Ivan R. Misner's Blog, page 139

What Is 'Active' Networking

I was talking with a business woman recently who is fairly new to networking and I was explaining that networking is a contact sport–that it requires people to get out there and actively and strategically build relationships.  At one point she asked, "Well, what exactly does that involve? . . . What defines 'active' networking?" This is actually a great question because it opens up a discussion about not only 'active' networking but also about 'passive' networking. Actively networking with others means you invite those people to one or more of the networking organizations you belong to, carry several of ...

One Simple Rule for a Winning Approach to Networking

In this video, Networking expert Charlie Lawson talks with me about the Networking Disconnect which commonly hinders the success of many who attend networking events and mixers. Charlie explains that the Disconnect can be avoided all together by following one simple rule that will get your networking approach and intent geared in the right direction.  I'll give you a hint–it involves big fish and coffee. After watching the video, come back and comment about your experience(s) with the Networking Disconnect (trust me, we've all had some experience with it) and what you think about the advice Charlie offers in the ...

The Secret to Getting More Business Through Networking

I am constantly being asked, "What's the secret to getting more business through networking?"  After more than two decades in the world of business networking I can confidently say that there is, indeed, a proven way to get more business through networking, though I wouldn't quite call it a secret . . . The best way to get more business through networking is, without a doubt, to spend more time doing it!  Okay, so, it's a tad more complicated than that because you have to spend the time doing the right things with the right people.  However, based on a ...

You Don't Become Exceptional by Looking For Exceptions

Over and over again in life I am reminded that exceptional performance is not achieved by looking for exceptions.  I don't feel very diplomatic today so, I'll just say it like I see it.  I find it really tiring to deal with people who want "great" results but don't want to put in "great" effort.  I honestly think that if people spent half as much time focusing on the fundamentals of success in the areas they are interested in – they would get twice the results of what they are currently getting.  Instead, I see way too many people searching ...

Never Struggle to Remember a Name Again!

The simple fact is, if you want to get good at networking you need to get good at remembering people's names.  However, we all know that's much easier said than done . . . Niiraj Shah, one of the world's leading experts on business networking started off years ago going to networking events and struggling to remember any given person's name minutes after he'd met them.  He knew he needed to so something to change this if he wanted to become a successful networker so after giving it a significant amount of thought, he came up with an extremely effective ...

Position Yourself as an Expert by Becoming an Author

Years ago, an associate of mine who read one of my books and attended some of my training sessions called me and said, "I really love your material, but why don't you put more emphasis on your ideas about 'creating your identity as a brand' and how it affects your networking efforts?  These ideas have made a huge impact on my business, but I don't hear you talking about it very often." I admitted that this associate of mine was right.  I haven't talked a lot about identity in my material, and I agree that I should say more. When ...

Susan RoAne Shares One of "The Secrets of Savvy Networking"

When it comes to networking, we've all unfortunately encountered people who believe that the simple act of meeting another person entitles them to ask that other person to share their contacts with them in order to try to drum up more referrals. In this video, Susan RoAne, my good friend and an international networking expert who consistently puts out some of the most outstanding content on networking around, explains why anybody who believes that networking is an "entitlement program" (i.e., the type of people who meet you once and think you should share your contacts with them) is completely off ...

Using the G.A.I.N.S. Exchange to Connect More Effectively

Sometimes one of the most difficult parts of networking is getting the conversation started and really engaging people so they are genuinely interested in talking and networking with you. In this short video, Penny Georgevich explains how to effectively connect with people by using the G.A.I.N.S. (Goals, Accomplishments, Interests, Networks, Skills) Exchange (also referred to as the G.A.I.N.S. Profile)–particularly when it comes to the are of "Interests." If you've used the G.A.I.N.S. Exchange as a tactic when networking, please share your experience with it in the comments section–how effective did you find it to be?

Entrepreneurial DNA

One of the reasons I am so endlessly passionate about business networking and finding new ways to inspire the growth of businesses around the world is because I absolutely love surrounding myself with people who exude the entrepreneurial spirit. As children, we have the sense that "the world is our oyster," so to speak, and that anything is possible.  Unfortunately, over time, many people lose this sense of wonder and adventure and the accompanying faith that anything is possible.  Entrepreneurs, however, never lose this open-minded outlook about opportunities and possibilities and we have a constant desire to make a unique ...

You Are What You Attract–Attitude and Networking

Last month, I had the opportunity to spend some time with Frederick Marcoux, one of Australia's foremost experts on building business through referral marketing. I have known Frederick for years and one of the things I've always admired about him is that he has always exuded a remarkably positive attitude, regardless of any given circumstance or challenging situation that may arise.  I was mentioning this to Frederick and he smiled (of course–what else would you expect from an endlessly positive person?) and explained his belief in the concept that "you are what you attract." In this video, Frederick and I ...