What Does Your Network Look Like?

What is your big goal for 2010? Do you have a bunch of tiny ones? Who are the people who can help you get to where you want to be? Take a hard look at your network and take inventory of the connections you have and note where you need to improve.

 

1. What do you want to learn about? I’ve recognized that I really like learning and the challenge of the graduate education solidified it for me. The MBA from Iowa State University opened my eyes and mind to new concepts, constructs, and a greater appreciation for businesses. I want to learn about how businesses consume professional services and how I can continually add value to the relationship. This will require regular contact with business leaders and asking them to think about their business, history, and goals.
2. Who can connect you to others? This is important as you need to get out of the vacuum and find those people Malcolm Gladwell describes in “The Tipping Point” as connectors who can align relationships. These relationships can be based on school, hobbies, interest, awards, charities, family, worship, or my favorite, exercise. Where else, but exercise, can you share an experience and spend quality time together? Just running for 55 minutes yesterday, I connected with four people that I’ve been planning on talking to about health and nutrition, goal setting, and marketing.
3. How can you make these connections? Here is the tough part. Provide value to make the connection and meeting. Never go into a meeting without a goal of what needs to be accomplished. This little act shows that you are aware that time is valuable and you intend on giving something back for the interaction.
4. What could you give away? This is my Steve Farber-esque “Greater Than Yourself” advice of the day. What is something you’ve learned along the way that could help the connection. Is it an idea, a connection, a referral, business, or advice? Think about it and be prepared to give. People will remember it and it will come back to you greater than you paid out in the first place.

Like Rome, networks aren’t built in a day. I’ve realized value of my networks many times over the years. It is a relationship that is built upon giving, rather than taking. Sharing ideas, contacts, experiences, and goals help create that tie that binds. My freebie for the day: ask someone who is important to you out to breakfast, coffee, lunch, or a drink, and be prepared to ask questions, listen, and learn. Make the engagement about them and see where the opportunities are for you to help. I’ve spent the better part of November doing this, and the value of the shared time, information, inspiration, and energy is fantastic.

Caffeinate Your Marketing

Every now and again, I need to sit down with people I look up to professionally for a cup of coffee and a dose of inspiration. Like anyone, I get stuck in a rut from time to time and need a little push to get me going again. Coincidentally, November has been the month where I’ve taken quite a few coffee meetings, lunches, and a few beers, as well.  Here are some of the high points from what I’ve learned.

• Think creatively. What is the most inexpensive way to dispense knowledge and share information? How about a book club at your office where you read a book and lead executives through a thirty minute session based on your findings?
• Add value. If you’re meeting with a high-level executive or mentor, think about what they may need to be successful? Find out what they’re passionate about and add some light to the subject. Let them know what is big in your professional environment and why they should be aware of it.
• Why hire an expert when you can do it yourself? This pieces was invaluable for me. Even when you have a great deal of professional respect for the experts, have some confidence in yourself and your gut. It can save you time, money, and improve your standing.
• Don’t be scared to think big. The big ideas are the ones that challenge us to look at matters differently and say “what if…”
• Don’t be scared of criticism. Criticism is a means to find ways to improve the way you work with individuals and groups. Figure it out, get help from others, and make the steps to add value to the relationship.
• Protect your time. Turn off your e-mail alerts, block time to think, write, act, and review your tasks, projects and goals. You’ve got a calendar on your desktop, use it. Just in the past few days, I’ve been more productive by emptying my e-mail box, setting time on my calendar for big tasks, and delegating those that can be handled without me. (Note: I’m not that important that tasks can get done without me.)
• Make tangental connections. After you’ve had a meeting with someone, set another, but bring a friend or business associate who would make sense.
• Set action steps. If you have a meeting of the minds, make sure you follow up on what you have talked about.
• Stay in touch. Don’t do it just once a year and expect to see a value.

I’m sure more will come of this post, so keep an eye out for how I follow through on these goals.

Making Marketing Work in Your Organization

A great article in Ad Age about the Association of National Advertisers CMO roundtable with CMOs from Best Buy, Con Agra, Fidelity, and General Mills referenced transparency and chemistry as drivers for marketing.

First of all, Mr. Speros [Fidelity] said, you’ve got to realize that the clock is ticking. “Velocity is key, because you don’t have a lot of time to make a difference,” he said. “You have to get in very fast and make relationships with the right people, understand the hot-button issues.”

I love the word “velocity” in the relationship business. Also, consider that time is money. Set an agenda, stick to it, and stay cognizant of the time you’re using of your top execs. They’ll appreciate it and build the basis of a strong relationship (and maybe an advocate as well).

Of equal importance is to build a learning culture within the organization. Ms. Chow [Con Agra] developed a training system for social media with executives. I can’t think of a better way to develop ideas and partnerships at the same time.

So what does marketing look like in your organization?Are you working the floor, listening, sharing ideas and moving a thought to action? Think about your role in the context of these tweets from my buddy Josh Fleming @admavericks.

Everytime you’re w/a client, give them what they asked for, but always give them a new idea.

or

Tell them. Tell them again. Tell them what you told them.

By the way – kudos on the big win for best blog!

#HMDM09

You don’t win if you don’t play and this was definitely the day to play with the players in local and regional technology.

Get your own knuckles at the knuckle tattoo gun.

Highlight Midwest “Big Blimpin'” was a great opportunity to get all of the thought leaders and business drivers in the same building to chat about ideas, opportunities, markets, and collaboration around technology. From the newest start-ups to 103 year-old companies, everyone was engaged and excited to talk about business. I’m most excited to check out the day’s interviews with Andy and Doug at http://managingtheedge.com/

Senator Charles Grassley joined the fun, met the attendees and gave opening remarks, I thought his presence added a level of credibility and visibility to the day.

I was honored to be a part of the team and thought it was a great new event to usher into the community. Kudos to the following tweeps for making it happen today – @jensenrf @rendadmregister @benstone @benfromgog @mikesansone @admavericks @smash50309 @tomflynn3 @catchfiremedia @shanereiser @justbrady @richdrake @bretttrout @davisbrownlaw @smartkindling @clairecelsi @doug_mitchell @andybrudtkuhl … and the tons of others I met and networked with – sorry if I neglected you on the list!

When Will Passion Strike LinkedIn?

What are you passionate about?

I love bicycles and am a member, lurker and poster of a handful of bike-related user groups since I got involved in late 2000. The people I watch and engage are thoughtful, knowledgeable, and approachable. I’ve learned quite a bit about the sport and the personalities involved.

I share my love for two-wheelers in a group of like-minded individuals.

So why don’t you show it on LinkedIn?

When we spend 40-50-60 hours a week doing something, it is hard to determine whether it is a passion or a necessity. Work is… well, work and if it was anything else, they’d name it appropriately.

This is the rub with professional social networking. It’s bland. It is sterile. It needs help and you’re the right person for it.

1. Ask what professionals need to be successful. Seriously. Ask people what their hot buttons are and listen. Engage and develop a relationship.

2. Introduce people to the network. If you think the network has potential, ask others to join and add content.

3. Put your personal brand out there. Social media is all about the personality, brand and message. Stick to it and be consistent.

4. Comment, critique and add value. Now, I’m not advocating flaming posts, but point out opportunities and ways to improve strategy and action.

5. Share your passion and bring out the passion in others. Thank people for their insight and compliment their commitment to the conversation.

Now, this isn’t exactly rocket science, but the ones who can help develop and drive the conversations will provide real value to the network.

Be passionate – people will thank you for it.

Networking Critical Mass

Look at my tags for this post on networking – advertising – branding – events – public relations – strategy – they all apply to getting out and involved.

Reading Mary Gottschalk’s Guest Opinion in this week’s Business Record about no-pressure networking reminded me of the power of relationships. I’ve been fortunate to build strong relationships across the business community through my passions of bike racing, running and triathlons. It helps me find a peer group to have a good time with, but also bounce business and networking ideas as well. Go where the rest of the business people are is the subtle advice – if they run – run with them.

Run with the leaders, influencers and connectors.

It also stimulated a brainstorm of how to add value to networking events.

I’ve been a regular at the Downtown Council presented by the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce meetings for almost a year now and call it my mega-networking meeting. Not only do I get the opportunity to socialize, but I meet important new people who can help drive the marketing and business development functions.

What can you do to add value to meetings like this? Consider volunteering and inviting others to participate. If you become an advocate and evangelist, others will definitely notice. Do you have a skill set you’d like to develop? Unleash it and see what you can do to build on that networking critical mass.

Once you’ve got it started, then apply the magic to other groups in the community and you’re bound to be noticed.

Check out the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce and upcoming Downtown Council meetings on Facebook.