Racing For The 2011 Finish Line

by Sabrina Risley

Santa Claus, snowflakes, reindeer and sugar plus… holiday parties, gift exchanges, hustle and bustle shopping.  With so many distractions, it’s no wonder professionals find it hard to focus on December production and sales quotas.  It would seem the perfect time to throw in the towel, call it a decent year and hope to exceed expectations next year, right?  WRONG!!

The fact remains that December is a month where a great deal of momentum can be lost or gained, making it the perfect time to continue working, even pushing, to close out an amazing year and better ensure a strong start in the New Year.  But what type of “work” are professional doing in December?  I conducted an unofficial poll on Facebook and received some great ideas shared with you below.  I’ve also sprinkled in a few of my own, the combination of which I hope includes some ideas you hadn’t thought of to keep you ahead of the curve when January 1, 2012 dawns.

Continue Income-Producing Activities.  Don’t shy away from making phone calls to prospects and clients, setting up appointments, and reaching out to power partner.  If you think people are “too busy” and you wait until January to reach out, you will already be behind the 8 ball.  Call now to set appointments for the first week in January if your contacts are not available to meet or have conversations this month.

Continue Networking! Do not let up on your networking regimen. Many believe December to be a slow networking month but this is not the case.  In December, go to as many holiday gatherings as possible on top of your regular networking venues.  Be social, make friends, add value and keep networking!

Solidify Relationships! A personal phone call goes a long way!  Review your list of clients and referral partners list and make a point of contacting them by phone to thank them for trusting you and doing business with you.  Consider inviting your customers to an appreciation event (lunch, dinner, cocktail hour) in the first quarter of the New Year. Maybe it’s time to send a New Years card to be receive it mid-January when clients least expect it.  Send a simple gift or quote that you know will resonate with your contacts. At all turns, focus on expressing your gratitude and refrain from hard selling your products or services.

Ask For Introductions! Ask those who know you and your business well for introductions to potential power partners. Then take the time to approach prospective power partners to see if they are open to a referral or cross-promotional partnership between both companies in 2012.

Get Technical & Systematic! Purchase and get the technology or software in place that you haven’t had time to address. Do you need to upgrade your computer, copier, scanner, fax?  Have you put off synchronizing your mobile devices with your desktop solution?  Maybe it’s time to finally sign up for systems to manage your customer relationships (www.Zoho.com), emails (www.Zoho.com), newsletters (Constant Contact), card-sending (Send Out Cards), social media (HootSuite). Review current processes and systems. If your accounting is manual, perhaps it’s time to outsource the task or automate and organize with Quickbooks.  What is your process when a new customer comes on board?  Is it consistent and streamlined for maximum efficiency?  How can it be improved, simplified or automated?  Take the time to thoroughly document processes to minimize the learning curve for new staff and as a reference tool for existing staff.

Revisit Your Business Plan!  Sometimes we over-estimate our capabilities and fall short of our business plan and goals from the previous year. Now is a GREAT time to revamp plans and goals so they are realistic and attainable.

Your competition is relaxing and “waiting” to hit the ground running in January.  Do not be fooled into thinking “no one” is doing business this month.  While others are slacking, continue to work smart and with diligence to keep your strong momentum and better ensure a strong start in the New Year!

(c) 2011 Behind The Moon, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Feel free to share this article in its entirety and include the Bio information for Sabrina Risley below along with live link back to this blog post.  Thank you.

Sabrina Risley founded Behind The Moon, Inc.® in 2003, a Colorado-based networking organization that sets itself apart with its motto “grow your business by helping others grow theirs.” Behind The Moon offers several networking events across Colorado’s Front Range that attract professionals who network to give rather than get. You will find Sabrina speaking to audiences about effective networking techniques, the power of partnerships, and principles of service and giving as a means to grow a business. Sign up for Sabrina’s free report, Networking For Success at http://www.behindthemooninc.com/index.php/free-report.

Elements of an Effective 30-Second Introduction

By Sabrina Risley

One of the greatest networking challenges I hear from professionals is knowing what constitutes an effective 30-second introduction.  This is often called a 30-second commercial or elevator speech.  Regardless of its name, when delivered effectively, a powerful 30-second introduction can open windows of opportunity for you and your business.

The goal of the 30-second introduction is simply to catch the attention of contacts, power partners and fellow colleagues when you are asked “what do you do for a living?”  It is not meant to be used to make a sale or close a deal, but rather to give just enough information causing others to become curious and interested in knowing more about what you do.  You want to give just enough information to gain their interest without overwhelming them with the nitty-gritty details of your products/services. When you rattle off too much information, your listeners may become overwhelmed, shut down and you lose out on the opportunity to relate and share on a more personal level.

To ensure your 30-second introduction packs a powerful punch, here are some factors to keep in mind:

• Everyone gets nervous when delivering their introduction, especially when standing in front of a group.  Take a deep breath and don’t rush through your words.
• Speak clearly, slowly, intentionally and project your voice through your entire introduction.
• Use concise and relevant points related to what you do and how you serve others.
• Make eye contact with each individual and don’t “skim” the room. Making eye contact helps you to connect with each person and give the feeling that you are speaking to an individual rather than a room full of people.
• Practice before you speak.  Take time to think about what you are going to say, test it out on friends, your coach, or power partners and ask for their feedback.  If you are nervous, it’s okay to read from a notecard.  You can even let people know it’s a new introduction as they will empathize with your vulnerability and honesty.
• Know your audience and be prepared with a few different introductions. It’s important to be flexible depending upon who you are addressing.
• Since you only have 30 seconds, highlight one product/service versus sharing details on everything you offer.  Trying to cover too many products/services forces you to be general and vague about each.  Highlight a different product/service the next time you do your introduction, allowing people to learn more about you each time you deliver your introduction.
• Leave people wanting to know a little more so they are intrigued and want to talk with you further about what you offer. The best thing is to have someone come up after an event and ask questions about what you offer.
• Mention the target market you are able to or enjoy helping most (ie, realtor enjoys first-time home buyers, interior designer enjoys helping professionals arrange their office space for greatest efficiency).
• End with a catchy slogan or special you are offering.
• Above all, be respectful and do not go over any time limits set for your introduction.

(c) 2010 Behind The Moon, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Feel free to share this article in its entirety and include the information below along with live link back to this blog post.  Thank you.

Sabrina Risley founded Behind The Moon, Inc.® in 2003, a Colorado-based networking and referral group organization that sets itself apart with its motto “grow your business by helping others grow theirs.” Behind The Moon offers several networking events across Colorado’s Front Range, as well as referral groups that attract professionals who network to give rather than get.  You will find Sabrina speaking to audiences about effective networking techniques, the power of partnerships, and principles of service and giving as a means to grow a business.  To learn more about Behind The Moon, please visit http://www.BehindTheMoonInc.com. 

Answering “So, What Do You Do For A Living?”

By Sabrina Risley

One of the most popular questions asked of the professional at a networking event is “So, what do you do for a living?” or “What is your business?” Many can’t wait for their opportunity to share their story, yet answering this question is often worrisome to professionals. How should you answer and where do you start? 

 

My studies have taught me that there are a few key factors to bear in mind before diving into your answer.  

 

Be confident. Let others see how excited you are about your products or services. If you are not excited, others won’t be either. 

 

Just be yourself. Be authentic and let your personality shine through. People buy from and refer to people they know and have come to like and trust so let them get to know the real you.

 

Be clear and concise. Prepare your answer in advance if needed so you can remain focused and to the point. Refrain from outlining the many products and services you offer as this can be overwhelming to the other person.

 

Do not sell. All you want to do is pique the other person’s interest. If they ask follow up questions, expand a little but don’t push too hard. Provide information as they continue to ask questions either because they are curious, perhaps interested in buying or they may have someone in mind to refer to you.  However, avoid going into “hard sell” mode.

 

Highlight the benefits. Perhaps the most important is to focus on the benefits you provide and how you or your products/services help others.   For example, if you are an accountant with a firm that provides tax, bookkeeping, and payroll services, you want to focus on what these services help others achieve. What is the benefit you provide your clients?

Accountant: I take the frustrating tasks off my clients’ hands and, in the process, help them save thousands of dollars each year.

 

Personal Trainer: I help people reclaim their confidence and easily maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 

Personal Chef:  I bring families back to the dinner table to reconnect and catch up on their day.

 

Help them understand. As follow up questions are asked, a great way to boil it down is to explain your ideal client. 

 

Accountant: My ideal client is a small business owner who complains about filing tax returns. I can help them set up a system or take the task off their hands and keep them compliant.

 

Personal Trainer: A good referral for me is the frustrated yo-yo dieter.  I’ve helped many lose weight who had previously complained that their dieting efforts never paid off.

 

Personal Chef:  My clients tend to be dual-income families with children who have trouble getting dinner on the table to eat together as a family.

 

Bob Burg (co-author of Go-Givers Sell More) reminds us of the sales expression:   You can’t say the wrong thing to the right person, and you can’t say the right thing to the wrong person. 

 

So don’t get too caught up in your answer or a specific outcome you want to achieve. Focus on the benefits, how you help others, be yourself, and keep it short and sweet. If the person you’re speaking with isn’t interested in your product/service, perhaps they know someone who is.

(c) 2010 Behind The Moon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

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Feel free to share this article in its entirety and include the Bio information below along with live link back to this blog post.  Thank you.

Sabrina Risley founded Behind The Moon, Inc.® in 2003, a Colorado-based networking and referral group organization that sets itself apart with its motto “grow your business by helping others grow theirs.” Behind The Moon offers several networking events across Colorado’s Front Range, as well as referral groups that attract professionals who network to give rather than get.  You will find Sabrina speaking to audiences about effective networking techniques, the power of partnerships, and principles of service and giving as a means to grow a business.  To learn more about Behind The Moon, please visit http://www.BehindTheMoonInc.com. 

Managing The Fear And Anxieties of Finding Another Job

By: Stanley Popovich

Layoffs in today’s business world are common and with it comes the fear and anxiety of finding another job. With this in mind, here is a list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their stresses and anxieties in finding a new job.

A technique that can be used to reduce the stress of finding another job is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps and then complete each of the smaller tasks one at a time. For instance, the first thing you should do is to determine what kind of job you want. Once you know what you are looking for, the next step is to update and prepare your resume. Once that is finished, you should then concentrate on finding the companies that interest you and send your resume to them. Once you submit your resume, the next step is to prepare for the job interview. By completing these smaller tasks, you will reduce your stress and anxiety and increase your chances of finding another job.

Sometimes you may get depressed during your job search. Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that make us feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket. Whenever you feel depressed, open up your small notebook and read those statements.

In addition, it also helps to write down a list of things you are thankful for in this world. For instance:  good health, a good marriage, lots of friends, being smart and resourceful, and a good education are things that any person can be thankful for. Whenever you get discouraged in finding another job, take out your list and focus on the things that make you happy. This technique will make you feel better and give you more encouragement to continue with the job search.

Sometimes, we may be nervous doing a certain task that may be scary. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you have an interview in a few days. Before the big day comes, imagine that you are in the interview. Imagine that you are talking to the manager about your qualifications. By practicing the interview using your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self-Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation.

Finding a new job can be tough, however remember to take it one day at a time. While the consequences of a particular fear may seem real, there are usually other factors that can’t be anticipated and can affect the results of any situation. Focus on the present and do your best each day.

Our anxieties and stresses can be difficult to manage when finding a new job. Managing your stress during a job search takes practice. Be patient and in time you will become better in dealing with your anxieties.

Contributed by:

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/.

Benefits to Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping

Outsourcing your bookkeeping tasks is a simple, cost-effective way to aid the small business owner in maintaining accurate accounting records without having to constantly employ a high-cost CPA. Additionally, outsourcing your bookkeeping is an excellent way to ensure that the smaller accounting tasks are completed as they need to be done.

Often times the small business owner doesn’t have enough bookkeeping work to keep a bookkeeper busy on even a part-time basis which will make it difficult to fill such a position within the company.  Freelance bookkeepers offer a variety of services to the business owner, including customer invoicing and statements, whether monthly or as needed; processing accounts payables, preparing Form 1099 and year end Form W-2’s, payroll services; preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements; bank account reconciliations; and a variety of other services.

Some freelance bookkeeping services provide any forms that you may need and even computer software, such as QuickBooks, that you may want to use. By outsourcing the bookkeeping duties, the business owner can focus on marketing, growth in sales and even the human relations within the company. Although the business owner may not have the time or maybe the knowledge to handle the bookkeeping duties themselves, by outsourcing, they can rest easy knowing their day-to-day accounting needs are being met and are accurate. Additionally, outsourcing the bookkeeping tasks can save the business owner up to 40% in costs. There would be no need to provide office, space, additional office supplies, or pay for other costs that are not typically considered on a regular basis such as electric, water and other utilities, etc. Such costs are still paid for in the fees that are paid to the freelance bookkeeping company; however, they are typically less costly than if the business was absorbing all the costs in all the areas associated with bookkeeping themselves. These costs would be minimal because they are possibly divided between several businesses using the same freelance bookkeeping company, or maybe the small business owner chooses to employ the services of an individual who works from their home. Those overhead expenses would then be shared with the regular operation of the freelance bookkeeper’s home office. Freelance bookkeepers are sometimes trained by CPA’s and/or have completed a college education with a focus on accounting.

It is important for the business owner to remember that although the outsourcing bookkeeping service is most likely qualified to complete tax returns, most do not offer this service. The preparation and filing of annual tax returns is typically the responsibility of the CPA or financial advisor of the company. Additionally, most do not offer a review of the financial statements that they prepare for the company.  Freelance bookkeeping services realize that businesses come in all sizes and they are equipped and able to handle businesses of all sizes, from only one or two individuals to many employees in a variety of different departments. The opportunities and benefits that outsourcing bookkeeping tasks are endless, but the most important is probably the fact that necessary tasks are being completed as needed in a timely manner and the work performed will be accurate.

Contributed by:
Joy Phelan
Magical Bookkeeping Solutions, LLC
225 Union Blvd., Ste #150
Lakewood, CO 80228
303-974-6997 Office
720-221-0723 fax
www.lakewoodbookkeepingaccounting.com

Dealing With The Anxieties And Stresses Of Managing Your Own Business

By Stanley Popovich

Many business owners have to deal with a lot of stress and anxiety nowadays. It can be tough to own your own business and to be successful in what you do. As a result, here are some suggestions on how you can reduce the stress of owning your own business.

The first step is to manage your expenses and pay your bills on time. Develop a budget, do not spend more than what you make, and learn to reduce your expenses when you can.

Learn to manage your responsibilities by assigning certain tasks to others. If you do not have time to do the accounting, then let your assistant do it. You are only one person and can only do so much on a given day. Do what is most important and delegate the rest.

Talk with your customers and employees on a regular basis. Find out what is on their minds. Ask for any suggestions on how to improve business productivity and morale. Communicating with your workers and clients will help prevent future problems and conflicts.

Most importantly, develop a business plan and follow it. Being organized and goal oriented is very important in managing a business. Following a plan or set of goals will prevent you from a lot of stress and anxiety. It is much easier to accomplish anything once you have a plan.

Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week or coming month, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your business problems. Hopefully, when the time comes, you will have learned the skills to deal with your situation.

Be smart in how you deal with your business problems. Do not try to tackle everything all at once. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, break the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increase your chances of success.

Managing a business can be stressful, but the key is knowing how to manage your anxieties. There is a right way and wrong way to manage a business. Continue to learn effective techniques in managing your business and improve your bottom line. This will go a long way in getting rid of your stress and other business problems.

Contributed By:

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/ 
 

Tips For A Successful Joint Venture

By Christopher Freville

Team building for a business generally implies developing a company’s human resources to deliver the best possible results. However team building is not merely about developing your own company as a team, it is also about working as a team with other businesses. A joint venture, known more commonly as a JV, is all about teamwork with other businesses to further common goals and interests. A JV is all about business expansion, resource optimization and is not restricted in participation to just two sets of individuals or companies.

It hardly needs to be mentioned that when you choose a partner for a joint venture, it is best if you select partners with solid reputations, and are people you can trust due to their high levels of integrity. Joint ventures require a lot of effort in getting off the ground in terms of human resource development and team building as any relationship needs a lot of nurturing to grow. Trust and integrity are important keywords and both the organizations involved should stick to their promises, not do anything unethical and work towards building an atmosphere of trust.

Finding the right partner involves market research and you should only approach another party for setting up a joint venture if you are comfortable with entering a long-term relationship with them. You should look for organizations which have similar business practices to yours, for otherwise you will not be able to work with people with vastly different values and business ethics, or people who do not operate in as motivated and professional a manner you do.

You should spell out from the very beginning what it is that you expect to accomplish through your partnership. Only after you find that both your goals and those of your partner are mutually compatible and both of you agree on what it is you expect from each other, should you consider a joint venture.

Before entering into any contract, as always, you should ensure that all legal loopholes have been ironed out, like any special considerations for allocations, management issues and availability of resources, mutual gains and the sharing of the gains, any tax and any deductions based issues. You should also have a firmly chalked out business plan and which both the parties agree upon and then it should be followed to the letter, unless agreed upon mutually at a later point. A joint venture will help you to manage and allocate resources efficiently as well as optimize business policies.

When you propose a joint venture to someone you need to analyze to what extent is the venture going to benefit both parties. Only when it benefits both parties equally can you enter the venture. Also a big company will require very good reasons to enter into a contract with a smaller company or else the proposal of the smaller company will be declined.

Honesty and transparency are of the utmost importance and you have to learn with every step of the joint venture, so that you can develop future ventures in a better manner. Should any issues arise, it is best to talk openly about them and resolve them as soon as possible.

 

Contributed by:  Christopher Freville is one of the online businesses’ most successful entrepreneurs.  See how you can be like him too!  Click here now!  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_J_Freville

Surrounding Yourself With Success

By Andrea Costantine

You might have heard that you are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most. This includes your income, your knowledge, your growth and your success. Who you surround yourself with in life and business directly impacts the results you see and create.

We all have a choice as to who we surround ourselves with. Why wouldn’t we surround ourselves with the best so we can be our best? While some feel that they need to do everything on their own, cannot ask or receive support, and may end up struggling for years, happy, successful people are more than willing to share in their success and spread the wealth.

Instead of trying to do or be it all for everyone else, we at Behind the Moon encourage you to embrace all of the help and support that is available to you.  Surround yourself with resources and power partners that can give to you, and to whom you can give back to as well.

Success doesn’t always happen alone, but your chances significantly improve when surrounding yourself with the right people, developing trusting relationships, and being committed for the long-term.

There are many ways to surround yourself with people who can lift you up, but first start by asking a few important questions:

1. What do I want to get from being a part of a group of powerful players?

2. What kind of commitment can I make to the other group members?

3. How willing am I to make some serious changes and listen to advice?

4. What can I give back in return, whether in time, money, or meaning?

Networking groups are one powerful way to surround yourself with great people. Other ways can include joining a mastermind, hiring a coach, finding a mentor, or creating your own group.

With a positive, upbeat, can-do attitude, Behind the Moon groups bring power partners together in both social networking and referral group settings. If you are looking to ramp up your year, check out the many groups and locations that are forming all around Colorado.  You too can surround yourself with people who will lift you up, inspire you, challenge and help you grow – all the while taking you and your business to higher levels of success.

Behind The Moon networking events calendar is at www.behindthemooninc.com/events/cfm

Behind The Moon Referral Group information is at http://tinyurl.com/BTM-Referral-Groups

(c) 2010 Behind The Moon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

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Feel free to share this article in its entirety and include the Bio information below along with live link back to this blog post.  Thank you.

Andrea Costantine is a writer, speaker, and wanna-be artist, focusing on the good things in life.  She is a perpetual optimist, lover of nature, yoga, travel, and new experiences.  Learn more about Andrea at www.andreacostantine.com.

Why Networking is an Essential Part of Growing Your Business

By Sabrina Risley

Whenever you desire to grow your business, it’s essential for networking to be part of your plan. There are many ways that you can work to grow your business and get more clients, but a proven way of doing this is through networking, meeting new people, and expanding your database of contacts, prospects and resources.

While I definitely recommend professional networking functions, it’s important to know that these aren’t the only places to network. However, because participants at professional networking functions are there to grow their business, they generally have quite a few contacts and could be a potential gold-mine for you and your business.

A common mistake many make with networking is thinking it only happens at professional meeting places or during business hours. Truthfully, networking can happen anywhere, at any time of day and at any location. The key is to look for opportunities to connect with others on a different level.  Think of all the places where you are surrounded by others with common interests – the gym, the ski lodge, hiking trails, community events, volunteer work, etc. – these all provide common ground that helps to easily build rapport with new people you meet.

Networking shouldn’t be about selling your services/products or pushing your agenda on others.  Instead, it should be about taking a genuine interest in others and looking to connect them with resources. Remember when you are there to build relationships which can sometimes take time and attention.  Selling and me-centered conversations puts up walls and shuts you out from the opportunity for others to want to get to know you.

Networking pays off when you are consistent, generous, and present. It works for those who put the work into building and maintaining relationships.  It is not a quick fix, nor an overnight solution.  But it can and will be a lucrative strategy for those who are willing to put in the effort.

(c) 2010 Behind The Moon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

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Feel free to share this article in its entirety and include the Bio information below along with live link back to this blog post.  Thank you.

Sabrina Risley founded Behind The Moon, Inc.® in 2003, a Colorado-based networking and referral group organization that sets itself apart with its motto “grow your business by helping others grow theirs.” Behind The Moon offers several networking events across Colorado’s Front Range, as well as referral groups that attract professionals who network to give rather than get.  You will find Sabrina speaking to audiences about effective networking techniques, the power of partnerships, and principles of service and giving as a means to grow a business.  To learn more about Behind The Moon, please visit http://www.BehindTheMoonInc.com. 

How To Find A Great Mentor

By Neen James

A career coach or mentor is a person who can guide you with the benefit of their experience. He or she may be someone more senior from within your organization or someone external to your organization who has been successful in the field or skills you want to develop. The right mentor can help you accelerate career, boost your self-development and improve your working relationships. And remember that a mentor is not only helpful in your career the benefits of having a mentor are relevant to all areas of your life – whether fitness, financial or lifestyle.

Decide what area you want help with. Examine your life and determine whether you want help with your career, your health or your relationships. When you know the area or areas you want to focus on you can begin searching for a suitable mentor.

Who are the top performers? Whichever area of your life you decide to seek a mentor for, find out who the experts are, who does it better than anyone else?

Where’s the hang out? Next, find out where your role models hang out – check out networking events and groups, industry events and conferences – make note of anyone who stands out and has the ‘presence’ you are looking for.

Look into programs. Many organizations now have internal mentoring programs that you can become a part of. If you work for yourself you can investigate Government programs that offer mentoring programs.

Select your mentor. When you identify the person you believe would be a suitable mentor, spend some time watching them in action. Ask around to find out what other people’s opinion of your chosen mentor are and find out all you can about their achievements, beliefs, values and way of operating. This will give you insight into them before you approach them about mentoring you.

Approach your mentor. Phone your prospective mentor and ask to make an appointment to see them. Tell him or her why you want to meet and schedule a time. It is important that your interactions are professional and show respect for your prospective mentors’ time. This demonstrate that you are committed to doing the right thing.

Have an agenda. When you do meet, have an outline of what you would like to discuss. Your agenda should include why you want them to mentor you, for how long and what you hope to gain during that time. If they do agree to mentor you, you can then work out how you can support them too – this should be a two-way process.

Make an agreement. If you both decide to proceed, set up an agreement with guidelines about how your relationship will work and what you both expect from each other.

Contributed by Neen James, a Global Productivity Expert.  More about Need James at http://neenjames.com/.