If you’re searching for one of the greatest sports-related quotes of all time, you can’t do much better than this one from Michael Jordan: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
MJ understood — still does, in fact — that life is not just about whether you win or lose. In large part it’s about how many genuine relationships one makes between the cradle and the grave. But there’s a numerical component to networking that should persuade even the most jaded business owner that attending networking gatherings is worth the time invested.
To apply a more strategic approach to your networking, consider how joining a business network in your area might help your business or startup. When done right, these organizations apply a structured approach to maximizing one’s return on time invested.
We all face impossibly tight schedules, but here’s a proven formula that works like a charm. When you comprehend the power of networking to expand your connections, you begin to see that a bold, savvy networking strategy can actually replace much of your existing marketing efforts.
And the effectiveness of networking applies to virtually any industry. Not only are professional networks valuable in expanding one’s circle of influence, they also provide a sounding board once a trusted relationship has been established.
When one considers all the myriad benefits of networking, the real shocker is why aren’t more business professionals expending a relatively small investment in building professional relationships with other business owners?
Remember: Networking is a marketing strategy that works regardless of your industry niche. Do you serve a client base of professional service providers? Networking should be your number one strategy. In fact, whatever the product or service, the business-building strategy of networking will take your enterprise to the next level.