J.B. Kitts Has 3 Words For 5 Years

JB pinned his business card on a bulletin board at a gas station. Tommy Schlosser called, asked how that was working for him,  invited him to visit the Whitlock Team! Five years and five Officer roles later, JB added a 5 Year Pin. I asked why he’s attended this meeting every Friday for  five years and participated in leadership. JB’s three words are:

            Income (I come to make money. It’s primary for us all.)

            Inspiration (Our Team has amazing individuals and they truly inspire me to be better.)

            Illumination (What I have learned – alone – is worth my fee to participate.)

Linda Loud Earns 5 Year Pin - though she's in a rare classification.

Linda, when you joined the North Point Team did you think you would be here five years later – as an Officer, and a Coach?

“I suspected I would for two reasons:  I had a good experience when I was a Member before, in 2000. I had three kids in three different schools, and a husband with a long commute. I liked it — but life got in the way! So, when that last chickadee flew the nest, I needed a way to meet people other than on the soccer sidelines and at cross-country meets. I got an opportunity to sub for someone, and I thought, ‘Okay, yeah, this is good.’ It was a very vibrant Team. The second reason I felt like I would still be here is I just have an incredible sense of loyalty. Once I start something I realize there’s going to be ups the downs, and though I might think ‘Oh, I don’t even know if it’s really worth it’ . . . I know it is, and I know I’ll stick with it.”

And we’re all so glad you have, Linda. Congratulations!

Venis Sims earns MVP

The MVP pin is for people who are responsible for 15 people who have joined, and it comes with an engraved business card holder. Venis, how many people have you invited to get to 15?

I’ve got pretty good record.

Share  your script — when you’re inviting somebody to come to a 7:00 a.m. meeting what do you say?

There’s not one particular thing. With John, I think I just asked  “Have you heard of PowerCore?” and that starts the conversation.

Congratulations to you, Venis, and a big thank you from the Members who get referrals because you ask questions.

Jason Wilson Gets His 5 Year Pin

Jason, five years ago, why did you say yes to the invitation to compete with your peers for a hot seat? The opportunity was local to the community. One of my big values is to connect with the community. That is who I am.

At the one year point, was this what you expected? It was different than I expected in how it functioned. However, the end result was what I expected. 

Knowing what you know now – what advice would you give yourself as a new Member?  I would tell myself to get to know people at a deeper level. What I didn’t know is that a portion of the table would change, I would be meeting new people. I wasn’t expecting that. There’s a core that remains, and there is some turning. So I still have friendships and business relationships with people who are no longer here.

Gone, not lost. That’s wisdom. Congratulations to you.

Linda Kuryloski Earns Gold Star

You’ve invited six people who’ve joined. So that means that you’ve really invited more than six people. Might be more. Maybe 60! I always mention it. When I’m out networking it’s a great way to have a conversation that’s not offensive. It’s a great way to cross-pollinate all the organizations I’m a member of. If you’re looking for new business there’s Power Core. If you’re a CPA, I have a CPA association I cross market because it’s great way to do it.

Do they always come and join the very first time you ask? It can be a couple of weeks to months until they show up. Once they show up, they’re very interested. I think my friend Heather took eight years. I invited her to visit, then had her sub, and then she got involved in other things. Maybe a year ago, I invited her again, but she wasn’t ready. Then she called me in the fall and said, “I’m ready to join.” So . . . probably eight years.

This gold star is a thank you from all of the people who have benefited because you keep asking!

Karen Armstrong adds 5 Year Pin

You’re a Realtor – so you had to compete for your seat. Why were you interested in doing that? Well, my husband Mark Thomas who is also in Power Core had been doing it for awhile, and I saw the great results that he was getting. I wanted to see if I could get some for myself. Everyone joins initially for three months. What made you decide to stay? After three months I wasn’t really sure if it was for me yet, because I hadn’t been there that long. Around six, seven, eight months I got my first referral. I really enjoyed all the people on the Team, and I was benefiting so I stayed. As a five year Member, what is your message to three month Members? Hang in there with it, because it gets better. And you’re going to learn so much, and it’s going to really improve your business. Applause for your success, Karen.

Dr. Dana Kind Joins the 10 Year Club

10 years. Two Teams. Nine leadership positions. If you’re going be here, you’re going be active! Yes, it’s been excellent. And, you’re not without responsibility in the rest of your life, why have you added this to your plate? Well, I figure do it right and be part of the problem then I can’t complain about it! Making sure that I help everyone get business is why I get up in the morning, so the easiest way to do that is to be in a leadership role. Maybe my military background, I guess I just want to lead. That’s the biggest thing for me. Volunteering to be an Officer has been very helpful. It helps my business. I don’t get a ton of referrals, but they are consistent and steady and the resources I offer my patients are invaluable. I can’t tell how many times they are complaining and I have the perfect Team Member to refer them to. That’s a benefit for me, too. Congratulations Dr. Kind, thank you for sharing.

Danny Nungesser Earns A Gold Star

This means you’ve invited five people who came, and who joined. When you are talking about a 7:00 AM meeting, what is it that you say?

“I invite them to grow their business. I tell them there are people in the room who want to grow their own business as well. Anytime I’m trying to build their business I’m not selling to that person, I’m offering them some value where they can learn from somebody else. Then I get to build a relationship, then my business flourishes with them.”

Brilliant, Danny!  You’re on way to the MVP pin. 

Carrie Leary Adds A 10 Year Pin

It was an honor to award Carrie Leary her 10 Year Pin. In 10 years she’s had every possible excuse for leaving. My question was what keeps you here every Friday at 7AM? “Well, and I was thinking about this morning, Why do I come? It’s because I still, literally, get excited to wake up at 5:00 in the morning every Friday and come to this meeting. Because I love being around these people. I love the opportunity to be able to learn about people’s businesses and meet new people. It’s just a natural thing that has become a routine. It’s part of being in business. I have this leg on my marketing stool – and I’ve met so many great people and gotten tons of business. So why would I stop something that’s working?
Well said Carrie, and congratulations! 

Chris Handley Joined the 15 Year Club

Fifteen years. You were a Member, then you weren’t. I’m very interested in why you decided to come back, and I’m always interested in what keeps you participating.
The first 6 years on the Peachtree Team and I thought it was the only Team in the world. I had no idea there were 30 or 40 other Teams! In the first three months I landed a huge client that turned into four different big businesses, two marketing directors, 14 and a half year relationship of ongoing collateral advertising campaigns.  After the crashing economy I went and worked for somebody. When I came back my thought was I turned away so much small business back then, I only went for big business. Back then I had a few clients, so when I lost one it hurt. When I came back I decided to focus on small business, I can get big business on my own. Now I have 50 clients a year, and 60% of my business comes from right here.
Congratulations on insightful business acquisition strategy  Chris!

Greg Golden Reaches the 10 Year Mark

Ten years long enough to have it’s own name: a decade. In PowerCore that’s 500 meetings. Did you think you’d be here for 10 years, Greg?

“When I first visited I loved the energy of the group.  Everyone was focused on business but did not take themselves too seriously.  I told myself I could try this for 6 months, which turned into 12 months, which has now turned into 10 years.  From that very first meeting, I quickly realized that PowerCore is definitely one of those endeavors where you get out of it what you put into it.” 

Congratulations and a round of applause to Greg Golden!

Mark Thomas receives a Gold Star

Gold Star achievers have invited five Visitors who joined.  Mark Thomas has rung that bell. I asked what he says to people when he suggests a 7:00 am meeting be added to their calendar?

“For me it’s easy. I just say, ‘Well listen, it’s been very, very beneficial for me, and if you want to get up early in the morning and make some money, this is a great place to be.’ The money hook seems to work. The 7 am part is a little iffy, but for the Members who listen, we do very well and it’s good for business.”

Thank you Mark, you’re already headed toward an MVP pin!