In Harvey Mackay's book titled "Dig Your Well Before You Are Thirsty," he asks his readers:

"Who Can You Call At 2:00 a.m.?"

This question is one of the most critical and revealing questions one can ask themselves about their network of friends and business/personal acquaintances.

To help understand what I'm getting at, answer these three questions:

1. Can you make a list of ten powerful people you know that can make things happen if you called them.
2. What have you done for any of these people lately?
3. Do you only call them when you need something?

Whenever I'm speaking and ask these questions, I often see the audience squirming when they understand the point being made.

Getting back to the question, who can you call at 2:00 a.m. in the morning?

According to Harvey Mackay, that question is without a doubt one of the most important questions one can ask themselves as an individual or business person. When answering this question, you are really asking yourself:

1. Who can I count on?
2. Who's counting on me?
3. Would anyone answer my call if I called them?

Bottom line, networking is more than keeping a contact database or putting every person you meet in your PDA. It's about CONNECTING with the people in your Blackberry. The art and science of connecting is so much more than phone numbers or names in your database...it's about connecting with people who can make things happen.

Now the next question...are you connecting with people who can make things happen?

TO BE CONTINUED...

Part One - The People You Know?

Another post from The Mortgage Cicerone.