Category Archives: Jim Pagiamtzis

Jim Pagiamtzis is the owner and founder of Get Connected Wealth Happen! He works with consultants, entrepreneurs and corporate professionals on effective communication and is also a speaker on
Business, Life and Success.

Journey to Meditation

Written on April 24, 2012 by in Jim Pagiamtzis, Networking, Relationships, Self Growth

It has been an  interesting journey in learning from various leaders through their books and teachings. -including   “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by world-renowned author and speaker Robin Sharma.

That all changed on April 17th, 2012 when I  got listen to Ajahn Kusalo  on an evening that I will never forget.

A few weeks ago I was given a CD at my(41 years young) birthday party  by a very good friend  who  admires my energy but was concerned about me having some “slow down”  time as she coined it.

After listening to half way through the audio  and reported back to my friend that “it felt as if  I was walking through the forest with a bow and arrow on my shoulder with  no idea why”

She sounded confused “Were you chasing something or  was something chasing you?”I didn’t because I didn’t really know.

My friend invited me  to participate in a meditation evening. She is a very spiritual individual and  felt this might be of interest to me.

Initially I was non-committal to her offer and decided to wait and ponder it a little further. The day before the event  she sent me an email with the location along with  some special instructions which included to bringing a water bottle and to wearing  comfortable clothing.

Tuesday morning I went  through my own routine of reading morning passages from a book that I keep nearby and did my morning affirmations.

That afternoon I listened to the last half  of  the CD (to my pleasant surprise) by then  I was in the forest with no bow and arrow just walking through. Listening  to the songs I could see a big tree across the street and remembered  vividly 25 years ago when it was first planted in the soil, it has now grown into a huge tree, solid from stump to the end branches. Just like me!

After that took a brief nap to relax  let the music sink in, and woke up and feeling  re-energized.

By late afternoon I had decided that I was ready to go to the meditation and I informed my friend via email. She was pleased and looked  forward to it.

As I neared the location was pleasantly surprised when  I realized that I  pass by this location all the time going to a health club near by. Locked up my mountain bike and followed the signs to  where it said “Everyone is welcome”.

My friend was going to arrive little later so I made my way in and found  a chair off to the side. The room was very quiet as people began to arrive.

Even though I had my business cards with me I made no attempt to interact with anyone, respectful of the environment and the event.Ajahn Kusalo   walked into the room and was greeted by a gentleman who was assisting with the room and event proceedings.

At the entrance there was option to make a donation to the monastery, so I grabbed  an envelope and made a mental note to put one the box on my way out.

We were given two  handouts. The first  was a dedication of offering which was a chant that was made during the session; the second was a  sheet of explanation called Tisarana- an overview of intent and direction

Ajahn Kusalo began with conversation and I was pleasantly surprised that he was very amusing and made a strong effort to connect with everyone. He used many sports analogies to explain life and how we each  go through our journey.

He spoke how we deal with things that we face in our daily lives  and how we can learn to respond better and  better understand that life  is not as complicated as we make it.

We all have weaknesses. but at the end of the day we must  work on our strengths and evolve to improve our  weaknesses.

The room was silent as everyone listened except for the occasional  group laugh. It was a healthy spirit of individuals from all walks of life young and old, gathered together  for a few hours together time to relax and take time to breach and relax from our busy lives.

We chanted for about half an hour and then Ajahn Kusalo  fielded questions for the attendees.

It was a very therapeutic experience and I appreciated my friend inviting me to this event.

Moral of the story: meditation is a great way to relax and release yourself from the busyness of life.

If you wish to attend a future session information is below

For more information:

http://www.tisarana.ca/ 

 

Website: http://springrainsangha.com/meditation-classes/

Address: 60 Lowther Avenue, (close to St George subway station)

Bring: Water bottle & wear comfortable clothing

0 Comments - Leave a comment!

Power of Social Media is alive and well!

Written on March 27, 2012 by in Business, Career, Career Opportunities, Jim Pagiamtzis, Money, Networking, Toronto

Having content to describe what you do has great affect on potential clients searching for you on topics that they may require for their business development.  LinkedIn is a professional networking site that allows you to sharing experience for work, business and projects you have completed.

On March 16 I got an email from a connection from LinkedIn which said “I am reaching out to you as I am currently working on a research project for an investment client of ours who would like to better understand the email marketing space. Based on your background and expertise in this industry, I thought you would be a great additional contact to speak with our client over the phone, possibly in a brief and independent, but well-paid, consulting capacity.”

It was interesting paragraph to read a few times, I literally said “now that getting connected make wealth online style!”

Few days later I email back after getting some technical issues cleared with social media company that I do speaking for and was cleared to progress with this offer.

Contract was signed and amount was entered and approved and looking forward to sharing insights and experience with this new client.

Moral of the story- have content that explains what you do and you will connections “reaching out” to you to pay for the valuable knowledge you have learned and apply daily in your business and professional career.

Get Connected Make Wealth

Jim S Pagiamtzis
About Get Connected Make Wealth Happen!

Published Author, Speaker and Elite Entrepreneur Jim Pagiamtzis is the founder of Get Connected Make Wealth Happen! has been articles published online by Toronto Public Library Small Biz Express, Centennial College, Happen.ca Linking People and Entrepreneurs,How’s Business blog (Staples Business Depot) and Metro Active.org.  Printed articles for FedEx Freight Canada (Newsletter) Centennial College Ascent Magazine. Has been on That Channel.com speaking on How to become Networking Success.

www.jimpagiamtzis.blogpspot.com and link below for links

 

 

0 Comments - Leave a comment!

Hockey Night at Christie Pits

Written on March 5, 2012 by in Jim Pagiamtzis, Self Growth, Toronto
He shoots She scores!  that’s what we said on the bench all the time! We had skaters of all ages come out to play and even skilled women who showed there  hockey skills. The local park Christie Pits (Christie and Pool) has  baseball diamond, swimming pool, soccer field and basketball courts
.
 December  through February the ice rink is best place to be in town. Men and women and kids come out for pleasure skating and shinny hockey. A time to have fun and enjoy the winter weather.
It’s a special and memorable spot for me, because back in 1986 (day  the Space Shuttle disaster), I  had been skating with friend and  fallen and badly injured two front teeth. (required severe dental work).
Fast  forward  to  February 2003 and my brother and I decided to take beginner skating lessons to finally enjoy the sport of hockey the way it’s meant to be played. (excerpt of story is below)
Had played ball hockey for  10  years and had won two championship with two teams in two different leagues in the same week. ( experience to share another  time!)
It  had been a few years since I had taken the beginner lessons and felt ready that wanted to continue on my skating journey. Had gone out to play hockey with full equipment with a friend who has indoor shinny game that they play couple time a month up at the north part of the city, had not done very well playing there so needed  to go back to the hockey basics.
Began to participate  in local indoor family skate(on Sundays)at  Bill Bolton arena (Palmerson and Dupont) and began to work on my stamina at the local gym.
Winter had finally arrived and was excited to start playing hockey more consistently so Christie Pit skating rink was the best place to go play and practice. There were also few other rinks in the neighbourhood that I visited occasionally (Dufferin Grove near Dufferin Mall).
It was great pleasure to watch talent skaters would showed their talents night after night. There were spectacular goals, passes and team co-operation.
We had a few special nights that were worth remembering. In mid-December the Red-Bull mini cooper car showed up near the rink (the one with the Red bull can on top of the car!) Two young ladies walked down the concourse and entered the room where we get changed, we were not sure  what  they were doing, we figured  perhaps  refilling the pop machines! We could see the two  City of Toronto workers talking  to the ladies (by the way Anderson , Jermaine and John were great in providing pucks an light hearted fun throughout  the evening)
They ladies exciting the room and headed toward the outside the rink near the where the benches were. The were carrying the cylinder like cooler bags filled with drinks. They asked us “Anyone want  some Red bull?”  We all said “sure”. They started throwing the cans over the fence, which wasn’t the best of idea for a few of the cans! The cans were small so they passed them through the fence, which was better and faster!
Everyone was happy and full of energy we had a very spirited game after that. I only had half a can and didn’t up sleep until 3:00am (the stuff is full of sugar and caffeine) not a great mixture to take late in the evening.
As the days and weeks passed I began to find my skating groove and got better and stronger on the skates. Playing in such a high skilled and fast paced game on most nights was the best exercise and environment  to learn and play.
Leadership and systems also played important part in having an evening  that we required participation by everyone to make the skating a success.
Someone had to separate all the  sticks into teams sometimes as many as four teams! Many nights  line changed system had to be used because we so many players show up. 5 on each side and 12-15 players on the bench.
On a few nights we had so many players we had three to four teams in order to get the game started, it was an amazing site to see how everything flowed so easily. Whichever team scored first the losing team would be out and the next team would play.
There was one special night where it snow so much that we  used three shovels and clean half the ice so we can play. There was great teamwork  in getting it done so we can have a mini game of hockey. Everyone was smiling and enjoying themselves. We still had a very competitive game, as it kept snowing. Even after I left they got the shovel out again and kept shovelling!  They were determined to play until 11:00pm (that’s when the lights turn off)
It was great 90 days of hockey and made some new friends and learned  some new moves to apply in my journey of becoming a better skater
Moral of the story- Go out and learn  a new skill and at the same time you will learn more about your own abilities and make new friends along the way
Thanks to everyone to make Hockey Night at Christie Pits a great experience.

Youtube video:  Christie pits Skating rink (http://youtu.be/GHiqREithkQ )

Exerpt from my book “How to Attract a Mentor for Business life and Success”

Coach

 The key focus of a coach is they give you “specific direction”, great example of this is a few years ago my brother and a friend and me decided to learn how to skate. So we signed up for beginner lessons and were very excited about the experience. The months prior to lessons we began to assemble the necessary equipment that we required. Most of the equipment we purchase new from skates to helmets, hockey pants etc.
Prior to starting the classes we got dressed up with our hockey equipment to get used to the equipment, we felt like “gladiators” on skates! Very soon the lessons were to begin the excitement was growing as the days got closer.
We had assembled at the first practice and got to meet out teammates, we had variety of ages and backgrounds on our team. We had to pick a representative for our team to convene with the league and to my surprise they chose my brother and I provided some computer assistance.
As we got on the ice I quickly realized that this was going to be a very challenging experience. I had skated very briefly prior to this and did have many happy memories. The coaches put us through some drills and I and few other participants were lagging behind. Frustration began to set and I was beginning to have doubts. During the second lesson I had a friend come and watch me practice and this where I had a significant experience. I ended up falling on the ice very heavily headfirst and suffered a brief concussion and was in bed ridden for three  days. This was a turning point for me. My brother and his friend ended up quitting the three practices, and I also had a choice to make after suffering the concussion.
I had a lot reasons to quit but many more to stay I wanted to learn how to skate and was willing to put the effort to do so. As I continued to go the lessons the coach’s made this statement. “You’re not going to learn how to skate coming on day week. You are going to have to go on your own time and practice”. I took his statement very seriously and that’s exactly what I did. I went to indoor family skates on Sunday’s and to open skating arenas in my neighborhood. We got some practice times at the local arena with our teammates and gradually we got better. Got some great tips from my co-worker who had been skating for many years. He told me to practice skating with puck and learn to control it also to overextend my skating to allow the body to feel the extra tension.
Began to apply this tips and suggestions and through practice and persistence my skating got better and better. Confidence and self-esteem began to grow and was more balanced on my skates when I was in front of the net. It worked because that’s been I scored most of m goals!
Great personality I like to watch is Don Cherry he does a first period rant with Ron McLean on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday Nights. Don Cherry was a coach for many years and share some great examples and highlights of players are persistent and achieved their goals.
0 Comments - Leave a comment!

Networking to get results at events!

Written on February 20, 2012 by in Career, Career Opportunities, Jim Pagiamtzis, Networking, Practical Tips, Relationships, Toronto, Uncategorized

There are events and seminars happening throughout the month that you are attending and taking the time, energy and money to network. You must be prepared for the opportunity and be able to follow up with goal to achieve desired results.

Networking is concept that has to be done on an ongoing basis to create momentum to yield you results. Attracting qualified clients that you can offer you specific packages that you offer is the goal.

Connecting

Building your list in one aspect that is important to do a daily basis whether your meeting people online or offline, there are important resources that will begin to add up with connections on LinkedIn and other social networking sites you belong to.

It all begins with you business with is your billboard and your most important marketing tool you have that you can leverage in any situation. When you are at a networking event or going bowling with friends, being prepared for the opportunity is the most strategy to remember. American Express has a great saying “never leave home without it” same goes for you business card, its part of you like the clothes you wear every day.

Information

You have an expertise in specific areas from networking, wealth to resources you want to share, important aspect of networking is you to be able to fill the needs of others. Recently at an event where I noticed that attendee didn’t have a website for his construction business, high recommended that he should have a website that is prospective clients should visit, offered to email him some of my contacts to assist him with that.
When you hand you business cards out you can advise you contacts that “you appreciate referrals and will to offer compensation for completed transactions” this creates a strong signal of confidence your abilities and willing to create a win-win situation.

Monetize

The most important part in creating a strong networking system is the ability to monetize easy and effectively. Knowing your product and the package that specifically is best for you potential client.
Have a follow-up system that create results with every contact you meet will either you yield you a meeting to do presentation or connection for future.
Making follow-up calls within 24hr is imperative in your execution of your complete package. The ability to pick up of the phone and connection is the only way to create a strong connection. Do not rely on only sending email appreciating meeting your connections or just adding them to your LinkedIn connection or to your monthly newsletter, which can be done a later time.
Your goal is to deal with the strong leads in a timely manner. Increase you database is an important part of the networking strategy which needs to be done. Be aware that the warm leads are important because you either made a commitment with them or left a good impression that they want to learn more about your products or services.
Doing the above mention strategies over and over again will get you the results you need to have a growing and profitable business.

Go out there and Get Connected Make Wealth Happen!

Jim S Pagiamtzis J
About Get Connected Make Wealth Happen! 

Published Author, Speaker and Elite Entrepreneur Jim Pagiamtzis is the founder of Get Connected Make Wealth Happen! has been articles published online by Toronto Public Library Small Biz Express, Centennial College, Happen.ca Linking People and Entrepreneurs,How’s Business blog (Staples Business Depot) and Metro Active.org.  Printed articles for FedEx Freight Canada (Newsletter) Centennial College Ascent Magazine. Has been on That Channel.com speaking on How to become Networking Success.Jim Pagiamtzis in 5 years has successfully leveraged his written articles into speaking all over the GTA from consulting with Burkert Fluid Control, Enterprise Toronto, Career Door, Skills for Change and Trios College. Has delivered keynote for Monarch Park Collegiate spoke on 3 keys task to success and How to attract a Mentor. His dynamic speaking style has empowered and inspired his audience to learn, do and apply his simple and effective Parformance Selling System. Jim has also volunteered with Junior Achievement in Toronto on “Economics of Staying in School”

0 Comments - Leave a comment!
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »