I remember being introduced to the concept of "business
networking" when I started my first business. I thought, I
will NEVER be able to do this. I remember getting ready to
go to my first networking event and whining to my husband
(then boyfriend), "I was miserable at this kind of thing
when I was dating! How could this ever help my business?"
And then I realized about networking what I've come to know
about so many aspects of building business ...
It was ME that needed to change.
So here is 1 Sure-Fire INNER and OUTER Tip for you to begin
to use right away so that you get the most from the time,
money and energy you invest in networking:
Shift your energy away form "getting" to "giving."
What I didn't like about dating events was that I felt on
display and like I had to prove something so that I could
try to get someone to like me. It was this same energy that
I was NOT looking forward to encountering in business
networking. Standing in a restaurant somewhere with a stiff
smile on my face pretending that I cared what some
insurance guy (not that insurance isn't important) was
saying to me?!
Yuck!
Or worse going to an event and exchanging business cards as
quickly as possible without making any real connections and
then trying to follow-up with these people and "get them"
to buy my service?! No way!
And then for one event I thought to myself, what would
happen when I spoke about my business if I really spoke
from my heart (rather than worrying about saying the "right
thing") and I just CHOSE to see the light in each person I
met and to really dig deep to see what I could GIVE to each
person - - something of real value, something that would
make a difference to them, to their business, to their
life. Wahla!
Everything changed.
First, I no longer felt dread and exhaustion.
Second, I started meeting some REALLY great people. (Some
folks that I am still in touch with to this day.)
Third, business started to pick up... and often NOT from
the direct person that I gave to (that's another little
secret I just gave you).
One of my favorite memories is from a guest who visited my
very first BNI (Business Networking International) group.
It turned out that she was a representative for the Trading
Association on Wall Street in New York City. She sent out
the information about my business (my first business was as
a Nutrition and Wellness Coach) to EVERY trader in the
association. (Just FYI: most traders have terrible diets.)
I filled half of my practice from that connection. And that
was in my first 6 months of business.
And that's just my FAVORITE story like that. There are tons
more.
But I truly believe the energy is the foundation to ALL of
it. If I had been closed off, angry, resentful, annoyed
about being at that meeting (i.e. What's the point? These
things don't work anyway?) I have a hard time believing
that connection would have happened.
So get clear about what your intention is before any type
of networking opportunity. (And what you can authentically
GIVE, not just get.)
Call To Action:
1 Look at your calendar for the next 6 months.
2 Plug in at least two networking possibilities for each
month.
3 Be prepared to GIVE something of value to each person you
connect with.
4 What do you need to do feel JOY about these
events/meetings? Let yourself begin to get creative and
think out of the box ... what could you do to jazz and
juice-up networking for yourself?
----------------------------------------------------
Heather Dominick, EnergyRICH® Entrepreneur Success
Coach, coaches entrepreneurs to identify inner and outer
sources for attracting clients and increasing business
profit. http://www.energyrichcoach.com
Need a resource on how to move through the fear you have
about networking? Then get a copy of the How to Move
Through Fear For More Money Audio and Action-Book. I hold
your hand the whole way. http://www.MoveFear4Money.com .
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