They go to networking events, trade shows, and conferences with a WIFM (What's In It For Me) perspective. They talk about themselves, how great they are, etc. They confuse networking with selling which are two different and mutually exclusive events.

On the other hand, great networkers approach their networking efforts with the attitude and mindset of "How can I help you?" They build relationships by helping others to achieve their goals. They are connectors who build bridges and deepen relationships whereas The World's Worst Networkers through ignorance and/or arrogance end up burning bridges and isolate others.

2. Why aren't more people better at networking?

First, a lot of people tend to confuse or believe that networking is the same selling--whether you are selling a product or trying to sell yourself (as in the case of trying to advance your career). It's not. To me, networking is about building new relationships and enhancing existing ones through engagement with the goal of finding ways to help the people you're networking with without any expectation in return. So people go around and "network" (both in person and online) doing the exact opposite, and then complain that networking "doesn't work."

Second, I don't think anyone is born a "natural networker." Networking is a skill-set that's developed over time. It's just like riding a bike--the more you do it, the better you will become. You can't just do it if you're always sitting behind a computer or if you don't get out there and meet new people or connect with those whom you already know.

3. What inspired your latest book, Leads to Referrals?

Two experiences were the inspiration to Leads to Referrals. The first event is detailed in the opening chapter of the book and tells about a meeting I had with a very successful entrepreneur whose reputation was perceived by clients, family members, and friends as being too successful to need new referrals--so they never referred others to him. The second inspiration came from my own interactions and experiences over the last 16+ years with business people who focused all their efforts on building a large network and then found themselves to be relationship rich, yet referral poor. They found that the people in their networks were not referring business to them.

4. Can you share with us how you helped your new book hit the hot releases page on Amazon?

Leads to Referrals as a paperback and as a Kindle ebook debuted on its release date at #1 in the Hot New Releases for Sales & Selling in the US and Canada. It wasn't an accident. I encouraged my audience to place orders a few months in advance. I had advanced paperback copies printed and gave them to other influencers that my audience typically reads or follows on social media. Several not only endorsed the book but promoted it to their mailing lists, to their readers, and on social media sites. What was interesting about this book launch was that the paperback version of Leads to Referrals outsold the electronic version at a rate of four to one in its first week. So to increase sales for the electronic version, the book was reasonably priced at about 65% lower than the paperback's price, and it was marketed as such.

5. How does helping other people help an individual in his or her own professional life?

The late, great author and sales trainer Zig Ziglar always said "You can get anything you want out of life, if you help others get what they want out of life." It's so true. When it comes to networking, The World's Worst Networker gets it wrong in that they keep score, (i.e. "I referred you or introduced you to someone and now you 'owe me'"). It's not about keeping score; it's about helping others more, more often.

Whether you call it the Law of Reciprocity, Givers Gain, or pay-it-forward, the more people know you truly care about helping them to succeed--be it in business, or in their professional or their personal life--those same people feel compelled to help you in some way.

Thanks, Tim!

Meet Michael Luchies of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization

Michael Luchies is an entrepreneur, freelance journalist, and passionate supporter of everything entrepreneurship. Michael is National Growth and Programs Manager for the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO), and the Interview Editor for Under30CEO.com. Find him on Twitter: @MichaelLuchies.

CEO is the premier entrepreneurship network with chapters on university campuses across North America and beyond. CEO currently supports entrepreneurship on over 240 chapters in over 43 states. CEO's mission is to inform, support, and inspire college students to be entrepreneurial and seek opportunity through enterprise creation. With a diverse entrepreneurial community and global network, CEO provides student entrepreneurs with opportunities, events, chapter activities, and conferences to help start businesses. The highlight of the year is the annual National Conference hosted each fall.

Michael is hard at work getting the word out about the 2013 CEO National Conference. Here's a video about the event:

1. How and when did the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization get started?

CEO was started in the early 1980s as a gathering among entrepreneurially minded students in the Chicago area. The initial meeting had around 20 attendees. In 1997, CEO became a 501 (3)c nonprofit organization, and expanded to serve colleges and universities through on-campus student operated chapters.

CEO now has over 230 chapters, and the CEO National Conference is attended by nearly 1,400 students and entrepreneurs each year. The 2013 CEO National Conference will be held on October 31 – November 2 in Chicago.

The focus of the organization is on venture creation and experiential learning. We want young people to get their hands dirty and to get real experience while creating businesses.

2. What can attendees expect to learn at your upcoming National Conference in November?

Around 70 entrepreneurs will host workshops, share their stories, and work with students to assist them with their business ideas and ventures. Sessions will be held on a wide variety of entrepreneurial topics. Topics covered will include self-employment in the arts, technology, startups, scaling a business, business ethics, executing on an idea, how to create and present an elevator pitch, and more.

Outside of the sessions hosted by entrepreneurs, the CEO National Conference is home to the National Elevator Pitch Competition, which allows 60 young entrepreneurs to share their businesses and ideas for a chance at national recognition and cash prizes. There are also an unlimited amount of networking opportunities to meet students from other schools, mentor rooms, and social events. The learning possibilities at the event are endless.

3. Why is entrepreneurship on the rise, in your opinion?

That's a great question. Entrepreneurship is on the rise due to the availability and affordability of technology, and the shift in the economy over the past decade and a half. Being an entrepreneur is easier than ever, and the Millenial generation has grown up with the internet. Anyone can start a blog or a website in a day for free. There are countless resources available to those who want to start a business and being a young entrepreneur is a more accepted career path than it once was.

4. What has been your own experience as an entrepreneur, and what motivates you to share your experience with young entrepreneurs?

I started my first small e-commerce website in 2007 after having enough of the corporate world. I eventually quit my job to go back to school, where I pursued a degree in entrepreneurship. Although I have yet to launch a highly successful company, I wouldn't trade my experiences and passion for small business for anything. I am currently working on several projects that I hope to launch in the near future.

I love sharing experiences with others because I love learning. That may seem like an odd statement, but teaching others is a great way of enhancing your own abilities while also learning what other people have to offer you. I made many mistakes as an aspiring young entrepreneur, and I want to help share my experiences in hopes of saving others from making the same mistakes I made.

5. For a person of any age with an interest in entrepreneurship, what do you recommend as some ways to figure out if an idea for an indie business has potential for success?

As the Interview Editor for Under30CEO, and also through working with many successful entrepreneurs with CEO, I am told time and time again to just start something! Test your idea at a basic level and start getting feedback. You often never know until you try. I will give one quick example of a business idea and how I would recommend someone begin to test to see if the idea is worth pursuing.

Gluten-Free Bakery

• Organize a very basic business strategy (1 page max) of what you would want your gluten-free bakery to be in the future. This will help you keep your goals in mind while testing your idea.
• Concurrently, work on perfecting one recipe while contacting people ahead of time and telling them about your new venture and what you are working on. You want to speak with people who you believe would be your targeted clients in the future. Ask for their help in taste testing your recipe once you feel it has been perfected.
• Give taste tests and provide them with surveys about your product, and the future business. Collect as much information as possible to help you get to the next step. Ask everything, including what they would pay for the item, how often they would come, if they know people who would like to try your goods for free, etc.
• Going about it in this manner should bring you closer to your potential clients while building excitement and gaining critical feedback on your business idea and your baked good.
• The next step is starting to price and sell your item while working on additional recipes based on the feedback of your future customers.

Thanks, Michael!