About Jackson County, GA

Networking isn’t as easy as just showing up to an event and handing out business cards. Networking is an art. It's not Net-eat, net-shove-business -cards, net-relax, it's netWORK.

As president of the Chateau Elan networking group, I've seen individuals of all ranges with varying ranges of success. Here are 5 tips that I have found in the more successful networkers.

1. Wait for the right window of opportunity to share your information.
Show an interest in others first and then when the focus turns to you, share your business card and business goals. When someone walks in handing out business cards indiscriminately, it’s tantamount to “network spamming.” In our networking group, we have a question, "How Can I help you with your business?" As the person thinks, it in turn makes them want to ask you... about your business.

2. Networking is about looking for opportunities to give.
Anyone is capable of great networking through good listening and caring about others’ success. Furthermore, everyone has a wealth of resources to offer. If your first goal is to be a valuable resource to others, the networking karma will be returned many times over.

Furthermore, giving opportunities to others in a group setting gives you credibility and visibility. Coincidentally, that should be your goal in a closed networking group - that is to build those two as fast as you can.

3. Become adept at gathering information.
After you have built relationships with your contacts, it’s time to share your business needs. Be as specific as possible when asking for leads, referrals or information. Specific requests glean the best results. It’s also helpful to provide examples of how you have helped a client. Always acknowledge any kind of help you receive and ask how you can return the favor.

Also be specific about your goals. Ask for 3 referrals, or ask for a referral after certain events take place, like after a home purchase.

4. Be Specific about what you want
A reference I use, is ask for the 1996 red honda civic. You have to be very specific or else people will not be able to access their mental database or their "reticular activator" in order to help you.

If you've ever gone shopping for a car and thought that no one owned the car. After you bought the vehicle you realized that everyone has the same car. It's same principle. Jeff Pickering has a great explanation here.

5. Find your comfort zone.
Networking is a contact sport, but you don't have to fear being "ran over." Most reasonable people understand that you're there to get more business just like they are. Re-read number 2. The best ice-breakers are ones where you are asking questions about others. Also, you can ask for advice on how you might communicate your needs more effectively - people love to give advice and in turn they are learning about your business.

To reap the benefits of networking you must be a farmer. That means not only having a giving heart and sowing seeds, but it also means nurturing the relationships (like tending the fields). Remember, you can't get the fruit of your labor sometimes unless you wait for it!

Good Luck!

Celebrate St. Patty's Day at Paddy's Irish Pub located in Chateau Elan. Festivities will begin at 5:00 pm. Davey Clark, Irish musician, playing at Paddy's and Bulletproof, rock and dance band, playing in the Pavilion.

Below is an excerpt from the Chateau Elan Website describing the Pub,

The Panoz's who lived and worked in Ireland for 20 years commissioned Paddy's as a reminder of their fond experiences in the auld sod.

Completely authentic, all of Paddy's furnishings and fixtures were created in Ireland. The pub was then shipped to Château Élan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Georgia, reassembled here, and opened in July of 1997. Paddy's is a spirited pub serving up traditional Irish food, beverage, and live music.

Visit their website here for more information. http://www.chateauelan.com/dining/paddys-.html

The Kubota Corp. will break ground on a new 350,000 sq ft facility located behind the existing Kubota building in the McClure Industrial Park located in Jefferson Ga. This is the fifth facility to open in GA. This facility is set to open late 2008. Plans are to invest more than 16 million in this distribution center.

Mainstreet News paper article http://mainstreetnews.com/2008/02:13:08/J0213D.html

I grabbed this off a press release but it's true. If you've ever been to the Village at Deaton Creek in Hoschton, GA, you'll know why people are flocking there.

Pulte Homes (NYSE: PHM) is pleased to announce that Metrostudy has named the Village at Deaton Creek by Del Webb Metro Atlanta's top selling community for 2007 in its fourth quarter report for 2007. Metrostudy is a housing market research firm that is the leading provider of real estate and related market information in the country. Metrostudy provides primary and secondary market information to the housing and related industries nationwide.

Del Webb attributes its successful year to three key factors - the reputation as the nation's leader in active adult lifestyle communities for more than 47 years, the large base of baby boomer households in Atlanta, and the community's entire $10 million amenity package being fully functional.

Atlanta is in line with national trends that point to baby boomers as the fastest growing population and household segments. According to the US Census Bureau, there are over 530,000 households in the Atlanta market that are 55 and over. That is nearly 30% of all households in the Atlanta area. "We see a majority of our customers coming from the Atlanta area. Baby Boomers are one of the largest groups in the market, and they have significant buying power," says Cooper. This group also represents the largest growing segment in the market - by 2011, it will account for nearly 700,000 households. In fact, one in five metro Atlanta residents will be 60 or older by 2030.

The 35,000 square foot Club at Deaton Creek amenity center opened its doors in the summer of 2007, and the final phase of Village at Deaton Creek's amenities opened on schedule in December, just a year from the first homeowners moving in. Cooper notes, "The lifestyle is in full swing, so customers can envision themselves living in the community." Situated in Hoschton, near Chateau Élan, Village at Deaton Creek offers a full-time lifestyle director, 35,000 square foot clubhouse, miles of walking trails, a tennis complex, bocce ball courts, a dog park, and softball.

Cooper adds, "Being only 40 miles north of Atlanta, we offer our customers the opportunity to downsize and stay close to their family and friends, plus immediate access to a highly social and highly amenitized lifestyle."

Final approval on commercial development in Braselton, GA. Liberty Village will be located across from Chateau Elan on the corner of Hwy 211 and Liberty Church Rd. Per the article below some buildings could be in place within the next 60 days.

Link to full story here