Networking Insight

Follow Through with Promised Introductions

 

As you interact with other professionals, you are continuously building your relationships. It is important that you find value with each other. One way to do that is to offer to make introductions.

Listen to the needs of others to help you determine the type of introductions to be made. At the same time, ask people who they want to meet. By doing so, you will show your interest in the other person.

To build long lasting relationship, you should offer to assist others before you ask for something. So, keep an ear out for how you can best help.

By connecting people in your network together, you are able to stay top of mind with people. It is critical that you find ways to provide value to your network.

At the same, only make an introduction if you think it is a good match for both parties. A general good practice is to ask for permission to make an introduction. The last thing that you want to do is make an bad or unwanted introduction.

Be smart and strategic about your introductions. If the matches are successful, then you will not be forgotten. The favor will return to you.

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Founder Night Out in Chicago - 8/5

The Founder Night Out is a fun, social event where you can meet local entrepreneurs and technology CEOs, and share your business ideas and aspirations with like-minded peers. Meet the local Director as well as Mentors and Graduates. Join us for drinks and some startup networking!  The evening is hosted and sponsored by Forum Coworking, a new executive coworking space in the West Loop. Forum helps entrepreneurs reach new levels of business via superior work space technologies, amenities, location, and access to integrated services through a membership community.

Date: August 5, 2014

Time: 6:00-9:00PM

Location: Forum Coworking, 1035 W. Lake Street, Chicago

For more details and to register, go to http://fi.co/courses/17911

The Chicago Autumn 2014 Semester is now accepting applications. The final application deadline is 9/14. For more information and to apply, go to http://fi.co/join

Five Reasons to Continuously Connect with Others

Relationship building a continous process. Even if you think that you have a great network, you should never stop building. You never know when you will meet someone who can you leverage. Of course, effective relationship building is a two way street so you still need to provide value to others.

Here are five reasons as to why you should also be connecting:

1. Build your best asset - Our relationships are one of our most valuable assets. So, it is very important to constantly building relationships. You never know when they can be handy in your career.

2. Build your brand - Your personal identity is critical for business. The more that you interact with others the better the opportunity to build your brand.

3. Meet key people - When building relationships, you can be very strategic in who you want to meet. Leverage your existing relationships and LinkedIn to get in front of the right people at the right time.

4. Provide value to others - A key element of relationship building is putting others before you. So, you should always be finding wahts to assist others. By doing so, you will build up your value and enhance your relationships.

5. Learn about life - It is fun to meet new people and learn about their lives. It is fascinating getting to know others because you will learn about life in general.

What are other reasons to continously connect?

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Founder Institute Information Session - 7/24

Founder Institute Information Session

The Founder Institute is the world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. Join us for a informational event where you can meet the local Director, mentors, and graduates to ask questions, and learn how you can launch a startup with the Founder Institute's help. What is it like to be in the Founder Institute? Who are some of the peers that you will be working with? Can the Institute help you build your dream company? Venue sponsor is Holland & Knight.

Event Details
Date: July 24, 2014
Time: 5:30-9:00pm
Location: Holland & Knight, 131 South Dearborn Street, 30th Floor, Chicago

To register, go to http://fi.co/e/17941

The Chicago Autumn 2014 Semester is now accepting applications. For more information, go to http://fi.co/join.

Host Events to Bring Your Network Together

In addition to attending events to meet you new people, it is important to consider hosting your own events. By doing so, you will be able to bring your network together and meet new people as well.

By organizing your own event, people will see you as an expert on the subject. Pay special attention to the type of event that you host so it enhances your personal brand.

Invite your network to attend. Many of them will attend to support you and because they will be curious about what you have organized.

If you have a speaker event, then consider inviting a person in your network to speak at the event. Depending the topic and individual, you could have this person be the keynote. So, when you market the event, you can highlight this person.

By marketing a speaker as the main draw, you will further build your relationship with this individual. In return, this person will promote the event to his/her network and generate additional interest.

In addition, new people for you to meet will attend your event.  So, you will expand your network with people who are connected to certain people in your network.  Also, if you promote the event publicy, then new people will naturally attend as well.

As a continual relationship builder, you should always be looking for ways to grow your network. Hosting your own events will make you very visible and bring people to you.

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Founder Institute Chicago - Early Bird Application Deadline 7/27 for Autumn 2014 Class

The Founder Institute is world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies.  We are now accepting applications for the Chicago Autumn 2014 semester!

We have already successfully graduated four classes of founders in Chicago. We are excited to have a new class kick off this autumn. Mentors for our upcoming semester include founders of Priceline, iExplore, crowdSPRING, Signal, RECSOLU, and Power2Switch.

Who should apply?
Anybody who is passionate about building a technology company is welcome to apply: idea or no idea, full-time job or unemployed, young or old, male or female, experienced in business or straight out of school.

The early application deadline is 7/27/14. For more details and to apply, go to http://fi.co/join