Starbucks Nation

One of the best things that has come along for casual networking meetings is the proliferation of Starbucks. They are everywhere. They are casual. They are inexpensive (compared to the price of a full meal...I realize the coffee is WAY overpriced for coffee). And most important they are comfortably familiar.

Find a coffee house (does not need to be a Starbucks) en route to your office. Make it a habit to leave your house forty five minutes earlier each day four days a week. On two of those days schedule a coffee meeting with someone in your network. On the other two days just go there to read the paper or the latest business book.

(Even if you do not drink coffee, they have lots of other beverages).

Over time you will be amazed how many familiar faces from your business community you will see on a regular basis. This give you a great and unassuming chance to say hello and keep in touch. Part of building a network is remaining visible and having regular chances to keep in touch. Keeping in touch can take as little effort as a polite "hello" while standing in line for your java.

When you are having meetings there some days, and sitting alone other days.... you will become approachable. If you always have meetings or are always alone, people might not want to disturb you, but since you mix it up, you will not be seen as stuck in a routine or too busy in a meeting.

Additionally you will begin to recognize strangers over time, and eventually see them all over town. At some point you can say hello and introduce yourself to them. You never know who you might meet.

Networking Guru and author of "The Ripple Effect", Steve Harper, often writes on his blog about the connections he makes at his local coffee house. He is there everyday working on his laptop and is friendly to everyone. Friends and strangers alike who patronize the establishment have gotten to know Steve. He has met new friends and discovered new business opportunities through his being a regular customer. Like "Norm" on the television show "Cheers"! (without all the beer).

The other side effect is that if you take forty-five minutes to read something inspiring two or more days a week, you will learn more than you can imagine!

Have a great day...and enjoy your morning coffee.

thom
www.thomsinger.com

Keep Trying To Reach The Prospect

Business Development is about being both tenacious, creative, and patient.

I have recently had trouble reaching prospective clients. I call, I email, I send snail-mail. NOTHING. Cold-calling, while a useful tactic, has not been working.

The good news is I know all about networking! (heck, I wrote a book about it!). But I also know that you cannot always network your way into every company as quickly as you might like. Fortunately, I have always believed that networking is just another useful tool, not the total answer.

Today I discovered that a combination of all tactics will work the best. I had called on a specific company for six months. I had left voicemails, sent emails, and had dropped off information. I could not reach my prospect and he would not call me back. I met another executive from the company at a networking event and we hit it off. I was going to move my attention to my new contact when out of the blue I heard from they guy I had been trying to reach for a year.

It turns out my name came up in conversation at the company and that spurred him to call me. Now I have a meeting scheduled.

Will I win the account? Maybe. But without the appointment there was no chance. So while no one tool helped me reach the prospect, a combination of many made it happen.

Never give up! Instead keep looking for unique ways to make contact. While I am still having a difficult time reaching my would-be prospects, I am still calling back until they meet with me!

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com

PS- Thank you to all who have recently purchased my book at Amazon.com. October was our sales month on Amazon!!!