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SME JOURNAL
Business Ethics: with Vona Oyibo,Carrington blake group
NETWORKING-GETTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE
With all the demands on our time made by our
business, professional and personal lives, it is tempting to not to put a lot of
effort into networking as an activity designed to meet new people. After all, we
have so many commitments at the office and at home -- to colleagues, family
and friends – that it is difficult to set aside extra time to bring even
more people into our lives. This thinking would be wrong on two levels. For one,
we are constantly being introduced to new people anyway, every day, with
no disruption to our schedules. Secondly, by not consistently widening our
circles of acquaintances and contacts, we may be severely curtailing our chances
for advancement and success. It is estimated that the average person knows about250 people. And each of those people knows, in turn, another 250 or so people.
Here is an answer and question excerpt from an expert author on
networking, Donna Fisher
1. What is networking?
Networking is a process of meeting people, building relationships, and developing a support system that is mutually beneficial
and supportive.
2. How can someone meet anyone on the planet?
By using what's called "global stepping stones." This means accessing people through the people you know. Everyone you know
in turn knows anywhere from 250 to 5,000+ people. Therefore your network
has tremendous reach and anyone you would want to meet is typically only three
or four people away from you. To check this out think of someone you would like
to meet and then begin to identify who within your network might either know
that person or know someone who knows that person. Call the people you
identify asking them if they can introduce you to the person you want to meet. If
they cannot, then ask them who they know who knows that person. See if you can
make personal contact with the person you want to meet within the 3-4
person prediction.
3. What if a person feels they "don't know anyone important"?
Typically people are unaware of the power and magnitude
of their network. A first step in networking is to become more aware of
the network you already have and begin to use it because it is through use that
twill grow. You can begin to identify your network by identifying categories
of people that you know, i.e. business owners, authors, celebrities, or
identify categories such as: business associates, vendors, church friends,
neighbors, school alumni, and former co-workers. Identify what you mean
by" important" people and begin to find and bring those people into
your network. When you begin to purposefully and consciously build your network,
you will develop a full, rich network of people who are important to you in
many ways. Also beware, for the tendency is to think that
"important" people won't have time for us. Often times it is the
"important" people who care about people and know and value the importance of networking
and making connections and contributing to one another.
4. What are the 5 ways someone can increase their network?
1. Call at least one person a week from your network that you
have not talked with in a while and reconnect. (reconnection call)
2. On each reconnection call ask the person you are talking with
about someone they know i.e. "Have you heard from xxxx
lately?" or "How are xxx and xxx doing?" or "Do you remember xxx
who worked on xxx project with us?"
3. Immediately after your reconnection call, call the person you
inquired about and reconnect with them.
Learn the art of small talk and saying hello to someone
new once a week.
4. Ask for the names of vendors, referrals, centers of influence
from the people you know.
According to my fellow my colleagues, business people we picked
3 of the best opportunities for Networking:
Beer mat Entrepreneur: Beer mat Entrepreneur holds a networking
event for entrepreneurs for free every Monday. There is no
dress code and it’s open to anyone to mingle meet new people and get your
business out there.www.beermat.biz
BNI: BNI is a business and professional networking organization that allows you to share
your ideas and business referrals.
www.bni.com
Everywoman: Is a great online networking tool with forums where
you can ask for advice and get a lot of help, information
and inspiration. They have plenty of workshops up and down the country as well.
everywoman.co.uk
Most business books and experts tell you it takes a certain type
of person to be an entrepreneur. They might say you have to be
outgoing, risk-taking, and able to make sales.
It’s not true. Look around: You may know someone who's successful
but is a grouch, hates to take a risk, or doesn’t get up
before noon. They can be an entrepreneur – a successful entrepreneur –
if they find a business that suits their entrepreneurial type.
What do I mean by “entrepreneurial type”?
Most people when they first consider being in business
for themselves think about their interests. That’s just a starting point. Let’s
say you're interested in antiques. Does that mean you should sell
antiques, appraise them, or refinish them?
If you want to sell antiques, does that mean owning a retail store, selling them on eBay, or finding bargains at flea markets and
marking them up for sale to retail stores?
Your interest is clear – antiques – but you've got
a number of ways to build a business around that interest.
Based on my research with thousands of entrepreneurs, I've come
up with a number of entrepreneurial types. Here are a few of the
most common:
• Adviser: Lots of people would like to be paid for giving advice; usually it takes a great deal of experience or education to be able
to-do so. Some kinds of advisers include attorneys, accountants,
financial planners. But many of the best salespeople also consider themselves –
and are considered by their customers – as advisers. For instance, I look
to my insurance salesperson to guide me in my choice and amount of coverage.
• Broker: A broker is a go-between – someone who helps others
find the products or services they need. They may charge a percentage
of the sales price of the item brokered, a flat fee, or an hourly fee. Real
estate agents are perhaps the best-known type of broker, but you could be a broker
for almost any kind of product or service (except those with very narrow
profit margins). You could, for instance, be an auto, mortgage, business, even
wine broker. If you’ve got a strong area of expertise or interest – and
enjoy shopping – being a broker is a low-cost way to go into business.
• Builder: One of the largest segments of entrepreneurs
are self-employed contractors – carpenters, electricians, plumbers,
painters. Whether you’re building a housing development or laying the floor in
one apartment, if you enjoy seeing something be created from nothing and you
have the skills, being a builder may be for you.
• Care-taker: Our society has a great need to have people and
things taken care of, maintained, assisted. That opens lots
of opportunities for entrepreneurs who are patient and nurturing. If you’re
a person who can be consistent over time and see yourself as a
helping personality, you may be the caretaking entrepreneurial type.
• Creator: You may be a person with a vision – in fashion, graphics, technology, or in any area of product or service.
Creators include graphic or fashion designers, inventors, business-builders.
Creators often need to team with other entrepreneurs who are strong in sales
or operations to help make their vision a financially-viable reality.
• Owner: If you’ve got money to invest, you might be able
to put your capital to work for you. Whether you invest in stocks, real
estate, vending machines, businesses, being an active “owner” enables you to
leverage your money into additional income without having to show up to work every day.
• Seller: If you’re good at sales, you should never
go hungry. Great salespeople are always in demand. Many are
self-employed, typically working on commission. If you’re good at selling, and willing to
work hard, you can earn a lot of money from sales.
These are a few of the types of entrepreneurs. The key
when thinking about running your own business is figuring out not only what
business you're in – but what type of entrepreneur suits your personality and
your skills.
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