Network Your Way to Success

COPYRIGHT 2007 KERRY DAIGLE

(SEE COPYRIGHT LAWS BELOW ARTICLE)

In the late mid to late 1990’s I authored a best selling audiobook titled ‘NETWORK YOUR WAY TO MILLIONS’ when audiotapes were very popular. It was a two tape set published by Knowledge Products of Nashville, Tennessee.  I was more than impressed that I had that opportunity to have that audiobook published and to be listed as one of their clients next to Charlton Heston, Walter Cronkite, among other names in the movie and television industry. It was quite a humbling experience. Later, Jerry Clark turned that audiobook into a CD and re-named it NETWORK YOUR WAY INTO RETIREMENT which could be purchased on www.clubrhino.com . Even today you can still find the original tape set on www.amazon.com.

Let’s fast forward now to 2007. Times have changed but networking has not. Today CD’s and audiobooks can be downloaded on the internet and the MP3 is the new baby for recording material. Regardless, I’ve learned a lot in the last 10 years from my mentors about networking which has helped me to develop a multi-million dollar sales business that thrives across the world in several countries.

I say this ‘not’ to impress you but to impress ‘upon’ you that anyone can be successful if they follow the plans of the greats who were masters at networking. I am not a college graduate and was an average student in high school. My grandparents, Maw Maw and Paw Paw Daigle, raised me in a ‘shotgun’ home in Opelousas, Louisiana with no air conditioning. We grew up on state assistance. Once learning the power of ‘networking’ I was able to build a business that would allow me to retire at the age of 42 if I so chose to.

What is the power behind networking? Most people today think networking is utilizing the internet and speaking to people by email. Not so. Emails and websites are informational centers and ways to communicate quickly but should never be confused with good old fashioned ‘meeting your neighbor’ programs. Think about it!! Why is it that large and small business meetings are usually done ‘face to face’ for closure of business transactions? Why do we have planes to fly and meet others if email is the answer? Simple…..the answer is the power of networking is meeting others one on one. How are political campaigns run? Only by advertising? Of course not! Political candidates still must see people, shake hands, and deliver messages through speaking engagements and networking with others.,

In networking successfully to make a positive impression, it is not that difficult if you know a few simple ways to leave that impression. This info is geared towards those that want to be network savvy and want to expand their business.

Now, let’s get down to business and learn some tips that my mentors taught me.

1.     ON EMAIL AND REGULAR MAIL FORWARD ARTICLES OF INTEREST. Forward occasional relavant articles to prospects you’ve met that relate to their profession.  Don’t overwhelm them with articles. Just whelm them. Remember, too, that ‘regular’ mail is exceptionally effective. People will think you really think more of them if you take the time to send them something through regular mail with a personally handwritten note. VERY POWERFUL.

2.     GIVE A BOOK OF INTEREST TO YOUR PROSPECT . Here I mention the word ‘give’. Loaning doesn’t have the same value as a book that is given to your prospect that is relavant to their profession including personal development books. Always write a personal note inside the book before giving it to them (as an author would) and sign it. You may want to add that once they have  finished reading the book  to give the book to someone else that would appreciate reading it. Books are invaluable and are pages of ‘wisdom’ stapled together to give you an expert’s knowledge on a particular subject matter that may have taken 20 to 30 years to learn. You can then read this book in a couple of weeks or a month and learn what has taken the author many more years to learn. By giving away this knowledge you are assisting your prospect to succeed. They will never forget you for that. I know I’ve given away hundreds of books in the last 20 years.

3.     GIVE TESTIMONIALS. If you know someone who is an author you could write a testimonial of their book which could be posted with your name and website on their site or in their book. This is a tremendous way to get a huge amount of publicity and network your name while assisting someone at the same time.

4.     WRITE POSTCARDS TO WAITERS AND WAITRESSES IN RESTAURANTS. What better way for everyone in the restaurant where you had a meal recently to read a postcard with kind words about the service you received and the food being very well prepared. The staff will love your comments and could potentially post them. Now, what is the well kept secret here? Design a post card with your business or website on the front with the address and note section on the rear. Now you have scores of people reading your information at this restaurant. One card a week like this one will beat anyone using the old system of ‘bulk mailing’ hundreds of cards that generally don’t get read.

5.     POSTCARD TO ANYONE. In referring to item number 4 postcards can be sent to anyone you meet in any type of business that you want to develop a friendship and name recognition within their office or business. Remember, post cards are read by everyone including your mail carrier. If it is in an envelope only one person reads it. This was one of the greatest tips I’ve ever used. I mail out 5 postcards every morning to people I meet or people I know. Multiply that by 6 days a week by 52 weeks. That is over 1500 personal postcards a year PERSONLIZED with your handwritten message.

6.     HAND OUT BUSINESS CARDS DAILY. I meet so many people that treat their businss cards like they belong in a safety deposit box. So many people print business cards by the boxes of 500 or less and generally still have these same cards two years later. I never understood that reasoning. It is as if the cards costs $50 each. Don’t be bashful. HAND THEM OUT but do so professionally. I like to hand out a card ONLY after I have asked someone for theirs first while asking questions about ‘their’ business instead of talking too much about who I am. Once I have them comfortable two things will happen. They will ask for my card or if they don’t I then hand them two cards and immediately say something like this, “Here is my card. If there is anything I can do to assist you in YOUR business please don’t hesitate to give me a call.” Should they ask why you gave them two cards mention for them to give to an associate of theirs that may need some assistance within their organization.

7.     REMEMBER TO BE GENEROUS AND GRATEFUL. Don’t be greedy. Be grateful. I have a chapter in a book I co-authored entitled MASTERS OF SUCCESS with Jack Canfield and Ken Blanchard (among others) on GRATITUDE. It is Chapter 11 in the book and is lessons learned about the power of gratitude and how to use the lessons wisely. The book can be ordered by going to www.keeppunching.com  and going to the link featuring the book. Being generous to others creates a currency that flows back to you ten-fold.

8.     BE THE KING OR QUEEN MAKER….NOT THE KING OR QUEEN. Find ways to make others more successful. As Maw Maw Daigle taught me, if you teach others how to become a king or queen you will be able to work with kingdoms. Share your knowledge and resources through books, CDs, etc that will help others move forward in their business. Provide value to others and you will be rewarded 100 times over.

9.     NEVER EAT LUNCH ALONE. Every chance you get spend lunch with someone to create conversations and build relationships. Attempt to have lunch with various people throughout the month.

10.   STAY VISIBLE. Go to networking events and keep your social and business event calendar busy. Meet new people regularly. If you are looking to grow your business you can’t do it on the computer or sitting in a recliner watching television.

11.   BE A SEMINAR RUNNING BACK. Don’t just attend a seminar. Attend it with a plan in advance on ‘who’ you plan to meet and how to make that happen. Go for the score. Don’t just sit on the sidelines.

12.   REMEMBER YOU HAVE TWO EARS AND ONE MOUTH. In meeting others don’t be a broadcaster. Be a listener. Ask questions and learn who your new contact is and what they do. Be patient and ask questions without looking like you are prying. This is an art. Practice it and the rewards will be unbelievable. Remember, your meeting is not about you. It is about them. The more you know about them the better you will be able to bring them into your customer/client base.

13.   STAY AWAY FROM NEGATIVE TALK. When this happens look for another group to join. Negative talking brings negative thoughts. Negative thoughts bring you to the level of negative people. I’ve never met successful negative people. Have you? I don’t think so.

14.   WRITE ARTICLES. I believe public speaking will bring you to audiences across the world. A high school graduate like myself that can do speaking engagements in Canada, ,Europe, Australia, and across the United States is a perfect example that you can do whatever you set your sights on. One of my mentors has a line that goes like this, “:IT ISN’T THAT MOST PEOPLE AIM HIGH AND MISS, IT’S THAT THEY AIM LOW AND HIT!!” If you have a fear of speaking then write articles. If you don’t have the contacts or experience to write for a publication then write articles for sites on the internet. Start somewhere even if you write articles on a Word Document and print them to hand them out. Start somewhere. The credibility and visibility is a great way to boost your career. To become a writer you need to write and then write some more ……and do it again. Once done…..keep writing.

15.   DON’T LET YOUR EGO DESTROY YOUR BUSINESS. Huge egos are never good. They can break you. It can betray you into forgetting where you come from and who your real friends and associates are that helped you get started in business. Once that happens you will fall quickly. Be humble in your climb to success. Help others along the way and show humility.

16.   FIND MENTORS. I know of no one person who has succeeded without the help of mentors. Everyone has them. They come in the form of people and others come in the form of books, CDs, and DVDs. Learn to develop yourself into a person of integrity by following in the footsteps of good mentors. Learn from books. Read regularly. You will make mistakes along the way which is how you learn. Someone who doesn’t make mistakes isn’t doing anything. Mistakes are nothing more than lessons in life that are really opportunities in disguise to challenge you. Look for them.

17.   SMILE A LOT. Maw Maw Daigle taught me that if you see someone without a smile….give them yours. You may change their day. People like to hang around people that seem to be happy and are having fun. Get rid of the frown. Wake up and smell the roses. Life on top of the earth is much better than below. Be happy you are on top and can help others.

18.   FOLLOW UP.  Once you pick up a business card write the info you;ve learned about the other person on the rear of the card. Then follow up within 48 hours with a card or at least an email. I like the personal touch with cards. Much more effective.

19.   BECOME A MENTOR. Once you learn the power of having a mentor be sure to stretch yourself and become a mentor to others. Reach out and help yourself by helping others.

20.   GIVE A REFERRAL. People always ask me how to get referrals. It is really very simple. There are two ways. Ask for them and number two, give a referral. I believe in:  the more you ‘give’ the more you ‘get’.

There is so much more to learn and so little time to deliver the information. Visit our website at www.keeppunching.com and listen to our archived radio shows (about 10 minutes long) and read archived articles from THE ACADIAN on our site also.

Always remember when times are tough and you are knocked down…….it isn’t about getting knocked down…..It is about getting up and to KEEP PUNCHING