Is your Ego and Pride sabotaging your business growth?

“To build success in business you must build your networks but no-one, not even teachers are out there teaching networking in schools.”

HOLY CRAP! You mean there is a process to Networking?

So many times, I’ve heard, “I’m good at networking, I don’t need to learn how” or “Networking is a waste of time the same old people are there…”

Either way your ego is telling you to stay in your silo and pride won’t allow you to admit you’re not good at networking or that there is more to learn.

It’s easier to sit in your office to work on your social media campaign falsely believing that will be the best way to bring you traffic to your website, get found on Page 1 of Google or build an email list.

But that doesn’t build a relationship, it builds a touch point or at best awareness that you exist.

As technology advances it is making us more disconnected than ever with less face to face interaction.

Closed Facebook groups: Rules where you’re asked to comment to add value does not build a relationship with the person who posted, it educates that person or those reading the comments.

And there is simply no time to be able to nurture a relationship with everyone who posts.

We have been sold a lie that somehow by sending out Messenger chat bots, Facebook ads, creating webinars where all interaction is behind a computer in a chat box is going to get us up close and personal to our next sale.

We are stupid enough to believe that the number of followers we have or how many likes we get on a comment or post means something.

And as technology progresses those who have strong networks along with superior interpersonal relationship skills will be the ones who succeed in the next decade.

Why?

• They have a plan: Strategic networkers will know how to infiltrate the networks that matter, where the movers and shakers reside and where to find them. They are strategic.
• They are smart: Smart networkers will know that the weak links in their networks are the assets they must nurture more than the stronger links (people they know) and prioritize time to build relationships with them. This diversity helps them achieve their goals.
• They are skilled: Skilled networkers will have mastered networking to create connections that will happily open doors whilst others will be increasingly throwing money at social media.
• They are well positioned: Having spent the time to get out and network, nurturing the right relationships before they need them sets well positioned networkers apart from those who network ad hoc.
• They know the 4-step process: Networking involves a 4-step process according to Keith Ferrazzi, New York Times bestselling author of “Never Eat Alone.”

People, not money are your most important asset; great things in business happen when the right people come together. You’ve just got to not let your ego or pride, or ego get in the way.

It makes you think, doesn’t it?

Happy networking 🙂