The BIGG Successs Show
3 Keys to Effective Networking
Business networking guru Josh Hinds shares some expert advice with us. Read the show summary at biggsuccess.com.
- Welcome to The Big Success Show. Today, we'll talk about three keys to effective networking. - The Big Success Show with George and Mary Lynn. One of the most important skills that any person can possess is the ability to network and build relationships. - Today, we have Josh Heinz with us. He's an author and the mastermind behind a number of sites. We have links to all of them on our blog today at bigsuccess.com. And one of those sites is businessnetworkingadvice.com. To date, Josh has conducted over 100 interviews with leading online business people. Welcome to The Big Success Show, Josh. - Appreciate it, it's all mine. - Well, we're glad to have you on today. And, you know, I guess in looking over all the things that you do, the first question that comes to my mind is how do you have any time to network, Josh? - Well, I mean, it's so funny that you asked because when you strictly sort of look at it from a point of view where you think, maybe you know, there's this strict structure to networking where networking is how many business cards can I get in somebody's hands? - Or? - You know, how many specific people can I meet? Really, it's just about having fun, taking it day to day, and just sort of making it a regular part of your schedule. - It's not rocket science. - That is so well said. It's not rocket science. A lot of being a great networker is, you know, doing things that will sort of ingratiate us in other people's mind. And just by doing some really, you know, looking for ways to be helpful, just cool things for other people that they'd appreciate, you really create what I refer to as positive mind share. And I mean, basically, what that's all about is when somebody is out there in the marketplace, they run into someone who has a need. And if you have positive mind share with that person, you're gonna automatically come to mind as somebody who they're gonna be willing to recommend. - Sort of like Stephen Covey's emotional bank account, you know, the goodwill you're building up with people. - Absolutely. - The only thing wrong with that statement that Mr. Covey said is that I didn't think of it. - Yeah, that's a good idea. - We used that line last night at a presentation, Josh. (laughing) - You're probably gonna realize I used that a lot. (laughing) - More urban making. - Well, Josh, in all of your interviews with all of these networking experts, there seems to be three common themes. So what is one of those? What is that first key? - Sure, I would say that the first one is the importance of understanding that you've really got to build your network before you need your network. - Yeah, the six steps to Kevin Bacon, and you know, we always just tell people you need to try to make sure you're one step removed. You know, it seems like if I know somebody who knows somebody, they can help me, but when it gets further out than that, it starts getting problematic because there's no connection. - Such a great example. And ultimately, if you have some sort of rapport or something more than just hey, this is the person who's coming to me that needs something. - You know, and I don't want this to sound cruel, but let's face it, every single day we have opportunities where people are asking for a help, and it's not that we don't wanna help everybody we can, it's just there's not enough of us to go around, right? So unfortunately, the people that we're closest with get precedence. So really, you know, it's all about just piling on value for people so that when you put that need out there, they're gonna naturally be more willing to help you if they're able. You've got to be the person that people want to do business with. - And it can take a little time. - Yeah, the networking events and different things like that are one way to do networking. But also, every single day, there are just tons and tons of opportunities. Perfect example, one of the things that I'll do every single day, I'm surfing the web, running across different things that are of interest to me. And of course, as I run across those things, interesting to me, I would know, plenty of people I might be interesting to as well, or that would be valuable to them. So what I'll do is I'll send that resource. That's networking. - Absolutely. - Now, a lot of people are not gonna think it is, because they sort of have this narrow focus of it, but it's all about, here's what I do, here's my product and service, here's my business card, slap you on the back, shake your hand and-- - Shake you down, so-- - He may, he may, yeah, shake down. (laughing) - So really, what it all boils down to is that when you're networking, I think of the person you're reaching out to as a person, not just a connection. So Josh, you've shared with us two very big keys here. You've got to build your network before you need it, and you've got to build quality relationships. Coming up, we're gonna get the third key to effective networking. - Today, we're talking to Josh Hines, and he's a networking expert who's already shared two keys with us to effective networking. And Josh, what's the third? - The third thing is, one of those things that we sort of talked a little bit, touched on just a little bit before, but it's building up value in the eyes of the people you meet. I mean, a prime example is, so you have a professional relationship with somebody, and somebody says, "Hey, here's a referral." One approach would be to thank them, but then also take the time to acknowledge it beyond that, and whether or not that deal worked, or not in particular, or whether it was beneficial for each of you, take the time and just send a note back, thanking the person that thought of you in that way, and kind of report back. And the funny thing about doing that is the person who sent that lead may not expect that. It's gonna make you stand out as somebody who's just doing it a little different, doing a little more. A good friend of mine, I have a fellow by the name of Bob Berg, and he just co-authored a wonderful book called The Go Giffer, and it's just fantastic, and it just kind of gets on that topic. - Wow, that's a great sounding book. - I know, look that up now. - You guys know him, but I'll have to try and connect you two. - Yeah, that'd be awesome. - I'd love to, I will do that. - Look at what's happening right here right now. (laughing) - That's it, I mean, that's the thing. And I think in that there's important lessons, it wasn't premeditated, right? It was just, we're having a conversation, and if something comes out of it, hey, wonderful, it's not a first thing, right? It's just a fun process. - That's why we always like to tell people, think of it as net playing, not networking. - Oh, I love that. But you know what I'm gonna say about that? - Yes. (laughing) Yeah, you didn't think of it, right? (laughing) You can get a written summary of today's show on our blog at bigsuccess.com. We've also got a link to Josh's fantastic site, businessnetworkingadvice.com. And George, before we go, let's get our big quote for the day. Our big quote today comes from Chuck Brodsky, who said, "We are each other's angels. We meet when it is time." - And since we don't know when it's time, you have to network all the time. Josh, thank you so much for being part of the big success show today. - Oh, thank you both so much. Had a great time. - It's great having you on, Josh. - Yep, we'll have to do it again. How's that sound? - Love that. - All right. - Next time we're gonna talk about the seven things you must learn in college that college won't teach you. And until then, here's to your big success. - The big success show at bigsuccess.com. [MUSIC PLAYING] You