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Networking Rx: The Brass Tacks Dilemma (EPS 071)

Posted:Tue, 25 Jun 2019 09:00:31 +0000

Networking Rx: The Brass Tacks Dilemma (EPS 071)

As this podcast series has revealed, big things can come from small talk. But what if the person we’re communicating with isn’t interested in small talk. Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, addresses a work around for this in this episode.

http://networkingrx.libsyn.com/the-brass-tacks-dilemma-eps-065

For more information on AmSpirit Business Connections and its franchise opportunity program, contact Frank Agin at frankagin@amspirit.com or visit http://www.amspirit.com/franchise.php.

The post Networking Rx: The Brass Tacks Dilemma (EPS 071) appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Networking Rx: Fred Diamond – Guest Interview (EPS 070)

Posted:Thu, 20 Jun 2019 09:00:21 +0000

Networking Rx: Fred Diamond – Guest Interview (EPS 070)

Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, interviews Fred Diamond, co-founder of the Institute For Excellence In Sales (https://i4esbd.com/), which helps sales leaders acquire, retain, motivate and elevate top-tier sales talent … taking sales performance to the next level.

http://networkingrx.libsyn.com/fred-diamond-guest-interview-eps-070

For more information on AmSpirit Business Connections and its franchise opportunity program, contact Frank Agin at frankagin@amspirit.com or visit http://www.amspirit.com/franchise.php.

The post Networking Rx: Fred Diamond – Guest Interview (EPS 070) appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Networking: Is it More Than Just Finding People?

Posted:Wed, 19 Jun 2019 09:00:13 +0000
“It’s Not What You Know, But Who You Know.” Chances are you’ve heard that once or twice in your life from a well-meaning parent, a mentor, or supportive colleague. But how much truth is there to this?

Who you know IS more important than what you know…in some regards. The world has more than its share of brilliant people that don’t reach their true potential because they work in a vacuum with limited contact with other people. At the same time, far less brilliant people rise to great heights merely on the connections they have. Bill Gates is not the smartest computer person. He is simply a smart computer mind with a plethora of connections.

But as much as WHO you know is important, the world also has more than its share of individuals that seemingly know lots of people but gain very little from this network. How is this possible? Quite simply, it is more than just WHO you know.

Effective networking is not just about knowing lots of people, making dozens of phone calls, posting on LinkedIn, and attending events. Nor is effective networking just about connecting with and being connected to others. Effective networking is about having meaningful relationships with those you are connected to.

Success will not come from filling your database with the names of thousands of people but from creating relationships with a reasonable number of those people. Which people?
- Existing contacts and centers of influence, such as bankers, attorneys, accountants, and outplacement professionals.
- A wide variety of people whose businesses are directly related, indirectly related, and even seemingly unrelated to what you do.
Whatever the case, the important thing is to build a solid RELATIONSHIP with them.

The post Networking: Is it More Than Just Finding People? appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Networking Works!

Posted:Wed, 12 Jun 2019 09:00:29 +0000

There is tremendous value in networking and networking adds value to you. Networking is much more than prospecting and selling. In general, it involves interacting with those around you (face-to-face, over the telephone, e-mail or text, and even using social media). Nevertheless, you engage in networking for the purpose of the people around you and at the same time position yourself to receive help.

Networking Works!

Now it may not work HOW you would like it to work. For example, you go to a networking event hoping to meet accountants who might know of people interested in buying a franchise. To that end, nothing pans out, but you do learn of a job-transition group that you were not aware of. Networking did not work HOW you wanted, but it worked.

Networking may not work WHERE you want it to work. The next day standing in line to get coffee, you strike up a conversation with someone who reveals in polite conversation that they are looking for more freedom in their professional life. Networking did not work WHERE you wanted, but it worked.

Finally, networking may not work WHEN you want it to work. For example, again, you go to a networking event hoping to make contacts to help you find clients interested in franchising. You seem to come up empty. Then a month later, a year later, or even a decade or more later, someone reconnects with you from that event looking to be your client. Trust me, this happens. Again, Networking did not work WHEN you wanted, but it worked.

The post Networking Works! appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Networking Activities

Posted:Wed, 05 Jun 2019 09:00:26 +0000

Networking opportunities fall into three distinct categories: Face To Face … Electronic Encounters … and, Social Media.

FACE TO FACE networking opportunities including, various activities when you are out and about with people. These include:
• Structured Networking, including Toastmasters, Rotary, Lions Club, or organizations like AmSpirit Business Connections.
• Networking Events, including trade shows, volunteer activities, business after-hours, Chamber events, seminars, and even social events like tailgates.
• Free-Form Networking, including perhaps a round of golf, meeting over a cup of coffee, or just getting together.

With respect to networking in the modern age, much of what you can do face to face, you can accomplish via ELECTRONIC ENCOUNTERS. More specifically, you network over the telephone, over e-mail and through texting. Remember networking is more than selling and prospecting. It is two or more people working towards their mutual benefit – sharing referrals or contacts, passing on information, being encouraging and supportive.

Finally, in the 21st century, technological innovation has given way to SOCIAL MEDIA websites. These are nothing more than virtual venues where you can network – again, share referrals or contacts, pass on information, being encouraging and supportive.

The main three social media applications are LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, but beyond these are dozens and dozens of others. If used properly, social media will allow you to network on a massive scale, on a worldwide basis, 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and do so with incredible information about your networking partner before you even make contact.

The post Networking Activities appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Networking Rx: Tom Hodgson – Guest Interview (EPS 061)

Posted:Thu, 30 May 2019 09:00:17 +0000

Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, interviews Tom Hodgson, founder and CEO of Color World Housepainting, a fast growing service franchise. https://www.colorworldhousepainting.com/

http://networkingrx.libsyn.com/tom-hodgson-guest-interview-eps-058

For more information on AmSpirit Business Connections and its franchise opportunity program, contact Frank Agin at frankagin@amspirit.com or visit http://www.amspirit.com/franchise.php.

The post Networking Rx: Tom Hodgson – Guest Interview (EPS 061) appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Networking Rx: Mary Jenkins – Guest Interview (EPS 060)

Posted:Wed, 29 May 2019 09:00:12 +0000

Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, interview Mary Jenkins, two-time cancer survivor and founder of Christians Overcoming Cancer, which provides everyday support to those battling cancer. http://www.christiansovercomingcancer.com/

http://networkingrx.libsyn.com/mary-jenkins-guest-interview

For more information on AmSpirit Business Connections and its franchise opportunity program, contact Frank Agin at frankagin@amspirit.com or visit http://www.amspirit.com/franchise.php.

The post Networking Rx: Mary Jenkins – Guest Interview (EPS 060) appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Assessing Your Network Asset

Posted:Wed, 29 May 2019 09:00:09 +0000

Once you realize that networking builds value in your life, the natural reaction is, “How much value do I have?”

Certainly, this is not as simple as counting change or tallying hours worked. And while there are complicated formulas for assessing one’s social capital, there are three rather simplistic means of making a thumbnail measurement. Let’s touch on each of these.

Assessment #1 is Connectivity. Answer this, “Who do I know?” Stop and think about it. Take an inventory of the people you know. High School. College. Neighbors. Community. Church. The gym. And the list goes on. You likely know lots of people, and as you meet more your social capital grows.

Assessment #2 is Density. Think about it. If you knew ten people and those ten people all knew each other, your network is so dense (or interconnected) that the social capital is nowhere near as great as if you knew ten people and none of those people knew each other. So it is not just how many people you know that is important, but how many of those people know each other. Certainly, it is not reasonable to think that no one in your network knows anyone else, but you do want to have a broad, diverse network where you know lots of people and they are relatively disconnected from one another.

Assessment #3 is Potential. It is important how many people you know. And it is important how many of those people you know, know each other. But another means of assessing your network is to look through the people you know and see the people they know that you do not currently know. If you know ten people and they have relatively poor networks themselves, you are worse off than if you know only five people, but those five are extremely well connected.

Take a moment now and then to assess the value of your network. In these moments, ask yourself, “How can I increase my network Connectivity, lessen its Density, as well as enhance its Potential?”

The post Assessing Your Network Asset appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Networking Rx: Happy New Year (EPS 059)

Posted:Tue, 28 May 2019 09:00:33 +0000

The New Year brings with it an awesome fresh start to any area of life, including networking. Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, maintains you don’t have to wait for January 1st to rejoice in this.

http://networkingrx.libsyn.com/happy-new-year-eps-057

For more information on AmSpirit Business Connections and its franchise opportunity program, contact Frank Agin at frankagin@amspirit.com or visit http://www.amspirit.com/franchise.php.

The post Networking Rx: Happy New Year (EPS 059) appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.
Networking Rx: Brian Ahearn – Guest Interview (EPS 058)

Posted:Thu, 23 May 2019 09:00:17 +0000

Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, interviews Brian Ahearn, an authority on effectively influencing and persuading others. https://www.influencepeople.biz/

http://networkingrx.libsyn.com/brian-ahearn-guest-interview-eps-056

For more information on AmSpirit Business Connections and its franchise opportunity program, contact Frank Agin at frankagin@amspirit.com or visit http://www.amspirit.com/franchise.php.

The post Networking Rx: Brian Ahearn – Guest Interview (EPS 058) appeared first on AmSpirit Business Connections.