Saturday, May 14, 2011
THE BEST OF SANTA FE BUSINESS
The Mission of Networking Lunch is to bring together a group Santa Fe local business owners and professionals who are truly best-in-class in their respective industries, and create a sense of responsibility for each member’s growth and success. Our members make every effort to learn about each member’s business, gain trust and confidence, refer high quality prospects and enthusiastically promote each other whenever possible. Through the voluntary exchange of ideas and feedback, group members will help other members network more effectively and convert prospects to customers. Creating an ongoing win-win partnership with each and every member is paramount to the success of the group and is the collective responsibility of the group.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
From One Of Our Greatest Assets...Members Of Our Networking Family
In my experience with Networking Lunch, most of the time, someone does ensure that every person has at least an opportunity to tell who, what, however they want to share. Few times has there been someone who dominated and insisted upon the direction.
My experiences have been far and wide; but almost always fulfilling and insightful. Personally I prefer the former. Too much orchestration kills the moment.
Thank you Steve, for doing a cracker jack job at working with such diverse personalities, interests, hopes and expectations.
I luv Friday Networking with all of its quirks, turns and shifts. If it becomes a BNI or NAWBO type of lunch I am out of here.
-Bright Daystar
Daystar Of Aldea
I'm new, only a member for a couple of months, but I"m really enjoying meeting and getting to know the members.
-Barbara Wilder
Transformational Light Center
Thank you, Steve! The Friday Networking Lunch has been the easiest way for me to meet people in the Santa Fe community with no pressure to "network." It is a beautiful way to connect with interesting people who are eager to share their wisdom and life stories. It feels as if I get to know 3 people in a pretty good depth in an hour and find the intersections where we resonate with one another. Next time I see people around our small town, it feels as if we have been friends for a while There is no better way to meet new people in my community with such ease and joy.
-Vera Povolna
Gentle Rolfing
I couldn't say it better than Vera Povolna, but I will add, having been a member or the original FNL, that it has become more "state of the art" and a wonderful resource.
-Lynne Einleger
Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker
I am REALLY enjoying my lunches and fellow networkers. It has paid off, and more. Thank you.
-Helen Dougherty
-Helen Dougherty
Feng Shui Architect
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Ten Commandments Of Networking
1) Thou shalt drop the "what is in it for me?" attitude.
2) Thou shalt listen.
3) Thou shalt build a relationship.
4) Thou shalt give the first referral.
5) Thou shalt not tell others of the referral you require; thou shalt "show them" with a story.
6) Thou shalt be specific of the type of referral.
7) Thou shalt reciprocate when appropriate.
8) Thou shalt participate in several network functions each month.
9) Thou shalt thank the person who gave a referral.
10) Thou shalt follow up on the referral within 24 hours.
2) Thou shalt listen.
3) Thou shalt build a relationship.
4) Thou shalt give the first referral.
5) Thou shalt not tell others of the referral you require; thou shalt "show them" with a story.
6) Thou shalt be specific of the type of referral.
7) Thou shalt reciprocate when appropriate.
8) Thou shalt participate in several network functions each month.
9) Thou shalt thank the person who gave a referral.
10) Thou shalt follow up on the referral within 24 hours.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
What Richard Branson Can Teach You About Networking
By Ivan Misner
I recently had a phone conversation with someone who was asking me about the importance of eye contact when networking. I answered his question with an interesting story about Richard Branson and I’d like to share that story with you here because I think it demonstrates a point that’s definitely worth remembering.
One of the many intriguing things about Richard Branson is that he has this laser-focus eye contact. When he is talking to you, he’s not looking to his left, looking to his right, or anywhere else other than directly at you–he gives you his full attention.
I remember talking with Richard, one time in particular, about kids and raising kids. I was telling him about my son, Trey, who was fifteen at the time and very sharp but not as committed to school as he could be.
Six months later, I saw Richard at a party and introduced him to my son. Branson remembered who Trey was from our previous conversation, and I have this photograph of him, where he has this laser eye contact with my son (see picture at right), and he kept that laser eye contact with Trey for three or four minutes straight while he was talking to him. All these people were around, vying for Branson’s attention, but he was completely focused on my son during their conversation. Branson wasn’t intense in terms of his speaking—he was actually very relaxed—but he was impressively intense in his focus. The only person in that room, during that three or four-minute time span, was my son. Here’s a guy who never went to college, and he was telling my son. “Go to college. I spoke to your dad! You can do better. I have faith in you!”
Now, keep in mind, Trey doesn’t get impressed by anybody (or at least, like a typical teenager, he certainly doesn’t make a habit of showing that he’s impressed–if you have teenagers, I’m sure you’re more than used to being responded to with a shrug, a bored expression, and the words “it was okay,” or “yeah, (so and so) was cool, I guess . . .” Actually, I don’t think my son even understood who Branson was at the time of their conversation but I asked him afterward, “What did you think of that conversation?” His very uncharacteristic response was, “That was amazing!” I’m more than confident that what really did it for Trey, what really impressed him, was how, for those few minutes, he had Branson’s undivided attention.
I’ve had a chance to see Branson several times now, and he’s just a master at giving people his undivided attention. After his conversation with Trey, when he moved to the next person, the next conversation, he gave that person his undivided attention.
The thing is, giving people your undivided attention is one of the most important things you can do in order to become a master networker, and making a concentrated effort to maintain eye contact when engaging a conversation is imperative in order to demonstrate to somebody that they are receiving your undivided attention.
So, the next time you’re networking with someone and distractions surrounding you are tempting your eyes to stray from the person you’re think of Richard Branson and remember to keep a laser focus on the person and conversation at hand–it’s one of the things that will make you a true master.
Do you have an interesting experience about networking and eye contact?
Do you have ideas, comments or feedback on how to make FNL even better join us, this is a no-fee event.
Every Wednesday at Noon (MTN).
218 844 8230
Passcode 359657#
I recently had a phone conversation with someone who was asking me about the importance of eye contact when networking. I answered his question with an interesting story about Richard Branson and I’d like to share that story with you here because I think it demonstrates a point that’s definitely worth remembering.
One of the many intriguing things about Richard Branson is that he has this laser-focus eye contact. When he is talking to you, he’s not looking to his left, looking to his right, or anywhere else other than directly at you–he gives you his full attention.
I remember talking with Richard, one time in particular, about kids and raising kids. I was telling him about my son, Trey, who was fifteen at the time and very sharp but not as committed to school as he could be.
Six months later, I saw Richard at a party and introduced him to my son. Branson remembered who Trey was from our previous conversation, and I have this photograph of him, where he has this laser eye contact with my son (see picture at right), and he kept that laser eye contact with Trey for three or four minutes straight while he was talking to him. All these people were around, vying for Branson’s attention, but he was completely focused on my son during their conversation. Branson wasn’t intense in terms of his speaking—he was actually very relaxed—but he was impressively intense in his focus. The only person in that room, during that three or four-minute time span, was my son. Here’s a guy who never went to college, and he was telling my son. “Go to college. I spoke to your dad! You can do better. I have faith in you!”
Now, keep in mind, Trey doesn’t get impressed by anybody (or at least, like a typical teenager, he certainly doesn’t make a habit of showing that he’s impressed–if you have teenagers, I’m sure you’re more than used to being responded to with a shrug, a bored expression, and the words “it was okay,” or “yeah, (so and so) was cool, I guess . . .” Actually, I don’t think my son even understood who Branson was at the time of their conversation but I asked him afterward, “What did you think of that conversation?” His very uncharacteristic response was, “That was amazing!” I’m more than confident that what really did it for Trey, what really impressed him, was how, for those few minutes, he had Branson’s undivided attention.
I’ve had a chance to see Branson several times now, and he’s just a master at giving people his undivided attention. After his conversation with Trey, when he moved to the next person, the next conversation, he gave that person his undivided attention.
The thing is, giving people your undivided attention is one of the most important things you can do in order to become a master networker, and making a concentrated effort to maintain eye contact when engaging a conversation is imperative in order to demonstrate to somebody that they are receiving your undivided attention.
So, the next time you’re networking with someone and distractions surrounding you are tempting your eyes to stray from the person you’re think of Richard Branson and remember to keep a laser focus on the person and conversation at hand–it’s one of the things that will make you a true master.
Do you have an interesting experience about networking and eye contact?
Do you have ideas, comments or feedback on how to make FNL even better join us, this is a no-fee event.
Every Wednesday at Noon (MTN).
218 844 8230
Passcode 359657#
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