Professional Networking in Orlando

Professional Networking in Orlando

Networking is more than just exchanging business cards or adding new contacts on LinkedIn; it’s about creating meaningful connections that with honest intentions for mutual growth and professional opportunities. As someone who has navigated the vibrant business landscape of Orlando for years, I’ve learned insights and strategies that have not only helped me overcome the initial jitters of networking but also build lasting relationships in the professional community including many that I still have to this day. Here’s how you can do the same.

Embrace the Power of Connection

Orlando has a dynamic business environment is that is full of opportunities for professionals that are eager to expand their network. The key is to approach networking with a mindset of building connections rather than mere transactions. Add in the intention of seeking 1 or 2 people in the room that you may be able to provide help or insight to, and you’ll really leave a lasting impression. Remember, the most fruitful relationships are built on genuine interest and mutual respect.

Finding Your Circle

One of the most effective strategies I use is to look for groups of people at networking events and approach them with subtlety. Wait for a moment when someone makes eye contact or gives a nod, it’s usually a signal that it’s okay to join the conversation. This non-intrusive approach respects the existing dynamic and gently opens the door for you to be welcomed. Once you’re part of the circle, engage in the conversation with intent. Ask thoughtful questions and listen actively. Repeat back parts of what someone says to demonstrate that you’re not just hearing but truly listening. This not only helps in making the conversation more engaging but also in remembering the key points about each person, which can be invaluable when following up.

The Art of the Soft Sell

A common misstep in networking is leading with a sales pitch. Don’t be that person! This approach can feel transactional and off-putting. Instead, focus on building a rapport without any immediate expectation of getting something in return. The goal is to foster a connection that could naturally lead to business opportunities in the future.

Overcoming Nervousness

It’s natural to feel nervous when stepping into a room full of strangers, especially when the pressure to make meaningful connections is high. When you get nervous, remind yourself that most everyone in the same place right now are also just as nervous. Some things you can do to help with that is to prepare an Elevator Pitch. Having a concise and compelling way to introduce yourself can boost your confidence and make a strong first impression. It’s not something you’re going to come up with overnight, and although the process can be tough, trust it because you’ll instantly see when you deliver it right and it’ll feel amazing!

Set Realistic goals for yourself. Instead of aiming to meet everyone in the room, set a goal to have meaningful conversations with maybe five or six people. Try out different types of events like Toastmasters, Speed Networking, Lunch & Learns, and After Hours Socials. The variety will get you exposed to various types of people in settings that you may find you’re most comfortable at and the connection opportunities to be of the better quality.

Timely Follow-Ups

This is probably the most crucial tip of all that I have to give, which is to make time first thing the next morning and send an intentional direct email. Part of my workflow is to send a warm email and include a memorable part of the event that the person I’m emailing and I shared so that I help to jog their memory and also show that I honestly remember them. Then I add them to my mailing list. Depending on how well the interaction went I will search for them on Linked In and if they’re active enough, I’ll ask to connect with them and use a personal short message with the connection request.

Networking in Orlando’s bustling business environment can be incredibly rewarding if approached with the right strategies. One of my mottos is “You’re only one connection away from your biggest deal”. It’s true though because as I think about some of the colleagues I have; I can name a few that have access to a private jet, own multiple properties, own large organizations, and manage multiple businesses. The key thing is knowing how to leverage those relationships and contacts with a mutual gain. If you’re starting out, focus on genuine connections, listening actively, and following up effectively, you can turn brief encounters into lasting professional relationships. Oh and remember, networking is a skill that improves with practice, so don’t be discouraged by initial setbacks. With each event, you’ll grow more comfortable and get much better at navigating the art of professional networking.

Florida Annual Report – Sunbiz Filing for Businesses

Florida Annual Report – Sunbiz Filing for Businesses

Every year at this time is when the Annual Report filing window opens. This is required any for-profit corporation, limited liability limited partnership, or limited liability limited partnership. Click here to read more on the Sunbiz website. We like to put out a gentle reminder for this because there is a wide window to submit your business’ information and pay before May 1st. Failing to do so may result in a $400 late fee. Here at Design Theory, we have this as a recurring calendar item in red and for the whole week to help remind us of this and ensure we take action. It doesn’t take long to perform this, especially if you don’t have many (if any changes) in the information about your business details, location, and managers.

Annual Report Fees

SERVICE

PRICE

Annual Report – Profit Corporation $150.00
Annual Report – Non-Profit Corporation $61.25
Annual Report – Limited Liability Company $138.75
Annual Report – Limited Partnership or Limited Liability Limited Partnership $500.00

 

You may receive letters in the mail or even emails from companies requiring you to pay them to file your Annual Report for your business. Be careful on those because some may charge a fee to file on your behalf. And in this day of phishing and digital fraud, you should do your own research and diligence to ensure the authenticity of any solicitation and its merits. If you’re unsure if your business or organization should be paying or how to pay, be sure to contact a representative with the information below

Florida Department of State
The Centre of Tallahassee
2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850.245.6000
850.245.6014 (fax)
CorpHelp@dos.myflorida.com

 

Improve Image Quality With This Free Easy-To-Use App!

Improve Image Quality With This Free Easy-To-Use App!

With all the new apps coming out these days, Upscayl is one that I really felt led to write about and share with you all. Have you ever had an image that you wanted to use but couldn’t due to it’s low quality and resolution? Maybe an old photograph that was slighly out of focus and would wish you could fix it? Well Upscayl is your solution! It’s a FREE desktop app that is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux and it uses AI to process the image. They’re working on a cloud version so that you may be able to use this within your browser or mobile device without the need to install anything at all.

There’s a few settings that I thought were amazing and wanted to highlight them:

Saving an Image as PNG or JPG

There’s two buttons that you can easily select how you’d want your image to be saved as. Either PNG (Portable Network Graphic) or as JPG.

Design Theory Screenshot - Upscayl 04

Batch Upscayl

This toggle switch enables you to select all of the images you have in a select folder to perform the same upscaling option to all of them with a single command. This is extremely useful when you may have many images that you would like to process for better quality and not have to select them one by one and wait for them to process one by one.

Design Theory Screenshot - Upscayl 12

Hope you find this helpful and useful in your day to day tasks. Let us know how this may have helped!

 

Newly MBE Certified With Orange County Government

Newly MBE Certified With Orange County Government

As the proud owner of Design Theory, I am thrilled to share a significant milestone in our journey. We have recently been certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by Orange County Government | Business Development Division. This achievement is opens up our business opportunities not just to Orange County Government, but also to GOAA, Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Library,  and several more agencies.

The Business Development Division of Orange County’s initiative is to increase the utilization of minority and woman-owned businesses (M/WBE) in the County’s procurement process. Our certification as an MBE is a step forward in this direction, enabling us to contribute more significantly to our Central Florida economy. I recently attended a couple of meetings where I learned in great detail from the results of a 5 year Disparity Study, how to search through upcoming expiring contracts, and currently available/open contracts. There’s still more work I am responsible for like identifying closed contracts that our agency may have qualified for, terms, and how much the bids were awarded for. And this is managed through OpenGov.com, also allows you to see other MBEs who are interested in open bids as well as save and favorite agencies (to name a few features).  There’s also an eBook OpenGov published called “The 2023 State of Local Government Report” and I would highly recommend that everyone reading this downloads a copy.

‎Screenshot go.opengov.com

As our journey continues we’ll continue to share what we’ve learned and opportunities for other business owners to take advantage and participate. The goal for us is to expand our business through this sector and reach new levels of success and growth.

There’s several people that I’ve personally met and worked with and will continue to work with as we grow in this program. Shout out to Kesi, Patrice, and VaSantha! Knowing that we can stay connected If you’d like more information from the Business Development Division, below is their contact information:

Business Development Division
Internal Operations Centre II, 2nd Floor
400 E South Street
Orlando, FL 32801

Phone: (407) 836-7317
Email: BusinessDevelopment@ocfl.net

PODCAST & VIDEO REPLAY: How Your Content Strategy Can Grow Your Business (on How I Built)

PODCAST & VIDEO REPLAY: How Your Content Strategy Can Grow Your Business (on How I Built)

How I Built This with Joe Casabona

Joe recently published this interview on YouTube from his podcast show that he invited me a few years ago. We talk about practical ways that business owners and entrepreneurs can create and publish content. The strategies we talk through are easy to understand and with the scenarios we talk through, you’ll see how you can directly copy and use them or alter them in a way that best suits your business. I don’t want to spoil it any further, so un-mute your speakers and let this play in the background but have your notebook or notepad handy because you’ll want to hit the pause button and write!

Oh and be sure to check out Joe’s website and offering for Free Coaching Calls