Networking Success

by Mindy Selinger

I think that it’s a bit ironic that I was forwarded a link to an article by Tom Davenport of the Harvard Business Review, ‘Forwarding is the New Networking’. Tom’s article supports what I’ve been teaching for the past five years; The Importance of Sharing Information. In fact, the definition of business networking I use is this: Networking is the exchange of Ideas, Information and Resources (From Naisbett’s book Megatrends). You can share any article with hundreds of your closest business associates by learning to use all those book marks and forwarding social networking buttons.

With the onset and use of social media the world is at our fingertips with the click of a mouse. Our  networking influence is virtually unlimited. Are we better networkers because of this? Not necessarily. The quality of the connections  is what’s important. An excellent way to keep in touch is to forward along useful information. It lets your network know that you’re thinking about them and their needs.
Be careful though. Don’t get in to the habit of just regurgitating the same old information to everyone. Personalize it. Always send along a short note on why the information will be useful to them.
Just the other day one of my connections forwarded me a resource and included her thoughts on how I could use the resource. I took action and the result was huge…MASSIVE. I’m very grateful that she took the time to share her thoughts with me.

I think this quote from Benjamin Disreali sums it up so well… “As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information” (I’m sure he meant to include women, as well)

The following is an excerpt from the upcoming book Face-to-Face Networking Skills
by Mindy Selinger
The majority of all the information & resources you need in order to be successful is within your reach, lurking in the background waiting to be discovered. Sometimes we get so busy and so focused on one aspect of our business that we “can’t see the forest for the trees”. A good PowerPartner looks out for you and recognizes opportunities, then shares them with you. They are invaluable. I know this from personal experience. Recently, one of my PowerPartners forwarded the email of a resource to me along with her thoughts on how I might use that resource. I was familiar with it. In fact, I had received the very same email that morning. But I had been busy…I had too many “trees” in front of me to see the application she saw. I took action and the result was huge…MASSIVE. I’m so grateful she took the time to share her thoughts……

A Good PowerPartner Has Your Back

It was several months in the making. I first heard from Ellen Volpe, President of American Business Associates, when she purchased the CD audio program from the website. When I saw she was from Long Island, a quick Google search told me she was a major player in the local Business to Business Networking scene. A phone call was in order! Five months later I stepped up to the podium in front of almost 100 people gathered at the Clubroom of Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. What a thrill!

Here is Ellen Volpe, (second from the left) and the rest of her crew who help out that morning. The Hofstra Club is a very posh venue located on the Hofstra University campus in Hempstead, Long Island.

“The event on Friday was engaging, entertaining and most of all informative. Mindy, your energy and interactive presentation made the time fly by. Ellen and Gene, thanks for making this quality program available. ” Joyce Zimmerman – JoyWriter Communications

In the crowd was Paul Pileggi who had been to the workshop I presented last year for Greiner Maltz Commercial Real Estate. It was he who shared this information with Ellen in one of her networking groups.. Thank you Paul!

In the picture to the right, this man is no doubt explaining to the other that the nametag goes on the RIGHT lapel! This group was very vocal and willing to engage…so fun to work with! We had them up on their feet trying out the “Four Pre-Qual Questions” and taking the microphone to tell us who their PowerPartners are. More than one company sent their entire crew!

“Mindy has a passion for networking”
“Awesome!!”
“Very enlightening and refreshing….A wonderful session!”
“The concept of ‘linking’ vs. ’selling’ takes a lot of pressure off. Great information!”

I hope to return SOON to present another workshop. Bye!

Bye!

“I have received a lot of calls and you were a HIT~ Thanks so much for making me look good and for making a difference in the lives of so many people.” Ellen Volpe, ABA

You cannot be considered a serious networker or be a competant “PowerPartner” without subscribing to your local Business Journal. Every community has their business publications. Here in San Diego we have the weekly San Diego Business Journal, The San Diego Daily Transcript and the quarterly Biz San Diego Magazine. For my money, I like the weekly Business Journal. It’s not too much…it’s not too little…It’s Just Right.
The SDBJ is a part of my Making The Connection networking workshop. I bring in an issue and we discuss how they can use it to:

• Be conversant in current events – Make networking conversations easier
• Find information to share with those in your network
• Learn about the “Movers & Shakers” in your community…imagine running into someone at the next event and being able to comment of their recent article…believe me…they will be impressed and flattered
• Find events/seminars for yourself and others
• Did someone get a promotion? Send a congratulations card! Did you notice a business meeting that will pull in a certain audience demographic? Share that information with others! When it comes to speakers, the more influential the speaker, the more influential the audience.
  
  In my PowerPartner Appoach® Trainings, we define networking as “The exchange of Ideas, Information & Resources”. Keeping current with your community’s business news to find information to share with your network is imperative to staying ahead of your competition.

British polititian Benjamin Disreali said “In the end, the person with the most success is the one with the best information”