Like many small business owners I find my position as State Training Director for the Nevada Small Business Development Center (NSBDC) shifting in how I conduct business, and in how I connect with existing and new NSBDC clients and partners.  Five years ago we were happy with providing free standing seminars on popular subjects such as customer service, employee retention, team building, leadership, conflict resolution, communication skills, etc.  Large companies sent their employees for professional development training, and small business owners invested a few hours here and there to polish their skills.  People came, they learned, and they went back to work.  Marketing tools consisted of a standard press release, an uncomplicated e-blast and word of mouth.  Hard copy brochures were mailed out and newspapers listed our events in a calendar section.

As management and marketing tools evolve so do we.  Social media sites have allowed people to communicate directly, with each other, on a 24/7 clock.  Faces appear that personalize the message and no longer do we settle for a monotone voice.  Today we look for conversations that make us feel valued, and the business education and training events that we choose are based not only on a topic, but who we can meet before, during and after we sit and learn.

I have had the pleasure of developing a countless number of meaningful, powerful, valuable and pleasant business relationships this year because our community has evolved to an impressive level of effective networking practices both on-line and in-person.  We are an amazing region of incredible people and my expertise of “knowing experts” is growing exponentially.  I invite you to feel welcome on a 24/7 basis to leave a comment or suggest a training topic that allows our business community to continue its evolution in gaining knowledge, friendships and partnerships…all at the same time!