Never Eat Alone
Section One The Mind-Set
1 - Becoming a Member
of the Club
knowing the right
people for the right reasons and utilizing the power of these relationships can
get you to become a member of the “club.”
2 - Don’t Keep Score
The secret to success
is generosity.
Stop keeping score
relationships get
stronger with trust.
· It''s always better
to give than to receive.
3 - What’s Your
Mission?
1. Find your passion.
2. Put your goals on
paper.
3. Create a Personal
“Board of Advisors.”
4 - Build It Before
You Need It
1. Create a
company-approved project that will force you to learn new skills and introduce
you to new people in your organization.
2. Take on leadership
positions in outside organizations that interest you.
3. Join your local
alumni club and spend time with people who are doing jobs you might like doing.
4. Enroll in a class
that can teach you things related to your current job, or a job you see
yourself doing in the future.
5 - The Genius of
Audacity
You must have
audacity in networking.
Some people might not
be interested in building a relationship with you, but you should never get
discouraged.
To create a circle of
trusted relationships, you must be out there taking risks.
You might fear
rejection but this shouldn''t stop you from introducing yourself or asking for
help.
Tips on how to become
more comfortable during social situations:
1. Find a role model.
2. Learn to speak.
3. Get involved.
4. Get therapy.
5. Just do it.
6 - The Networking
Jerk
Few rules to ensure
that you never become a networking jerk:
1. Don''t schmooze.
2. Don''t rely on the
currency of gossip.
3. Don''t come to the
party empty-handed.
4. Don''t treat those
under you poorly.
5. Be transparent.
6. Don''t be too
efficient. It is not about sheer number. It is about making real connections.
Section Two The Skill Set
7 - Do Your Homework
Here are some sources
of information you can use when you do your research:
· The Internet.
· The public library.
Go through books, periodicals, magazines, trade journals, etc.
· Literature from the
company''s PR department.
· Annual reports.
8 - Take Names
Start by listing down
names of people who are already part of your existing network.
These people may
include relatives, friends of relatives, your spouse''s relatives and contacts,
current colleagues, current and former clients, neighbors, old school buddies,
former co-workers, etc.
Gather the names into
a database.
9 - Warming the Cold
Call
some tips to warm
your cold calls:
1. Draft off a
reference. You have to establish credibility and trust. Having a
mutual friend or
business acquaintance will make you stand out.
2. State your value.
Be prepared to deliver a high-value proposition as quickly as possible.
3. Talk a little, say
a lot. Make it quick, convenient and definitive. Be sure to
show a sense of
urgency and convenience. Take as little time as possible.
4. Offer a
compromise.
10 - Managing the
Gatekeeper - Artfully
Make sure that the
gatekeeper is your ally
Do not ever get on
his or her bad side.
Respect them and
treat them with dignity.
11 - Never Eat Alone
The last thing you
want to be is invisible.
This means going out
of your way to reach out to others anytime and anywhere.
You must make sure
that your social and event calendar is always full.
Invite a colleague
out for lunch or dinner.
Include other people
and watch your web of contacts grow.
12 - Follow Up or
Fail
Whenever you meet
someone new, always take it upon yourself to follow up.
If you want to
establish a relationship, you must make sure thembered.
Believe it or not,
follow up is the key to success in any field.
13 - Connecting with
Connectors
Connectors can be
found everywhere but there are seven professions where they are most prevalent.
1. Restaurateurs.
2. Headhunters.
3. Lobbyists.
4. Politicians.
5. Journalists.
14 - What Do You
Really Want?
Whenever you meet
someone new, try to find out what that person''s motivations are.
Chances are the
answer would be one of three things: making money, finding love or changing the
world.
Section Four Trading
Up and Giving Back
15 - Be Interesting
Few tips you can use
to get ahead:
1. Get out in front
and analyze the trends and opportunities on the cutting edge.
2. Ask seemingly
stupid questions.
3. Know yourself and
your talents.
4. Always learn.
5. Stay healthy.
16 - Build Your Brand
When you have a good
brand, you:
Provide a credible,
distinctive and trustworthy identity.
· Project a
compelling message.
Some tips that can
help you build your brand:
1. Develop a Personal
Branding Message (PBM). Remember that your brand is what everyone will think of
when they see you or hear your name.
Undergo
self-evaluation and find your unique value proposition.
17 - The Write Stuff
Use your writing
skills to get close to people by doing a piece on
them. It doesn''t
matter if it''s just for a small local publication. Writing articles can
boost your career,
provide instant credibility and build visibility.
18 - Getting Close to
Power
few places to find
people who are celebrities or people who may one day reach celebrity status:
1. Young Presidents''
Organization (YPO).
2. Political
fundraisers.
3. Conferences.
4. Nonprofit boards.
5. Sports (especially
golf).
19 - Build It and
They Will Come
Start an organization
and invite those you want to meet to join you. Start with your
group of friends and
ask them to invite their own friends. Soon, you will be surprised
at your membership
growth.
20 - Find Mentors,
Find Mentees, Repeat
For a successful
mentorship to take place, equal parts of emotion and utility should
take place. Make sure
to give something back. What you give back can be hard
work or simply
loyalty. Remember, you are asking someone to take an emotional
and personal
investment in you. Give something in return.
21 - Balance
Balance is a mind-set
and it is subjective.
22 - Welcome to the
Connected Age
Community and
alliances are ruling the digital era.
the real key to
profit is working well with other people.