One of the best ways to build your business is with networking. There is the Internet way with social networking, SEO, etc… But sometimes you have to just plain old-fashioned meet people face to face.
So I thought it was fun to watch some master networkers at work in DC. Here are the tips I picked up:
- Keep your business card in your hand (no fumbling)
- Ignore the food if it’s a cocktail party – you there to make money or eat?
- Give a card, get a card and ALWAYS make a quick note on the card you get to remind you who they are and what the next action is
- Keep hydrated (I didn’t and really regretted it later)
- Walk up to someone you don’t know and say your name and ask their name. Ask them who they are with or what they do or why they are there. Acknowledge the answer If they don’t ask, volunteer your 90 sec elevator pitch. If there is a match, continue, otherwise make some polite conversation and move on.
- For polite conversation – listen more than you talk. Where are you from? Do you have a business? Do you invest? What did you think about…..(something neutral from the talk or seminar)?
- Make it a goal to leave every person you talk to feeling better after they talked to you.
- Be interested. Look them in the eye.
- If you make they feel better, they will often attribute that to you or your conversation. That’s how you create serendipity.
And a few more random thoughts about DC:
At the DC cocktail party I spent some time with the Trade Ambassador to Africa Florizelle B. Liser and discovered some things in common. I promised to introduce her to a friend of mine who is involved in Africa.
I met John Hope Bryant and will be his fan forever. Nothing tangible came out of that, except a renewed sense of purpose for me. (That’s how good HE is at this!)
Days like this I always consciously capture items for my “memory album.” It’s a habit I picked up years ago as a child. I will take a moment when I’m very happy and remember everything about it. What I saw, smelled, tasted, heard, thought, felt – everything. One of my memory album moments was on the cab ride over to the White House. An older gentleman from Ethiopia was the cab driver and he I got into a discussion about the upcoming Presidential election. (Hey, it is DC!)
We had different predictions and gently debated. When we got the White House, I said, “Remember June 18th and this ride on Election Day and I will too. Then we’ll see who was right.” He thought that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. He shook hands with me and said he would remember that cab ride for the rest of his life. I have no idea why that struck me so. But it did and I felt good about just making a connection on a day that was so emotional for me.
And just in case you think I’m basking away here, I’m writing this on the plane ride back with a list of all kinds of “to do” items to jump start this B-I challenge. It’s time to really get rolling! My passion is anewed. It’s a journey to a million in 2 years or less. Let’s GO!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Oh, these are all such wonderful images.
What a sweet conversation with the cab driver. I want to see a pic of him in his cab.
Once, when we were in Ireland, we parted company with a native son we’d met.
Reluctantly, we said good evening.
With a smile he said,”We’ll meet it Heaven.”
It was a nice way to acknowledge our brief, but meaningful, interaction. More like “hasta la vista” than a permanent good-bye.
June 21st, 2008 at 5:42 am
I like your networking list. I have always felt I am a pretty confident person. When I started working in the financial industry my office manager just got after me for not looking people in the eye. I would start by looking at them in the eye but I would soon shift my eyes. Never knew I did it. To the day when I am talking to people if I shift my eyes I remember my office manager. (He did more then get after me. Totally embarrassed me)
Isn’t it funny how you remember some conversations. I remember a conversation at a tax strategy with a gentlemen by the name of Richard Cooley. The conversation is changing my family’s future. We don’t know how yet but my site is up because of that conversation.
June 21st, 2008 at 10:17 am
Diane, how many people get into a cab and never acknowledge the person driving? And that cab driver was taking you to The White House! You not only talked with him, but had an interesting discussion; and then you let him know that you would remember him…I’d say you once again have touched a life in ways you don’t even know! And I know he will remember that ride.
June 21st, 2008 at 10:24 am
Interesting comment about your “memory album” - reminded me of something I used to do and haven’t in a long time. When I was not feeling well, or feeling down, etc. I would “go back in time” to a memory and do what you described…actually “be there.” It always made me feel better.
And when my kids were little I’d use the same technique with them, walking them through the feel of the hot sand at the beach, the sound of the seagulls, the sound of the waves, etc. in order to help distract them from getting a shot, or whatever was distressing them.
A great reminder to start visiting my own “memory log” again!
June 21st, 2008 at 10:42 am
I started the habit after meeting some amazing elderly people around my home town of Idleyld Park, Oregon (look that up on the map!). They had grammy awards, olympic medals, pictures of traveling in Africa in the 1920’s, and I thought about how I wanted to be when I was old. I wanted to be able to look and have those cherished memories, even when I was too old or frail to go do them again. My very first memory album memory is when I was 15 y.o. and it was the perfect day swimming in the North Umpqua river with friends.
Of course, now I can’t even imagine retiring to a quiet little town anywhere, so not sure how it plays. But it’s a fun habit and it makes me get very present. That’s always good when I’m under stress (kids, work, travel, you name it - there is stress!)
June 21st, 2008 at 10:43 am
AND Note to Self: Start taking pictures! I need that new habit. Thanks for the reminder Beta Joe.
June 21st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
That was just me… seems like a nice person! And he was there “that day” at that special moment. He happened to wander into your life story, into the Million2Years saga, and into your book.
I’ll call him Mr. Memorable.