Networking Power
Networking Power
I also knew that in order to succeed in business, particularly as a speaker, I’d better learn to be more comfortable in social settings, I’d better learn to enjoy parties and most of all, I better learn how to toot my own horn once in a while! To me that couldn’t mean becoming brash or obnoxiously self-promoting, but I also learned that I could not do much good for others if I was going to hide my light under the proverbial bushel basket!
Networking is about revealing your true and sincere value to the world and the people who can benefit from knowing you. It’s about becoming an important part of the lives of other people; for their benefit as well as yours.
So, how to you do it?
First, networking is NOT SALES!!! Did I shout that loud enough?
Networking is NOT ABOUT REFERRAL QUOTAS! I may get angry replies from some well-established networking organizations, but quotas are crap. Quotas force insincere referrals. Frankly, through networking groups I’ve met more people I wouldn’t refer than people I would. It’s not that I couldn’t make the quotas: I wouldn’t make the quotas. I only refer people I feel good about.
Be the Ninja. Infiltrate yourself into your networking opportunity. Networking is the art of establishing genuine relationships.
Networking is a subtle art. It needs to be approached with care and gentility. This realization was very comforting to me; I love to talk with people, I’m just not naturally comfortable with talking about myself. That’s OK, the key to effective networking is listening to the other guy. I’m a sucker for a great story and I love to hear about what other people are doing, where they came from and what they want to do with their lives. These are all great openers for developing a sincere and valuable relationship and that’s really what networking is all about.
Once the conversation is engaged, it will come around to your story. That’s when you need to become comfortable with presenting yourself with pride and confidence. Do you do business with people who are insincere or lack confidence in their product or service? Would you recommend a weak person to others? Duh! Assuming you’re doing something important and useful to others, simply practice talking about yourself and your occupation with confidence. If you need help with that, give me a call!
Networking is simply being open to engaging in conversation with other people. Do it everywhere at any time! You don’t need a formal networking event to network; I’ve learned to network anywhere, anytime.
I just did a quick visit to New York to appear on a major radio program. See, that’s not bragging, I’m just telling you what I did with pride and confidence! Now you know a little more about me and I still didn’t try to sell you anything. At any rate, I made a promise to myself to great everyone I could with a smile and engage in polite conversation.
I thought I was going to be the only guest on my segment of the radio show. When I was escorted into the studio there were two other people as well as Joey Reynolds, the host. What a great opportunity! I smiled and introduced myself to the other guests; turns out I’m on a panel with the editor of the New York Sun and one of New York’s leading intellectuals. Nice contacts to have, I’d say!
I made no sales that evening; I made some friends!
After the show I decided to have a toddy at my hotel bar. A couple sat down next to me at the bar and overhearing their conversation I found out they had just driven from Detroit to see their daughter perform at Carnegie Hall. What an icebreaker! We talked about what a thrill it must be to see their daughter realize such a dream. We talked about sports. We talked about small business and even some politics.
The man, it turns out, leads a large sales and technical force for a major business machine manufacturer. What an opportunity to make a sale for my speaking business! NOT!!!
I made no sales; I made two more friends. Had I attempted to make a sale I’m sure the conversation would have ended. These folks were focused on their daughter’s accomplishment and were exhausted from their long trip. They appreciated the pleasant conversation and we got to know one another.
And…they met America’s Instigational Speaker!
Will these contacts become clients? Maybe. I know they enjoyed my company and I enjoyed theirs. I got to know them so if the opportunity comes I’ll know a little better how I might serve them. I know they’ll visit my website and will probably join my mailing list. I know they’ll tell others about me. I know they’ll remember me because we had a great time. That’s what networking is all about.
So, put on a smile, fill your pocket with business cards and go out and meet someone! Don’t expect anything but pleasant conversation. Establish a relationship and over time the rest will come.
Networking Power - To learn more about this author, visit Jim Bouchard's Website.
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By my own admission I was dragged kicking and screaming into the world of networking. Many people who know me do not believe this, but by nature I’m a very reserved person. I am perfectly comfortable being alone, I don’t seek out parties and I don’t instinctively feel the compulsion to blow my own horn.
I also knew that in order to succeed in business, particularly as a speaker, I’d better learn to be more comfortable in social settings, I’d better learn to enjoy parties and most of all, I better learn how to toot my own horn once in a while! To me that couldn’t mean becoming brash or obnoxiously self-promoting, but I also learned that I could not do much good for others if I was going to hide my light under the proverbial bushel basket!
Networking is about revealing your true and sincere value to the world and the people who can benefit from knowing you. It’s about becoming an important part of the lives of other people; for their benefit as well as yours.
So, how to you do it?
First, networking is NOT SALES!!! Did I shout that loud enough?
Networking is NOT ABOUT REFERRAL QUOTAS! I may get angry replies from some well-established networking organizations, but quotas are crap. Quotas force insincere referrals. Frankly, through networking groups I’ve met more people I wouldn’t refer than people I would. It’s not that I couldn’t make the quotas: I wouldn’t make the quotas. I only refer people I feel good about.
Be the Ninja. Infiltrate yourself into your networking opportunity. Networking is the art of establishing genuine relationships.
Networking is a subtle art. It needs to be approached with care and gentility. This realization was very comforting to me; I love to talk with people, I’m just not naturally comfortable with talking about myself. That’s OK, the key to effective networking is listening to the other guy. I’m a sucker for a great story and I love to hear about what other people are doing, where they came from and what they want to do with their lives. These are all great openers for developing a sincere and valuable relationship and that’s really what networking is all about.
Once the conversation is engaged, it will come around to your story. That’s when you need to become comfortable with presenting yourself with pride and confidence. Do you do business with people who are insincere or lack confidence in their product or service? Would you recommend a weak person to others? Duh! Assuming you’re doing something important and useful to others, simply practice talking about yourself and your occupation with confidence. If you need help with that, give me a call!
Networking is simply being open to engaging in conversation with other people. Do it everywhere at any time! You don’t need a formal networking event to network; I’ve learned to network anywhere, anytime.
I just did a quick visit to New York to appear on a major radio program. See, that’s not bragging, I’m just telling you what I did with pride and confidence! Now you know a little more about me and I still didn’t try to sell you anything. At any rate, I made a promise to myself to great everyone I could with a smile and engage in polite conversation.
I thought I was going to be the only guest on my segment of the radio show. When I was escorted into the studio there were two other people as well as Joey Reynolds, the host. What a great opportunity! I smiled and introduced myself to the other guests; turns out I’m on a panel with the editor of the New York Sun and one of New York’s leading intellectuals. Nice contacts to have, I’d say!
I made no sales that evening; I made some friends!
After the show I decided to have a toddy at my hotel bar. A couple sat down next to me at the bar and overhearing their conversation I found out they had just driven from Detroit to see their daughter perform at Carnegie Hall. What an icebreaker! We talked about what a thrill it must be to see their daughter realize such a dream. We talked about sports. We talked about small business and even some politics.
The man, it turns out, leads a large sales and technical force for a major business machine manufacturer. What an opportunity to make a sale for my speaking business! NOT!!!
I made no sales; I made two more friends. Had I attempted to make a sale I’m sure the conversation would have ended. These folks were focused on their daughter’s accomplishment and were exhausted from their long trip. They appreciated the pleasant conversation and we got to know one another.
And…they met America’s Instigational Speaker!
Will these contacts become clients? Maybe. I know they enjoyed my company and I enjoyed theirs. I got to know them so if the opportunity comes I’ll know a little better how I might serve them. I know they’ll visit my website and will probably join my mailing list. I know they’ll tell others about me. I know they’ll remember me because we had a great time. That’s what networking is all about.
So, put on a smile, fill your pocket with business cards and go out and meet someone! Don’t expect anything but pleasant conversation. Establish a relationship and over time the rest will come.
Networking Power - To learn more about this author, visit Jim Bouchard's Website.
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John PowerJohn Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website |
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Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
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