This video from NetworkingNow.com explains the powerful impact your business card can have and why it’s so important to tailor your business card to coincide with the exact business image you want to present. This video is just one example of the vast array of educational content offered on NetworkingNow.com–there are literally hundreds of business and networking downloads available in the site’s online library and you can access all of them for FREE for six months by entering the free subscripti...
read more………………………. This week I am in Bangkok and Hong Kong speaking to business professionals about networking. When you travel (especially internationally) it is easy to forget something you really need while you are in meetings or speaking to groups of people. Last month, I did an interview with an international magazine on this very topic. The reporter asked me “what should business people think about taking with them on business trips that they might not...
read moreWho’s in Your Room? 03/26/12
“Who’s in Your Room?” This was the question asked by a close friend of mine, Stewart Emery (pictured in this blog) at a presentation of his that I attended a few months ago. He posed an interesting series of questions and ideas to the audience; “What if you had to live your life in one room? Whoever you want to interact with in life is in that room. There is only one door. It is a one-way door. Whoever is in your room, stays in your room forever. Whoever comes into your room impacts yo...
read moreI start this blog with a riddle: When does going faster, make things slower? Well the answer is: when you are rushing a relationship. A few years ago a close friend of mine, Dr. Emory Cowan, contributed an article for my book Masters of Networking. I’m sharing his contribution in my blog today because I think it is a great concept to think about as we start the new year. Building a word-of-mouth marketing plan requires developing a trusted network of partners — which means cultivating relationships. B...
read moreBusiness Networking and Sex (not what you think) is officially released this week in bookstores. This book was more fun to work on than any book I’ve ever written. My co-authors: Frank De Raffele and Hazel Walker were fantastic to work with. You may be wondering what sex has to do with networking. You may also be excited to learn how to use your sexual prowess to influence business deals. Well, get your mind out of the gutter! Sorry to burst your bubble, but this book is really more about gender than...
read moreDo Men or Women Get More Referrals? 09/22/11
[Business Networking and Sex is scheduled to be released in January of 2012. Stay tuned to other topics from the book by visiting www.BusinessNetworkingAndSex.com.] Do women get a higher percentage of business from networking or do men? This is the lively discussion taking place between my Business Networking and Sex co-authors and I in this short video. What do you think? I’d love to get your opinion on the topic! After watching the video, leave YOUR opinion here. Share which gender you believe gets...
read moreGreat Opening Question 03/21/11
A good networker has two ears and one mouth and should use them both proportionately. When you meet someone in a networking environment you should ‘listen’ more than you ‘talk’ (especially if it is the first time you’ve met). Consequently, in books like The 29% Solution and Networking Like a Pro, I’ve written a lot about the kinds of questions you should ask when you meet someone for the first time. Recently, I was at a networking event and, at the end of the conversation, someone asked me a question that...
read moreDeveloping Your Target Market 03/17/11
Building your business is all about leveraging your strengths within the context of your prospects’ needs, then networking with as many of those people as you can. The most successful networkers have developed a thorough strategy planning process. Key aspects of this process include: identifying the major components of the broad, deep network you hope to establish; studying the different types of networking organizations and how they fit into your overall strategy; and identifying the types of businesspeople that m...
read moreOne thing most businesspeople and entrepreneurs have in common is that they’re usually very busy and tend to have little time to spare. Their busy schedules often create challenges when it comes to making time to educate themselves on building valuable business skills such as networking. This is why Entrepreneur.com has created the Coaches Corner, a highly convenient educational resource offering extremely brief educational videos on topics like networking, social media, marketing, starting out, managing employees...
read moreNo Faux Pas in India! 02/14/11
I’m headed to India this week to speak for BNI in Mumbai and Bangalore. I look forward to meeting many people and having the chance to help them increase their business through referrals. I’ve traveled to dozens of countries to speak and teach my philosophy of Givers Gain® in business. However, this is my first time to visit this exotic country. I’ve discovered that it is very important to get “briefed” by others before speaking around the world. I learned the hard way in one countr...
read moreInternational Networking Week 2011 02/09/11
Welcome to International Networking Week, 2011! Take a few minutes to check out the video for International Networking Week® 2011, on YouTube! The short, eight-minute video discusses the history and significance of this event which will be recognized across the globe February 7-11, 2011. It also explains a concept many networkers fail to recognize but which all networkers need to be aware of–the ‘networking disconnect’. This is the fifth year for International Networking Week® and it is now recognized by many...
read morePersonality in a Deck of Cards 11/24/10
Everyone wants to learn about their personality style. This is especially true with people who understand the value of networking. But most people don’t like taking boring written quizzes and assessment. Enter “Personality Poker” – what I think is a fun and interactive way to learn about your personality. Personality Poker is played with a specially designed deck of cards. They look like regular poker cards except they also have words printed across the faces. The words are personality descriptors like o...
read moreTop Traits of a Good Networker 05/03/10
I’ve been sharing results from my Referral Institute study on networking. This week I’d like to share with you the findings that we have gotten regarding the “Traits of a Good Networker”. Below is a list of the Top 5 Traits and then a graph of the Top 10. Enjoys Helping Others Is Trustworthy Works Follows Up Is a Good Listener What do you think of these results and do you think there is something that was left off? Here’s a handy key, organized by color, that makes it easier to dis...
read moreGuardian at the Gate 04/22/10
When I started my first business, I knew I wanted referrals to play a key part in my overall growth strategy, and I began to realize I wasn’t the only one trying to get more sales through referrals. A lot of other business professionals were trying to do the same thing. So I thought, “What if I became the hub?” If all the other people out there were trying to do the same thing as I was, why couldn’t I position myself as the gatekeeper of sorts between other people’s networks? Then, i...
read moreBusinesses Say Networking Helps Them Succeed; Professors Have to Look up the Term Networking! 03/15/10
My recently completed Referral Institute study of more than 12,000 business professionals from all around the world has ended, and I’ve been going through mountains of statistics and data (oh joy). I thought I might share an important one with my readers. This statistic will not surprise anyone in the real world (yes professors, I’m saying you live in a fantasy world): 91.4 percent of all respondents claimed that networking played a role in their success. Only 6 percent said it did not, and I...
read moreHappy 21st–How To Work A Room (R)! 11/16/09
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&...
read moreRather than receiving a finder’s fee, for most referral sources it is more important to be recognized as a person who can direct others to the goods and services provided by skilled, highly competent, trustworthy people. Over the years I’ve witnessed time and again that most people will do more for simple recognition than for money. However, for those who expect a finder’s fee, this is a good thing to know in advance if you want to keep the relationship healthy, active and profitable. You will fin...
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