LOS ANGELES — (March 27, 2008) — Buttocks of all types and sizes will be recognized and celebrated during the month of April, 2008 by Continue Reading »

My name is Joseph Sedillo and I’m proud to be the Coordinator for the Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) Men’s Wellness Center.

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The Portland Gay Pride Festival will be June 14-15 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

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Shortly after coming out, I joined PABA (Portland Area Business Association,) Portland’s gay and lesbian Chamber of Commerce. I was excitedly telling my mom all about it when she (practically) interrupted me and asked “if gay and lesbian people want to be accepted by all of society then why have a business group that accents your differences?” Hmmmm.

Well…I had a pretty good answer. Several good answers, actually.

All of us humans like to be around people like us. I like doing business with gay people because they make great clients and they provide fabulous service.

How someone stands on social and politcal issues makes a big difference to me. I would rather do business with someone who is likely to agree with me on issues like discrimination and equal rights. Where we spend our money does make a difference - it is our strongest vote.

Joining together as a group allows us to make a difference where we can’t as individuals. In the short time I have been a member of PABA, Oregon approved domestic partnerships and outlawed employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation. I was at the forefront of those issues because of the connections I made in PABA.

It’s also a good place to meet quality people!

This year, PABA is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. That is incredible in its own right. The big party (we love parties, ya know) is on December 5 at Aura. You can get more information about the party by visiting the PABA website. There will be a Silent Auction for fun and to raise funds for the organization.

My website marketing business has done well over the past couple of years. I owe that success to my involvement in business networking groups, including PABA.

Consider supporting a business organization that supports our community in Portland. Membership is inexpensive and the services provided are top-notch.

I know you are shaking your head and harrumphing in disbelief. I certainly would be. In fact, sometimes I still do that when I think about how incredibly easy it was to dish out four hundred bucks on a Tuesday and collect six thousand dollars seven days later. I doubt you’ll believe it when it happens to you too.

I have to confess. I lied a little bit. It wasn’t all the easy to dole out $400 on an investment. It wasn’t like I had a bundle of money on my desk. This was my rent money!

I’m an entrepreneur, a sole proprietor. For the past several years I’ve been working hard at growing my web design business – XN28D Studios. But, as is often the case with small businesses, I was shoe-stringing it and often only just making it hand to mouth. And for the web business, November through January are completely dead. No new clients. I mean, who wants to spend a few thousand dollars on a website what with all of these expensive holidays? And, let’s not dwell on the pre-tax months.

So. To make a long story short, this $400 was all that separated me from homelessness.

But, I HAD to make this investment. I certainly couldn’t continue working the way I was … 12 to 15 hour days, seven days a week … building websites isn’t like baking a cake, y’know.

When you’re in business for yourself, particularly in a service-oriented business, there’s this balancing act you have to do between seeking and acquiring new clients and actually doing the work. If you spend too much time getting new business, your current business suffers. If you forego the search for new clients, your client base eventually dries up.

My good friend Rob, also an entrepreneur, always seemed to have business coming to him. Oh, yes, he did his bit of marketing; but it seemed he was always running to meet new clients … and then to the bank. Lord knows I envied him this business and how easily it came to him.

Finally out of frustration I finally asked him how it was he was getting so much new business. He kind of smirked and told me the usual things you’d expect to hear: have a great product/service, provide incredible customer service, join the chamber, advertise, be active in the community … stuff we all know. I was crestfallen. He laughed at the look on my face and divulged his secret.

And here it is …

“I went and got 40 sales people who help sell my service each and every day!”

WHAT? He never told me he hired anyone. He didn’t have an office; he worked out of his home. Was he stuffing them in the tool shed?

That’s when he told me about LeTip International. “LeTip has chapters all over the globe. Each week you have face to face networking with other business professionals. This has been proven time and time to be one of the most effective ways to market your business.” He said.

“Each member of the chapter acts as your salesperson, helping you promote your business to their contacts. We call these referrals “tips.” That’s why I have a lot of business. In the same way, I find that I can offer my clients and other people I meet the services of the members of my chapter and know that the client will be taken care of.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice! He took me to a few different chapter meetings and I was quickly brought up to speed on how the organization worked and what its benefits were. I met dozens of earnest, dedicated businesspeople each a salesperson for the other. The last meeting I attended was with the Lake Oswego chapter at the time presided over by Darrin Gross. I was amazed at the energy of this team and knew I had to join this group.

It tough getting in, but the “Inspector” at the time, Bruce Hildreth, told me all the rules, gave me some information and encouraged me to attend again. Which I did a week later. Bruce asked if I wanted in – of course! – so I filled out the application and wrote my $400.00 check with a great deal of trepidation, mind you.

Less than a week later I was voted in and handed my first “tip” from Bruce. It was a referral to build two websites. I called the client and within a week I had a $6,000.00 contract! I’d call that a great tip!

Not only was it a great tip, but a great investment. Since joining LeTip of Lake Oswego mere months ago I’ve had a constant stream of calls and new clients. Now, for the first time, I am looking to hire my first employee!

If you are in business and want to aggressively grow your contacts and client base, then call me and I’ll introduce you to LeTip and your future staff!

Resources:

www.loletip.com - Lake Oswego LeTip

www.rivercityletip.com – River City LeTip

Aaron C Yeagle is a partner in TRANSMUTATION SCIENCES, INC. an internet services company that designs, optimizes, markets, promotes websites for everyone from musicians to major corporations. Visit his site www.transmutationsciences.com. If you are interested in joining LeTip call him at 971-207-4492