Marilyn O’Malley, CPCC Life Coaching & Resources

We all need relationships to live a healthy and successful life. Networking is about building healthy, lasting relationships that benefit each other. Why is networking important?

• You can’t be successful on your own
• Extends your reach
• Low or no cost marketing
• What you put out into the world will come back to you.

It is not about passing out your cards and making a sales pitch. In fact, when you first meet someone the meeting would be most valuable to you if the conversation is all about them.

How can you learn about someone or find a need if you’re selling your business or product? When you meet someone and you have something they could benefit from, ask for their card so you can send them the information or referral you have for them. That way you have the contact information for building that relationship and you are not relying on them to contact you. You take responsibility for making contacts and keep the relationship growing. You will not always see the benefit of a relationship to you at the first meeting. While you get to know what their strengths, talents and passions are and they get to know you more fully possibilities for alliances or joint ventures will be revealed. Networking takes time and relationship building takes time.

Does that take some of the stress off you and the selling aspect? I hope so!

Imagine what would happen if you were just curious and really listened to what they had to say about themselves and their business.

Think about the last great conversation you had; what made it so energized and powerful? Was someone really interested in you and pulled things out of you with wonderful questions, you felt seen or heard and understood? Or did you ask great questions of someone who you were interested in what they had to say about something. You weren’t in your head thinking what I will ask next or thinking of what you have to do to get dinner this evening. Use what you learn from that conversation in your next meeting with someone new and see what results you get.

Listening gives you time to get to know this person needs and ask powerful questions:

1. Can you or your business fill a need they have? How can I help them?
2. Can you offer a helpful referral? Website, article, friendship, product, book, or an introduction to someone doing what they want to do.
3. Could this be a potential friend, alliance, or Joint Venture for me or someone else?
4. Keep them as a resource for the future as a referral, alliance, JV.

When you help others you help yourself. That person sees or feels how you care about helping them meet their needs. They have a deeper connection to you and therefore a vested interest in seeing you successful. You will be remembered and valued. Networking is meaningful, rich and juicy. The possibilities are endless. What you put out into the universe comes back multiplied.

When I meet people for the 1st time I assume I will meet up with them again. I see myself building a web of connections for mine and everyone else’s benefit. Why, because we don’t create success on our own and in this day and age it isn’t what you know it is who you know and the value you bring. The bigger my relationship/network webs the more value.

Networking opportunities are available all the time. Connecting for business is not just at networking mixers or group meetings. Wherever there are people; walking down the street, waiting in lines, and friends gatherings there is networking opportunity. Life is happening around you and the people around you are not there by chance. Being conscious of the moment, listen to your intuition, pay attention to people that show up multiple times and who ends up sitting next to you. Your day is full of opportunities and possibilities for connection. Just reach out and do it! Be curious and open up and let’s see what magic can happen for you.

It is in creating healthy connections, alliances, joint ventures and building community that breeds abundance. When you have many minds working to create with clarity success can’t help but happen. It is the law of attraction.

Today our professional and personal networks are intertwined. Networking will provide a strong link between the personal and professional networks we will need to survive and thrive in the future.

Please ask questions, comment and share networking information.

Blessings,
Marilyn O’Malley, CPCC
coachmarilyn@yahoo.com