What’s the number one thing that has the biggest impact on the results you get from business networking?
The correct answer is you.
You are the only person on earth who is able to deliver your own business networking success. Here’s why…
- You’re the only one who can choose to put you on training courses in business networking
- You’re the only one who can choose whether or not join a networking group
- You’re the only one with the power to allow other people to build a strong business relationships with you
It’s never the group, society, the economy, the media, illegal immigrants – or any of the million other factors that people love to throw into the excuse pot.
It’s always been about you, baby! And it always will.
No related posts.
I’m not sure about this. If the event itself is flawed, how can it be about me? Surely there are other factors that go into the success of a networking event?
Yes, other factors have an impact. The article is about the #1 factor, which is always you.
But the article isn’t really about what leads to success or failure. It’s about the concept of owning failure even if it isn’t your fault. When a person does this, s/he gains power over that thing. If s/he merely blames some external factor s/he loses the power to impact on that thing because the cause is seen as being under external influence. This is explained far better here.
I understand what you’re getting at, and I agree it’s the only way to get power over failure. Taking ownership of something isn’t the same as accepting the blame.
I tried BNI for a year and got very few referrals. It certainly didn’t work for me because the people in the chapter I joined didn’t try hard enough to get referrals. There were hardly any referrals each week. How am I responsible for this?
I’m not saying you were to blame. I’m saying you could have taken responsibility. If you had done, you’d have been in a position to gain power over that situation.
Within a BNI context, this would mean taking on the following…
1. Generate an average of 8 referrals per month (i.e. become a role model)
2. Generate an average of 3 visitors per month (i.e. become a role model)
3. Arrange one-to-ones with everybody in the chapter to find out who else thinks things need to change, and is prepared to make it happen. You’ll always find allies in dying groups.
4. Those who agree then take on the key leadership roles in the chapter (CD, MC and Education Co-ordinator) as soon as possible.
Your local BNI Director may even be willing to help if the chapter is in a very bad state, and the group you’ve assembled is credible enough (i.e. your referral and visitor stats reflect your respective abilities).
The membership committee can then kick out any dead wood as each of their memberships come up for renewal. And set out to recruit new and better members.
The allies should also take it on themselves to liven up meetings. This helps secure new members. It’s easier if your allies occupy the 3 key speaking positions within the chapter – but possible even if you’re regular members.
None of the above is possible if you simply blame the chapter and leave. That’s what I mean by taking responsibility.
Hey may I reference some of the material found in this blog if I provide a link back to your site?
Azzie, yes you can refer to this blog in return for a link.
thx.. I need to get a new iphone, mine lovely one is dead
Thanks for making my morning a little bit better with this great article!!
Well said, I could not agree more with you on this issue. I think your blog is very popular on this topic judging by all the other comments posted to it. I just wanted to leave a comment to appreciate your hard work.
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.
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An attention-grabbing dialogue is worth comment. I think that it’s best to write more on this matter, it won’t be a taboo topic but generally people are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
“You are the only person on earth who is able to deliver your own business networking success. ”
It’s true. After all, to rub elbows, you have to have a magnetic networking personality that people will want to be around.
I totally agree with what you are getting at.
However I think the number #1 factor of success in business and life is the correct mindset.
How is it that two people, with the same education and IQ, who are given the same business model, one will be successful and the other will flop.
Claire
Thanks for your post. I would really like to comment that the cost of car insurance differs a lot from one insurance plan to another, due to the fact there are so many different facets which give rise to the overall cost. Such as, the model and make of the motor vehicle will have a massive bearing on the price. A reliable older family motor vehicle will have an inexpensive premium than just a flashy sports vehicle.
I am agree Wayne Davies that training is necessary to be success in business networking success and it works better by grouping. Power to you, build your own group.
Alton Williams
An excellent question, and I’m sure you know the answer. Success was never about intelligence.