As a Leads Club chapter consultant for Los Angeles and member of the Burbank networking group, two of my most important goals for 2009 are to start new chapters and increase the membership of existing chapters.

I had the opportunity to meet with Lisa Bentson a few months ago and discuss some ideas regarding my goals as well as my observations. Having been a member of several different chapters over the past 10 plus years, the first thing that I have noticed is that I have usually been one of the youngest entrepreneurs in my Leads Club Chapter. This never bothered me and the other members always seem to “take me under their wing”, show me the ropes of their group, act as mentors, and many have even become dear friends.

Now the concept of Leads was easy for me to grasp. The meetings typically run like a well oiled machine, with an easy to follow program along with the help of current members as mentioned above, I was able to start “working it” with business referrals almost immediately after my first lunch meeting. Many years later, networking is pretty much a way of life for me now. If you have been in Leads for any length of time I think you can relate. In the same way you use your skills to refer your Leads partners; you can use those skills to build your membership!

As you already know, the success of every business depends on maintaining loyalty of existing customers, while enticing new, perhaps, younger clients to buy your products or use your services. In the same respect, Leads Club needs to continue to attract new members. Not just people that have been in business for years or seasoned professionals, but new entrepreneurs that are fresh out of college, just starting out with a great idea and have no clue about the benefits of business networking. This will not only contribute to the continued success of Leads Club, but also our individual businesses. Sometimes this can be a little overwhelming, especially if you feel that it may difficult for you to relate to a more youthful crowd of consumers. Have you ever said the phrase, “I don’t understand these kids today”? lol. On the flip side, the younger set finds it difficult to understand our business practices as they seem to perceive anyone born before 1980 as “technologically challenged”, lol.

Now, since we are the more “mature” side of the equation, it is up to us to take the first step to bridge the gap between our generations. This new crop of Gen Y’ers that are coming onto the business scene are rapidly becoming the most entrepreneurial generation in our nation’s history. Enrolling these young entrepreneurs in Leads Club will require some forethought and incite.

Lisa has asked me to do extensive research on the subject and has actually created a position for me with the Leads Club organization, the Young Professionals’ Liaison. I am thrilled to take on this new challenge and I look forward to sharing all of the information I have gathered and studied by bringing you monthly blogs. Topics will include: comparisons of modern day generations; discussions of why this new generation is so different than its predecessors; how you have been able to transcend your generation’s perceived limitations; things you should know about Gen Y such as goals, challenges, values and characteristics; understanding younger generation’s favorite technologies, social networking sites, entertainment events and how we can use these as tools to attract Gen Y.

I hope to thoroughly inform you, assist you in your efforts and possibly entertain you in the process. It would also be fun to interact with you during this experience. If you are interested in communicating with me, maybe we can use this as an opportunity to try some of the new technologies available like instant messaging on Facebook perhaps, (search Traci Smith, Los Angeles). Why not, right? Let’s really have some fun with this! But if you’re not quite comfortable with that stuff yet, you can just email me: traci@traciwithatoolbelt.com

The only down side I can see here is that I will no longer be one of the younger members of a Leads Chapter, it was bound to happen eventually I guesss… lol!

Traci Smith
Traci With A Toolbelt
Los Angeles, CA