Being smart or having the best skills in a field does not guarantee success in the business world. Even really smart software developers and engineers can end up with jobs that don’t pay as well as their bosses. The secret to success in business is not just having specialized knowledge, but also being able to make and keep connections with others. When you have a lot of friends and contacts in the business world, you can get advice from other successful people and take advantage of opportunities that you wouldn’t have known about otherwise. So, it’s important to build a wide network of connections to help you succeed in business.
If you are feeling disconnected from the business world due to a lack of connections, it’s important to remember that every relationship starts with a first meeting. Building business connections is not an all-or-nothing situation. If you don’t have the connections you need, you can create them. One effective strategy is to attend events where you know you will find people you want to meet. Websites like Facebook, EventBrite, and Meetup.com can be helpful in identifying these events and the people attending them.
Before the event, identify a few individuals you would like to meet and learn about their industry. Prepare three open-ended questions to ask during the conversation. Remember, this is not an interview, so don’t come with prepared notes. People enjoy talking about themselves and their businesses, so be curious and ask engaging questions. After the event, make sure to connect with the people you met on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other appropriate social media platforms. By doing so, you will stay in their minds and continue to build your relationship.
If attending events is not your preferred method of networking, there are still other ways to connect with people. However, it’s important to keep in mind that successful people may not automatically agree to meet with you just because you ask. Instead, you should provide them with a compelling reason to agree to meet. This might involve finding a way to offer value or insight into their business, rather than simply asking to “pick their brain”.
If you don’t have an existing connection with the person you want to reach out to, consider asking a mutual friend or acquaintance to make an introduction. If you encounter a gatekeeper, such as a secretary who isn’t forwarding your calls, try to build a friendly relationship with them, or call at a time when they are less likely to be busy. Persistence is key, but be careful not to come across as annoying or pushy. Remember, even if you do everything right, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the chance to talk to your desired contact after several attempts to reach out.
Building and maintaining business relationships requires following a few key principles:
- Approach people with a friendly and professional attitude. Don’t be that person who only contacts others when they need something.
- Stay in touch with your connections on a regular basis, and offer help or simply catch up on a social level.
- Listen more than you talk when you communicate with business contacts. Avoid being overly talkative.
- Be responsive to emails and voice messages, and avoid making others chase you down.
- Don’t brag excessively about your business achievements. If you need to tell people how great you are, you might not be that great.
- Be honest about your level of success. Trying to appear more successful than you are will not impress true entrepreneurs.
Networking in the online business world presents some unique challenges, as you may need to connect with people who are far away. Fortunately, there are many online communities that can help, such as 48 Days Member Community, Dynamite Circle, Fastlane Forum, and Silver Circle. These communities provide opportunities to interact with and learn from other Internet entrepreneurs, and some of them also organize in-person events. I have personally used these communities to connect with other businesspeople and have found them to be valuable resources.
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