This article is based on “The 29% Solution” by Ivan Misner PhD and Michelle R. Donovan.
In the last article we looked at Ivan Misner’s recommendation to “Learn to Play Golf or Something”. Have you considered becoming involved with a group of business people who share your recreational passions?
In this article we continue to look at how to get value for your time.
Have Purposeful Meal Meetings:
What is a purposeful meal meeting? First, let’s clarify what it isn’t. It’s not a way to escape work. It’s not a romantic date. And, it’s not about critiquing new restaurants or reviewing fine wines for your local newspaper.
Oh, all those things can be great fun, no argument there. It’s just that none of them are focused on (or maybe even conducive to) networking. In fact, a purposeful meal meeting is nothing more than a meeting that includes a meal and a specific meaningful purpose. And, the purpose, of course, happens to be networking.
The networking purpose for this meal meeting might be to further develop a relationship, to help a colleague solve a problem, to learn how to refer someone in your network, to introduce your colleague to someone significant, or to teach someone how to talk about your business to his or her own network members. These meetings are strategic and results oriented. They provide high value for your invested time. The primary focus should always be on developing the relationship. Learning about each other, helping one another with problems, and giving of ourselves – that’s what defines a purposeful meal meeting.
Relationships move our lives and businesses forward, closer to our goals.
Take Action:
If you haven’t included meals among your networking goals, now is the time to determine how to fit this networking strategy into your schedule. When you make that first appointment make sure the other person knows the purpose of your meeting in advance.