Yesterday I received an email from a man who had taken The Link System® Training at least two years ago. He wanted to let me know he had answered a blog question relating to the usefullness of industry conferences. Many people were frustrated with the "Same (stuff), different powerpoint", aspect of them.

The Link System® Grad said in part: "I agree with (others) in evaluating the value of a conference based on what you can do before, during, and after relating to the attendees to maximize the value. Content you can get elsewhere. The in-person contact and out-of-office attention you can garner is hard to replace. I use criterion I learned from Mel Kaufmann, a networking pioneer and inventor of The LINK System®.

1. Get all lists you can prior to the event (registrants, sponsors, exhibitors, partners, etc.) and identify high value introductions and connections.

2. Research these contacts and leverage existing relationships for direct introductions and referrals whenever possible prior to or at the event.

3. Arrive 30 minutes early to every speaker session, meet and/or assist the speaker and sit in front next to someone you don't know. Be ready for the speaker to introduce you to others and vice versa."
Thank you to Link System® Grad, Jon Cline. http://www.successrabbi.com/

Last week I took a client's staff through an exercise related to the same topic. They were sponsoring an upcoming high-visibility awards dinner. Prior to the event, we went through the entire attendee list and discussed potential Link possibilities with each...who had connections there, etc. It gave them new ideas on how to leverage their sponsorship investments. The Link System® teaches us networking & relationship-building strategies we didn't know we didn't know!

The Link System® in Long Island...AGAIN!

It was several months in the making. I first heard from Ellen Volpe, President of American Business Associates, when she purchased the CD audio program from the website. When I saw she was from Long Island, a quick google search told me she was a major player in the local Business to Business Networking scene. A phone call was in order! Five months later I stepped up to the podium in front of almost 100 people gathered at the Clubroom of Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. What a thrill!

Here is Ellen Volpe, (second from the left) and the rest of her crew who help out that morning. The Hofstra Club is a very posh venue located on the Hofstra University campus in Hempstead, Long Island.

"The event on Friday was engaging, entertaining and most of all informative. Mindy, your energy and interactive presentation made the time fly by. Ellen and Gene, thanks for making this quality program available. " Joyce Zimmerman - JoyWriter Communications

In the crowd was Paul Pileggi who had been to the workshop I presented last year for Greiner Maltz Commercial Real Estate. It was he who shared this information with Ellen in one of her networking groups.. Thank you Paul!

In the picture to the right, this man is no doubt explaining to the other that the nametag goes on the RIGHT lapel! This group was very vocal and willing to engage...so fun to work with!

"Mindy has a passion for networking"
"Awesome!!"

Very enlightening and refreshing....A wonderful session!"

"The concept of 'linking' vs. 'selling' takes a lot of pressure off. Great information!"

I hope to return in the fall to present another workshop. Bye!



"I have received a lot of calls and you were a HIT~ Thanks so much for making me look good and for making a difference in the lives of so many people." Ellen Volpe, ABA

Merrill Lynch Presents The Link System® to NSHMBA

It may have been a while since this blog was updated, but that does not mean that The Link System® trainings have been inactive...far from it! There have been several 3-hour workshops entitled Making The Connection, all filled to capacity. I have also participated in several phone interviews and teleclasses.

American Business Associates of Long Island contacted me in December. ABA is the longest-running professionally-managed business-to-business networking organization in New York. Ellen Volpe, president since 1988, had heard about The Millionaire's Handbook, most likely from someone who had attended my workshop there in October. We may do a workshop together in May.

One of the most exciting events recently was my presentation at the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) at the Torry Pines Hilton earlier this month. I had been approached last year by Gary Graessle of Merrill Lynch, whom I had met when I first started my own training education with Mel. They wanted to bring The Link System® concepts to their alliance partners, NSHMBA. Then....One thing led to another and I will be conducting a 3-week training in the downtown Merrill Lynch office in March.

The Link System® Training is heading more into the corporate realm as opposed to open enrollment for individuals. I start another 3-week training for a national accounting firm in May. This marks an evolution that is truly exciting for me. I am expanding out with more trainers, too. I will bring the first trainees with me to Merrill Lynch, to learn the way I did...On the Job.

The next Millionaire's Handbook Workshop, "Making the Connection" will be Friday, Feb. 29th from 8:30am - 11:30am. Click here for more information

I Love New York!

I'm back from my week in NYC. It was for business AND for fun. I got the business out of the way first by traveling up to Brentwood, NY on Long Island for a workshop sponsored by Tom Attivissimo of Greiner-Maltz Commercial Real Estate.

The Millionaire's Handbook workshop was very-well received and was (as always) a lot of fun to deliver. The majority of the attendees were seasoned professionals in transportation, banking, land development, staffing, etc . The sponsor Tom, confirmed that the feedback he received was positive... everyone got something of value from the workshop...he was happy! Words cannot describe how exciting it is to have information to share that I can take literally ANYWHERE and get rave reviews.

After I returned to New York City from Long Island, I met with Jennifer Seeger, the director for the NYC Chapter of eWomen Network. We talked like long-lost sisters as we had TWO friends in common...Amanda Mineer (a Link System Grad and director of eWomen Network here in San Diego) and a former client of mine, Ellen whose Manhattan apartment I was able to use for my trip. It truly is a small networking world. Jennifer and I talked of future trainings that could take place in NY.

In the weeks before I went I also made contact with the NYC director of NAWBO, which I belong to here. In an extremely generous gesture she invited me to take part in their HUGE networking extravaganza being held at Saks Fifth Avenue (the REAL One). She would have even given me the opportunity to address the gathering. But it was too short notice and I could not change our flights to stay the extra three days....Oh, how I wanted that, though! Again...more connections for the next time. And there will be a "next time"!

Mel Kaufmann Retires

Mel Kaufmann, author of The Millionaire's Handbook and founder of The Link System has retired and moved back to his home state of Washington. At the age of 86, he was still doing trainings, most recently at the national headquarters in Michigan of Kelly Services, the temp agency.

He had also been to the Columbus, Ohio office of Merrill Lynch in recent months, as well as a Wachovia office in the San Fernando Valley.

It will be my honor to continue his work and take it to the next level. I am planning a book, investigating offering The Link System in an online format and bringing in more trainers.

Thank you, Mel for all of your wisdom, encouragement and your faith. Enjoy your well-earned retirement. I will be forever in your debt.

New York, here I come!
I recently wanted to plan a trip to New York and thought I would do some business "while in the neighborhood". I looked back through my files and found three people who had purchased copies of The Milllionaire's handbook in recent months. One such customer was Tom Attivissimo, a senior director with Greiner-Maltz Commerceial Real Estate.

I suggested a 3-hr workshop on The Millionaire's Handbook and he said "Let's do it." This will be on Long Island about 40 minutes from New York City. This will be my first to to LI, my 3rd trip to "The City"

Here's the scoop:
Wingate Inn Hotel
801 Crooked Hill Road
Brentwood, NY 11717

Tuesday, October 9th
8:00am (check- in) 8:30-11:30
$59 pre-registered - $70 at the door
(631) 434-1818
Register Now

On the Home Front, I just started a new Link System® training last week. I have a great, fun bunch of people learning together how they can help and support others in their quest for success. Life is good!

New Training Dates

• August 16th - Millionaire's Handbook Workshop - Escondido Chamber of Commerce
• Sept. 7th - Millionaire's Handbook Workshop - Jewish American Chamber of Commerce
• Sept. 14th, 21st, & 28th - Link System Training - La Jolla

For more information on times, locations, & registration, click here.

I've been busy talking to different organizations. I did a 90 minute training at Southland Title and a "Lunch & Learn" at Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors. BOTH of those opportunities were arranged by mortgage pro Antwane Rucker of Partners Funding.

Thanks, Antwane!

I also gave a presentation at a Vista Chamber of Commerce luncheon. This came after their Member Services Director, Carla Noble attended a Millionaire's Handbook Workshop a few months ago. I hope we can get a workshop on the schedule there soon.

Here two volunteers help demonstrate how NOT to network. One is wearing a sign that says "I have a Rolodex filled with your new clients". The other one is asking the type of random questions common to someone who does not have a plan of what type of information they need to know about each new contact. After this demonstration we teach The Four Link Questions and then get the audience up and have them try out the information they just learned on others in the audience. That exercise is always a hit!











Here I am with Carla Noble of the Vista Chamber of Commerce

Kaufmann Corollary #139

Link A Temp

Why link with someone in an Em-
ployment Agency? ... Why someone
in temping? ... Some call this the
"temping of America" ... I discovered
start-up firms often hire temps a few
weeks before hiring their permanant
employees ... Permaneant employees
are hired after a firm enters a commu-
nity ... So if you can benefit from
firms that are entering a city, find a
Link in a temp business ... And
Employment Agencies also know

Who is merging ... Who is expanding ...
Who is downsizing .. If any of these firms

represent new business for you... Link a
temp ...

Temps Are Permanent Opportunities