Published December 9, 2011 | 
Would you really like to grow your business? Would you really like to increase top line revenue and bottom line profits? Are you serious about it? If so, “connecting” IS the key to phenomenal business growth. In mid year 2005 we started our business and in less than two years we had become a national financial business solutions company. Did everyone know about us? No! Were we a household name? No! But we had clients/customers from coast to coast and border to border. We were indeed national in scope. In fact, we had more clients/customers nationwide than we had within a 100 mile radius of our corporate offices.
How did that happen? Through “connections”, commonly called networking. One person led us to another that in turn led us to an association of 1400 like minded companies. One problem many of those companies had was related to a particular software program, and through specific connections we eventually became the only American reseller of that software which led us to companies large and small, across the spectrum. That connection led us to other connections and because we became very prolific at networking, our company grew exponentially.
Can that happen to you? Absolutely! Start connecting and see what happens to your business growth.
You will never get anywhere in business without networking (or “connecting”). While I am writing this, a friend from several years ago called me, saying he was contacting some people he had known and dealt with in the past and wanted to re-establish some relationships, if possible. A half hour later we had discussed several things that we could do for each other and both of us came away from the conversation knowing there was a huge possibility of future cooperation and working relationships between us and excited for the possibilities. The work relationship alone could be worth several thousands of dollars, but in parting, he declared that he would like to foster a personal friendship between us which goes beyond just the business relationship.
A couple of weeks past I was a preferred vendor at a trade show, where I happened to see an acquaintance of several years, even though we had not spoken for a couple of years. Finding out that I had written two books, he wanted to read them and is now recommending that his company buy a thousand of one of the books to distribute to their customers. On that same trip I sat next to three gentlemen on the airplane (4 segments total) and established a rapport and conversation with them. Who knows where that will lead to over the next several years?
Never let an opportunity pass by to introduce yourself and ask, “What do you do for a living?” At the very least you will discover wonderful people to learn from and relate to, for even a short time. At best, you will begin to establish a platform on which great business relationships can be built.
Great businesses grow because their owners, managers and employees make “connecting” a very high priority. The old saying is very much often true, “it’s not always what you know, but who you know, that counts”. Connecting makes that possible.
Who have you connected with lately? What have you done for them? In what ways have you helped them and served them? Are you connecting because you have to or because it has become a way of life to you? Is it satisfying or do you dread those networking opportunities. “Connections” in life really are the key to building your business.
