“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” -Dale Carnegie

Networking and taking the time to get to know others is a powerful way in order to expand your network and get to know people. The only drawback is some people tend to want people to see them as the most interesting person in the room instead of being interested in others. In my favourite communication book, Just Listen by Dr. Mark Goulston, he talks about the “interesting” jackass, you may be able to relate based on conversations that you have had. These are the people who try so hard to be interesting and demonstrate how great they are but they fail to take interest in who you are. This can be frustrating and make you want to avoid these people altogether. Being interesting is important, however, there is a craft in order to share just how interesting you are.

If you want to leave a good impression with the people that you interact with, you want to take some time to take interest in the people you talk to. You do not need to have all eyes on you. This action often comes across as being insecure. When you start taking interest in others, they will start taking more interest in you. When taking interest in others, be fully present and actively listen to what they're saying. Often in conversation people are thinking about what their responses instead of listening fully to what is being said. People tend to repel from people who talk about themselves all the time and how they're better than everyone else.  Instead of responding with your experience, ask probing questions to learn more about what a person who shared with you or summarize what you just heard to acknowledge that you been listening.

By asking questions, you are demonstrating that you want to learn more or gain an understanding of where a person is coming from. You may overcome shyness by asking questions and learning about others. This demonstrates a genuine interest in others. Here are several ways in which you can demonstrate a true interest in another person:

* Discover ways you can help another person. Learn about the person you're speaking with and discover their greatest challenge need, or want. Find a way to help them achieve it. They will be forever grateful.

* Be a connector. Connect like-minded people together. When you meet people you may discover that someone in your network needs to meet the person you have just met. Send a virtual introduction or arrange a time where you can introduce them in person.

* Be memorable. You become memorable because of your listening skills and your interest in others. By taking a genuine interest in others, you make people feel like they're the most valuable person in the room and as you are speaking to them that they are.

Once you take time and interest in other people, they will also want to discover more about you. This is when you can share more about yourself. Remember the conversation and dialogue are very much like a dance. It's not a competition to share how your experience is the same or better than theirs. The most powerful approach to being interested in others is to be nonjudgmental and come from a place of curiosity in which you would like to learn more.

Here are ways that you can become more interesting to others when it comes to your turn to share your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences:

* Explore the world around you by going on adventures and travelling. I have learned that as we open ourselves up to the world we realize that we are a lot more the same than different. You also learn that everyone is driven by different values and traditions.

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” -Dale Carnegie

Networking and taking the time to get to know others is a powerful way in order to expand your network and get to know people. The only drawback is some people tend to want people to see them as the most interesting person in the room instead of being interested in others. In my favourite communication book, Just Listen by Dr. Mark Goulston, he talks about the “interesting” jackass, you may be able to relate based on conversations that you have had. These are the people who try so hard to be interesting and demonstrate how great they are but they fail to take interest in who you are. This can be frustrating and make you want to avoid these people altogether. Being interesting is important, however, there is a craft in order to share just how interesting you are.

If you want to leave a good impression with the people that you interact with, you want to take some time to take interest in the people you talk to. You do not need to have all eyes on you. This action often comes across as being insecure. When you start taking interest in others, they will start taking more interest in you. When taking interest in others, be fully present and actively listen to what they're saying. Often in conversation people are thinking about what their responses instead of listening fully to what is being said. People tend to repel from people who talk about themselves all the time and how they're better than everyone else.  Instead of responding with your experience, ask probing questions to learn more about what a person who shared with you or summarize what you just heard to acknowledge that you been listening.

By asking questions, you are demonstrating that you want to learn more or gain an understanding of where a person is coming from. You may overcome shyness by asking questions and learning about others. This demonstrates a genuine interest in others. Here are several ways in which you can demonstrate a true interest in another person:

* Discover ways you can help another person. Learn about the person you're speaking with and discover their greatest challenge need, or want. Find a way to help them achieve it. They will be forever grateful.

* Be a connector. Connect like-minded people together. When you meet people you may discover that someone in your network needs to meet the person you have just met. Send a virtual introduction or arrange a time where you can introduce them in person.

* Be memorable. You become memorable because of your listening skills and your interest in others. By taking a genuine interest in others, you make people feel like they're the most valuable person in the room and as you are speaking to them that they are.

Once you take time and interest in other people, they will also want to discover more about you. This is when you can share more about yourself. Remember the conversation and dialogue are very much like a dance. It's not a competition to share how your experience is the same or better than theirs. The most powerful approach to being interested in others is to be nonjudgmental and come from a place of curiosity in which you would like to learn more.

Here are ways that you can become more interesting to others when it comes to your turn to share your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences:

* Explore the world around you by going on adventures and travelling. I have learned that as we open ourselves up to the world we realize that we are a lot more the same than different. You also learn that everyone is driven by different values and traditions.

“Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can neither be explained nor ignored." Agatha Christie

Have you ever had that gut feeling that something wasn't right and you later regretted not paying attention to that sensation? A gut feeling is that visceral reaction, the reaction or sensation you feel in your body, that you have that is without any logical or rational thought. When making decisions, we don't just rationalize a thought we pay attention to logic and emotions. You may have noticed as you search for solutions to a problem or issue at hand that you give weight to what confirms your assumption.

There are times you may feel guilty for trusting your gut versus gathering all the facts. Sometimes trusting your gut instinct is knowing things before you know them. It is that déjà vu; it is like you been there before. Your gut is sometimes referred to as your second brain however many will tell you not to trust it alone.

Instinct is what we use to protect ourselves. It is a matter of survival. By trusting your gut, you are also recognizing when something doesn't feel right and that you need to pay attention to your body. There are times you may recognize that there is a risk of being in danger as you walk past someone on the street at night. When faced with a new situation where there is uncertainty you might have a gut reaction that tells you that you know how to do it and you figure it out. Sometimes listening to your gut means also knowing when to give a helping hand and help someone in need. You may have noticed someone needs help based on their facial expressions. It may be that you notice a person in tears. It may be that you pay attention to body language or cues in the conversation and ask probing questions. People often try to hide their sadness or disappointment. When people follow their gut, and truly trust the process, they may feel that they discovered an answer or solution. They may have been waiting for a signal and a song on the radio played or visual image came to them in a dream. It was the answer they were looking for so they were going to trust their gut.

The great news about intuition is that it is not exclusive to any one person. We all have the ability to use our intuition to trust our gut. This ability is something that comes naturally to us; however, it's we often get too busy to recognize and listen to what we need to hear. I was watching a 2012 TedxTalk Sacramento regarding “Learned Intuition” with Patrick Schwerdtfeger and he was talking about at how at any one time we have 10 million observations going through our unconscious mind and  we only attach or bring to our attention 100 with our conscious mind. We have a need to organize the information that comes in. We develop a learned intuition because it comes from our experience and expertise which he describes as making us almost a superhero. How do we develop experiences and expertise? – Immersion. If you want to learn French learn in France. A person will make greater improvements by doing practicing their skill or a sport over a period a consecutive number of days versus 1 hour per week. Interesting!

To develop your intuition you need to:

Pay attention to the situation. Step away from situations that cause you distress. This is your body's way of warning you. Don't push feelings away it is important to explore them. How does the situation make you feel? If something doesn't feel right, change it.

Tap into your knowledge. Take time to examine the facts. How much do you know? What facts do you have at hand? Look for patterns and links between the information you gather the facts at hand.

Identify your feelings. What is influencing or informing your feelings? Pay attention. Are you being influenced by external factors such as a radio commercial,

“Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can neither be explained nor ignored." Agatha Christie

Have you ever had that gut feeling that something wasn't right and you later regretted not paying attention to that sensation? A gut feeling is that visceral reaction, the reaction or sensation you feel in your body, that you have that is without any logical or rational thought. When making decisions, we don't just rationalize a thought we pay attention to logic and emotions. You may have noticed as you search for solutions to a problem or issue at hand that you give weight to what confirms your assumption.

There are times you may feel guilty for trusting your gut versus gathering all the facts. Sometimes trusting your gut instinct is knowing things before you know them. It is that déjà vu; it is like you been there before. Your gut is sometimes referred to as your second brain however many will tell you not to trust it alone.

Instinct is what we use to protect ourselves. It is a matter of survival. By trusting your gut, you are also recognizing when something doesn't feel right and that you need to pay attention to your body. There are times you may recognize that there is a risk of being in danger as you walk past someone on the street at night. When faced with a new situation where there is uncertainty you might have a gut reaction that tells you that you know how to do it and you figure it out. Sometimes listening to your gut means also knowing when to give a helping hand and help someone in need. You may have noticed someone needs help based on their facial expressions. It may be that you notice a person in tears. It may be that you pay attention to body language or cues in the conversation and ask probing questions. People often try to hide their sadness or disappointment. When people follow their gut, and truly trust the process, they may feel that they discovered an answer or solution. They may have been waiting for a signal and a song on the radio played or visual image came to them in a dream. It was the answer they were looking for so they were going to trust their gut.

The great news about intuition is that it is not exclusive to any one person. We all have the ability to use our intuition to trust our gut. This ability is something that comes naturally to us; however, it's we often get too busy to recognize and listen to what we need to hear. I was watching a 2012 TedxTalk Sacramento regarding “Learned Intuition” with Patrick Schwerdtfeger and he was talking about at how at any one time we have 10 million observations going through our unconscious mind and  we only attach or bring to our attention 100 with our conscious mind. We have a need to organize the information that comes in. We develop a learned intuition because it comes from our experience and expertise which he describes as making us almost a superhero. How do we develop experiences and expertise? – Immersion. If you want to learn French learn in France. A person will make greater improvements by doing practicing their skill or a sport over a period a consecutive number of days versus 1 hour per week. Interesting!

To develop your intuition you need to:

Pay attention to the situation. Step away from situations that cause you distress. This is your body's way of warning you. Don't push feelings away it is important to explore them. How does the situation make you feel? If something doesn't feel right, change it.

Tap into your knowledge. Take time to examine the facts. How much do you know? What facts do you have at hand? Look for patterns and links between the information you gather the facts at hand.

Identify your feelings. What is influencing or informing your feelings? Pay attention. Are you being influenced by external factors such as a radio commercial,

Resistance shows up in many ways. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist, has been credited for the phrase “What you resist persists”. Have you ever noticed that no matter how much you avoid, hide from, or pretends something doesn't exist a continuously shows up in your life in some form or another? This resistance is showing up because you are not accepting what is– current reality. Resistance shows up as suffering. You may become angry or resentful because you want something different than what you currently have. This frustration occurs not because of the experience you have had; it is about how you labeled the story of that experience.

Whatever you are resisting means you are opposing or against it from occurring. The things that we really need or the lessons we need to learn in our lives are usually what we are resisting. An area in my life I face with resistance when it comes to physical activity is yoga. Now many of my friends tell me that resistance means that I should do more of it. I have attended three classes on three different occasions. I do not enjoy yoga. Each time seems to get better I actually stayed the full class the last time. What I have noticed is that my mind is moving with ideas percolating at any given time and I am challenged with slowing my mind down to match my body's positioning. I see myself as a person of endurance and that is probably why I enjoy triathlons and running more than I enjoy yoga. With triathlons, I enjoy focusing on the discipline at hand and streamlining the transition to move on to the next activity. Whereas with yoga, I have to focus on slowing down my mental processes to match the movement of my body and I feel that there is a misalignment. I have decided to give yoga another chance and perhaps instead of the class I will create my own environment with the use of video or an app on my phone.

Feelings are transient. They come and go and they only have meaning when we attach to that feeling and give it our attention. The more you focus on what you don't want, the more you'll get just that and wonder why it keeps showing up in your life.

I want you to stop for a moment and think about things in your life that you are resisting. This resistance is zapping your spirit and enthusiasm. You will feel discouraged and frustrated. The resistance that you are feeling such as hanging on to old anger or resentment or holding off on a difficult conversation because you hope things will be better or someone will change is holding you back. You may be holding onto comments from family members that still bother you today. Resistance occurs because you believe something different should occur which involves a change to get a different outcome. What really needs to change is not everyone around us but recognizing are blind spots to a situation and doing a self-check on your attitude to change. You can't change other people; you can change how you respond to a situation instead of reacting to a situation.

There are some people in your life that you may realize are not people you want to regularly hang out with. They are the people who are discouraging you from going after your dreams or putting you down and telling you that you're not enough. You need to believe in yourself.

What are you resisting now?

What have you been putting off doing?

When you make the decision to play a bigger game, you will notice an increase in resistance. These obstacles are there to test you and challenge you. You have the choice to work through them because on the other side of that obstacle is achievement of your goal or dream. Quit playing the “should have” game. “I should have” done this or “I should have done that…” Quit should having on yourself. Beating yourself up does not help you move through resistance. Most people are unaware of what they are resisting until they stop and take stock of what may be limiting them...

Resistance shows up in many ways. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist, has been credited for the phrase “What you resist persists”. Have you ever noticed that no matter how much you avoid, hide from, or pretends something doesn't exist a continuously shows up in your life in some form or another? This resistance is showing up because you are not accepting what is– current reality. Resistance shows up as suffering. You may become angry or resentful because you want something different than what you currently have. This frustration occurs not because of the experience you have had; it is about how you labeled the story of that experience.

Whatever you are resisting means you are opposing or against it from occurring. The things that we really need or the lessons we need to learn in our lives are usually what we are resisting. An area in my life I face with resistance when it comes to physical activity is yoga. Now many of my friends tell me that resistance means that I should do more of it. I have attended three classes on three different occasions. I do not enjoy yoga. Each time seems to get better I actually stayed the full class the last time. What I have noticed is that my mind is moving with ideas percolating at any given time and I am challenged with slowing my mind down to match my body's positioning. I see myself as a person of endurance and that is probably why I enjoy triathlons and running more than I enjoy yoga. With triathlons, I enjoy focusing on the discipline at hand and streamlining the transition to move on to the next activity. Whereas with yoga, I have to focus on slowing down my mental processes to match the movement of my body and I feel that there is a misalignment. I have decided to give yoga another chance and perhaps instead of the class I will create my own environment with the use of video or an app on my phone.

Feelings are transient. They come and go and they only have meaning when we attach to that feeling and give it our attention. The more you focus on what you don't want, the more you'll get just that and wonder why it keeps showing up in your life.

I want you to stop for a moment and think about things in your life that you are resisting. This resistance is zapping your spirit and enthusiasm. You will feel discouraged and frustrated. The resistance that you are feeling such as hanging on to old anger or resentment or holding off on a difficult conversation because you hope things will be better or someone will change is holding you back. You may be holding onto comments from family members that still bother you today. Resistance occurs because you believe something different should occur which involves a change to get a different outcome. What really needs to change is not everyone around us but recognizing are blind spots to a situation and doing a self-check on your attitude to change. You can't change other people; you can change how you respond to a situation instead of reacting to a situation.

There are some people in your life that you may realize are not people you want to regularly hang out with. They are the people who are discouraging you from going after your dreams or putting you down and telling you that you're not enough. You need to believe in yourself.

What are you resisting now?

What have you been putting off doing?

When you make the decision to play a bigger game, you will notice an increase in resistance. These obstacles are there to test you and challenge you. You have the choice to work through them because on the other side of that obstacle is achievement of your goal or dream. Quit playing the “should have” game. “I should have” done this or “I should have done that…” Quit should having on yourself. Beating yourself up does not help you move through resistance. Most people are unaware of what they are resisting until they stop and take stock of what may be limiting them...

Exposure is one of those things people sometimes get uneasy about. It feels like everything is on display. If you want people to know about your business and the great work that you are doing, you have to be able to expose yourself and put yourself in a spotlight. Again I want to stress this isn't about bragging “Look what I can do!”, it is about showcasing your products and services and educating the world about how you can serve them – it’s called shameless self-promotion. If you hide or try to cover up any publicity or showcasing of your work, people may start to become suspicious and may not even trust you.

Listen to my story on the audio!

We all have heard about the big brands with the big dollars like Coca-Cola, Nike, and of course McDonald's. If your small business owner you don't have the same kind of funds so you need to get creative and this is where exposure comes in. When exposing yourself to the world, you are exposing yourself for three reasons: awareness, credibility, and visibility.

Creating Awareness

You want to be creating awareness so that you stand out from the crowd. Many people think it is like the movie “Field of Dreams” if you build it they will come. However, if they do not hear about you or know about what you have to offer no one will be coming. If you’re a start up, you can't always afford to outsource services and you may be doing many things yourself. Even though you're doing things yourself eventually you will be delegating these roles/tasks to other people so it's a great thing for you to get a handle on what you need to be doing. There are several ways to share some tools and techniques that are to help you create awareness of what you have to offer. Don't forget to start making your own list as these ideas come to you. Make sure you grab the downloadable where you can keep it all in one spot. Are you ready?

* Newsletter- A newsletter is an excellent way to touch base with your prospects and clients on a regular basis. It allows them to see what you're up to and what events might be coming up that may be of interest to them. Ensure that you have great content and you are providing value. Your newsletter can be electronic or in paper format. Most people tend to be shifting online using providers like Mail Chimp, AWeber, Constant Contact.

* Articles-Not only does writing an article bring awareness to what you do it also provides credibility as positions you as an expert. Articles are a great way to share your knowledge. You can post articles on Selfgrowth.com, LinkedIn, and your website.

* Testimonials-Testimonials or endorsements are social proof providing evidence from clients stating that what you say is exactly what you delivered. Social proof is very powerful as it adds an extra element of trust. When people hear what others have said about you it influences their decisions. If others have been impressed with your work then they feel that they are willing to take a chance to in and hope that you will do the same for them.

* Sponsorship-Sponsorship is a great way to show that you’re giving back to your community or supporting a local event. Sponsors are often showcased throughout the events and in advertising. You may sponsor a breakfast at your local business meeting, conference, or a sports team in your community. You may even get a minute or two to talk about your business.

* Joint ventures-You may consider collaborating with others and extending your network as you will both be marketing your program, product, or service to each other's markets.

* Public speaking- I don't believe that there is anything more credible than someone who positions himself as the expert to speaking. This is an excellent way for people to get to know like and trust you.

Exposure is one of those things people sometimes get uneasy about. It feels like everything is on display. If you want people to know about your business and the great work that you are doing, you have to be able to expose yourself and put yourself in a spotlight. Again I want to stress this isn't about bragging “Look what I can do!”, it is about showcasing your products and services and educating the world about how you can serve them – it’s called shameless self-promotion. If you hide or try to cover up any publicity or showcasing of your work, people may start to become suspicious and may not even trust you.

Listen to my story on the audio!

We all have heard about the big brands with the big dollars like Coca-Cola, Nike, and of course McDonald's. If your small business owner you don't have the same kind of funds so you need to get creative and this is where exposure comes in. When exposing yourself to the world, you are exposing yourself for three reasons: awareness, credibility, and visibility.

Creating Awareness

You want to be creating awareness so that you stand out from the crowd. Many people think it is like the movie “Field of Dreams” if you build it they will come. However, if they do not hear about you or know about what you have to offer no one will be coming. If you’re a start up, you can't always afford to outsource services and you may be doing many things yourself. Even though you're doing things yourself eventually you will be delegating these roles/tasks to other people so it's a great thing for you to get a handle on what you need to be doing. There are several ways to share some tools and techniques that are to help you create awareness of what you have to offer. Don't forget to start making your own list as these ideas come to you. Make sure you grab the downloadable where you can keep it all in one spot. Are you ready?

* Newsletter- A newsletter is an excellent way to touch base with your prospects and clients on a regular basis. It allows them to see what you're up to and what events might be coming up that may be of interest to them. Ensure that you have great content and you are providing value. Your newsletter can be electronic or in paper format. Most people tend to be shifting online using providers like Mail Chimp, AWeber, Constant Contact.

* Articles-Not only does writing an article bring awareness to what you do it also provides credibility as positions you as an expert. Articles are a great way to share your knowledge. You can post articles on Selfgrowth.com, LinkedIn, and your website.

* Testimonials-Testimonials or endorsements are social proof providing evidence from clients stating that what you say is exactly what you delivered. Social proof is very powerful as it adds an extra element of trust. When people hear what others have said about you it influences their decisions. If others have been impressed with your work then they feel that they are willing to take a chance to in and hope that you will do the same for them.

* Sponsorship-Sponsorship is a great way to show that you’re giving back to your community or supporting a local event. Sponsors are often showcased throughout the events and in advertising. You may sponsor a breakfast at your local business meeting, conference, or a sports team in your community. You may even get a minute or two to talk about your business.

* Joint ventures-You may consider collaborating with others and extending your network as you will both be marketing your program, product, or service to each other's markets.

* Public speaking- I don't believe that there is anything more credible than someone who positions himself as the expert to speaking. This is an excellent way for people to get to know like and trust you.

Ever since I can remember, I have always been curious about people. Networking to build a true connection is about taking a genuine interest in people for who they are before learning what they do. Networking is not just about meeting people who could help you but also coming from a place of how you can help others. Keep in mind every person that you meet has an average of about 250 people in their network. If they don't know who the connect you with, there is a strong possibility that someone else in their network will be able to. You must take the time to build those relationships.

Focus on Quality versus Quantity 

When you go to a networking event is important to focus on quality versus quantity of connections and business cards you collect. Steer clear of the person handing out as many cards like a blackjack game. It is not about how many cards you have is about forming deeper connections that are real, they are authentic, and about relationships that you connect with more than once a year. Take time to learn about who they are and what matters most to them. Learn what their interests or hobbies are or their favourite sports. Discover what charities they like to support. Above all, if you can learn what their goals are and help them achieve it you will build a strong relationship that can last a lifetime. When you help people achieve their goals, they will be happy to help you achieve yours. People enjoy sharing what interests them. Strike up a conversation.

“There is no greater joy than to share what you love with those who appreciate it.”

― Bernard Jan

Create Interest & Intrigue

When initiating the conversation create interest and intrigue, don't just say, “Hi I am… and your profession.” People have their own perspective of what the profession is and what they do based on their own experiences or what they may have been told. Let them learn from you and your approach to life and business. I'm not a fan of the traditional elevator speech as it comes across as being rehearsed and not genuine. After powerful question sharing a solution you provide that could be a potential pain point for the person you're sharing this with. You are educating others that you can be a solution and if your question resonates with a pain area or missing piece in their lives they will be intrigued.

Nurture Existing Relationships

Spend time nurturing the relationships that currently exist in your network. You never know who someone will introduce you to. Stand out from the crowd by sending articles of interest or magazine of the person's hobby. You may choose to send a Christmas card or birthday card. Invite your current clients to a charity function or fundraiser or a workshop you're tending. Be memorable.

Get Social

Don't forget to network on social media such as LinkedIn. Provide an update on your status at least once a day, answer questions or comments on article or post, engaging groups and contribute to the conversation. It's about engagement and learning more about the other person.

Network with Intention & Purpose

“Networking is not a part-time or occasional exercise. Everywhere we go, we have an opportunity to network with others.”

― Timothy M. Houston

One of the most important things is to network with intention and purpose. Don't always hang out with the same people your network at a networking event does not expand and others may see you as having an exclusive club or even a clique. Focus on meeting 1-2 new people at each event. Remember networking doesn't just occur in associations, trade shows, and conferences. Networking can take place anywhere from the gym, grocery store, kids sporting events, charity balls or fundraisers. Wherever people are there is a chance to have a networking opportunity.

Ever since I can remember, I have always been curious about people. Networking to build a true connection is about taking a genuine interest in people for who they are before learning what they do. Networking is not just about meeting people who could help you but also coming from a place of how you can help others. Keep in mind every person that you meet has an average of about 250 people in their network. If they don't know who the connect you with, there is a strong possibility that someone else in their network will be able to. You must take the time to build those relationships.

Focus on Quality versus Quantity 

When you go to a networking event is important to focus on quality versus quantity of connections and business cards you collect. Steer clear of the person handing out as many cards like a blackjack game. It is not about how many cards you have is about forming deeper connections that are real, they are authentic, and about relationships that you connect with more than once a year. Take time to learn about who they are and what matters most to them. Learn what their interests or hobbies are or their favourite sports. Discover what charities they like to support. Above all, if you can learn what their goals are and help them achieve it you will build a strong relationship that can last a lifetime. When you help people achieve their goals, they will be happy to help you achieve yours. People enjoy sharing what interests them. Strike up a conversation.

“There is no greater joy than to share what you love with those who appreciate it.”

― Bernard Jan

Create Interest & Intrigue

When initiating the conversation create interest and intrigue, don't just say, “Hi I am… and your profession.” People have their own perspective of what the profession is and what they do based on their own experiences or what they may have been told. Let them learn from you and your approach to life and business. I'm not a fan of the traditional elevator speech as it comes across as being rehearsed and not genuine. After powerful question sharing a solution you provide that could be a potential pain point for the person you're sharing this with. You are educating others that you can be a solution and if your question resonates with a pain area or missing piece in their lives they will be intrigued.

Nurture Existing Relationships

Spend time nurturing the relationships that currently exist in your network. You never know who someone will introduce you to. Stand out from the crowd by sending articles of interest or magazine of the person's hobby. You may choose to send a Christmas card or birthday card. Invite your current clients to a charity function or fundraiser or a workshop you're tending. Be memorable.

Get Social

Don't forget to network on social media such as LinkedIn. Provide an update on your status at least once a day, answer questions or comments on article or post, engaging groups and contribute to the conversation. It's about engagement and learning more about the other person.

Network with Intention & Purpose

“Networking is not a part-time or occasional exercise. Everywhere we go, we have an opportunity to network with others.”

― Timothy M. Houston

One of the most important things is to network with intention and purpose. Don't always hang out with the same people your network at a networking event does not expand and others may see you as having an exclusive club or even a clique. Focus on meeting 1-2 new people at each event. Remember networking doesn't just occur in associations, trade shows, and conferences. Networking can take place anywhere from the gym, grocery store, kids sporting events, charity balls or fundraisers. Wherever people are there is a chance to have a networking opportunity.