Networking Insight

Seven Business Relationship Killers

Building and nurturing relationships takes a lot of time and effort. Without properly caring for your relationships, you may lose some of them. Below are seven sure fire ways to kill off some of your relationships. In fact, you may want to lose some of them, especially if they are only one sided and/or a pain to manage.

1. Mostly a taker - If you mostly ask people in your network for help and don't give any in return, then there is a good chance that some will not want to interact with you anymore. It is important to be a giver more than a taker.

2. Don't care what others have to say - When interacting with others, you usually get a good sense of their needs and interests. However, if you come across as non-caring and only want to talk about yourself, then you will turn others away. Make sure that you acknowledge what others share and most importantly take a real interest.

3. Sell too much - If you are always selling your products/services when communicatinng with others, then you are bound to turn them off. Rather, focus on selling yourself so others can get to know you. When the time is right, they will make a purchase based on trust and friendship.

4. Show no value - If you don't show that there is value with you being in someone's network, then you may lose that connection. It is important you are constantly providing value whether it simply sharing industry resources or making referrals.

5. Rude and disrepectful - People generally don't want to be around others who are rude and disrespectul. If you act this way, then you are sure to lose many relationships. Focus on being genuine and nice to others.

6. Don't make introductions - If you are always receiving introductions and never making introductions, then those that make the introductions will feel that your relationship is one-sided. Make sure to reciprocate and make introductions back when approrpriate.

7. Not fun to be around - If you are always a downer, then people won't want to be around you. Be happy and smile around others to make them feel comfortable.

What other business relationship killers can you think of?

Related Post: Seven Ways to Lose Credibility with Your Network

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Book Review: The Facts of Business Life by Bill McBean

The Facts of Business Life was written by Bill McBean who has a 40 year career as a business owner in the automobile industry. During his successful career, he purchased several underperforming assets, turned them around, and sold them to the world's largest automotive retailer, AutoNation.

The book is comprised of the following chapters:

• The Facts of Business Life
• The Five Levels of Business Success
• Fact 1: If You Don't Lead, No One Will Follow
• Fact 2: If You Don't Control It, You Don't Own It
• Fact 3: Protecting Your Company's Assets Should Be Your First Priority
• Fact 4: Planning Is About Preparing for the Future, Not Predicting It
• Fact 5: If You Don't Market Your Business, You Won't Have One
• Fact 6: The Marketplace Is a War Zone
• Fact 7: You Don't Just Have to Know the Business You're In, You Have to Know Business

As a successful business man, Bill McBean has mastered many areas of business that has allowed him to achieve long-term success. His book shares the above seven facts of business life that every successful business owner should already know.

The author dedicates one chapter to each fact and explains its importance and how it can help entrepreneurs achieve success and avoid mistakes. In addition, he explains how each fact impacts a business as it passes through the below five levels of existence:

• Ownership and Opportunity
• Creating Your Company's DNA
• From Survival to Success
• Maintaining Success
• Moving On When It's Time to Go

The book will equip the business owner with the tools to better evaluate and prepare for each situation so he/she can make changes as the business evolves. Business owners need to know more than just the basics of business. 

The Facts of Business Life is a valuable resource for business owners no matter what stage a firm is in. By reading this book, you will learn how to ensure that you are able to run a sustainable business.

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9 Steps For Creating The Best Odds For Success by Bill McBean

When you run a business, there are always some certainties as you look into the future. You know your best competitors will work to become better. You know your customers will demand more. You know you'll have to work smarter and harder every day to improve your bottom line.

You should also know that this year brings with it new taxation and new regulations that may add expenses and affect the way you operate your business. And of course, you face the usual headaches and worries that come with the day-to-day business of "running a business".

However, if you take a long hard look at a few critical pieces and put a plan in place right now, you can have a much more prosperous year. A suggestion would be to break down your planning into what you need to do internally -- with processes, employees, yourself, etc. -- and what you need to do externally -- with customers, marketing campaigns, and so on.

Below are 9 steps that can help you to increase your odds for success this year:

1. Evaluate your leadership

2. Do a top-to-bottom walk-through of your systems and procedures

3. Kick off a cost-cutting, gross-profit-building mission

4. Re-engage employees

5. Set some realistic, specific goals for the year ahead and really go for it

6. Boost your product/service offerings

7. Revamp your marketing campaign

8. Find new ways to impress loyal customers

9. Get knowledgeable about economic/tax changes and how they'll affect you

Bill McBean is author of The Facts of Business Life: What Every Successful Business Owner Knows that You Don't, spent many of his nearly forty years as a successful business owner in the automobile industry where, among many other achievements, he purchased several underperforming dealerships and turned them into a successful business enterprise with yearly sales of more than $160 million. Since selling the company to the world's largest automotive retailer, AutoNation, McBean has been involved in several new businesses, including McBean Partners, an investment and business mentoring company, and Net Claims Now, which provides administrative services and support to the restoration industry. For more information please visit http://factsofbusinesslife.com and follow the author on Facebook.

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Social Networking Humor

10 Reasons to Stay Connected

Staying relevant and connected to your network is important for maintaining your relationships. Below are 10 reasons as to why you should stay connected with your network:

1. You never know when the next business opportunity will present itself.
2. Your personal brand will grow stronger, which will help you to advance your career.
3. You will receive referrals to interesting people who could become great new connections.
4. When you are looking for a new job, you will have an established network to tap into.
5. If you are looking to raise capital for your business, then you will have a network to ask for help.
6. If you need advice, then you will have a trusted group of peers who can guide you.
7. You will have built an asset (human capital) that is transferable across all of your business efforts.
8. You will be able to help others by making connections.
9. You will feel good about yourself for the hardwork in building relationships.
10. It is fun to meet new people and find ways to stay connected.

What others reasons can you think of?

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