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!

Ready, Set, Goals - Day 3: Your Net Worth equals Your Network

If you want to succeed, you need to network with other successful people. This is essential for reaching your goals and dreams? Who do you need to network with to accomplish extraordinary results over the next twelve months?

Let’s revisit the starting line from day 2. Remember, you are getting ready to go to the starting line for the New Year. How have you prepared for your race?

• Who are the other runners?

• Who is your coach? Or your coaches?

• Did your coach prepare you to win?

• Are you wearing the proper shoes/equipment for the race?

• Do you know where the finish line is?

• Who is in the stands cheering you on?

• Who is in the stands rooting against you?

• Are you passionate about victory? About winning? Are you focused?


Today we are going to focus on “who are the other runners?”

Who else is at the starting line getting ready to race toward their goals and dreams? Normally, in a race, you are running against the other people lined up for the race. But in this case, you are running with them.

Imagine this. The race is about to begin. Everyone knows where the finish line is. The gun is fired and the race begins. But one of the runners turns around and starts running in the opposite direction. This runner knows that he/she is going in the wrong direction, but keeps going. Why would anyone do that? Sadly, many people do. They do it day after day, month after month, and year after year. It’s called – INSANITY!

Millions of people all over the world do this their entire lives. They do not have a clear “vision” of where they want to go or who or what they want to be or do. They have not indentified their purpose in life. They are not passionate about their purpose or goals or dreams.

This is why identifying your goals, dreams and purpose and being passionate about them is so very important. You cannot get somewhere if you do not know where it is you want to get to.

Be clear about your destination.

Know where you want to go. Know what you want to accomplish. Then the planning and the how will come more readily and easily. So many people set goals they think or know they can reach, and that is fine. But those easy goals are not usually you true purpose or vision of what you desire to be or do. Get BOLD about your dreams! Think BIG! REALLY BIG!



Exercise 5:

I want you to look at your three sheets you started on Day 1. Go back over them again and revise or add to them. (If you are just joining us you can read Day 1 Here)

1. What is it that you earnestly desire? Your Goals? Dreams? Purpose?

2. What are you grateful for already?

3. What are your talents? What would you like to do or learn to do?

What do you really, truly and deeply desire to do or be? What is your purpose? Who do you want on this journey with you?

The people who you spend the most time with most likely have the biggest influence on what you are now doing or think about doing. How do you know if your goals, dreams, purpose are big enough? If you are apprehensive about telling certain people what your goals, dreams or purpose really is, then it’s big enough and those are the people you do not want to spend the majority of your time with.

That’s harsh. Well, the truth is that you want to be around people who are pursuing their true goals, dreams and passion. They will be the ones who will inspire and motivate you to reach yours. They will be the ones with great ideas and tips and resources that you will help you along the way. They will be the ones with the right connections to key people you need to meet to reach the finish line.

Now do not be fooled by the word “finish line.” This is a journey, so when I say finish line or destination; it is just an accomplishment along the way that you have reached. It is a landmark that tells you, you are heading in the right direction.

Who do you want to run with? Other success minded people. You want to associate with people who have values similar to yours.

“Your Net Worth = You Network”

Look around at the six people you spend the most time with and ask yourself are they mostly negative or positive. Do they set goals? Do they talk about their dreams and put action into reaching them? Do they speak faith? Do they live or pursue an abundant life? What do they read? What do they watch and listen to?

I am not advocating writing off your friends and family or co-workers. But you do need to spend more time with successful minded people. People who are accomplishing their goals and reaching their dreams.

You may be surprised to learn that successful people are some of the most giving people you will meet. They are extremely generous with what they know and whom they know. They understand the “Law of the Harvest “ that in sowing (giving), they shall also reap. I have found that when I am around such people it is as though we are all trying to out GIVE one another. It is fun and exciting to be in such an environment.

One place you can go to meet other successful people is, Successful Thinkers. It is a great community of people who are successful and looking to network with other success minded people and businesses. Visit the website to learn more.

Keep working on getting the materials together for your “Vision Board” and get it done before the end of this 12-Day Series. No excuses—Get it done!