Many people wish they could be better networkers, find more referrals, and attract more visitors to their groups. But wishes alone don’t make things happen. If they did, we'd all be driving sports cars, have no beer belly, and a full head of hair.
Do you think Tiger Woods simply wished one night to excel in golf and woke up the next day with the magic ability to outplay everyone else?
Did Bill Gates toss a coin into a fountain and become one of the world's richest men overnight?
Did Eric Clapton rub a magic lamp, pick up a guitar, and instantly compose "Layla"?
Of course not.
They all did something we can all do but most of us don’t— they worked hard.
Networking and business success are no different. Success in these areas doesn’t come by magic just because you join a networking group. It takes time, effort, and hard work to become an effective networker.
Improving at finding referrals, inviting visitors, and supporting other members requires practice and dedication.
However, there is a three-part formula for those who want to be better networkers:
1. Try
Make an effort. Observe and be inspired, but above all, you must try. No one was born an instant networker. Those who excel have worked hard, made mistakes, and kept trying.
2. Follow
If you see someone in the group who excels at bringing referrals, ask them how they do it. They likely don’t have a magical system—they probably just listen actively and connect the dots between a person’s needs and a contact who can help. Effective networkers don’t have many boundaries; they naturally help people by connecting them with solutions.
3. Do
Don’t just sit and wait; take action. Schedule one-on-one meetings, learn about other members' businesses, and gain the knowledge you need to refer them effectively. Invite everyone you know to the group. Most will turn you down, but eventually, some will say yes. Over time, you’ll learn the best ways to invite people. Remember, when inviting someone, they need to trust you first, respect your advice, and then they will value and act on your invitation.
The Trust, Respect, and Value formula is also key to finding referrals. If people trust and respect you, they will value and act on your recommendations. This applies not only to your suggestions for their business but also to the referrals you provide, knowing you don’t waste time with bad recommendations.
So now that you know effort can lead to playing guitar like Eric Clapton, playing golf like Tiger Woods, or achieving success like Bill Gates, why not try to be a better networker? You might just succeed. But unless you try, you’ll never know.
Module Actions
Stop wishing and start doing.
Set your goals and plan your pathway.
Do something every day to move forward.