Network…Network…Network

When I went through my MBA courses I took classes on marketing, accounting, finance, organizational behavior and many others.  For a capstone course, I created a business plan for a new business and defended it.  Since that time, I have ventured into the world of startups and have realized that all of that was great but it is missing one very important thing: networking.  As you journey into business you quickly realize that the single most important thing that any successful business person does is network.

Online Networking

With all the social networking tools online today you can network with people anywhere around the globe.  You can have virtual resources on every continent and clients across the oceans.  This is an extremely important part of the new globalized world.  Connect with people and get to understand what they are doing.  But more importantly how you can help them.

Get Personal

Building the biggest network on LinkedIn or having 25,000 followers on Twitter will not make your business successful.  What will?  Make your network personal.  Get to know the people in your network and have a single focus: “How can I help you?”.  Networking is the ultimate game of pay it forward.  When you are willing to give, that is when your network will grow and become strong.  The old cliche is true:

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Get Together

Online networking is great but let’s be honest, it is more personal when you have a chance to meet.  So, when you have a chance to meet people in your online networks, take the opportunity.  If you are going to be in a different town, take a few hours out of your trip and meet the people in your networks.  Buy them coffee and get to know them.  Find out what their current needs are and what their perfect client looks like.  Learn about their long term goals and their favorite steakhouse.

Get Local

I highly recommend also getting involved in local face to face networking groups.  When you do, don’t just go to the meetings. Take the time to get together with people outside of just the group meetings.  Take the opportunity to go to lunch and discuss what they have going on.  Set a goal of one new network contact a week or 6 a month.  Once the people get to know you and what you do they may become a pro-bono sales force.

Get Done

Of all the things that an entrepreneur must do, I truly believe that networking is one of the most important.  You will learn from each other, gain market insights, build partnerships, fill your sales funnel, and make good friends.  With your powerful network in place, you will find that your business goals don’t seem as far-fetched.

Be daring…be creative!

Jeremy

Jeremy Lattimore is a creative problem solving guru in the business technology field.  He has been involved in startups and has his MBA.  Currently, he’s obsessed with business automation/efficiency and social networks.  His current start up venture is Borea Systems and he’s diligently building his Refocusing Technology blog.