> ERA Announces New Teleconference Series
March 20, 2020
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
ERA Water Cooler — An Open Forum During Times of Uncertainty
It is obvious that our personal and business lives have changed over the past week or so. “Shelter in place” and “work from home” are the battle cries of the day and all of us are perhaps sick of watching the latest news about the virus … or sick of folks telling us to binge-watch certain shows on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
Yet, our business world goes on … our customers are still doing designs, reviewing the impact of the virus on their supply chain, and perhaps even still manufacturing. So, how can we support them in these initiatives when no one wants to see us or our offices are closed, or we are working from home with a house full of kids who also learning remotely?
Many of you have emailed ERA National looking for some help. What can we do NOW to help our members through these uncertain times?
ERA is announcing “ERA Water Cooler: An Open Forum During Times of Uncertainty.”
This new teleconference series will provide an open form to all ERA members, and perhaps folks who are not-yet-members, to join in on the conversation and contribute to different topics and challenges that ALL of us are dealing with today.
Some upcoming topics include:
• How best to work from home;
• Online video conferencing systems;
• Use of Apple iPhone Face Time;
• Software tools like Office and Team to help keep your office aligned;
• How to communicate with your customer’s design engineer and/or procurement team;
• How to coordinate quotes and sales strategies between the rep and the distributor branch/ISR or OSR; and
• How to keep your folks sane, aligned and engaged.
This new platform will be facilitated in partnership with Nicki Weiss of SalesWise Academy. Nicki is a professional sales trainer who can help all of us navigate through these uncertain times. ERA will be holding these Water Cooler discussions weekly every Tuesday at 4:00 PM EDT.
The initial call will take place on March 31 at 4:00 PM EDT. Each of these calls will be targeted for 30 – 45 minutes in duration.
Please contact Stephanie Tierney if you would like to submit topics that you want to discuss during these calls.
Perhaps YOU can share with others how you are dealing with this specific issue and receive peer feedback on what they are doing in that area. We welcome all of YOU to be facilitators and contribute to our fellow rep, distributor or manufacturer your best practices. Together, we can get through this!
Times like this bring out the best in all of us. It is easy to be someone’s partner or friend when times are good. However, the mettle of any relationship gets tested when times are rough or when one of us reaches out to another.
ERA will do all we can to provide the platform to allow all of you to tee-up a topic, offer your perspective and listen to others who are dealing with the same issue. Every Friday, we will announce the forum topic for the following Tuesday.
Join us and help your fellow industry citizens get through this together.
“Release the Hounds!” … Stephanie is waiting to hear from you.
Walter E. Tobin, CEO
Electronics Representatives Association
wtobin@era.org
Teleconference Participation Information
ERA Water Cooler: An Open Forum During Times of Uncertainty
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone:
https://www.gotomeet.me/ERA-National/watercooler
You can also dial in using your phone: United States: +1 (872) 240-3412
Access Code: 335-583-229
Join from a video-conferencing room or system.
Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com
Meeting ID: 335 583 229
Or dial directly: 335583229@67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##335583229
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