How to Cash in on the New International Currency
| Category: Entrepreneurship | Date: 2002-04-30 |
Any banker will tell you if they’re completely honest that your greatest financial asset is your ability to earn income. It’s not your house, your bank accounts, or your car they don’t actually want your collateral, they want your payments. What’s important to them is your ability to earn money on an ongoing basis. That ability is based on your health (your capacity to work), your knowledge, your skills, your reputation, and your experience. It’s also based on who you know.
It’s always been that way. Haven’t you ever gotten a sale because you had an existing relationship with your buyer? Conversely, you’ve probably lost a sale or an account because your prospect went to the same fraternity as your competitor or something similar. It might not be fair, but it’s the way things work. You can lament the unfairness of the setup or you can turn the Good ol’ Boy Network into a Good New Boy Network and make it work for you. And with today’s technology it can work globally and it can work with people you haven’t even met face to face.
No matter how technically savvy we become, business still comes down to relationships. People like doing business with people they know and like. Who you know and how well you know them counts for as much if not more than what you know and how good your product/service is.
In my studies of successful people, I’ve found that every one of them can attribute a large portion of their achievement to the help of and association with other people. They were led to someone who could help them and they did. People like to help others they really do. When it comes to networking, the words of Zig Ziglar were never more true, You can get anything you want in life if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
And that’s what it’s about helping other people. No matter what you do for work whether you realize it or not you’re in the networking business. When you network people together, everyone wins you and the people who you connect. Most of them will appreciate and remember what you’ve done for them and return the favor. The idea is to develop a global network of people and organizations one that you’ll continue to build upon and that will help you throughout your career.
When you leave your present position, your contact list can be your ticket to a new job and/or new business. I recommend you keep your own contact list and not rely upon that of your employer. In fact, you could even be sued by your former employer if they feel you’ve taken lists and information that was proprietary.
I keep track of everyone I meet. It takes only a moment to enter their names, address, and telephone information, as well as a couple of personal notes about them. I track them for two reasons: what I might do for them, and what they might do for me. Be sure to exchange business cards with everyone with whom you come in contact.
Because people change jobs, businesses, and residences so often, it’s more efficient to use a database on your computer than a card file system. It’s also the easiest way to extract information and mail to them.
Your database can be as simple as name, address, and telephone numbers, but with only a little more effort, your contact list can become much more sophisticated. You might want to have several groups to differentiate one contact from another. Someone might be on your Christmas list as well as on your Friends list. You’ll want to have other groups that relate to your industry. You can even categorize your contacts into Primary, Casual, and Remote.
You must work your list. Maintain contact networking is a contact sport. Call people. Send them referrals. Mail copies of articles they’d find interesting. If you want to build and maintain relationships, you have to be proactive.
Your contact list your network of coworkers, business associates, friends, golfing buddies, and the like is a gold mine. Treat it like one and you’ll have an abundant supply of the New International Currency.
About the author
Michael Angier is the founder and president of Success Net, publishers of SUCCESS STRATEGIES and SUCCESS DIGEST. Success Net is a worldwide association committed to helping people become more knowledgeable, productive and effective. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best personally and professionally.
success@successnet.org
http://www.successnet.org/
It’s always been that way. Haven’t you ever gotten a sale because you had an existing relationship with your buyer? Conversely, you’ve probably lost a sale or an account because your prospect went to the same fraternity as your competitor or something similar. It might not be fair, but it’s the way things work. You can lament the unfairness of the setup or you can turn the Good ol’ Boy Network into a Good New Boy Network and make it work for you. And with today’s technology it can work globally and it can work with people you haven’t even met face to face.
No matter how technically savvy we become, business still comes down to relationships. People like doing business with people they know and like. Who you know and how well you know them counts for as much if not more than what you know and how good your product/service is.
In my studies of successful people, I’ve found that every one of them can attribute a large portion of their achievement to the help of and association with other people. They were led to someone who could help them and they did. People like to help others they really do. When it comes to networking, the words of Zig Ziglar were never more true, You can get anything you want in life if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
And that’s what it’s about helping other people. No matter what you do for work whether you realize it or not you’re in the networking business. When you network people together, everyone wins you and the people who you connect. Most of them will appreciate and remember what you’ve done for them and return the favor. The idea is to develop a global network of people and organizations one that you’ll continue to build upon and that will help you throughout your career.
When you leave your present position, your contact list can be your ticket to a new job and/or new business. I recommend you keep your own contact list and not rely upon that of your employer. In fact, you could even be sued by your former employer if they feel you’ve taken lists and information that was proprietary.
I keep track of everyone I meet. It takes only a moment to enter their names, address, and telephone information, as well as a couple of personal notes about them. I track them for two reasons: what I might do for them, and what they might do for me. Be sure to exchange business cards with everyone with whom you come in contact.
Because people change jobs, businesses, and residences so often, it’s more efficient to use a database on your computer than a card file system. It’s also the easiest way to extract information and mail to them.
Your database can be as simple as name, address, and telephone numbers, but with only a little more effort, your contact list can become much more sophisticated. You might want to have several groups to differentiate one contact from another. Someone might be on your Christmas list as well as on your Friends list. You’ll want to have other groups that relate to your industry. You can even categorize your contacts into Primary, Casual, and Remote.
You must work your list. Maintain contact networking is a contact sport. Call people. Send them referrals. Mail copies of articles they’d find interesting. If you want to build and maintain relationships, you have to be proactive.
Your contact list your network of coworkers, business associates, friends, golfing buddies, and the like is a gold mine. Treat it like one and you’ll have an abundant supply of the New International Currency.
About the author
Michael Angier is the founder and president of Success Net, publishers of SUCCESS STRATEGIES and SUCCESS DIGEST. Success Net is a worldwide association committed to helping people become more knowledgeable, productive and effective. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best personally and professionally.
success@successnet.org
http://www.successnet.org/
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