Networking from Trust vs. Desperation

Have you ever met a desperate person at a networking event? They are easy to identify. Upon meeting you and maybe asking your name, they launch right into how great their product or service is and why you should buy it, use it or sign up with their MLM company. Understand, I will be signing up with a fantastic MLM company in the near future. I will not mention the name here. But I do want to share why I chose the company I chose after looking at dozens.

First of all, no one, and I mean no one from the company hounded me. Second, I was not tricked unto a phone call where the persons up-line mentor was then brought unto the call via"three-way" calling. Third, not one person tried to convince me that I should sign up by mentioning how much money so and so, "diamond" certified VP is earning. None of those things impress me, nor do they impress most other intelligent-minded entrepreneurs. But most importantly for me, is that this company shares my Christian values.

This applies to every business type. Whether you are offering a product or service, whether you work from home or have a brick and mortar building, whether it's a direct sales, mlm or network marketing company, does not matter. You must build relationships. You must genuinely care about the success and goals of others and most of all you must care about your reputation and brand.

When you are desperate, you do not have patience, faith or love. It is about you and what you can get, how quickly you can get it and how much you can get. That is networking from a platform of desperation. That is a platform of certain failure.

Have you ever been to a networking meeting and felt like you were at a used car lot? You felt yourself trying to avoid the pushy salesman? Only in this case, it was other business owners who were shoving their service, product or company down your throat – virtually choking you to death.
But they weren’t satisfied with that first attempt to choke you.

They followed up with an email or phone call or both. And they still have not learned what it is YOU are passionate about. They are desperate for a sale, client or recruit. They need the money bad. Real bad. They are under pressure from their up-line mentor, their business partner or themselves. Because they are desperate, they do not have the time to build a genuine relationship. This is how most people approach networking on-line and off-line.

When you come from a platform of TRUST, you have the time to build powerful and meaningful relationships. You have the time to listen to someone else’s dream,  goal, passion. Yes LISTEN. You have the time to care and love them. Yes LOVE them. You have the time to serve them. Yes SERVE them. You allow your relationship to unfold, to grow and to be a mutual blessing.

Building relationships takes time. and sincerity. You will give it the time if you TRUST. But if you RUSH, you will fail to build lasting relationships and people will avoid you like a “used car salesman.”  Trusting that every relationship you build will in one way or another bless your life personally and/or professionally as well as the other person, will reap you a harvest of loyal customers, referrals and recruits.

That is the "law of the harvest." You reap what you sow.  If at a networking event you sow a lack of sincerity, you will reap a steady stream of insincere clients, customers or recruits. If you sow seeds of love, giving and friendship (with no strings attached), you will reap the best of the best. You will find yourself surrounded by loving, giving and highly successful people.

You may not sell them your product, or sign them up for you MLM company or have them use your services, but perhaps, just maybe, they may become one of your nearest and dearest friends. Perhaps they know someone who is looking for exactly what you have to offer. Maybe the two of you will team up on some profitable joint venture. At the least, you both will have a made a new friend.

The next time you attend a networking meeting, make friends. Find out what the other people in the room are passionate about. Ask them about their goals and dreams. Try to help them reach a goal without expecting anything in return. Treat them how you want to be treated. Take them to coffee and do not slam down your comp plan, or hit them with how great your product or service is. Just share, love and give. Oh, and smile. SMILE a lot!