Third Generation Networking Podcast

Making your networking build that bottom line -- it's what everyone wants from the hours of their lives they spend at those networking lunches, sitting across from others over coffee, or spending those precious after hours times with strangers instead of family.

It's also one of the hardest things for people to do ... correctly.

Join the Networking Guru and the Reluctant Networker (Debby and Greg Peters) as they discus how to ask for the bottom line results you need without damaging the relationship beyond repair.

Listen for some of these details:

[1:35] Who should we ask?

[3:20] How to recognize when a networking opportunity becomes a selling opportunity.

[6:45] Being ready to ask for referrals

[9:00] Recognizing the person we can ask. Are they willing and are they able?

[11:40] What words should we use?

If you would like to bring Greg or Debby in to speak at your organization's next event, click here

When it comes to networking, are you a be-er or a do-er? The secret to success? Sometimes you have to be a little bit of both. What’s the difference? On vacation, the be-er wants to sit with a book in an outdoor café and simply be there, absorbing the feel of the place. The do-er wants to be out there exploring at all times. Touring, hiking, site-seeing are all in the list of activities for the do-er.

The best vacations – and the best networking -- have a mixture of both.

Listen for these concepts on how to both be and do in your networking:

[2:15] Joining and participating in networking groups and events

[3:05] Cultivating professional relationships

[4:00] Asking for referrals

Join the Networking Guru (Debby) and the Reluctant Networker (Greg) as they continue their discussion of tips and techniques to make you successful at your next networking opportunity. Whether you are attending your Chamber Lunch, the Networking Breakfast, or the Association evening banquet, some simple strategies will help you make the connections you need to make attending more than simply "buying yourself a meal".

Check out these topics that we'll cover in this episode:

[2:20] The importance of being "on time" -- and that doesn't mean getting there when the event starts.

[3:15] The trick of connecting with the organizer. It's just fours little workds.

[5:20] The pitfalls of ignoring the culture of the event

[7:10] Dealing with business cards

[11:25] A simple technique to research other attendees.

[14:40] Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up

Does this happen to you? You go to a networking event and you are surrounded by all these great and interesting people – possibly one or two who might connect you with your next great opportunity. Instead of feeling energized, though, you suddenly realize you are getting worn out

So what can you do to deal with that? Here are some ideas that might help you be more successful when you do attend those events.

One of the biggest questions we run into all the time about networking is "How do I network at the Chamber Lunch?" or Association lunch or networking breakfast. Whatever the event there are rules to follow to make sure you are as successful as possible. Join Debby Peters, the Networking Guru, and Greg Peters, The Reluctant Networker, as they discuss tips and techniques to make your next networking lunch pay off.

There is information you can find out about a networking group by going on their website. Do the research! You need to know these factors to determine whether or not this group or this event is even a good candidate for you. Notice I said not a good “fit” but a good “candidate”. You have to go beyond that. You actually need to feel it. You need to experience it.

Think of your best friend in the world. Did you meet them yesterday? No. Have you only chatted with them for a few minutes? No. If you didn’t even know they were married, could you call yourselves friends? No. True friendships require a little bit more.

Professional connections are the same way.

Networking is work. It's about developing relationships, and relationships require effort. In fact, the stronger a connection you want to make, the greater an effort you are going to have to expend. So, what do we need to know to make this more successful?

Join Debby Peters, the Networking Guru, and son and business partner, Greg Peters, the Reluctant Networker as they discuss the origins of their networking expertise -- Greg's grandmother.