Making Connections

by Bobbie Weiner, aka “Bloody Mary”

Making connections is one of the most important aspects of owning and running a business today! Whether it’s a hot dog stand or a makeup company, it is all the same. You must get out there and make as many connections as possible. You never know who you are meeting and what value they can offer to enhance your business, whether you are flying next to someone on an airplane or sitting down for lunch at a cafeteria.

People love to talk about themselves and what they are doing. As long as you can remember to let them talk and let you know what they do and what they are up to in their lives, it just might fit in with something you are doing or they might have connections for you.

I have met more interesting people in my travels then you could imagine. Everyone brings something to the table and if you can be receptive and positive, you would not believe what can happen when you are not even thinking about growing your entrepreneurship. It is important to give them one of your cards and make sure you have an email address on it, not just a web site. Get one of theirs and if they do not have one, write down their information. I always have a little pad and pen in my bag for just this. When you get to a computer in the next day or two, write them a note—a short one is fine. Just mention who you were and when you met. You have to follow up!

This is how I came to write my autobiography, “I Can Do This”, The Bloody Mary Story. I talked to many people on airplanes and they heard my story and said, “You should write a book” So I did. My feedback was so positive, that I figured why not! Remember, you have nothing to lose by putting yourself out there. If you do not seize the moment, it might just pass you by!

At 46 years old, 2011 Texas Conference for Women speaker Bobbie Weiner, a.k.a. “Bloody Mary,” started a new career by going to makeup school in 1993 for the film and TV industry. After her first horror film, “Pumpkinhead II,” she was nicknamed “Bloody Mary” by the crew. Today Weiner owns and operates a multimillion-dollar makeup company.