As a follow up to my own blog post Networking: “You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”, I did send out a repsonse to my contacts that answered the first e-mail. The aim for this was to show how I use goal setting and inspire my peers to do the same.

Here is the e-mail (I have left out some parts due to privacy reasons):

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[personal introduction refering to the content of the e-mail I received]

I have decided that 2009 will be the best year so far for me, and I am convinced that it will be that way regarding both the business as well as the personal side. If there is anything I can do to help you make your year even better, please let me know.

An idea I have is to make an inventory of all the things my network are looking for help with, and publish it on my blog so that even more people can help out with more contacts. Off course, the blog post will be anonymous. What do you think about this? Is there anything I can do for you?

Goals

My goals for the year are in line with my life goals and here are my three most important goals, personal and professional:

Personal goals

1. Radically improve my physical and mental strength by working with my personal development and my personal brand
   I have reserved 30 minutes every day to read, reflect, meditate and make plans. I will also focus on healthier food, more exercise as well as learning and application of what I have learned.
2. Create possibilities to spend as much time as possible with my girlfriend
   Since we live more than 9 000 km away from each other, this is a challenge.
3. Be an exceptional family member and friend
   I will be there for my family and friends when they need me, but also be proactive and make sure to meet up, keep in touch and be available even when it is not needed.

Professional goals

1. Being an exceptional supplier and partner for my clients, potential clients and other stakeholders
   Defining my offer and the value offered in a clear and consistent matter, showing the win-win situation of using The Rynge Group. To always have a keen ear for wishes, feedback and other communication as well as being clear about that the communication has been correctly understood by all parties.
2. Exceed 20 % increase of turn over during 2009
   2007/2008 was the first year of operations for The Rynge Group as an incorporation (formerly a sole proprietorship) and consisted of 18 months. During the 12 months of 2009, The Rynge Group will exceed 20 % more in turn over than the last 18 months.
3. Create leverage and increase my efficiency in all activities
   Finding synergy effects, being more proactive, create partnership, create passive streams of income, turning services into packages etc. 

I have chosen to formulate these goals quite vague, more as motivational phrases than goals. I have then created clear and specific objectives according to the goal setting model SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time bound). I have chosen to keep the objectives and strategies to myself.

How can you assist me?
I would appreciate any help in the following areas and projects, as well as on how I can reach my goals above.

1. Passive streams of income, networking and leverage
   I am looking for projects, ideas and opportunities to create passive streams of income (incomes that do not require my presence), which mean that I will use my network more efficiently than before. Here you can help me and yourself (win-win) by recommending me to any person or company that can use my services. Please go to my website to see what I offer.
   
   
2. Art By Mail, other product ideas or packaging of services
   I would like to make my work less dependent on me and the hours I have available and more focused on products and services that can help persons and companies without me having to be present, at least not the whole time. I would also like to work more together with others and here you can help me with ideas, tips and involve me in any projects that you might find suitable.

3. Marketing
   Please, help me market my blog, my newsletter and my website to anyone that can find the material there of interest.

Kind regards

Ola Rynge
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This has allowed me to keep in contact and develop the discussion even further with contacts that I normally do not communicate with very often. It has also given me some business leads and I believe it has strengthened my brand among my clients. I will keep working on this and put togheter a list of “wants” that my network has and then try to find new an innovative ways to make them get what they want. Any ideas?

- Ola Rynge
The Rynge Group

During the last week or so I have been discussing “multiple passive income streams”. It is a quite interesting subject, but from my point of view, there are no such things as passive income streams, maybe with exception of social welfare systems. All income streams require investments of money and/or time, maybe just initially, but even most “passive” income streams require some maintenance.