Networking is a strategy that if used correctly can help make you very successful. You never know where one relationship is going to take you! I have met people through networking that I thought would help me get my business to the next level and then nothing became of it.
Then, I have met people who I thought that it would go no where and it pushed me business to the next level.
Its been said never judge a book by its cover! This is very true. Especially in networking! You cannot judge someone by the type of business they are in, how they are dressed, the company they are with, or anything else!
You never know who they know or what connections you will be able to meet through them. There is a statistic that says that you are only seven connections away from the person that you want or need to meet. So as you network and keep broadening each relationship, you are opening yourself up to endless opportunities!
About a year ago, I was invited to speak at a real estate company on reverse mortgages. The room was full of approximately fifty real estate agents. Everyone looked the same. I couldn’t judge who in the room was a successful agent and who wasn’t.
After the meeting, I stuck around to talk to any of the agents who had questions. A gentleman approached me that day and asked several questions. I answered all of his questions, treating him just like any of the other agents.
A few weeks later, I stopped by the office to drop off a package for one of the agents. As I turned to leave the building and walk to my car, I was met in the parking lot by another agent. This agent proceeded to tell me that I needed to stay away from the other agent because he was nothing but trouble, completely unsuccessful, and would be an entire waste of my time.
I politely thanked her for her advice and got in my car and went about my business. I didn’t give a whole lot of thought to what she said, because it doesn’t matter to me how successful or unsuccessful a real estate agent is. Remember, you never know who they know.
This was a great example because many months later my phone rang and it was this particular agent. He asked if I could meet with him and a financial planner that he worked with. He said that the financial planner was looking for a reverse mortgage loan originator.
We scheduled a meeting. This meeting evolved into something that DEFINITELY took my business to the next level. An untold amount of loans are coming through as a result of this meeting. The financial planner introduced me to some key people in his company and the networking continues.
So, don’t be too fast to judge someone because you simply never know who you are going to meet that will take your business to the next level!
Comments(6)