Monday, August 28, 2006

Episode 3: Networking

Great Big Small Business Show- Ep 3- Networking

  • Connecting with Connectors- Chris Brogan
  • The Networking Survival Guide - Becky McCray
  • Interesting Introductions - Marco Terry
  • Two Secrets of Networking - Heidi Miller
  • 7 Reasons to Have an Advisory Board- Steve Rucinski
  • Top 3 Networking Tips for Cowboys, Renegades, Damsels in Distress. -Laura Allen
  • Ask for Help - Benjamin Yoskovitz
  • Networking Means Trusted Relationships- Bill Gregory


Connecting with Connectors - Chris Brogan

Chris Brogan plays fill in host for this episode, and starts off by talking about what networking isn't. Networking isn't schmoozing, or it isn't when done properly. Networking isn't one-sided withdrawals without reciprocation. Networking is a way to extend your capabilities and the capabilities of others.

Chris talks a little about NEVER EAT ALONE by Keith Ferrazzi, including connecting with connectors and the seven professions where you might find help reaching new connections.

Chris Brogan can be found at [chrisbrogan.com]

Review of The Networking Survival Guide - Becky McCray

Networking is really relationship building, whether at a formal networking event or as a part of everyday life. Becky McCray reviews The Networking Survival Guide by Diane Darling, and shares some of the best tips to help build relationships and survive those formal networking events. Don't forget your networking survival kit: a pen that you can lose, a Sharpie to embolden your name on the name badge, breath mints, and business cards in a case. Diane Darling's website is www.effectivenetworking.com. Becky McCray is publisher of the Small Biz Survival site.

Interesting Introductions- Marco Terry

Guest contributor Marco says the secret trick to powerful networking is all in the introduction. He gives thorough examples, complete with sound effects. Tips included in this segment involve answering some great questions. "How do you help people?" "What results do you produce?"

Marco Terry is president of Commercial Capital LLC, a firm that provides business financing though factoring, invoice factoring and purchase order financing. He can be reached at (866) 730 1922.

Two Secrets of Networking - Heidi Miller

Heidi Miller discusses her introduction to networking by one of the masters, Bob Berg, author of ENDLESS REFERRALS. Two of the most important things Bob taught were a variation on Dr. Stephen Covey's "Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood," which involves being helpful to others first and foremost.

Second, it is always more important that YOU get the other person's business card instead of getting your card out. This way, YOU can send a follow-up email, or send a card. It gives you something concrete, whereas hoping they do something with your card is passive.

Heidi Miller, shameless self-promoter and corporate spokesperson for hire can be found at Heidi Miller Presents.

7 Reasons to have an Advisory Board- Steve Rucinski

Steve Rucinski gives us part 1 of a two part series on advisory boards. He explains the value of the expertise of advisors, the benefit of their business contacts, and all the reasons that an advisory board for a small business is better than a standard Board of Directors.

Steve Rucinski can be found at smbceo.com.

Top 3 Networking Tips for Cowboys, Renegades, Damsels in Distress. –Laura Allen

Top Three Networking Tips for: Cowboys, Renegades, Damsels in Distress and the small business owners who can sometimes feel like a cowboy, renegade or damsel-in-distress while trying to pitch themselves at a networking event. Hear how Wyatt Earp pitched his gunslinging friend Doc Holliday. Learn what Kenny Rogers can teach you about networking. And, Never under estimate the power of brevity. It just might land you in the New York Times, like it did for Laura's partner Jim! Laura Allen, co-founder of 15SecondPitch.com uses lessons from The Wild West as her inspiration to create her Top Three Networking Tips for today. Laura can be found at 15SecondPitch.com

Ask for Help - Benjamin Yoskovitz

Many small business owners and entrepreneurs have a “take on the world” mentality, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But with the lack of resources small business owners and entrepreneurs have to deal with, asking for help is paramount.

And the key to asking for help is to realize it’s a dialogue between people, not just a
Q&A session where we can ask questions and expect answers. It’s a form of networking and when done properly can yield amazing results. When asking for help, it’s critical to provide something of value in return.

Ben Yoskovitz can be found at IGotNewsForYou.com.

Networking Means Trusted Relationships- Bill Gregory

Networking as a trust relationship. Bill cuts through the clutter of terms to share the bare bones of what networking really means to him.

Bill Gregory is an expert in patents and intellectual property, and he counsels small business people for a living. He is also a great public speaker. This is his first foray into podcasts.

Unfortunately, the audio for this episode is lost! If you happen to have an archive copy somewhere, we'd love to have it back!

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