Passport 2020 - Whitlock Avenue Team's Invitational

Thursday started – as the first business day of every year has, for the past six years – with the Whitlock Avenue Team’s annual Invitational. Participants checked in, got a boarding pass, were welcomed by the crew, and seated in Business Class. Baggage claim was on the way to start 2020 with a focus toward profit.

Passengers were awarded a pin to commemorate their flight.

Kriston Sellier Earns10 Year Pin

The very first 10 year Member on the Whitlock Avenue Team is… Kriston Sellier! Ten years, when you joined, where was your business? I was in my basement. Where is your business compared to 10 years ago? We’re in Marietta Square. We have a beautiful space, we’re doing work for clients that are in revenues of 500 million or more. And I’ve got nine employees and 17 contractors. When you think about the piece the people at this table play in your success story, what, from a business standpoint, have you gotten here, that you haven’t gotten from other places?

Meaningful relationships where I can truly give a referral and I can truly receive referrals that can last for a long time. In a word, it’s real. There’s a lot of big networking, handing out business cards,  and they never call. These are real relationships, all of us very much wanting to help each other. It’s not fake email. We really do want to help each other. So it’s very different.
On behalf of the Team, congratulations. {wild cheering}

Jim Hilber Qualifies Gold Star

Gold Star is the icon given to Members who have invited 5 people who joined. Jim, what do you see that makes you think, “I think I’ll invite them.”

When I’m out in the field, just doing what we do every day, I’m looking for people who are ready to share their capabilities and get involved. You can tell. I think we each have our own view on it, but a good example — I picked Martin last November. I invited him to be here and while I was on vacation he went all in with his own capabilities and opportunities. I’m looking for people who want to put out the initiative. They sort of just get it right away.

So you don’t invite just anybody. You pick and choose who you would like? Absolutely.  On behalf of the people who made your cut, and the people who got referrals from them – congratulations Jim!

Scott Levine Adds 5 Year Pin

In my mind, when you joined, Scott, you were at the very beginning stages of your own business.  That’s correct. When you first came to the table, what was your fear? I couldn’t produce enough referrals. What was your hope? That I’d build a run a successful business, and help other people on the way. What has happened that was better than you would have expected? Not only did I do enough to grow my business, but I have a Rolodex that I can use for A, to support my own business and B, to support my clients.

If you were to speak with someone who was brand new as you were, just starting their business, and giving them advice from the picture of five years later, I know you would have advice for them as the CPA, but what advice would you have for them from the standing point of  referral marketing? Focus on your reputation because you can’t lose that. If you have credibility on the Team people refer to you, if not, they don’t. Good advice. Thank you.  Congratulations.

Amy Terry Has A 5 year Pin

Amy, you weren’t really a Member during CoreGroup, but you attended a lot of those meetings because you were subbing for someone from your office. The minute you got a chance, you joined this Team, so it feels like you’re one of the original Members. You have options, right? You could have said, “No, I’ll let this thing go” Why did joining a newly forming Team five years ago seem like a good idea to you?

“They made me feel so welcome. As soon as Jason decided that he didn’t want to continue the Team was communicating ‘Amy, you get to join!’ It made me feel extremely welcome. And because I learned things subbing for him, I already saw some of the benefits. I was already getting some referrals that were amazing, so I was in! And I’m glad!”

Ryan Williams Adds a Gold Star

When I mentioned to Ryan that three of six people he has invited to check out a PowerCore Team either live in his home or work in his office, and asked if that meant they didn’t have a option! he said:

I think they saw what kind of transformation it has made for me as far as business development goes.

So how would you quantify what they saw?

They saw my ability to go out and bring in business go through the roof.

That’s a good result. Congratulations on your Gold Star, Ryan, and a thank you from the Teams these Members have joined.

Carol Jensen-Linton Earns Her 15-year Pin

The Peachtree City Team cheered congratulations to Carol Jensen-Linton as she added a 15 year pin to a brimming badge.

Let’s start with math: 15 years, 50 weeks a year, that means 750 meetings at 7am- plus leadership responsibilities. I asked Carol if she’s gotten any value from this.

A solid third of my business comes from PowerCore referrals,
and the majority of them are home runs or grand slams

This is a marketing organization, and Carol’s in it for the money – Excellent!

John Fortener Has a Gold Star

A Gold Star on a Member’s badge means they have invited 5 people who joined a PowerCore Team. My suspicion is that it took more than 5 invitations – so I asked John what he says when he invites someone to a 7:00 AM meeting

“Well, usually I’ve noticed some characteristic in them that they’re either outgoing and they’re looking, they have the same, maybe mindset as mine tends to be. Also if it’s maybe a newer, younger business, I say, “Hey, would you like to increase your business?” I don’t even mention the time.”

You get a yes before you give the details?

I put the offer out – it’s up to them to check out the benefit.

They’ve gotten benefit because you saw something in them, and made the offer. Thank you.

Howard Silvermintz Joins the 20 Year Club

When the Candler Park Team celebrated Howard’s 20 Year Pin – yowza that is an achievement – I asked what had kept him engaged that long, and he said “The relationships, obviously.” I know Howard well enough to push back, so I said – what? not the money?

Obviously, it’s the referrals.  You’ve always got to think about that. But, really, it is the relationships. I’ve got probably a half a dozen friends who that I stay in touch with anywhere from weekly to monthly. They became friends over the course of 20 years. They’re no longer at the table every morning, and they’re friends.

We are grateful to have Howard as a friend, and to celebrate his 20 year recognition.

Trent Phillips Earns His 15 Year Pin

Don’t you want to know what has kept Trent attending a Tuesday morning meeting for 15 years?
That’s 750 seven AM meetings.
I asked. He said:

I actually just walked in the door 15 years ago, looking for referrals and really just kind of took to heart the concepts of referral marketing. And I’ve actually just invested that into my entire company and it’s actually worked out for me, so … I’m here.

Bravo and congratulations to Trent.

Melanie Selcho Adds A 5 Year Pin

My question for Melanie was: did you know when you came to the very first planning meeting for this Team that you’d be at this table every morning for five years? “No, you tried to talk me out of joining.” That’s true. And you said, “I think I can do this.” What made you feel this would be a good place for you to get business?

“I was new to my job and I had no idea of what I was doing. This gave me some structure to be able to branch off of, so I thought, ‘It’s a great place to start.’ Then I talked to a couple of people who did things like me who were very successful and I knew if they could do it, I could do it.”

And we’re all so glad you have. Bravo and congratulations!

Louis Agudo Has A 10 Year Pin

Louis was an active Member – and then life took him in another direction. Still, he came back to his Team. When people come back, I’m always interested in why. So I asked:

“I like the structure. I like the credibility, and I like the accountability that we hold each other to. It’s very important. A lot of other meetings that I go to are sort of fly-by-night, off the cuff, everyone’s just trying to sell you, sell you, sell you Here it’s more ‘how can I help you?’ And that’s an important thing.”

For the credibility and support you bring to the table, Louis, thank you, very much.