Is networking a shallow, self-serving, fly-by-night deal ? Many people think so, and I believe this reputation is due to some professionals and business people that, unknowingly, act in a manner fuelling this negative image.

I think that every aspect of our lives evolves through networking, and that it should be about helping other people before anything else. Most of the time, if you offer something of value to a perfect stranger, the chances of them reciprocating is so much higher.

So to contribute in giving networking the altruistic reputation it should have, I will share with you 20 tips and etiquette rules that, if followed, will make you a better networker and enhance the experience for everyone.

Last week we announced that Usana Health Sciences has officially launched its operations in Colombia and Phoenix Alliance will start a team there !

This week we are very excited to announce our August Networking Event. Come connect with other motivated entrepreneurs and professionals, in a relaxed atmosphere, over French pastries.

Wednesday, August 7^th, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
Click here for complete details and to sign-up while tickets last.

There are four main programs available to people wishing to immigrate to Quebec, Canada: Investor, Entrepreneur, Self-Employed, and Skilled Worker. Each program has a varying degree of time and financial investments involved.

If you are considering immigrating to the province of Quebec, in Canada, you will have to choose one category and be eligible for acceptance, following the criteria determined by the government.

But once that goal has been achieved, one of the most helpful things is the ability to accumulate a financial reserve in Quebec, in order to limit the depletion of the reserve you are required to bring with you when establishing in the province.

We will explore why self-financing is the best solution and how to accomplish it in the most efficient manner, financially and time-wise.

Last week we were exhibitors at the Startupfest 2013, sharing the information about our Fall 2013 training semester and our new promotions (discounted and free tuition, and $1000 to $4000 scholarships).

This week we are very excited to announce that Usana Health Sciences has officially launched its operations in their 20^th market today ! Phoenix Alliance now has the opportunity to make another international expansion, by starting up a team in Colombia !

If you or someone you know are interested in taking advantage of this great opportunity  contact us now !

Everybody enjoys being right … right? Well here is some amazing news on that subject: no matter what you think, you will always be right! I have respectfully named this reality «the waiter syndrome».

Imagine yourself being assigned a table at a restaurant. The waiter gives you a quick look and evaluates how much tip you will give him. He acts accordingly, and sure enough, you leave him exactly the amount of tip he had guessed you would. And every time he is right, he becomes more convinced of his power to predict the future.

But how does the waiter do it? Is it magic? Hardly. When he thinks he will receive a good tip, he gives a good service. And when he thinks the tip will be lousy, guess what kind of service you will be receiving from him. This is a simple matter of self-fulfilling prophecy.

This reality is fascinating to observe in the business world, where the topic of money is a big deal, provoking the entire array of emotions, accompanied by the matching results. Let’s explore this eye-opening phenomenon.

Last week we were preparing to attend the Startupfest 2013 as participants only. Since then we found out our application to have a Demo Table in the Tent Village during the Open House has been approved.

We are very excited to have the opportunity of sharing the information about our Fall 2013 training semester and our new promotions, meeting prospective partners, and generally just being part of this great business community.

We invite you to come meet us this Saturday, July 13^th, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Old Port of Montreal, near St-Laurent blvd. The Tent Village will be accessible to the general public, free of charge.

This week we are also unveiling our Fall 2013 Promotions !

First, we have discounted the cost of tuition by 33%.
You can’t afford not to take advantage of this opportunity to start financing yourself in 12 weeks, instead of relying on credit or grants.

Second, we offer a $7500.00 gift to organizations (not-for-profit, and all others too).
FREE tuition for them and their four team members to build a business whose revenues will replace their fundraising.

Third, the cost of training is split in two.
The tuition is paid upon registration to reserve your spot, and the business start-up cost is only due during the first week of the semester.

Fourth, 35 Tuition Scholarships are offered.
$1,000.00 will be awarded to all students of our Fall 2013 semester who graduate successfully, meaning your tuition is FREE.

Fifth, 7 Start-Up Scholarships are up for grabs.
$4,000.00 will be awarded to the first seven students to register with their four team members into the Fall 2013 training, whom all qualified for a Tuition Scholarship. You will own a profitable business completely for FREE.

It doesn’t get any better than this ! Apply now !

In order to find out if there actually is a physiological entrepreneur gene, or if it is simply a clever expression to categorize the people who have a knack for succeeding in business, we have to navigate through a very large amount of research, books, essays, blogs and interviews.

To make things even more interesting, this subject sparks up a debate which has always been very hot: the controversial «Nature vs. Nurture» idea. Generally, there are firm believers of three different theories; 100% Nature, 100% Nurture, and 50% of both Nature and Nurture. But in this case, who’s right; some, all, or maybe none!

Follow me on the exploratory path of this question, which will eventually have a great impact on every aspect of the business world, especially for the financial decision-makers who must be very efficient at recognizing the patterns underlying their decisions about which entrepreneurs to finance.

Ideologies are definitively the fuel of discussions … but in the end, money talks.

Last week we launched six new introductory pages, to make our website more accessible by summarizing «who we are», «what we do», and «what you get».

This week, we are preparing to attend the StartUp Canada Festival (Startupfest 2013). It will run from Wednesday, July 10^th through Saturday, July 13^th.The festival itself is from Wednesday to Friday, with a Keynote stage, a Round table tent, a Workshop tent and a Tent village. You can register through this link.

On Saturday, there will be an Open House at the Tent village, where the public can meet with start-up companies to get information and connect. It will be opened from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and accessible to the general public, free of charge. The festival will be held at the Montreal Science Center and the surrounding outside area, in the Old Port of Montreal.

Startup Canada promotes strong entrepreneurship values and their events are worth attending. We strongly encourage you register for part or all of the festival, and definitely come by the Tent Village on Saturday to meet entrepreneurs of all industries.

So if you intend on attending and would like to connect with Phoenix Alliance, please contact us before-hand to make sure we will meet there.

Training and networking constitute very important aspects of any type of business or career, so be certain to attend as many good events as you can, like the Startup Canada one next week.

The battle of the sexes has probably existed since the dawn of times. And in Humanity’s history, we have seen both patriarchal and matriarchal societies. So still today, in the 21^st century, we continue to be intrigued by the differences between men and women and keep wondering who does what better.

During my research for this article, I was amazed at how much was written on the subject of «Who makes better leaders», and even more amazed at how consistent the scientific research results were.

I will share with you the widely-recognized answer to the question «Who makes better leaders: Men or Women?», what leadership traits contribute to that result, what impact it has on the business world, and what changes, if any, should be made in the current business structure around the world.

Last week we were preparing to attend the JCCM (Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal) networking event that will be held this Wednesday.

This week, we launched six new introductory pages, to make our website more accessible by summarizing «who we are», «what we do», and «what you get».

In just a few seconds, you have the basic ideas that orient you directly to the detailed information contained in the full site.

We invite you to visit our new web pages at:

Entrepreneurs
Graduate students
Seeking a job
Networked
Women
Organizations

Let us know what you think through LinkedIn and Facebook.