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Being the Connector & Source For Others 0

I try to spend at least 45 minutes every Monday introducing people to one another via email.  I find it so much fun helping people find the products and services that enhance their lives.  I connect clients with services and products. I connect prospects with other service or product providers. I connect clients with other clients who have had a similar problem/need and have found a solution.  I connect my business vendors to one another.  I find people speaking opportunities.  I even help people find good restaurants!

As a personal brand, there is nothing more powerful than being able to hook up people to one another.  Call it Karma or just being helpful and gracious. Do it for no other reason than to help others.

If you reach out to connect people for these reasons, the results are always the same- you get looked upon as helpful, resourceful, collaborative, productive and in a certain way, “all-knowing” or at least able to perceive what others need and provide it.

The point of having an effective personal brand is to be top-of-mind to others and generating powerful and instant recall in others’ minds about who you are/what you do based on your unique qualities.   What else could we ask for when are called upon to bring others together in service?

Make a list of the people you have GENUINELY connected in the past week.  Follow up at some point to see if the connections have worked out and how else you can help.

Posted on: 02-27-2012
Posted in: Behavior, Being Memorable, Business Brand, Networking, Uncategorized

Come Out Of Hiding in 2012! 0

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As business owners and employee, we try to do a little of everything as best we can.  It is hard enough to run a business or be a good employee and get the substantive work done. Then there is the other type of work that has to do with networking and showing up and representing.  This is where it gets harder and harder and harder, especially if you are fixated on the substantive work.

I often get feedback from clients and those in my networking/personal branding classes that they feel it is good enough to show up at a networking event.   Why do they have to be happy about being there or resolve to do things differently while at the event.  Or worse, there are those folks that have the following excuse about why they don’t show up in public and sell their personal brand- they often say that their work speaks for itself as a first impression and so no one needs to meet them or see them.

So my questions for you are:

Do you feel your work speaks for itself and sets a great first impression so you don’t have to show up in life?  If you do show up at events, do you believe it is good enough that you are there and so you don’t put forth much effort?

If you answered “yes” to either question (be honest with yourself!), then you are missing out on developing an effective personal brand and missing out on life!

Folks, it is not good enough for you to assume your work speaks for itself.  While you may produce superb work product and that is very important, you need to make sure we see there is a dynamic human being standing behind the work product.  At some point, everyone produces work that is on par with one another. How do you stand out from the other  “good work producers”?  It is only from actually knowing you and your quirks and personality (ie, your personal brand) that anyone will remember you…and your work product.

Guess what? The only way to get to know you and your quirks and your personality is to get out in public and do it with a passion and purpose. So it is not good enough to just go to networking events- I need you to want to go to networking events and want to meet people and genuinely be interested in meeting people and sharing yourself, both personally and professionally, with people.

So be high-impact and genuine:  don’t hide behind your work product, show up. Don’t just show up.  Show up and be genuine in your interest in being there and connecting with others. It’s a fabulous personal brand builder.  I promise.

Here’s your challenge for January 2012:  Attend a networking event/meeting, etc that you normally would not attend because you “don’t have time” or it makes you uncomfortable to go.  Go by yourself.  Go with the intention of standing out, being interesting and being interested in others at the event.  Email me and let me know how it went.

Posted on: 01-9-2012
Posted in: Behavior, Being Memorable, Business Brand, Networking, Personal branding

Why It Pays To Learn To Network- Anywhere 0

I  just got back from vacation last week.  We were on a cruise.   If you haven’t cruised before you may not understand how meal service in the formal dining room works.  You can either request:  1) fixed seating, where you dine at the same time each night with the same group of people or 2) open seating, where you can dine at any time at any table.

Open seating basically means you will be sitting with people you do not necessarily know.   I personally love open seating because you get to meet new people and move around each day.  We had open seating because we didn’t want to have to adhere to any time restrictions while on vacation. I quickly noticed a trend….

Just about every time we sat down at a table with new people, there were at least one or two people who just sat there and pretended like they was no one else at the table with them!  They would either look down at their menu or look out at the ocean.  It was odd, to say the least!

Then I realized these poor folks are the same ones who would be uncomfortable and a “wall flower” at a networking event.  You know the ones.  You certainly know them, if you are one of them!

So at these meals on the cruise, I would always initiate the conversation by introducing myself and my family. It usually got the ball rolling.  One time, I realized NO ONE had said anything at a table of four people until we sat down and started the introductions!

Now on vacation it really doesn’t impact our personal brands and businesses if we don’t socialize and talk to others.  However, wouldn’t it have been a nice thing if you did know how to socialize and start a conversation at the meal table with people you didn’t know?  That way, you could practice for when you are at a networking event.   What if this was a client you were out to dinner with? Would you still sit and look into your menu?  I hope not.

Therefore, your personal brand (or lack thereof) is evident wherever you go.  We can tell your personality and socialization skills when you are on vacation or networking for work.  So why not practice networking wherever you go- even on vacation?  The key is just to like being with others and be self-confident with who you are.

 

Posted on: 10-17-2011
Posted in: Behavior, Networking, Personal branding