In recent months I’ve had some professional challenges. I was to the point of just throwing in the towel when I set up a meeting with my mentor-consultant. I felt I needed a voice of reason and his take on the situation. The conversation went something like this: “So you are just going to throw […]
These past two weeks have been an incredible education for yours truly. While I have been speaking in front of group, doing educational sessions on the basic skills of networking, I’ve had a few life lessons come back in my direction. It feels so good to be around people! Event number one was at Clemson
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Whether you believe it or not, networking is a contact sport. Reaching out and touching someone comes in a bit of different fashion than the literal. But “touch” can happen in a variety of ways, chief among them: Eye contact Handshakes. Following up with your contacts. Eye contact far and away is the best way
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Ok, veteran and not-so-veteran networkers: if someone came up to you or called you out in a crowded room, could you respond to these questions? All must be brief, to-the-point and short (no more than 45-second) responses: Give your short introductory speech. Tell what you are passionate about. Give an example of someone you want
If you stick with something long enough and in a consistent fashion, you will prevail. Take my friend, David Wolter, for instance. I’ve known Dave since high school and when you trace the path of his career, you get the sense that this is a patient man. From his early days as a teacher, athlete
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How often have you watched a television program or read a newspaper and seen inconsistency in themes and messages. Ah, every day. Good marketers, like good networkers, kn ow their themes and messages and keep them in line and consistent every day. Take my friend and business Associate, Ben Smithee for instance. Ben is a
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Think about the last time you saw someone that you haven’t talked with or seen in some time. Why have you fallen out of touch? Is this someone you want or need to keep close? Sandra Lewis told me a story recently about staying in touch. A Dallas-based chef and founder of Life At The
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Talking is overrated. Sure. we all need to tell our story, but we need to make sure someone–the right someone–is listening. So, start by listening to them. And listen to learn not to respond. The man in the picture is my father, Harry Maynard. He was a pharmacist in a local drug store in my
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Order. shape. compliance. everything in its place. Keeping track. OK, I don’t mean to go overboard, but having your organizational skills in place will make you a better networker. Case in point: Daniel LaBroad. Daniel is a self-made CEO. He began his insurance business from the franchise of a specific brand, living off of commissions.
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Passion has many facets. In networking, passion is about enthusiasm, energy, interest–in your work, in other people, in situations. My friend and colleague, Jamey Wozniak, has a passion for what she does. A serial entrepreneur, Jamey has started, run and sold businesses. She is raw in how she explains each episode of her life an
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