Networking Insight

Don't Always Network Selfishly

Below is my latest article for Magazine Soho.

Don't Always Network Selfishly

Networking for yourself is important for building relationships that will carry into your personal and professional life. At the same time, it’s also important to focus on networking just for your employer. The relationships you build for your company will be ones you can carry with you from job to job. Carefully treat every relationship you build.

Attend Industry Events

Depending on your role within your organization, you might have to attend trade shows or other industry events to either generate leads or build awareness for your company. Even if you don’t have a sales or marketing role, it’s still good to attend these events and represent your company.

Some people might have to represent their company at a booth while others might just need to walk around the event and talk to people. Treat these events like any other networking event. Instead of focusing specifically on your personal elevator pitch, focus more on your pitch for your employer.

The people you build relationships with for your company will be important people to have in your Rolodex. If you maintain a good relationship with these people, then you should be able to keep them in your network – no matter who your employer might be at the time.

If you have a sales role and you move over to a competitor, or a company within the same industry, then your contacts might be very valuable to your new employer. If these relationships don’t carry over as clients, then it’s still important for you to try to nurture some of these relationships so they can remain in your network.

Generate Leads, Sales, Awareness

If you have a sales role within your organization, then most of your networking will be focused on generating leads or sales for your company. Spend time understanding your target market and do your research on where to find these potential customers.

By having a good understanding of the networking organizations and events locally, regionally and nationally, you will have a starting point for where you can go to meet the right people. Not only will you meet potential customers, but you also will meet potential partners and good contacts.

If you don’t have a sales role within your organization, then it’s still important to represent your company when attending events or talking with others. You are merely generating awareness about your firm when you mention it in conversation.

You are indirectly selling your employer to others just by talking about it with others. At the same time, the people you meet will have a better understanding of your current role and how it fits with your set of skills.

When talking with others, you might offer to connect these people with others in your organization. You might end up generating a lead for a salesperson within your company, which will make you look favorable to your employer.

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Book Review: The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience was written by Carmine Gallo who is a presentation, media-training, and communication-skills coach for some of the world’s most admired brands. In addition to being an author, he is a columnist for Businessweek.com and a keynote, speaker, and seminar leader. He has appeared on CNBC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC.com, BNET, Redbook, Forbes.com, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Investor’s Business Daily.

The book is broken up into the following sections:

Act 1: Create the Story
Act 2: Deliver the Experience
Act 3: Refine and Rehearse

In this book, the author examines Steve Jobs and why he is such an effective public speaker when launching a new product or delivering a keynote presentation. Steve Jobs is known for his “wow” factor and showmanship so his audiences are drawn into his every word. He tells a story in each of his presentations so he gives his audience a unique, inspiring, and unforgettable experience.

In this book, the author lays out the specific techniques that Jobs uses to make his presentations. You will learn how to:

• Create an inspiring brand story
• Answer the one question that matters most
• Paint a specific, memorable, and consistent vision
• Make numbers meaningful
• Deliver unforgettable moments
• Build visually engaging slides
• Master stage presence
• Make it look effortless
• Rehearse effectively
• Have fun

Each chapter provides tools and strategies that you can begin using in your presentations. Throughout the book, the author analyzes actual presentations from Steve Jobs so you can read first-hand at how he creates his stories.  By reading this book, you learn how to take charge of any room, deliver your message concisely and clearly, convey the value of your products and services, and sell your ideas more persuasively.

In the business world, your appearance and style is very important for the success of whatever you do.  One way to become an expert in your area is to speak in front of audiences.  Without an effective and professional presentation, you have a much harder time getting audiences to take you serious.  If you want to learn from one of the business world’s great speakers, then it may be worth picking up a copy of The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience.

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Happy Thanksgiving & Relationship Building Tips with Your Family

Happy Thanksgiving to my readers. I thank all of you for your loyalty and continued interest in this blog. Below are a few relationship building tips to make the best of your dealings with your family over this holiday.

1. Update each other on your professional life - this could lead to ways to help one another
2. Talk to family members that you don't see very often - get to know them better
3. Take the opportunity to hang out with your family and their friends - great way to meet new people
4. Bond watching football - makes everyone more at ease and way to enjoy an activity together
5. Bond cooking food - another way to enjoy one another's company

Most of all, enjoy your time with your family and don't work too hard. We can all use a little break from time to time.

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Why You Should Position Yourself as a “Connector”

One of the best ways to build up your network is to act as a “connector” and facilitate introductions between people who you know. People will appreciate your kindness and eventually return the favor. You will be remembered and thought of favorable in your business community.

Below are nine reasons as to why you should position yourself as a “connector”.

1. Great way to brand yourself as a resource with others
2. Your network will grow in quality
3. People will come to you with opportunities
4. You will be able to reach out to people for help
5. Your name will get out there in your community
6. You will feel good about helping others
7. You will be perceived as more professional
8. Over time, you will generate more business
9. People will see you as an expert in your field

What other reasons can you think of?

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

2nd Installment of My Networking Workshop Series! - 12/16

Below is information about my 2nd workshop seminar of my five-part series:

While there are 86,400 seconds in a day, it takes 10 or less for others to form an impression of you. These decisions are based on your image, a combination of your appearance and behavior. Because you are in charge of how you look and how you act, you also are in charge of your personal and business success. Learn how your clothing color, style and fit and your walk, posture, handshakes, eye contact and facial expressions are among ingredients that govern your professional presence.  The words you choose enhance the positive impression you are creating nonverbally. Choose them wisely and make them another critical element in building relationships for the long term.

Title: Communicate Effectively Through Your Image and Words
Date: December 16, 2009
Time: 8:45am-12pm
Location: 200 W. Madison, 11th Floor Conference Room, Chicago
Host: Jason Jacobsohn and Lillian Bjorseth
Sponsor: Transwestern
Contact: Jason Jacobsohn, 773-368-0229, [email protected]

For more details and to register

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Funny Animated Video about Friendster, MySpace, & Facebook

Why You Should Be Open to Meeting New People

Life is full of surprises and opportunities. Take chances and try new things. In the business world, you will meet lots of new people through various networking events, by working with them, or through referrals.

Don’t get in the habit of turning down opportunities to meet people because you never know what could happen. Some of the best developments can come from these new encounters. Much of my success can be attributed to being open to meeting everyone that comes my way.

As you get your name out there, you will have people coming to you on a regular basis. Tools such as LinkedIn and Facebook are great ways to meet new people. When I get requests to connect with new people on LinkedIn, I always meet in person or talk on the phone before I connect.

Also, make sure to take referrals serious. The fact that someone took the time to refer you should be enough.  You want to look good in the eyes of your referral sources so will keep on referring more people to you. In fact, it is a good idea to keep them in the loop on your conversations with these people so they know what happened.

Lastly, be open to attending new events every month. Get out of your comfort zone and go to functions out of your industry. You never know who you will meet. Some of my best contacts have been formed this way. Also, if someone invites you to a new event, then try to attend because you will be able to meet people in this person’s network.

Meeting new people is an important part of success. It is exciting to find synergies with other people. You never know what could happen.

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Book Review: The Audacity of Help by John Wasik

The Audacity of Help: Obama's Economic Plan and the Remaking of America was written by John Wasik who is the author of 12 books, including The Cul-de-Sac Syndrome: Turning Around the Unsustainable American Dream and The Merchant of Power: Sam Insull, Thomas Edison, and the Creation of the Modern Metropolis. John writes a weekly Bloomberg News column, which earned him the 2009 Peter Lisagor Award for journalism. In addition, he is a regular speaker and lives in Chicago.

The author discusses President Obama’s economic plan and how his administration is trying to jump start our economy.  No matter what your political party affiliation is, this book is an interesting analysis of the current state of our country and what the government is trying to do.

The book is comprised of the following chapters:

Chapter 1: First Aid and Income Boosters
Chapter 2: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs
Chapter 3: Bottom-Up Economics: Small-Business Benefits
Chapter 4: Job Creators and the Green-Collar Bonus
Chapter 5: Get Smarter
Chapter 6: Borrowing Wisely
Chapter 7: Restoring Home Ownership: Keeping the Dream Alive
Chapter 8: Health-Care Reform
Chapter 9: Unfinished Business: Long-Range Goals in Entitlement Reform
Chapter 10: The Road Ahead

The author begins the book with a brief history of the Bush era politics and then leads into how Obama plans to get our country to get us out of this mess.  We live in challenging times so the author has set the stage early as to what this country’s new President is hoping to do.

In each chapter, the author explains the current situation whether it may be healthcare, education, taxes, or energy. Next, he explains what Obama promised in his campaign for each issue. Lastly, he shares what Congress actually passed. It is an interesting way to compare each issue and see how government works.

Many of Obama’s initiatives didn’t move forward the way he promised. Rather, Congress altered what he promised, which is very common in politics. Also, in each chapter, the author discusses who benefits most and what still needs to be done. He does a good job of providing his thoughts on our country’s top issues.

Below is an excerpt from the book to show you an Obama promise vs. what Congress passed for the topic of “Tax Cuts”:

What Was Promised: Obama proposed a permanent tax cut of $500 for workers and $1,000 for families.

What Congress Passed: Limited credit that will pay a maximum of $400 to singles and $800 for those filing jointly.

Personally, I am not a very political person, however, the book does a great job of informing you of the major issues in our country and how our President and Congress are trying to get us out of this recession. If you want to get up to speed on our country and get better informed about our current President, then The Audacity of Help: Obama's Economic Plan and the Remaking of America may be worth a read.

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Seven Techniques to Make the Most of Any Conference

Conferences are a great way to meet new people and to build existing relationships. Below are seven techniques to consider that will help you maximize your relationship building time while attending these shows:

1. Research vendors – Most conventions have vendor sponsors and booths. Review the convention site for these vendors. Research the vendors so you know which ones you want to form a relationship with, if at all.

2. Research participants – Some conventions send you the names of attendees before the event. If you get this information, then spend time researching their firms so you know who you want to meet.

3. Leverage Nametags – Make sure to wear your nametag so people can identify you and your company and vice versa. Nametags are also a good ice breaker when you meet people for the first time.

4. Listen to Speakers – Take the time to listen to some of the speakers in the breakout sessions. By participating in these sessions, you have a reason to follow-up with any speaker who you want to get to know.

5. Take Advantage of Breaks – During breaks, use this time to meet people rather than checking emails or making phone calls. Take advantage of every opportunity to speak to others.

6. Attend All Receptions and Meals – Don’t miss out on the chance to meet people during the organized portions of the conference, which are designed for you to meet each other.  Attend all receptions and meals so you can fully benefit from these opportunities.

7. Follow-Up Immediately – It is important that you follow-up with people right after the conference if you want to get to know them better. The sooner you do this, the better chance that they will remember you.

What other techniques do you recommend?

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Social Networking Saves Honeymoon

In another feel good story about social networking, a couple that was given wrong information on their overseas honeymoon by Expedia reached out to their friends on Twitter and Facebook for help. What happened is that their Expedia travel agent assured them that they didn't need a visa when traveling from Frankfurt, Germany to St. Petersburg, Russia. Of course, they didn't have the visas so were destined to be stranded in Frankfurt.

Their friends reached out to Expedia with phone calls and emails. Here is what happened:

A sympathetic Expedia agent goes to bat for them, and the online agency admits its error, offers a full refund, picks up the tab for expedited visas and other costs, and throws in a jaw-dropping $3,000 credit for future travel.

Not a bad outcome and another story that shows the power of social networking.

To read more about this story, go to Visa snafu snarls honeymoon, social networking saves the day

Do you have any good stories to share about social networking?

If you like this blog post, then subscribe via email or RSS feed.