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...