Awesome day yesterday riding 66.8 miles for Tour de Cure!

Focus on Others

Being in a leadership role in AmSpirit Business Connections, I've said many times that in order to be successful in networking requires that you focus on others more than yourself.  I've said this, Frank Agin (Owner & Founder of AmSpirit Business Connections) has said this, and other Area Directors have shared this as well.

Why are there still significant numbers of AmSpirit members who ignore this advice?  It's not that they're bad people or that they do not believe in giving to others.  I really think it boils down to how we are trained as salespeople in Corporate America.

Ever attend an internal sales meeting where you're asked, "How many other people did you help with referrals this past month?"  Probably never.  But you're called on the carpet if you didn't hit your own quotas.  We're trained to be selfish and only worry about ourselves.

What's unfortunate is that the more we are perceived as self-interested by others, the less willing anyone is to want to work with us or buy from us.

If you are working as a salesperson for a company, I'm not suggesting you not focus on your quotas.  Because if you don't, you'll be shown the door in short order.  But, network your butt off while at the same time hitting your numbers to satisfy your bosses.

How do I do that, you ask?  You're going to have to continually shift back and forth from prospecting to networking.  You may 'cold call' in your office in the traditional sense, making calls and setting appointments.  But when you attend networking events like chamber mixers work for the room to help connect others.  Stop talking about yourself so much and ask others what you can do for them to connect them to others.  It will pay off for you if you give it a chance.

Just updated my networking blog at http://ping.fm/4etPV
If my post makes you think I'm calling you out, maybe I am...

Importance of Board Member Duties

If you have an opportunity to serve on a Board of Officers in a networking group like AmSpirit Business Connections (or any other group for that matter), take advantage of it.  Not only does it present you as more of a leader but you can showcase your abilities as well.

However, if you 'drop the ball' in being a board member, you can do a lot of harm to your personal and professional brand.  So take it seriously!  It's one more way for others to judge whether they would trust you in giving referrals to their best clients.  If you don't follow through or do not even carry out the tasks associated with your board position, others may still know and like you, but they will not trust you.  And that is never a good thing!

"A great man is always willing to be little."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

What's the quickest way to build your sales numbers through networking?  First off, the notion of 'quick' should be modified.  That's like asking 'what's the fastest way to prepare for a marathon?'

The expectations of someone new to networking is that results should be instantaneous, in many cases.  To get the most out of networking it is a process of building rapport with others and having a giving attitude.  The more time you spend focusing on your needs the less results you will get with networking.

The next time you go to a chamber event or some other type of networking event (Not structured like AmSpirit or BNI) see if you can focus only on connecting others without regard to what you're looking for.  How many connections can you make without trying to sell someone on 'you' instead?

For tips on networking to build your business and relationships, you can follow my networking blog at http://ping.fm/fhJz1

Had a productive day today, generating 3 referrals for others. Also helped two clients with email marketing needs.

Waiting for Other people to show up for the AmSpirit Social at BJ's....

I followed up on two referrals last week from another chapter member in AmSpirit, and today both turned into new clients. Networking works!

For all you Power Networkers out there, it's Christmas morning! Time for the AmSpirit Business Connections Annual Conference in Central Oh!

Our lives are measured by the value we provide to others.

Making a difference or making profits? It's possible to do both by following your passion and not worrying about the money.

Wealth does not necessarily mean monetary gains. It's wealth in relationships, in building community, in being at peace with yourself.

Networking is an essential part of building wealth.--Armstrong Williams

Follow my AmSpirit Business Connections blog at amspiritanderson.blogspot.com. A link to the right enables you to get automatic updates.

Networking works best when your first inclination is to help others first. It's not sales prospecting, contrary to what many think.

When NOT to give someone your business card

Sale at a Funeral
Cadillac Man — MOVIECLIPS.com

Here are some tips on proper business card etiquette.  There are times when it is absolutely NOT appropriate to hand a business card to someone.  Like in this following example:

Sale at a Funeral
Cadillac Man — MOVIECLIPS.com

What Do AmSpirit Chapter Presidents Need To Do?

The role of being an AmSpirit Business Connections Chapter President involves a lot more than meets the eye. If the chapter President slips in any areas of being an effective leader, it easily can erode an entire chapter culture and have a 'ripple effect'.

While not everyone would agree with me 100%, here is my list for the attributes of an effective chapter President:

1) Overall, the Chapter President must lead by example. How can the leader of the chapter ask others to carry out tasks or exemplify certain behaviors if they do not hold themselves to a higher standard?

2) Attend nearly every chapter meeting throughout the year. The President runs the meeting. If they're absent, the responsibility falls onto the Vice President. If the VP runs more than 1/3 of the meetings, it's a problem. It also sends a message to the membership as a whole that attendance is not a priority.

3) Oversee Effective Board Meetings. Have specific agendas every month for board meetings. Hold all board members accountable for their roles and ongoing tasks. Devoting one hour per month is sufficient to discuss any chapter business and putting plans in place for continual chapter improvement. Take corrective action as needed throughout the year, do not let problems linger to become larger issues later.

4) Attend as many outside functions as time allows, AmSpirit or otherwise. Again, it goes back to 'leading by example'. If others see your effort, they will follow your lead. Even if they don't, you will benefit by expanding your own network.

5) Be punctual with meetings. Everyone is on a schedule, so be sure to be respectful of others' time commitments.

6) Inspire others to achieve. I've witnessed Presidents who lack so much energy and enthusiasm that no one is particularly interested in even being in the meeting. Show energy and always maintain a positive attitude. Your demeanor is picked up on by others in the meeting.

7) When other board members let you down, go back to them and reset the expectations. Not necessarily negative, but reinforce what you need from each person until they're proven to be able to carry out duties responsibly.

8) Let others know when they're doing a great job. Too often, Presidents can seem like they only point out others' shortcomings, but should praise good networking behavior at every opportunity.

9) Rely on your Area Director for advice and guidance. They've seen so many situations over time that they can be an asset to problem resolution. They can help you avoid pitfalls that others haven't been able to avoid in the past.

10) Build leaders in your chapter board. Once you've been able to accomplish that, the role of President gets much easier. Everyone is accountable to each other when leaders emerge in the group.