Money Well Spent: Ideas to Strengthen Your Expertise
By Lynda Curtin, The Opportunity Thinker

I really like spending money on items that strengthen my expertise. Here are four ideas that are easy to carry out, yet have the power to pay you back many times over, that have worked for me.

1. Invite a key client to co-present a success story/case study at a conference with you. Send the conference brochures to all of your clients and hot leads with a note inviting them to attend. This will raise your credibility and your client will sell you!
    
2. Become a terrific observer and listener. Attend public seminars and conference presentations conducted by your competition. What content captures the attention of their participants? What are their short falls? Are the materials interesting, useful, good quality? What comments do you hear the participants making? Are you able to discuss your distinctions in a professional way without knocking down your competitor?
    
3. Be on top of what is new. Regularly preview new training videos. Purchase videos to compliment and refresh your programs, and to reinforce your message in compelling ways. Give your learners a break from you! Call or email clients with recommendations on videos you think they should preview and tell them why. Enhance your value.
    
4. Plan to attend something every year that is new and different for you. An event that will place you with people you would normally not come in contact with. What can you learn from this event and the people? How can you leverage this information in your business? How does it help you broaden your perspective? What insights can you share with your clients that will help them with their challenges? One of the reasons clients hire outside experts is because we have the time to attend and learn about new and different subjects and trends. Be sure you have an answer for your clients when they ask you "what’s new?"

Take pleasure in spending money wisely on enhancing your expertise. It goes without saying that you are spending money on developing your skills.

©2001.The Opportunity Thinker. 

Lynda Curtin is an expert ideation facilitator, professional speaker, trainer and author in the fields of business creativity, marketing and speaking. To book Lynda for your event call 818-507-6055 or email info@LyndaCurtin.com For more information on her programs go to www.LyndaCurtin.com

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