Networking Insight

Book Review: The Way of the SEAL by Mark Divine

The Way of the SEAL was written by Mark Divine who served in the U.S. Navy SEALS for 20 years, retiring as a commander. He is the founder of SEALFIT, NavySEALS.com, and U.S. CrossFit. In addition, he created the leadership program, Unbeatable Mind Academy, which trains the public in the eight Way of the SEAL principles. Further, he is the author of 8 Weeks to SEALFIT and Unbeatable Mind.

The book is comprised of the following chapters:

• Principle 1: Establish Your Set Point
• Principle 2: Develop Front-Sight Focus
• Principle 3: Bulletproof Your Mission
• Principle 4: Do Today What Others Won't
• Principle 5: Forge Mental Toughness
• Principle 6: Break Things
• Principle 7: Build Your Intuition
• Principle 8: Think Offense, All the Time
• Training in the Way of the SEAL

In this book, the author reveals the mental training tricks you can use to think like a U.S. Navy SEAL and achieve personal excellence. His teachings are designed to transform anyone from entrepreneurs to executives of large companies.

The book is a roadmap for taking your life to the next level. The author uses numerous examples from his life and those of others to demonstrate his principles. His tools and techniques have been proven to develop a strong sense of purpose, high level of mental toughness, and ability to be more productive.

Below are some concepts discussed about the Way of the Seal:

- You will learn to simplify and clarify your life so you can drive forward with a strong sense of purpose.

- You will learn to remain calm and centered in the midst of the most serious storms you face in life.

- You will develop the mental toughness to dominate any task or challenge.

- You will cultivate your intuitive decision-making powers and sense danger and opportunity as they near.

- You will become more emotionally balanced, allowing you to understand where others are coming from so as to anticipate their needs.

- You will grow into a better leader who is more authentic, respected, trustworthy, and persuasive.

- You will become a better person, period. Your family, teams, and community will benefit from your strength and the world will be a better place for your contributions.

The author has lived an extraordinary life and he shares some of his secrets in this one of a kind book. By reading this book, you are committed to advancing your leadership and personal development.

 

 

10 Happy Words about Networking

Depending on who you talk to, networking can be a positive or negative experience. Building relationships should be a positive experience as long as you keep an open mind and see the benefits.

Below are 10 words that describe how networking can make you happy:

1. Leads
2. Customers
3. Revenue
4. Partners
5. Friendships
6. Opportunity
7. Leverage
8. Introductions
9. Asset
10. Fun

What other words describe how networking can make you happy?

 

 

Spring Your Relationships Into Action

As Spring arrives, it is time to kick your relationships into high gear! Now is the time to build your existing relationships and make some new ones.

Start to plan your relationship building strategy. You should put together a multi strategy approach. Three strong avenues are: reach out to existing contacts, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn.

Reach out to existing contacts

A great way to further build your existing relationships is to be in regular contact with them. Take the time to meet with various people one-on-one for coffee or lunch. While you can connect via the phone, face time is more powerful and allows for a deeper connection.

Get updates from your contacts so you know what they are doing. It is important to know who is in your network. Also, find out how you may be able to assist them. At the same time, you can share more about your current activities and needs. By doing so, you are developing a stronger bond and one that can be mutually beneficial.

Attend events

A great way to meet new people is to attend events. Put together a list of who you want to meet and then look for the right events. Spend time searching online calendars and organizations to find the events.  It is important that you are always adding new people to your network so you should put yourself in these types of situations.

At the same time, it is important to be visible to people whom you have already met. The more you attend events the more you get to know certain people. By doing so, you will star to develop some new relationships.

Connect on LinkedIn

Online tools are a great to way to build and maintain relationships. LinkedIn is one of the best professionals tools to make this happen. Spend some time researching people on LinkedIn who match the types of people who want to meet from your list.

Most people are receptive to being contacted. Rather than ask to connect, send them a note as to why you want to talk. After you talk, then you can ask them to connect. Also, you can ask your first degree contacts to make an introduction as well.

What other strategies will you do this Spring?

Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza - May 14

 

Below are details for my annual event. This year's event is focused on entrepreneurs.

Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza

May 14, 2015

5:30-8:45pm

TechNexus, 20 N. Wacker, Suite 1200, Chicago

Relationships are crucial to finding customers, partners, advisors, capital and peers with whom to share the journey. The 13th version of the GCNE will focus on how to leverage relationships to start, build and grow a company. And along with the way you'll learn how to increase brand awareness, sales and career success through the art and science of networking.

 

You'll start and end the evening with open networking. In between, you'll hear from Lillian Bjorseth, co-host and nationally renowned face-to-face networking authority, who will share the importance of a relationship-building plan to help you network strategically and systematically to meet the right people.

A panel of successful entrepreneurs will share the vital role that relationships played and continue to in the growth of their businesses and individual well-being.  Moderator is Jason Jacobsohn event co-host and veteran panel moderator for the entrepreneurial and technology communities.

Panelists

- Gary Rabine, Founder & CEO, Rabine Group

- Genevievie Thiers, Founder, Sittercity

- Jason Jacobsohn, Director, Founder Institute (moderator)

Sponsors: TechNexus, Inbox

 

To sign up or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, go to www.greaterchicagonetworking.com