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Other Added - Jump Start Your Network
There are some business models that are more accessible than others, to individuals who have little or no collateral, little or no cash, little or no entrepreneurial experience, little or no training, and little or no choice but to pursue an entrepreneurial dream without the benefit of resources which would ordinarily be nice to have. The purpose of this article is to briefly review some of the alternatives.First, there are product oriented businesses versus service oriented businesses. In the case of the former, questions arise as to the source(s) of supply, how the inventory is to be managed, whether the product is perishable, and h
Look for ways that you can assist and support them. Before you make a request for help from the person you are connecting with, think about ways you can be of assistance to them. When you contact someone from your list, especially if it is someone you have not had contact with on an ongoing basis, tell them you want to update them on what you are doing and that you want to find out about what they are doing. Ask them what they need and how you might be of assistance. If appropriate based on your previous relationship, re-connect on a personal level as well as a business level. Ask how the kids are and what they’re doing now.<
Tactics'Tactics' is a term used in the military to describe a set of instructions or maneuvers used to engage in battle. I liken getting ahead in your career to that of a military commander laying out his plan to prepare his troops for battle. If you are to be successful in your career, you have to spend a lot of time mapping out a plan of attack to keep you on the right track. This may include choosing the right coursework to build knowledge in your area of interest. It could mean engaging in volunteer work to expose yourself to life-like situations applicable to your field
Incorporating the people you already know into your networking activities is crucial because you already have a relationship with them.
They are people with whom you already have credibility. They already know the quality of your work.
Therefore, you don’t have to go through the relationship and credibility building stages before these contacts are willing to do business with you or recommend you to others.
Many of the people you already know may be people you haven’t spoken with in awhile and most certainly if you are just getting started with your business, they have known you in another context. So how do you begin to develop an active network of these individuals?
Develop a list. Start by developing a list of everyone you have worked for in the past, everyone who has worked for you, and those people you have worked with. If it does not raise legal or ethical issues, consider clients or customers you have worked with in former positions. Include family, friends and associates from other activities that you have participated in such as civic organizations, church or social/hobby groups. Go through your address book, both the one you currently use and any old ones you might have lying around; review membership lists of any organizations you belong to; if you have phone directories for any companies you used to work for or client listings from these companies review those.
Prioritize the list. If you are like most people, your list will probably be pretty long and it may seem like a daunting task to begin reconnecting and re-establishing relationships with those you are no longer in contact with. Prioritize the list with those who are most likely to have a need for your services or know someone who is likely to have a need at the top.
Gather contact information. It is likely that you have lost touch with at least some of the individuals on your list. Who do you have contact information for that might be able to provide you with a current telephone number or e-mail address for someone else on your list? The process of collecting contact information for those you have lost contact with is a great way to begin the process of reconnecting with those on your list that you do know how to reach.
Commit time to the process. Commit a set amount of time each week to re-connect and maintain contact with the people identified above. This is not about making a phone call, shooting off an e-mail or sending out a letter to let these individuals know about your business. It is the process of re-establishing and maintaining relationships with these individuals.
Look for ways that you can assist and support them. Before you make a request for help from the person you are connecting with, think about ways you can be of assistance to them. When you contact someone from your list, especially if it is someone you have not had contact with on an ongoing basis, tell them you want to update them on what you are doing and that you want to find out about what they are doing. Ask them what they need and how you might be of assistance. If appropriate based on your previous relationship, re-connect on a personal level as well as a business level. Ask how the kids are and what they’re doing now.<
In business, whenever you identify a new market that you know is going to be receptive and fruitful for your product and service then you also are soon faced with the problem that advertising in that market is not easy to obtain. This is due to the fact that most of the best publications are terribly expensive and it is possible that your advertisement might not appear for at least a few months.In the face of such issues, direct marketing tools can come to your rescue. Direct marketing tools provide you with an effective way to carry out a test of the market relatively fast, at a much more reasonable cost and with convincing certainty.
Many of the people you already know may be people you haven’t spoken with in awhile and most certainly if you are just getting started with your business, they have known you in another context. So how do you begin to develop an active network of these individuals?
Develop a list. Start by developing a list of everyone you have worked for in the past, everyone who has worked for you, and those people you have worked with. If it does not raise legal or ethical issues, consider clients or customers you have worked with in former positions. Include family, friends and associates from other activities that you have participated in such as civic organizations, church or social/hobby groups. Go through your address book, both the one you currently use and any old ones you might have lying around; review membership lists of any organizations you belong to; if you have phone directories for any companies you used to work for or client listings from these companies review those.
Prioritize the list. If you are like most people, your list will probably be pretty long and it may seem like a daunting task to begin reconnecting and re-establishing relationships with those you are no longer in contact with. Prioritize the list with those who are most likely to have a need for your services or know someone who is likely to have a need at the top.
Gather contact information. It is likely that you have lost touch with at least some of the individuals on your list. Who do you have contact information for that might be able to provide you with a current telephone number or e-mail address for someone else on your list? The process of collecting contact information for those you have lost contact with is a great way to begin the process of reconnecting with those on your list that you do know how to reach.
Commit time to the process. Commit a set amount of time each week to re-connect and maintain contact with the people identified above. This is not about making a phone call, shooting off an e-mail or sending out a letter to let these individuals know about your business. It is the process of re-establishing and maintaining relationships with these individuals.
Look for ways that you can assist and support them. Before you make a request for help from the person you are connecting with, think about ways you can be of assistance to them. When you contact someone from your list, especially if it is someone you have not had contact with on an ongoing basis, tell them you want to update them on what you are doing and that you want to find out about what they are doing. Ask them what they need and how you might be of assistance. If appropriate based on your previous relationship, re-connect on a personal level as well as a business level. Ask how the kids are and what they’re doing now.<
When I started my Construction Business I came right out of the Corporate world and understood the value of laying out a solid foundation for my business that would be ready when we were big. In other words, we acted like a big company even though we were small. From the outside looking in we were well established as was demonstrated with the professional organizations we were members of, the equipment and vehicles we used, the signage on our office and the documentation we provided to our customers.First thing first, we secured a professional accounting firm to ensure our taxes and book keeping was sound. Then we built a relationship w
Prioritize the list. If you are like most people, your list will probably be pretty long and it may seem like a daunting task to begin reconnecting and re-establishing relationships with those you are no longer in contact with. Prioritize the list with those who are most likely to have a need for your services or know someone who is likely to have a need at the top.
Gather contact information. It is likely that you have lost touch with at least some of the individuals on your list. Who do you have contact information for that might be able to provide you with a current telephone number or e-mail address for someone else on your list? The process of collecting contact information for those you have lost contact with is a great way to begin the process of reconnecting with those on your list that you do know how to reach.
Commit time to the process. Commit a set amount of time each week to re-connect and maintain contact with the people identified above. This is not about making a phone call, shooting off an e-mail or sending out a letter to let these individuals know about your business. It is the process of re-establishing and maintaining relationships with these individuals.
Look for ways that you can assist and support them. Before you make a request for help from the person you are connecting with, think about ways you can be of assistance to them. When you contact someone from your list, especially if it is someone you have not had contact with on an ongoing basis, tell them you want to update them on what you are doing and that you want to find out about what they are doing. Ask them what they need and how you might be of assistance. If appropriate based on your previous relationship, re-connect on a personal level as well as a business level. Ask how the kids are and what they’re doing now.<
It's time to go after Wal-Mart, everybody's favorite corporate whipping boy......even if it's the customer who comes out ahead. Wal-Mart wants to open a limited-purpose bank in Utah from where it could provide service nationwide, but first it must secure approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Agency (FDIC) and from Utah regulators. The retailer has said it merely wants to process its own credit and debit transactions, but opponents fear it is positioning itself to expand further into retail banking. Wal-Mart says it would save money if it could handle its own debit, credit and electronic-check transactions through an in-house bank. It say
Gather contact information. It is likely that you have lost touch with at least some of the individuals on your list. Who do you have contact information for that might be able to provide you with a current telephone number or e-mail address for someone else on your list? The process of collecting contact information for those you have lost contact with is a great way to begin the process of reconnecting with those on your list that you do know how to reach.
Commit time to the process. Commit a set amount of time each week to re-connect and maintain contact with the people identified above. This is not about making a phone call, shooting off an e-mail or sending out a letter to let these individuals know about your business. It is the process of re-establishing and maintaining relationships with these individuals.
Look for ways that you can assist and support them. Before you make a request for help from the person you are connecting with, think about ways you can be of assistance to them. When you contact someone from your list, especially if it is someone you have not had contact with on an ongoing basis, tell them you want to update them on what you are doing and that you want to find out about what they are doing. Ask them what they need and how you might be of assistance. If appropriate based on your previous relationship, re-connect on a personal level as well as a business level. Ask how the kids are and what they’re doing now.<
Have you ever found yourself in the wrong job or career? I think it is fair to say that we have all had that experience. This is actually a good thing if you’re conscious of it.I ran into a good friend of mine a few weeks ago. I’d remembered that she was going after a new position so I asked her if she’d gotten it. Her response, Yes, and I hate it! I asked her if it was just the typical fear that can come with a career change and the accompanying sharp learning curve as you develop the new skills. Apparently that wasn’t the problem because she found the job quite simple. As it turns out the very reason she went after the position is the
Look for ways that you can assist and support them. Before you make a request for help from the person you are connecting with, think about ways you can be of assistance to them. When you contact someone from your list, especially if it is someone you have not had contact with on an ongoing basis, tell them you want to update them on what you are doing and that you want to find out about what they are doing. Ask them what they need and how you might be of assistance. If appropriate based on your previous relationship, re-connect on a personal level as well as a business level. Ask how the kids are and what they’re doing now.
Stay in touch. Networking is about relationships and relationships require ongoing contact and communication. The most effective way to maintain contact is to follow-up with referrals, information, or ideas that you can assist them with. It is not about calling once a month or once a quarter to see if they have any business or any referrals for you.
Don’t neglect those lower on your list. Don’t overlook those individuals who did not make the top of your list, especially if they are people whom you have or had a strong connection with. These people may be able to assist you (and you may be able to assist them) in ways you never even dreamed of.
Incorporate everyone into your “Rolodex”. In this age of computerized address books and PDAs it is easy to maintain an up-to-date address book and carry it with you everywhere you go. You never know when you might be able to provide a referral for one of the members of your network and it is powerful to be able to provide their name and contact information right on the spot. Add them to the mailing list for your newsletter, Holiday Cards, and any other mailings you might do. It’s just one more way to maintain ongoing contact.
Focusing on the people you already know to jumpstart your network can be not only profitable but also very enjoyable as you reconnect with old friends and re-establish neglected relationships.
© 2003 Strategies-by-DESIGN. May be reprinted with credits and contact information.
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