Did you start off the New Year with any resolutions?  If so, can you even remember what they were seven weeks later?  It feels so good on New Year’s Day to state them out loud, but when it comes time to do something about our new resolution, it’s not so much fun any more.
I recently […]

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to sit in the audience and hear Chip Heath, author of the New York Times bestselling book, Made to Stick and regular columnist for Fast Company magazine speak.  Along with his brother and co-author, Dan Heath, the boys have come up with an amazing simple but easy process […]

Do you know that the number one reason members attend conferences is to expand and grow their network? An organization recently contacted me seeking a networking expert for their conference. In this competitive environment companies are eager to have their employees develop successful relationships with customers, co-workers, and colleagues.

I’ve had a lot of people ask me about the social network site, LinkedIn.com. This site is based on the six degrees of separation theory. You really are less than six people away from any person, resource, or information that you’re looking for.

The internet has made it so easy to build a global social network. It provides us the opportunity to connect with people all over the world who share the same interests, passions, and business expertise that you have. I recommend that you consider joining an online networking and virtual community.

Business cards are easily one of the most powerful and low-cost self-promotional tools. “You can use your business card to get the other person’s business card. As far as I’m concerned, this is the one truly legitimate benefit of business cards.” - Bob Burg

I like to call this the rule of 12…the first 12 words you use, the first 12 physical movements you make (hand shake, eye contact, posture, etc.) and the first 12 inches from your neck up are what people will remember the most about meeting you for the first time.

Annual holiday parties are one of my favorite childhood memories. Each December, my family always attended the same annual gatherings. These parties offered a wonderful way to reconnect with childhood friends - who were now in college and suddenly very cute - and to demonstrate to my parents’ acquaintances just how much I had grown in the past year.

When asked “What do you do?” make sure your response is catchy enough to stand out and be memorable. Why do you do what you do? Why do you love it? What are you most proud of? What is special about the way you do business? What makes you stand out from your competitors?

Anyone within 3 feet of you is a potential network contact! You never know when or where the opportunity will present itself for you to make a powerful introduction that will take you to the next level in your network.

Last week I took my 10-year-old daughter to the “Hannah Montana” concert in Denver. If you have not heard of this teen-pop sensation, then you obviously don’t have a child between the ages of 5 to 13 in your life.

I recently came across this quote by Wayne Dyer which I think truly defines what networking is: “Networking means sending out into the system what we have and what we know, and having it return to recirculate continually through the network.”

You are only 5 or 6 people away from anyone you want to meet. Remember the six degrees of connection when you’re looking for a resource, person or information. “Google” your network and someone you know can help you “connect the dots” to someone they know.

I just returned from 10 days in Italy and I’m here to tell you, we can learn a lot from the Italians on how to live a life full of rich connections. There are so many things I love about Italy, but one of my favorites is the way they approach an evening meal; dinner!

Did you know that membership in a professional association is a huge opportunity to expand your connections and grow your resources? With more than 5,000 professional associations nationwide (many with local chapters in your city), there is really no excuse for not joining an association that represents the voice of your profession.