Oh No - Do I Have to Network with *Another* Financial Advisor??!!

 

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that complaint at a networking event or in the course of matching up professionals to network over lunch or coffee (ßI got the plug in early!)…well, let’s just say my kids could get some great gifts this year for Chanukah!

The truth is, an established FA (or insurance agent, or anyone else in a related financial field) has a book full of all kinds of professionals and people who entrust their savings to them and will typically seek out advice from them in conjunction with hiring other professionals.  So actually you DO want to network with them, because they know and work with a wide variety people at all different stages of life and career.  So the next time you meet an FA or insurance agent at a networking event – don’t roll your eyes!  Smile, extend a hand, and see what networking opportunities may develop!

But all of this begs the question – if someone is a good networker, does it really matter what their profession is?  To be honest, I don’t think it does, especially if you are walking into a networking situation thinking about making connections, not about making sales.  The mark of a great networker is one who is a great connector and, for me , it’s those connections and potential for building a relationship that is valuable – not the hope that maybe you’ll get a one-time quick sale from the person you’re meeting.

Moral of the story – be open to networking with all sort of professionals – not just those that are an obvious networking partner for you.  Great connectors come in all shape, sizes, career levels and professions – even if they are FAs!

Let me know if you’ve found a great networking partner in a profession that you didn’t expect to find one!

Sara Rosenberg

Connector-in-Chief

The Power Lunch Project

http://www.ThePowerLunchProject.com

Covert Networking

OK – so we all know that finding great networking partners is hard work – and, mostly likely, you will be hard-pressed to find any at the typical networking event. If you’ve read my recent articles, you may be asking yourself, “Well, if networking events aren’t worth the time – or I don’t enjoy attending them - where can I find some great networking partners??”

Glad you asked!

Obviously, lots of really skilled networkers find opportunities to connect with and help others everywhere, which is obviously ideal. Others, especially newbies or those who don’t realize they are networking, prefer something a little more structured. So here are a few ideas that I have for professionals to find networking opportunities and potential networking partners at places other than networking events:

1) Co-working – Working in the same space as others who are business owners like you, but in different professions, will not only give you a change of environment (if you work from home or at Starbucks), but also allow you to have a measure of camaraderie that is perfect for building long-term networking relationships. Some great options for co-working are LaunchPad Creatives (http://www.launchpad-creatives.com) in Central Jersey, Regus (http://regus.com) in any major city, or this interesting one that I found in the Philadelphia area (http://www.meetup.com/CoworkingForparents/).

2) This for That – The notion of getting something without having to pay cash for it is great – the networking opportunities with this presents with those you are bartering with are even better! In the Philly area, check out http:// whoja.com. Please list any bartering services you know of in your area below!

3) Take a Class – This little networking secret was shared with me by a seasoned networker – and it makes perfect sense! Sign up for a business class or workshop. Why? Because you are very likely to meet executives and decision makers there . . . AND you might learn a thing or two! Try http://BusinessDevelopmentUniversity.com or http://newman-network.com for some great business classes on a wide variety of topics.

4) Volunteer Your Time – Spending your time making a difference in your community is a great way to meet new people and show off your skills and provides tons of opportunities to be a connector! What great organizations are you passionate about?

Of course, there’s always the option of meeting great networking partners through The Power Lunch Project (http://ThePowerLunchProject.com), where you are matched up with other professionals to network over lunch or coffee! (ß----my plug!)

To clarify, you aren’t trying to “trick” anyone here. The point is to start relationships with professionals outside of the typical business card exchange modes!

Where have you found the best situations to network covertly?

~ Sara Rosenberg

Connector-in-Chief

The Power Lunch Project

http://www.ThePowerLunchProject.com

I Did My Hair for THIS??? Are Networking Events a Waste of Time?

A few months back, I wrote an article about how much I hate going to networking events – especially big ones. It’s sort of a sensory overload for me to walk into a room full of people and where I know no one. Honestly, I’d rather be snuggling at home in my PJs with my kids!

But as someone whose business IS networking – I force myself to go (usually).

Recently, I got an email from one of my LinkedIn connections complaining about a very large, local networking event that he attended the week before – lots of people were there and, of course, he followed up by reaching out to many of the people he had met, as he had learned to do from just about everything he’s read about networking. In the days that followed, he received not one response from ANY of the people that he reached out to.

Maybe it’s him – but I have to say, I’ve had this experience too. Many times.

So I thought, perhaps, he had the “what’s in it for me?” attitude that many people have when they attend events. He assured me that he did not and, in fact, offered specifically to introduce a few people to other people that he knew that might make good contacts for them, based on the conversations he had with them at the networking event.

Yup. Been there, done that, too.

So this begs the question – Are networking events a good use of networking time? Further – do they make sense for people who:

• Know the difference between networking and selling – and are not attending events to sell anything.

• Are open to meeting up with those that they meet at an event for lunch or coffee at a later date to explore further networking opportunities.

• Network better on a one-on-one or small group basis.

• Are easily frustrated by the lack of follow-up on the part of participants, even when they are going to an event with a “give, not take” frame of mind.

Let me know YOUR thoughts.

(And if you’re frustrated by the business networking event scene, check out The Power Lunch Project’s new networking program, Business Connections IRL, where we match you up to go to lunch or coffee with your own circle of connections on LinkedIn – we know you are overlooking great networking opportunities there! Start building great relationships at http://www.BusinessConnectionsIRL.com!)