![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
Networking Information |
|
![]() |
You Can't Spell Networking Without Serendipity
"Fear not to entertain strangers for by so doing some have entertained angels unaware." This quotation is from the book of Hebrews, which means it probably has nothing to do with networking. Or does it? Networking is the process of sharing knowledge, helping others, and developing mutually beneficial relationships. Serendipity is the lucky tendency to find interesting or valuable things by chance. Mix the two forces, and you've got a sure-fire formula to boost your business. Now, I understand the Catch-22: if it's serendipity, how can you plan it? Well, you're right - you can't. But you can do a few things to be more aware of it and prepare yourself to leverage it. What is Serendipity Networking? Secondly, being at the right place at the right time is good; but being at the wrong place at the wrong time can be better. I once attended a small group discussion under the impression that the speaker was a certain author, only to realize I had read the flyer incorrectly - the author wasn't coming at all. When I learned who the actual facilitator was, I was initially disappointed. I then realized how much she and I had in common, and now I'm happy to say we're great friends and colleagues who share information and ideas on a frequent basis! Next, serendipity networking is powerful. I mean REALLY powerful. How many times have you met a valuable contact and said, "Wow! The planets must have been aligned tonight!" "The Gods have smiled down upon me!" or "What are the odds of meeting someone as perfect as her?" World renowned speaker, author, and my friend Carol Weisman experienced the power of serendipity networking years ago. She was giving a speech at a conference that unfortunately conflicted with a concurrent session by Dr. Steven Covey. Obviously, attendance was low, but Carol didn't care. She did her absolute best and blew the audience away - all six of them. At the end of her speech she announced, "And now, I'm going to do something that Steven Covey would NEVER do - I'm going to take my entire audience out to lunch!" Little did she know that a member of her audience worked for PBS. Five seasons of a hit program and a Telle Award later, Carol understood the power of serendipity networking. Warning Signs That Networking is in the Air 7 Serendipity Networking Tips 1. Talk to everybody. We are conditioned not to talk to strangers, but some people enter our lives and change them forever. 2. Be nice and help people. Reciprocity is an inherent human need. Go out of your way to extend kindness, friendliness, and assistance to everyone - they are likely to pay you back. Possibly by giving you millions of dollars. 3. Keep a list of your "People Collection." (In an non-crawl-space-under-the-deck kind of way) Whether you use a journal, database software, or bar napkins, make sure you write down the names of every person you meet - not just business contacts. You never know when, 6 months down the road, an idea will pop into your head and you'll need to call someone. 4. Get out there. Make a weekly/monthly networking plan. Serendipity networking has a lot to do with being at the right place at the right time. And although you can't create serendipity, you can certainly put yourself in a position to grab it when it crosses your path. 5. Always have business cards. Always. Most of your networking won't occur between Monday and Friday from 9-5. So remove the following phrase from your vocabulary: "I don't have any of my business cards with me right now." No excuses. Unexpected conversations are the stuff serendipity networking is made of. 6. Always have something free to give away. People like free stuff. They also like to show it to other people. 7. Wear your nametag. A person's name is the single context of human memory most apt to be forgotten. So, at a meeting or event when you're given the chance to remind someone who you are - do it. They'll thank you by approaching you. And possibly by giving you millions of dollars. Luck is Not a Word For effective serendipity networking, remember the three L's: Listen, Localize, and Leverage. Serendipity networking takes time. As the definition says, it means a lucky tendency to find interesting or valuable things by chance. Now, you can't make it happen. But you CAN make yourself more aware of the warning signs and more accessible to that which fortuitously affects you. And even if you really DO think it's all about luck, remember: L.U.C.K is an acronym for Laboring Under Correct Knowledge. © 2005 All Rights Reserved. Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.
MORE RESOURCES: What are decentralized social networks? Cointelegraph A Networking Event That Sparked a Romantic Partnership The New York Times How to Network as an Introvert Entrepreneur Grant Miller attends the Palmetto Bay Business Association ... Miami's Community Newspapers Town to hosts Pulse Program Networking Fair on Feb. 11 | Cutler ... Miami's Community Newspapers Cisco Connects and Protects with New Cloud Tools Across ... Cisco Investor Relations City of South Pasadena Hosts Business Networking Event February ... The South Pasadenan HAPPENING TODAY: Networking Event Announced at Cooper's ... TrentonDaily News Calling all Entrepreneurs! Business Networking on Thursday County 10 News Social Networking Without Selling Yourself tripwire.com Three ways networking services simplify network management MIT Technology Review IN REAL LIFE: Meet the social networking app thatās determined to get you off your phone Miami Herald Women's networking group to meet Feb. 15 | News | athensreview.com Athens Daily Review TIPA Announces Career Networking Program āEDGEā PerishableNews Cisco to Train 10 Million People with Digital Skills over 10 years ... Cisco Investor Relations Networking Reigns at NPE 2023 For Construction Pros Boston non-profit Street2Ivy empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to achieve with education, networking CBS Boston Fortinet custom chip accelerates networking and security convergence SiliconANGLE News Atlantic Highlands Chamber networking breakfast Feb. 8 themonmouthjournaleastern.com Louisville Metro Revenue Commission to take part in REACH's ... LouisvilleKy.gov Networking Workshop University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability diversity-networks-caregivers Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Free networking event in the D.C. area for entrepreneurs seeking ... Virginia Tech Daily Top 8 Enterprise Network Security Companies for 2023 | ENP EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet CASA To Host Networking Event For Young Professionals Los Alamos Daily Post 8 hot networking technologies for 2023 Network World Telemetry steps into the enterprise-networking spotlight Network World Aggies Tabbed for 11 Games on ESPN Family of Networks in 2023 Texas A&M Athletics End Neglected Tropical Diseases through WHO Collaborating ... World Health Organization Networking Event: Women in Energy & Foreign Policy - Center on ... Columbia | SIPA Center on Global Energy Policy Making It Easier To Break The SONiC Barrier For Networking The Next Platform Do cloud native 5G core networks need DPUs? Light Reading Electric Vehicle Charging Networks Trend Toward Convenience Government Technology University of Cape Town hosts a networking event India Education Diary Networking tips for academics | THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect Times Higher Education CareerSource Pinellas Professional Networking Group St. Petersburg College ATU Mayo to host HR networking event for practitioners and students Connaught Telegraph Photos North Bay Business Journal .NET 7 Brings Networking Improvements InfoQ.com Dayton chef to host evening of food, music, networking Dayton Daily News Spring Socials ā Innovations and Networking - UKGBC UK Green Building Council Why Buying Palo Alto Networks Now Is a Genius Move The Motley Fool Snapshot: Latin Americaās 5 biggest neutral fiber networks BNamericas English Colin Cowherd had offers to join political networks: āIām too happy to do politics.ā Awful Announcing The Era of Private Networks is Well Underway: How Can You Benefit? Spiceworks News and Insights Football Trade Directory returns to Bramall Lane for latest ... Football Trade Directory Career fair and networking luncheon returning to Penn State DuBois ... Pennsylvania State University TBO hosts exceptional and inspiring mega travel networking event ... Travel Trade Jouurnal |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
Networking: What the Heck is a Ryze? If you're new to the internet marketing club, you may have heard about "Ryze." What is that, you wonder? Ryze refers to the Ryze Business Network at http://Ryze. Flying High, Flying Far "What me? Sell myself? You have to be joking!"This was the response I received from one of my clients when I suggested that she needed to get out there and promote herself. She had to "network". Franchisees Should Learn From Each Other If you own a franchise you should be in contact with your nearest franchisees and share information as if you were the manager of a corporate store. You should set up meetings once or twice per month and have their phone numbers logged into your speed dial for easy reference. Defining a Quality Networking Group When it comes to quality, how do you choose the group that matches your expectations?Defining a quality group is not as easy as it looks. You first need to conduct the research into meetings, type of attendance etc. Ask for What YOU Want and Gain More Business Why ask others for help and what do you gain from it?What does asking for help have to do with creating business relationships and making announcements? It has everything to do with it. You have made announcements, donated items, created an awareness of who you are and what you do. Ten Simple Steps to More Customers with Better Networking Networking is a great way to meet people in a "non-selling" setting. So, don't sell. Develop a Great Network - Pay It Forward for Maximum Success Who needs a network of people to talk to about the struggles you're encountering in your profession? You do! The more people you have in your personal network, the more people that can help you Make it Great! Don't be afraid to ask for help, as you can't do everything alone, contrary to popular belief. By developing your network, you can actually become more dependant on others, and they will become dependant on you. Network Your Way to Success, and Remember: Its Not About You! Quote of the week"The answer is always no.. 10 Top Tips for Successful Networking 1. Recognise the importance of networkingAsk any successful business person and they will tell you that above all else networking skills are absolutely vital to grow your business. How to Collect Business Cards Why the business card grab is not why you are there? So how do you obtain the card and show interest that gains confidence?One of the things I am also always asked is, "How do you collect cards?" and "What do you do with them when you get them back to the office?" What really happens when you collect business cards? Often they get put into a pocket with many others. Have you ever collected cards to later find out that you have no idea who the person was? This happens all the time. How NOT to Waste Your Time Networking Ever wonder if networking, referral groups, and conferences are a waste of your time? Think about it?how many hours do you invest in deciding where to network, registering, getting there, "working the room," and then following up? How much real business do you generate from your networking efforts? How do you know where to invest and where to cut your losses?If you're not thinking critically about how (or if!) to network, I guarantee that you're wasting a lot of time and money. Bonnie Lowe recently interviewed me for her upcoming e-book: Networkaholics Revealed! True Confessions of People Who Networked Their Way To Success (And How You Can Do the Same). Networking: Is Your Approach Too Self-Centered? It's a classic mistake by networkers: their approach is focused on their own needs rather than on the needs of their contacts.Fortunately, a popular new book by Bonnie Lowe makes it easy to solve this problem. The Foundation of Networking: Its Not Rocket Science Commandment 1LoveWhen we choose to simply love, our giving and receiving becomes unconditional. We can listen and not be caught up in the vicious cycle of judgment. Networking: Breaking into the Buzz Breaking into conversational groups is one of the things people ask me about when I'm conducting networking sessions. There's a buzz that hovers over a crowded room that comes from all those people conversing. Is The Company You Keep Hurting Your Business? When you look at your friends, it's like looking into a mirror. Take the sum of characteristics of the five people you spend most of your time with and you will be the average of that sum. Come Home Rich - How to Get the Most out of Your Next Conference Success in your career depends upon how well you manage your professional development. A prime source of this development comes from being a member of a professional association that relates to your career. Why Arent You Talking to Me? Your nonverbal communication talks before you do. Only seven percent of interpersonal communication is transmitted verbally-the remaining ninety-three percent speaks for itself. Follow-Up with Your Contacts What happens when you meet a potential client at an event and you do not follow up?So now the event is over and you have collected a number of business cards, taken notes on the best prospects, divided the cards into Y(es), N(o), and M(aybe), now what? It is time to follow up. The best follow-up is immediate - they will remember you best if you go home that night and enter their information into your database and send a personal email or hand-written note. Are You Really Listening: The Importance of Strong Communication Skills Let's face it, when most people think of IT professionals, the image that comes to mind is the guy or girl with the glasses huddled behind a myriad of computer monitors, incapable of communicating with anyone other than their keyboardIn today's competitive IT marketplace, this person also is exactly the type that no employer wants to bring on board and will, in fact, avoid at all costs. Strong communication skills are one of the most important traits employers are looking for either within the corporate environment or in consulting projects. Your Front End While surfing for traffic or browsing your safelist emails, you are sure to have noticed the very large number of networkers promoting similar, if not identical, programs. Empowerism and Profit Rally are everywhere, as are health related and telecom based MLM opportunities. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2006 |