Understanding networking is a wonderful thing. However, most people never totally understand the power of a room full of people. When the ABC hold a coffee morning and we have twenty people attend, some people would think, well it’s not worth getting up for.
On the contrary, let me tell you a little story!
One morning I left my home town and drove for 45 minutes to our next major town to help launch a breakfast meeting for someone else, who was ill in bed. On arrival, it became very apparent that I was not the only one expecting more than the two people who stood before me. Never the less, undeterred, we sat, and over a coffee spoke about what we all did and what made us unique with in our specialised fields. One of the two was so well connected it was untrue. This gentleman knew absolutely everyone in the town and said with 100% commitment, this is just a set back, next week I will have this room full. The other sat with a very confused look upon his face looking like he should have been somewhere else. In all fairness, the truth be known, I thought the same until a strange thing happened.
The confused look slowly drifted away and the guy said, do you know, last week I met Richard Branson.
“Where an earth did you go to meet Richard Branson?” I said,
“He called me to see if he could buy my company.” The guy replied.
“He called you, not one of his members of staff?”
“That’s right, well almost.”
“What do you mean almost?” I asked.
“Well, they called first and tried to buy the company and I said if he wants it, tell him to do his own dirty work, so he did. I have his mobile number now, so I can call him every now and again to see how things are going and how the staff are fitting in with the Virgin ethos.”
Suddenly, the three of us were the best connected people in the town! That day, I learned a very important lesson; it’s not the amount of people in the room, it’s the quality, and getting people to talk to each other.
I have a feeling most people would have glanced in the room and walked away, and thought, what a waste of time that will be.
Remember; always ask questions about people’s contacts. Who do they know? Who is there target market? Who is there biggest customer?
Happy Networking
Mark
On the contrary, let me tell you a little story!
One morning I left my home town and drove for 45 minutes to our next major town to help launch a breakfast meeting for someone else, who was ill in bed. On arrival, it became very apparent that I was not the only one expecting more than the two people who stood before me. Never the less, undeterred, we sat, and over a coffee spoke about what we all did and what made us unique with in our specialised fields. One of the two was so well connected it was untrue. This gentleman knew absolutely everyone in the town and said with 100% commitment, this is just a set back, next week I will have this room full. The other sat with a very confused look upon his face looking like he should have been somewhere else. In all fairness, the truth be known, I thought the same until a strange thing happened.
The confused look slowly drifted away and the guy said, do you know, last week I met Richard Branson.
“Where an earth did you go to meet Richard Branson?” I said,
“He called me to see if he could buy my company.” The guy replied.
“He called you, not one of his members of staff?”
“That’s right, well almost.”
“What do you mean almost?” I asked.
“Well, they called first and tried to buy the company and I said if he wants it, tell him to do his own dirty work, so he did. I have his mobile number now, so I can call him every now and again to see how things are going and how the staff are fitting in with the Virgin ethos.”
Suddenly, the three of us were the best connected people in the town! That day, I learned a very important lesson; it’s not the amount of people in the room, it’s the quality, and getting people to talk to each other.
I have a feeling most people would have glanced in the room and walked away, and thought, what a waste of time that will be.
Remember; always ask questions about people’s contacts. Who do they know? Who is there target market? Who is there biggest customer?
Happy Networking
Mark
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