How Well Does Your Network?

Above: Net, not working but about to.

As I continued my conversation with Marcia Rubin I asked her how she went about attracting sponsors. She admitted that getting in front of the decision makers was the biggest challenge, but insisted "you need to network!" That's easy for Marcia to say, since she's a born networker, or so I thought...

She acknowledged that she's now "blessed with the gift of gab, but I was a shy kid, and a tomboy. I was really curious, so I spent a lot of time outdoors, by myself, exploring." It wasn't until she graduated as a cosmetologist and started working as a hair dresser in Coventry that she acquired the gift of gab. "It's such an intimate experience, cutting someones hair, so I learned how to make conversation with all types of people." She credits that life experience for her ability to network now.

In my estimation not much has changed from Marcia's childhood, she is still uber-curious, but now that curiosity is fueled with the gift of gab. What a deadly networking combination. She's curious about new sponsorship opportunities, bass fishing techniques, the great outdoors... and her ability to talk to anybody seems to be opening doors for her.

I also noticed that she is a natural networker. I can't tell you the number of questions she asked me while I was interviewing her! Have you seen this web site? Have you been on bassboatcentral.com in the forums? Have you fished in this spot? Have you seen that site? She wanted to make sure that I was aware of all of these opportunities, and she did it so naturally. It gave me the feeling that she really cared about me. She was so excited to talk about all of it.

As a Salesman I have been part of many formal networking groups, most of which have been really lame. Why? Because everyone in there is only interested in getting business for themselves. Gradually, over the years, I have developed a more natural network of business colleagues who are genuinely interested in what I do, and vice versa. I can talk to these people easily and am truly curious about what is going on for them personally, in their industries, etc. Oh, and I didn't need to pay a several hundred dollar membership fee for their referrals- the occasional lunch will suffice!

Natural networking is based on the old saying:

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

So go find some people you genuinely care about, ask them about their business (be curious), and sooner or later you will have your own network and some doors will start opening for you!