Networking is about sharing.... sharing your resources, ideas, inspiration, spirit, and yes.. names and numbers of people to potentially do business with! When I speak about networking, especially to women's groups, I will say that women are better networkers thanmen, because most of us have been taught from an early age that sharing is good. sharing makes us feel good and when we share-- most of the time, people feel the need to share back. It is this sharing- this give and take---that makes for a balanced networking relationship. So, how do you start? You just do. Start by making a list of all the resources, ideas, and people that you know... and then start thinking about who can benefit from them- then, just pick up the phone or send an email- and let the other person know that you have something for them. Just start. Don't wait.
At least one day during the week, I will sit and think about my inside circle of 10- these are people that I have actively cultivated -- and who are the premiere networkers of the universe! These people know me and know my business better than anyone else- and are always networking on my behalf. So, I think.... I think about what they need- I think about what I can do for them- I think about all the new people I've met that week or things I've heard about and I actively work my network. I don't always get to see these people, but I do stay in touch.. and so should you ! I want to live in their minds at all times- owning that "top of mind" category-- the only way to do that is to be visible to them! Do you have an inside circle of ten? how about an outside circle of 20? 30? 40? How big is your reach and how big do you want it to be?
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
why a blog?
Alison Berke Morano from bworks.com- creator of the WOTFT website- http://www.womenonthefastrack.com/ as well as one of the original members of the group.... is always up for my call or my email that goes something like this:
"Hi Alison, this is Lucy... I want a...." website, a web marketing campaign, costs on specific google ads, research on....and so forth." This time it was a blog. I wanted a blog because a colleague of mine, Cecilia Alers from Cecilia Alers consulting here on LI told me that she sets up blogs for her clients, and that people actually read them, respond to them and business is created from them. Never one to be left in the dust... if the time to start a blog is now... let the blogging begin.
What I have in mind for this blog is a forum for women networkers to talk about networking... what works for them, what doesn't work, what they are doing, what they need, what they have to give, what they want, what they don't want, and everything in between! Women on the Fast Track has been super successful in creating opportunities between members, lets see if we can do the same thing on a much larger scale.
I'm going to start with a question.. see if I can't get some responses here.
Here is the premise.. Everyone thinks they network. What is your greatest pet peeve about networking and how can it be changed?
I'll tell you mine. Mine is someone who says that they want to "network" with me and comes to a meeting that we have agreed upon date/time/place- empty handed. Actually, not empty handed. They have their business cards with them, ready to give me 50 to hand out to people I meet. There is no real conversation about what I may be looking for... the conversation revolves around their wants/needs and questions about who I know and what I can do for them.
Here is what this is called: A professional favor or courtesy.
This is NOT networking.
"Hi Alison, this is Lucy... I want a...." website, a web marketing campaign, costs on specific google ads, research on....and so forth." This time it was a blog. I wanted a blog because a colleague of mine, Cecilia Alers from Cecilia Alers consulting here on LI told me that she sets up blogs for her clients, and that people actually read them, respond to them and business is created from them. Never one to be left in the dust... if the time to start a blog is now... let the blogging begin.
What I have in mind for this blog is a forum for women networkers to talk about networking... what works for them, what doesn't work, what they are doing, what they need, what they have to give, what they want, what they don't want, and everything in between! Women on the Fast Track has been super successful in creating opportunities between members, lets see if we can do the same thing on a much larger scale.
I'm going to start with a question.. see if I can't get some responses here.
Here is the premise.. Everyone thinks they network. What is your greatest pet peeve about networking and how can it be changed?
I'll tell you mine. Mine is someone who says that they want to "network" with me and comes to a meeting that we have agreed upon date/time/place- empty handed. Actually, not empty handed. They have their business cards with them, ready to give me 50 to hand out to people I meet. There is no real conversation about what I may be looking for... the conversation revolves around their wants/needs and questions about who I know and what I can do for them.
Here is what this is called: A professional favor or courtesy.
This is NOT networking.
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