Become A Master Networker By Changing These 3 Beliefs

If you thnk that networking requires natural talent, tons of time and a grueling travel schedule, you’re missing out on a gold mine of opportunities to grow your business rapidly and shave years off of the time it takes you to achieve your financial goals. Let’s take a quick look at 3 core beliefs you may have that are costing you money every single day.

Myth #1 - Networking Is A Natural Skill (You Got It Or You Don’t)
Networking is no more a natural skill than tying your shoes is, so don’t fall into the limiting belief that “some people have it,” and that you don’t. That’s bullshit. Powerful networkers simply use a combination of basic skills that are all utterly, completely within the grasp of anyone who really desires to learn them. Most people never will, though (but you’re not “most people” are you?).

Granted, some people seem to be naturally brilliant at networking, but that doesn’t mean the average person can’t be great at it. The reason these people seem to be “naturals” is simply because they’ve spent a lot more time practicing than you have. Their chosen profession may have automatically forced them to learn some of the key skills that master networkers use. But it all comes down to practice.

So remember: While there will always be geniuses who have a natural level of talent that seem impossible for you to reach, there’s nothing stopping you from getting more than competent enough to achieve a lot. It takes a genius to write like Mozart, but it just takes practice to earn money playing his music.

Bottom line: If you’re in a position where you feel like you don’t have what it takes, do yourself a favor and accept the fact that you can learn these skills, one by one. It is a fact of life that whatever you practice consistently, you get better at. For now, focus on using the level of skill that you already have, leveraging the hell out of it, and improving gradually.

Upcoming articles in this series will go into the specific skills that you need to have.

Myth #2 - Networking Requires A Lot Of Traveling (And That Costs Time And Money)
This may have been true before the internet, but it’s certainly not the case now. While there is tremendous value in face to face interaction with people, it doesn’t have to be a major part of a successful networking strategy.

You can do just as well networking online - sometimes even better. Consider this - as you move up the ladder towards higher-level contacts, it’s going to be harder to get “face time” with them. If you’ve ever been at a crowded seminar, you know what I’m talking about. You can be talking to your dream contact and discover that you only have 5 minutes with them.

Online, things are different. You can research someone before you contact them and increase your chance of making a strong first impression. You can leverage email, instant messenger and phone to create the casual conversations that create strong connections. More on that later. The bottom line is do not underestimate the networking power you can wield using your keyboard and phone. It can be more powerful than any face-to-face you’ve done before.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not saying face-to-face networking is dead - far from it. But it’s just one tool in your arsenal, and you want to leverage as many tools as you can to network quickly, effectively, and profitably.

Bottom Line: Make online networking a priority, as it will frequently let you create stronger connections and uncover more opportunities than hurried conversations at networking events.

Upcoming articles in this series will go into the specific strategies for networking online.

Myth #3 - Networking Takes Forever (And I Don’t Have Forever, Baby)
Things take as long as you make them take. It took 90 days for the builders to finish my house. That seemed short to me, given the complexity of the task. Then I turn on the TV and see the team on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” toss up a house twice as big as mine in seven days. Seven days. That’s almost 13 times faster.

That house went up so fast because the builders carefully mapped out how to leverage every hour of daylight and pulled all the right resources together at just the right times. It was no accident. They didn’t wait to see if they bumped into the right people at the right time. It was planning, baby, planning all the way.

To network like a pro, you’ve got to have a plan. You’ve got to know what your endpoints are (”endpoints” being either the high-level people or the types of resources you’re trying to connect with). You’ve got to develop a solid plan to work your way to those endpoints as efficiently and effectively as possible. And you’ve got to know what you have to offer that will make it worth people’s while to put you in touch with who (and what) you’re really after.

Bottom line: Success in networking doesn’t happen by accident; it happens through planning. Spend some time developing your detailed networking plan and you’ll be surprised how quickly it all comes together.

Upcoming articles in this series will go into the specific strategies for creating your networking plan.

Bonus Myth #4 - I Won’t Be Able To Make This Work (That’s Bull And You Know It)
You may be doubting your ability to become a powerfully effective networker. That’s crazy talk (that’s my polite way of “calling bullshit.”) Bottom line is that what you practice, what you do on a consistent basis, you get better at. So instead of doubting your ability to grow your business through networking, tell yourself in no uncertain terms that you sure as hell intend to practice. Successful people aren’t born - they’re made, one incremental improvement at a time.

Bottom Line: Do these two things before you leave:

#1: Subscribe to this blog via email or RSS so you get all the upcoming lessons on networking.

#2: Leave a comment below and ask your #1 question on how to become a more effective networker. You may get a response via an upcoming article.

You know what to do,
Dave