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 “Be ON 24/7”. Have you tried making contact with at least one new person a day?
This article looks at how to get value for your time.
Learn to Play Golf or Something:
Most people would agree that playing golf can be good for forging relationships. The main reason for this is that it is a non-threatening environment ( at least if you can play golf). We all know people who routinely play golf as a way of developing their business.
Not everyone likes to play golf, of course. Other activities can be used to engage with people beyond the pressures of day-to-day business, creating an environment that’s convivial and designed to forge relationships: a bowling league, a cricket team, a netball team, a bird-watching society, a football team, a billiards group, a fishing trip or a book club.
Whatever activity you prefer, you can use it as a “catalyst event”. Catalyst events bring people together in situations that are conducive to forming symbiotic relationships. They result in great visibility, which leads to credibility and, eventually, profitability for your business – also known as the VCP Process of networking.
How do you capitalize on the potential of your catalyst events to generate referrals for you? By inviting the right people to these events. Let’s go back to the golf game as an example. You could coordinate a golf foursome with several of your business contacts who don’t know each other, but who would be able to cross-refer to each other: your accountant, your financial advisor, and your mortgage broker. As these golfers develop a deeper relationship with one another, they will remember that you brought them together – and they will do what they can to make sure that you are getting what you need in return.
Take Action:
This week think about your interests and what you can do to gain from becoming involved with a group of business people who share your recreational passions.