Michele Bell’s Post

If you are in Growth/Biz Dev at an Ad Agency, especially if you are small/medium sized, I HIGHLY recommend you look into NBZ Partner and their NBZ+ service (if you can get on the list!) Democratizing winning and sharing learning from other like minded agencies has always been a black box (and seen as taboo?) which NBZ+ aims to dismystify and unlock to enable smaller agencies to collectively learn to drive greater diversity of agency growth #businessdevelopment #growth #sales #pitching #advertising

As I look back on the rollercoaster ride that was 2023, it's astounding how life can take unexpected turns. What started as a career selling advertising for the American Dental Association shifted gears swiftly after Harborside Press' acquisition. The realization hit hard during a late Zoom call in August, extending past 5 PM, way beyond the time I should've started dinner with a baby in need of attention and an 8-year-old with mounting responsibilities. That evening, I made a choice – a choice to put my family first. With a longstanding dream of becoming a sales trainer, the universe seemed to conspire, pushing me to take that leap sooner than anticipated. In just a few short months, my vision materialized into a reality – a stunning website, three versions of business cards (settled on one that I absolutely love), sales collateral, and active participation in events and networking sessions across New Jersey. As the clock ticks into the first week of January, I find myself immersed in Chamber of Commerce events for Monmouth County, Toms River, Princeton-Mercer, and Bricktown. The excitement mounts as January unfolds with my inaugural podcast appearance, a possible speaking engagement at a Rider University alumni event, and scheduled meetings with multiple Chambers of Commerce to address their members. My focus for the upcoming year is clear – it's all about connections. Connections with my beautiful daughters, unwavering dedication to my clients, and a determination to nurture and expand my budding business. The journey ahead holds promises of growth, learning, and the fulfillment of long-held aspirations. Here's to embracing the challenges and victories that 2024 has in store. 🚀 #NewChapter #CareerEvolution #BuildingConnections

We can't believe an entire month has flown by since we were all together at The Journey! The Journey, undoubtedly one of our most popular events, represents the pinnacle of industry collaboration. We might sound like a broken record, but each year surpasses the last, and this year was no exception. Our brilliant top AE producers generously unveiled the inner workings of their businesses during our Advisor Breakout sessions. Pat Quinn provided so many takeaways with his insights on captivating an audience, and Matthew Neuman officially launched his new book, 'Real Wins: ROI.' But that's just the tip of the iceberg - there were countless more highlights and invaluable takeaways. #financialadvisors #financialadvisormarketing #financialadvisorevents

This is an opportunity to know how to do something extremely valuable that no one else does… Tonight we start the 2nd session of the “Who’s Your Oprah” cohort on the process and strategy of building high impact, high value relationships. It’s all meat, no fluff. Very tactical and practical. These 20 people invested in themselves and because there isn’t a soul on the planet who knows or implants this system they will be way ahead of everyone else after the 4th session. This cohort sold out and we have 10 people on the waitlist for the next one so if you want a competitive advantage and understand how valuable high access, high impact relationships are please dm me to secure your spot in the next cohort. TESTIMONIAL "There are certain things you can't buy in life and I believe one of them is to be able to walk into any room in the world and be a magnet to the right people. Scott has that ability and instinct. He is highly likeable, a man of his word, he is courageous and makes moves many wouldn't dare taking. I can't wait to see what continues to be in store for Scott, but one thing is for sure, it will continue to be exciting, unique and most definitely BIG." Philippe H. Guggenheim Founder, HG Contemporary #peopleovereverything #relationshipsmatter

Influence is about choice, not commands. Adam recently spoke at the Westfield Chamber of Commerce luncheon where he shared how compliments and choices can be your keys to influence. 🔑 Watch! #powerofinfluence #influencematters #businessinfluencce #powerofchoice #successstrategies #chamberluncheon #influenceandimpact #publicspeaking #inspireothers

Brand giveaways can be a powerful tool to attract attention and engage customers. However, without careful planning, they can also lead to unintended consequences. Case in point: Red Lobster’s recent promotion and bankruptcy announcement. Read Professor Michael A. Stanko’s take on this timely case study:  https://lnkd.in/eEJHMyAV #MarketingInsights #NCStatePoole #ThoughtLeadership #PooleFacultySpotlight #ThinkAndDo NC State Poole College of Management

The essence of knowledge comes from experience. In the blink of an eye a career is made. Starting young and weathering the ups and downs of job after job or years of corporate marriage allows for extraordinary success. In March of 2022, Fern Lee brought her laughter and light to a panel to the Performance Driven Marketing Institute’s conference in San Diego. An inductee to the Direct Response Hall of Fame, Fern’s knowledge and experience drives transactional success across verticals for growth revenue.     Have a question about Direct Marketing? You’ll get the answers you need by reaching out to Fern and the team at THOR Associates. #directmarketing #ceo #THORassociates #PDMI

#ThrowbackWednesdays Almost, 10 years ago, we coordinated The Power Exchange, a conference for our clientele & community leaders. No matter how many “famous” people, I have had the honor of working with nothing will ever surpass the honor of meeting a Veteran or mentoring a Small Business Owner. They are the backbone of our country. We have an obligation to ensure that our next generations are not romanced by the celebrities, the media asks us to idolize but realize that everyone is a hero in their respective world.   Pictured from left to right: Rick Calvert, who founded Blogworld (the first in the marketing industry) now is the founder of TBEX, the largest conference & community of travel creators. That’s me – with an additional 60 lbs. Gary Hoover, who founded the first American Bookstore Chain, Bookstop, that was purchased by Barnes and Noble and co-founded Hoovers. He founded the American Business History Center which is worth subscribing to hear historical stories of American Businesses. Eric Ly, who started with Steve Jobs’ NeXT (acquired by Apple) and went on to join Reid Hoffman to co-found LinkedIn. . . . . . #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #shoplocal #smallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #shopsmall #handmade #localbusiness #eatlocal #local #buylocal #smallbusinessowner #drinklocal #community #support #supportsmallbusinesses #supportsmall

How do you poke fun at a room full of powerful people and walk away with a standing ovation? Colin Jost tackled this challenge at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, demonstrating a keen balance of humor and humility. Early on, Jost’s sharp barbs ridiculing the influential attendees seemed to alienate the crowd. But in his closing he shifted gears. He ended with a heartfelt anecdote about his recently deceased grandfather and the values he instilled in him. He expressed how he genuinely felt honored by addressing this very distinguished gathering. His authenticity transformed the room’s energy, earning him a well deserved standing ovation. The takeaway here is simple: If you’re navigating a tough crowd during a pitch or steering a project meeting, relevant & vulnerable personal stories help build bridges quickly and effectively. — Did you watch it? What did you think? Have you ever faced a tough audience or a seemingly insurmountable perception? How did you turn it around? Share your stories! #AuthenticLeadership #PublicSpeaking Photo credit: MSNBC

Just in case you missed it, check out these bite-sized takeaways from Shelli Herman’s most recent article, which shares insights from Tim Mulligan, Jane Miller, Beth Quillen Thomas, and Lisa Watson! Read the article in its entirety at https://lnkd.in/gqnme3bh. #credibleleaders #expertleaders