Networking is the kind of social and professional interaction that came naturally to businesspeople throughout most of this nation’s history, especially in smaller communities. But as villages grew into towns, towns into cities and cities into megalopolises, the sense of community and the close, personal business relationships that went with it gradually disappeared. The rise of large retail chains and multinational corporations, along with the demise of small businesses under the stiff price competition from t...

You’ve heard of financial capital, but do you know about social capital? Financial capital is the material wealth, whether money or property, that is accumulated by individuals and businesses and used, or available for use, in the production of more wealth. This is the standard definition in economics. Social capital is the accumulation of resources developed in the course of social interactions, especially through personal and professional networks. These resources include ideas, knowledge, information, opportunit...

The holiday party is a great time to meet people but . . . you should have a plan! Everybody goes to parties, and the holiday season is full of them. It’s also a business slowdown season for many of us who are not in retail. The holiday parties are NOT just a place for free food and drinks. Holiday parties and other social mixers bring new opportunities to network, even more than the rest of the year.   The holidays are times when we are more likely to see people in a social setting, and this setting definitely l...

I am pleased to announce that the new video for International Networking Week, 2010, is now available on YouTube.  The video was sponsored by Entrepreneur Press and the Referral Institute.  Mark your calendar now.  International Networking Week is the week of Feb. 1 through 5, 2010.  For additional information go to www.InternationalNetworkingWeek.com. This is the fourth year for International Networking Week.  It is now recognized by many countries around the world, with thousands of events being held during t...

I had the privilege of attending the rollout of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo yesterday.  The spaceship rides under the center portion of the mother ship, called the WhiteKnightTwo (which I wrote about last year). The rollout had many special guests, including California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured at podium–last photo at bottom), Sir Richard Branson (pictured in second to last photo) and Burt Rutan (the designer of the spacecraft, pictured with me, here) . The plane will carry the spaceship and it...

My friend Charlie Robertson from the UK recently wrote a really great blog about some important lessons his mother taught him growing up and how he uses these lessons on an everyday basis when networking. Check out Charlie’s blog below.  I have a hunch your mother may have taught you these same things.  If not, though,  let’s at least hope you have the bath part down by now . . . that one’s definitely key. Charles, do your homework! My mummy always told me to . . . 1. Make friends 2. Play nice 3....

2009 is almost over (and many are glad about that!), and it’s time to look ahead. I have before me my crystal ball.  I am looking into the future, and this is what I see for 2010: First, the economy IS going to improve.  OK, this isn’t a”networking” issue, but it IS important.  Have faith.  Look for opportunities.  Focus on what you do best.  You will have a better year next year, but you need to focus on solutions and get out of the quagmire of problems. Online social networks will cont...

A few months ago I met a chauffeur in Arizona who drove me from the airport to a speaking engagement I was scheduled for.  We talked about referral marketing and business in general, and he shared with me that he has a client who runs a mining operation.  He said this client told him that his next big mining project is going to take 11 years before it starts to bring in any revenue! The client continued explaining to the chauffeur that the mining operation is spending the first 11 years of the project doing noth...

I’ve mentioned my good friend Alex Mandossian in a couple of previous blogs. But in case you don’t yet know who Alex is, he is one of the world’s most respected experts on marketing, and his knowledge, background and track record of unbelievable results are truly amazing. I’m going to be hosting a free call with Alex on Tuesday, Dec. 1  (4 p.m. Pacific / 6 p.m. Central / 7 p.m. Eastern), which will be a preview for Alex’s Teleseminar Secrets Training Series. I encourage you to call in i...

I received an e-mail today from someone in my organization who said that entrepreneurs and business professionals really need help in management, sales, accounting, taxes and many other issues.  So far, so good–I couldn’t agree more! Then he suggested that our organization would be so much better if we provided that kind of training. Whoa–stop!  Here’s where we part ways.  You see, I’ve heard that many times over the years.  It tends to come from groups that are struggling, and theyR...

I’ve mentioned my good friend Susan RoAne’s networking books in a few of my previous blogs because her content is not only invaluably effective and simple to implement, it’s also a real treat to study because she’s hilariously witty and it shows in her work. If you haven’t yet checked out any of Susan’s networking content, now is the perfect time to start.  Susan’s bestselling book How To Work A Room has just turned 21, and the information it offers is timeless. In fact, it&...

I founded BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization, on a philosophy called Givers Gain.  Now, 25 years later, BNI has grown into an organization that spans more than 40 countries and has a membership of more than 111,000 people who meet every week to pass each other business referrals.  Last year alone, BNI generated more than $2.3 billion (USD) in business for our members worldwide, and this year, even in in a down economy, I wouldn’t be surprised if that number is even higher. Why am ...

Last week I told you that the No. 1 trait of master networkers is that they follow up the referrals they are given.  I hope you’ve been working on fine-tuning your follow-up strategy and that you’re now on the road to mastery of this aspect of networking. So what else did the survey of more than 2,000 businesspeople from more than four countries reveal to be included in the top five essential traits of a master networker? Positive attitude. A consistently negative attitude causes people to dislike you an...

When I ask people what they think the No. 1 trait of a master networker is, most people think it’s that master networkers, above all,  give referrals to others. However, according to a survey of more than 2,000 businesspeople from four countries that was published in Masters of Networking, a book I co-wrote with Don Morgan, the No. 1 trait of master networkers is that they follow up on the referrals they are given. “Giving referrals” didn’t even make the top five! The reason for this top rank...

In my last blog I promised you that this week I’d tell you a story about the way someone once recognized me that kept me wanting to refer him over and over.  Well, here goes . . . A few years ago, I visited my chiropractor for a routine adjustment.  Several weeks before, I had referred him to a friend who had recently been in an accident.  As I walked into the waiting room, my eyes fell on a bulletin board that was displayed prominently on the wall.  The bulletin board read, “We would like to thank th...