Dear ,
Can you believe summer is two-thirds gone? Amazing how
quickly time flies. That’s one of the reasons we can’t afford to waste it.
Scheduling periods of rest and relaxation, however, is
permitted. (In fact, it should be mandatory.) Earlier this month, my boyfriend
Tony and I headed to a remote cabin in upstate New York with our two cats.
That Monday, July 10, Crain’s
New York published my first-ever press mention as an adult. (Click here
to read the article.)
The article offered tips on networking, a skill I began
practicing two years ago. (Here, I’d like to thank Ilise Benun
of Marketing
Mentor for helping me overcome my fear of networking. I did overcome that
fear, mostly because cold calling terrified me even more.)
This month’s e-zine includes some of those tips to help you
make the most out of your networking.
If you have other networking
suggestions, please share
them with me for possible inclusion in a future newsletter.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
M.
Does your networking
work?
“No man is an island .
. . ”
John Donne got it right. In fact, he could have been talking
about modern entrepreneurs, that ever-growing breed of independent, passionate
trailblazers.
Sure, the statement applies to all of humanity, but
entrepreneurs feel its truth in a very immediate, meaningful way: Try to go it
alone, and we’ll soon find ourselves dusting off the resume and searching for a
steady paycheck.
In college, I heard talk about networking, and these
conversations always made my skin crawl. My brain substituted the word “using”
for “networking.” I hated the idea of meeting as many people as possible in
hopes that these new acquaintances could help me.
It was 15 years or so before I realized that I—and the
people preaching to me about networking—had it backwards. Networking isn’t
about getting others to help you; it’s about giving to others.
How can you help the other person achieve his or her goals?
Removing yourself from the equation changes everything.
You’re no longer a vulture, looking out for number one. You’re a mockingbird,
singing a sweet song of generosity. (As Atticus Finch says, “It’s a sin to kill
a mockingbird.”)
The more selflessly you give of yourself, the more the
universe returns your goodwill. Dr. Ivan Misner built a thriving international
business on this simple principle. (If you’re interested, check out
Business
Network International.)
In the July 10-16, 2006,
issue of Crain’s New York Business, reporter Tina Traster offers the
following tips to supercharge your networking:
-
Show up. Join two or three
networking groups. Start with industry associations, either your own or
your clients’. Aim for at least one networking event each week. The more
you attend and the more people you meet, the more value you offer to those
in your network.
- Get involved. Donate your talents
to the group. Join a committee. Hold a leadership position. Take an active
role in the group’s success. Getting involved is a great way to show
people who you are and what you can do.
-
Stay focused. Before going out,
identify whom you want to meet. If you don’t know who will be there, focus
on specific positions. For instance, if you’re a title agent, you’ll
likely want to meet real estate attorneys and mortgage brokers.
- Pay attention. You’ve heard the
saying: You’ve got two ears and one mouth; use them proportionally. Listen
to what the other person has to say. Focus on how you can help him or her.
If you see a new contact has received an award or some positive press,
send a note. Little things do count.
Click here to read
Traster’s full article on networking.
Did you find this article
useful? If so, please
share. If not, please delete, and let’s part as friends. (No, seriously, please
tell me how I can better help you.)
Stay cool.
