9 minute read
Lady of Networking
INRVIEWED BY THE HEART LINK NETWORK
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WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
Hi Heart Link friends! I was raised in Chicago. Fireflies, caterpillars, crawdads, tadpoles, leaping into leaf piles in fall and building igloos during winter pretty much sums up my early childhood. After all that, I ended up a Southern CA girl!
My business roots started in the wireless phone industry. I rode that huge growth wave and was on teams responsible for launching services into the market like voice mail and text messaging, and developing new business nationwide. The travel was fun, until my three boys came along, then the mom guilt set in. We finally found a way for me to become a stay home mom, and I instantly became a MOMpreneur on a mission to accomplish three very important things.
First, to make my family’s health and nutrition a priority, second, to help others do the same, and third to earn a great living serving my greater purpose. I had helped the wireless industry build an empire helping people gain better technology. I had every reason to shift that energy into building an empire helping families like my own gain better health. I was looking for a way to exceed my income in the corporate world with something meaningful that I could work around my family, instead of the other way around. When a friend told me about a way to make sure my kids were eating A LOT of fruits and vegetables, I was all over that! When she told me that I could create a business helping other families solve this age-old fruit and veggie problem, the rest is history!
So now I literally push produce! My company offers 7 plant-based products, whole food concentrates that deliver a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, berries, omegas, and grains. I’m proud to say that they are of the highest quality, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO. I can also help you start a garden that grows without dirt and takes far less water and space than a traditional garden. They are another way I’m helping to change the world for the better, and doing it with thousands of like-minded people on a mission to improve the world together!
HOW AND WHEN DID YOU START YOUR HLN?
In 2009, after running my business for a few years, I began exploring networking groups on Meetup.com. I found a Heart Link Network chapter nearby which became my debut into the networking world! I can still picture the meeting and some of the great women I met. It was warm, friendly and supportive. I felt welcome and that everyone was genuinely interested in what each other had to say. A slogan popped into my head during that meeting that I still use today: “The Heart Link Network is a community of entrepreneurial women with a mutual respect and desire to support one another”. After that meeting, I called Dawn Billings and started my chapter the following month in Laguna Niguel, CA. I’ve only had to cancel two meetings in ten years, once for my son’s graduation and the other for a slab leak! I’ve been blessed with consistently strong meeting attendance with the most genuine, high integrity women. This year we opened a second monthly meeting to accommodate more women who desired to experience the Heart Link Network.
HOW DOES HLN AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS AND LIFE?
My life has more purpose because of the Heart Link Network. What first began as a way to expand my warm market has morphed into a passion to help other women become successful in their own businesses. I think it’s become part of my personal brand. I’ve become known as a community leader and supporter of entrepreneurs. As a result, I think people identify me as a person who cares about others, is trustworthy, dedicated and reliable. That translates to what they can expect from me as a business owner. I have a few philosophies that are a foundation to my Heart Link Network group. 1) Friendship first, 2) We complete not compete, 3) Serve others. This quote is the epitome of our Heart Link Network members: “A glowing woman can help other women glow and still be lit!” Being the leader of this group has given me more accountability to live out these principles in my own life. As a result, I have become a better person in the process.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU MORE?
I’ve been to many networking groups and I feel the Heart Link Network format is bar none, so there’s not much room for improvement! What we do need is a more active online community.
As a leader who works hard to maintain a local online FB community I can tell you that this can only happen with a collective effort from The Heart Link chapter leaders and members. It’s up to the leaders to create a culture of contribution and support. There are many networking groups today that are perceived to be amazing primarily because of their on line community building. Although the Heart Link Network established success long before social media, it’s time to catch up with the times and make our national online presence just as strong!
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR YOUR HLN SISTER LEADERS?
I believe these are some of the reasons my chapter has gained a consistent following. Be consistent. Give members what they expect and more, every time!
Meetup.com has been one of the best tools for attracting new members, communicating with attendees and staying organized. It’s a necessary investment in Heart Link chapter success and time management in my opinion.
Genuinely treat your guests as “friends first”. That’s my motto. Once you’ve earned a friend, you’ve earned trust, and that’s what earns business. Many members will tell you they come to my meetings for the fellowship with girlfriends! Give your guests time to mingle on the front end and back end of the sharing time.
Be sure to take time for what I call “shout-outs” because testimonials help gain trust in others’ products and services. I’ve created a culture of genuine friendship and support which we’ve extended to our Heart Link chapter Facebook page.
Our meetings are unique because guests get the best of both worlds, the opportunity to give and receive presentations, and the opportunity to mix and mingle rather than being stuck at a long table in a restaurant. Encourage your members to collaborate with each other on events and recognize one another in social media. I’ve been doing this by interviewing featured members on Facebook live on my personal page and then sharing in my Heart Link facebook group. These videos go somewhat viral and provide excellent exposure for your member and you! One of my recent member interviews attracted 1,000 viewers! Now more members are recognizing others in the same way!
I’ve implemented a lead and sales tracking system, along with a randomly drawn featured referral member of the month. These tools help to raise the level of referring, recognize the act of referring and the outcome, and help people focus on listening for opportunities to refer people they may not have thought of before.
I coach everyone on what types of content to post and how to personalize their posts so they are supportive and encouraging, rather than self serving. It’s become a way for my members to connect and earn trust in between our meetings! Lastly, take photos throughout your meetings. Share them on your personal social media pages and chapter pages, and tag everyone in them! People see how much fun my group is and how happy everyone is to be there. They consistently see the smiles and feel the energy through the photos and want to be a part of it all!
GREENLIFE
In addition to caring for her family and supporting entrepreneurs in her community, Caprice has devoted her life to inspiring healthy living around the world. She works with a company that figured out a way to juice fine quality produce and concentrate the plant nutrients into capsules and chewable forms. She says,”It’s the simplest way to guarantee families are getting a wide variety of plant nutrition in their bodies daily. It’s like a nutritional seat-belt for our health.” She runs a program that uses plant nutrition and optimal food choices to cleanse the body of toxins so people can feel better and adopt healthier lifestyles.
Caprice can also help you grow organic produce in your house or yard without dirt or watering! It’s called aeroponic gardening and gives just about anyone the option to grow their own food! A vertical, aeroponic growing system that allows you to grow up to 20 vegetables and herbs in less than 3 square feet making it the perfect companion in your journey to healthy living!
Contact Caprice Crebar for healthy solutions like these, or for more information regarding The Heart Link Network Laguna Niguel.
