I began working with David Makar in October 2010 and enrolled in the Certified Networker course with The Referral Institute Ithaca in January 2011. Working with David and learning the nuts and bolts of referral marketing has been instrumental in the growth of my acupuncture and Oriental medicine practice: Awaken Acupuncture.

Four long and academically exhilarating years in a masters of science program prepared me very well to be an Oriental medicine practitioner: working with patients, practicing acupuncture, herbal medicine, many adjunct modalities, understanding the western and eastern sciences, Oriental medicine theory and the like. What it did not prepare me well for was how to run a business, the vehicle needed to put my expertise into practice!

In the first several months of practice I realized that I needed to take some serious action with regards to learning how to run a full and successful Oriental medicine practice. I needed to learn skills that would allow me to live my intention: to help people recover from ailments, illness and injury with acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Meaning, I needed to learn skills that would get people through my practice doors and in for treatments. I needed schooling in referral marketing!

A year and a half later, after participating in the Certified Networker Program, I have a fantastic acupuncture and Oriental medicine practice. It has and continues to grow slowly and surely. Slowly, as I have come to appreciate, is the best and most stable way for me to grow. I am now practicing in two locations, five days a week, with a full patient schedule and a steady flow of new patients coming into my practice.

What became glaringly clear to me when I started my practice is that I would actively need to begin doing something that was quite foreign to me: networking and marketing. It was my sense that this day in age paper advertising is great for providing brand recognition, but that it is both expensive and does not translate into real business. Plus, I practice within the field of healthcare where people often seek out services of practitioners who are referred to them. The Certified Networker program was perfect for me in that it taught me marketing strategies that are about creating relationships and passing referrals in order to grow one's business. The idea of marketing and growing my business practice through building relationships was additionally appealing to me because the building relationships in my practice between the patient and practitioner is of utmost importance as well.

I appreciated the need for the student's active participation in the Certified Networker Program. It really set the stage for what the class teaches: that one must actively participate in their referral marketing plan, not only for the short term, but for the long term as well. Knowing, understanding and having the ability to articulate why a person is in the business, is the fuel for one's intention as to why they do what they do. Dave is excellent at helping his students have a deep understanding of exactly that: their "starting point." The "networking scorecard" was another highlight and valuable tool I took away from the class. It is literally a scorecard that allows one to track their networking activities with points being awarded for each activity completed. So helpful to be able to track the direct correlation between carrying out networking activities and the growth of one's business!

The class was also very helpful in teaching how to effectively network at events, understanding contact spheres and the eight ways to generate referrals. I know that taking the Certified Networker course with Dave helped me to achieve goals with the growth of my practice because I have been able to use the tools and information I learned from him and have the ability to see the direct correlation between doing the referral marketing activities and the growth of my practice. I keep track, so I know.

If I hadn't participated in David's Certified Networker Program, I'd still be wondering what would be the most effective a fulfilling way for me to market and grow my practice. Dave has given me an invaluable set of tools for growing my acupuncture and Oriental medicine practice through referral marketing. The Certified Networker Program empowered me to have a systematic method of marketing my practice that is engaging, enjoyable and that I can see the direct correlation between my efforts put forth and the return on my actions. If someone asked me if they should enroll in the Certified Networker Program with David Makar, I'd tell them that you could do nothing better to gain the information and tools you need to grow your business effectively!

Dana M. Carruth M.S.AOM, L.Ac.

www.awakenacupunctureithaca.com

As a new business owner, there is so much to learn and master to create and run a successful business. Before I actively participated in the Certified Networker program with Dave Makar, I felt the message I was sharing about my business was inconsistent and unclear. This was creating some confusion about my business within my network. After working through Module I of the program, it has already worked wonders for my business. Through Module I, Dave taught me to develop a strong and consistent message. For the first two weeks of the program, we focused on creating our 7-year vision. This helped hone my “why” and helped me develop a much stronger message that I can share with my network. One of the surprising aspects of writing my 7-year vision was that the physical process of writing it felt empowering. I was amazed at how it really helped me develop a more consistent message. Now that I have a better outlook on what my business may look like seven years from now, I feel the process of growing my business is more streamlined and some of the unknown has been removed.

I have worked with Dave since I began my business. His mentorship and guidance through the Referral Institute has been instrumental to my abilities to run a successful business. I feel I still have a lot to learn, but with Dave as my business coach, I have high hopes for the success of my business.

I attended the Referral Success 101 class with David Makar and learned valuable information. For years I have always wanted to work smarter, not harder. This class taught me how! I don't have to rely on advertising dollars I don't have in my budget. I can build my business while building relationships. That is important to me!

Peggy Sue Thorpe

“I absolutely loved the assessment and getting into groups and visually seeing the different behavior styles – it was like puzzle pieces fitting together when you could actually see and understand the other styles with the interactive approach and then like 'wow this really is me.'"

“If someone asked me if they should participate in the ‘Room Full of Referrals’ program with David, I'd tell them...absolutely. If you have any interest in understanding how others act and react in social situations, then having the ability to turn that into business potential, this is certainly a class for you! It is an added bonus to help learn and understand more about you as well.”

Emily Hubbell

Director of Communications

"I attended David Makar's Certified Networker Program last year. Dave is an engaging teacher and the classes are very interactive. In the classes you customize all of the information to your business so that it is immediately useful. My business volume increased 30% last year I and attribute the increase to Dave's Certified Networker classes and the application of that knowledge."

Lucia Tyler

http://www.tyleradmissionsconsulting.com

Rick Hendrick

http://www.b2bcfo.com/partner/rhendrick/

By working with the Referral Institute, we developed a clear, structured process to connect with people who are looking for what we offer. I've participated in a lot of sales trainings, and Dave's approach is the most aligned with my values of nurturing relationships and building community.

The perspective and the step-by-step system helped me create a set of tools I continue to use to talk about our business, and our ideal clients. Plus, I had fun and was re-energized in each meeting.

"The Referral Institute's Behavioral Styles from a Room Full of Referrals has greatly improved not only my business but also my personal relationships. I am awakening to a deeper level of compassion and interest in supporting my associates thus improving our communication and business opportunities. Indeed, understanding other's behavioral styles is opening me to new understandings for Givers Gain!"

Ravi Walsh

Ithaca, New York

Cheryl Zinni, Owner

Clifton Park, New York

"I participated in both the Room Full of Referrals and the Platinum Rule Behavioral Style Assessment (with consultation), and I'm really glad I did. Room Full of Referrals was fun and provided a comfortable setting to experience different behavior styles and see how they relate to each other. Upon leaving, I knew I could confidently approach any person in the room, because I felt like I already knew them! But it was during the consultation with Dave after the Platinum Rule Assessment that I really got to know my own behavior style better so that I can communicate more efficiently with people I've just met and improve relationships I already have."

Danielle Klock (Promoter)

Ithaca, New York

Property & Casualty Insurance

"I enrolled in David Makar's Certified Networker" program at the request of a long-time referral partner who believed we could both take our businesses and our referral relationship to the next level. What has happened is nothing short of a radical transformation in how I do business, and how I seek to help my referral partners grow their businesses and better serve our community. I have always received what I believed to be, "a lot" of referrals. I was wrong.

Now, I work every day to nurture and enhance relationships with other professionals who serve my ideal target market, and I theirs, in a way that promotes doing business by relationship - not by transaction. Now I know that I will receive quality referrals from my referral partners in consistent and predictable numbers, every month. In a normal month, I consistently added 1-2 new clients: Now, It's consistently between 5-7 new clients that are more profitable to me, who trust me from the first phone call, and who I know are ready and able to benefit from my products and services.

I would encourage any businessperson with more than three years of experience, who is trainable, and ready to improve their bottom line by working with other like minded professionals to take advantage of what this program has to offer. I am willing to speak to those of you who might have questions, and would like to hear more about how my business has changed over the last several months."

Very truly yours,

Edward C. Moscato, LUTCF,CLTC

http://www.moscatoinsurance.com/

Dave Makar's knowledge and expertise has made him THE Business consultant of choice for my clients. His methodology and understanding of referral based marketing is so clear that I consider him a top expert in this field.

Dave really does teach people to work less and play more while securing referrals for life!

Ravi Walsh

Four words describe Dave Makar best: passionate, committed, professional and driven.

He is driven to help others and committed to helping you grow your business. His work at the Referral Institute of Ithaca will change the way you think about your business and your life.

I have been a witness to how Dave's passion and professionalism have transformed the way people think, and how they have chosen to live their lives. Dave Makar brings a proven methodology and a well stocked tool box. If you are looking to grow your business, and have more fun while while you do, Dave Makar can help.

He has my highest recommendation.

David Astorina, President

http://greenhomeheroes.com/

David,

I found that the concepts you introduced me to, while fairly basic and straightforward, were actually quite new to me.

Having thought that I was networking effectively, I had in fact failed to remain in touch with a few key people with whom ongoing contact is important (and enjoyable).

You have caused me to rethink relationship building, which is something I will continue to put efforts into.

In our two sessions, you clearly had a curriculum to relay and did so in a very effective, organized and direct fashion. You asked a lot of questions and were interested in me and my practice.

I would highly recommend others work with you. In fact, I would highly recommend two introductory sessions very similar to those I had.

Your concepts were new and refreshing and will continue to be helpful as I grow my practice.

Thank you,

Jane

Jane Hoffman, MBA, College Admissions Advisor

Dave knows his stuff!

He's made a career out of helping other business owners work less and play more by teaching simple techniques they can use to network more effectively. His listening skills coupled with his quick mind enable him to offer easy solutions to exposure challenges faced by businesses with small staffs and budgets.

I never knew networking should be so organized, but Dave has been teaching me the skills necessary to be more productive and proactive when trying to get my message out there.

If you are starting a businesses, or want to grow your business without spending money on advertising, talk to Dave. He can help you.

Caryn Sheckler, Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor and Business Owner

http://www.ithacakundalini.com

Dave and his Referral Institute helped me understand the need to have a system that gives me the tools to manage myriad people, the information about them and their business that I discover by meeting them; and working in the most efficient way I can to make this process easy and painless.

With all the information and casual networking that happens, it is great to have a way to manage and maximize the output. I found the Certified Networker Class provided me with all of these tools.

Rob LaHood, Director of Membership Services & Public Relations

David Makar's Referral Success 101 takes referral networking to a whole new level. With clear guidance in how to outline your network and your net worth, David shows you how to secure real referrals for life. His guidance and knowledge are teaching me how to grow a successful coaching business with no advertising; it really works!

Want your organization to learn about referral marketing? Ask Dave Makar to talk to them.

His seminar on "Power-Networking and Generating Referrals to Grow Your Business" to ICON (Independent Consultants Network), was a clear, intriguing look at how to create a referral network for your business. Dave is an engaging, interactive speaker, and gave us strong take-away ideas that will improve the ability of consultants to network effectively.

As an entrepreneur focusing on writing for businesses and educational materials I have also attended the Referral Institute's Referral Success 101 class. I found it a great expansion on what I have learned at BNI (Business Networking International). For business owners who are not ready for BNI, Referral Success 101 will start them off on the path to learning a set of skills that are essential to every marketer and entrepreneur.

Dave's guidance has been extremely important in the development of my skills and therefore my company's success--so much so that he has been hired to work with all of our new employees. Dave provides you with both time tested and out of the box direction that truly works. He opens your eyes to help you focus on what is most important in building your business network. Praise is not enough for all that he has done and continues to do for my company.

Bob Brantner, Managing Area Director

September 27, 2010

"When I first heard about the Certified Networker Program I thought I already knew how to network effectively. I’ve been networking and developing relationships for 20 years. But what I found was I really had only scratched the surface of truly capitalizing on my networking skills. Many of the techniques and methods I learned through Dave and the CN Program help me to better focus my networking. Dave taught me the skills to better use my networking in a more efficient manner. Many of the concepts were not necessarily new; the CN program just put in a better format that allowed me to conceptualize the process from a whole new position.

Dave also help me to really define what business I really wanted then set up a plan to go get that business.

I can not fully express how knowledgeable and forthright Dave is with regard to the field of Referral Networking. He has turned his own experience and success with proven networking strategies into an opportunity to help others. Dave is an excellent presenter and can clearly communicate the fundamentals of referral networking in a fun yet informative atmosphere. If you or your business is dependent on relationship based sales, his programs are a valuable investment in your bottom line."

I attended a short presentation to the Independent Consultants Network and his Referral Success 101 workshop on the basics of referral marketing. I help connect business owners to many different financing channels.

I walked away from both presentations having gained knowledge about my interaction style and how to cultivate lasting business relationships with the business professionals that I work with each day.

Heather Filiberto, Director of Economic Development Services

Attending Referral Success 101 was a great use of my time, on a Wednesday morning in Ithaca, NY. I planned on attending this training seminar to support Dave Makar, a BNI member, in his new venture and in the process left the 2 hour session with a lot of new knowledge.

As a BNI director that helps hundreds of business professionals grow their business each year I found new ways to support my own referral relationships.

Dave is a great networker and has developed a training style that keeps you involved and wanting to learn more. Attending seminars through the Ithaca Referral Institute is on my to do list this year – put it on your list – and reap the benefits of a Master Networker!

Lesley Shimer, Managing Area Director