Networking, Ugh! Much like the thought of marketing and sales,
the thought of networking may make you cringe. For most
solo-pros, service professionals, and small business owners,
they hear the word networking and it brings to mind the old
business standard of promotional networking at 'meet & greet'
events where it's understood and accepted that everyone is there
to schmooze and subtly manipulate one another in an attempt to
gain some advantage, for themselves or their business, which
will increase their bottom line.
Who wouldn't cringe at the thought of spending an hour or two
exchanging banalities and sales pitches with a phony smile
plastered on your face to hide your discomfort, in an attempt to
'use' someone else to get a leg-up on the competition or to
boost your profits, only to walk away with a pocketful of biz
cards and the prospect of hours of work to continue the charade
through email and by phone? It feels uncomfortable, self-serving
and deceptive. Chances are all those biz cards you collected
will end up in a drawer of your desk never to be seen again
because you'll so dread following up that you'll procrastinate
doing so until they're forgotten.
The good news is it doesn't have to be that way! The Book
Yourself Solid networking strategy operates from an entirely
different paradigm; it's all about connecting and sharing with
others, and all you have to do to begin to employ it is to shift
your perspective from one of scarcity and fear, to one of
abundance and love. With the Book Yourself Solid Networking
Strategy, the focus is on sincerely and freely giving and
sharing, and by doing so, to build and deepen mutually
beneficial relationships with others. It's all about making
lasting connections.
© 2005 Michael Port & Associates LLC
About the author:
Get more clients with Michael Port, expert marketing coach for
small business owners and professional service providers. Free
small business resources, networking opportunities, articles,
advice and coaching on professional services marketing at
http://www.michaelport.com . Receive a free chapter from 'Book
Yourself Solid' at
http://www.bookyourselfsolid.com
