How do you get invited to spend a week at Richard Branson’s house in Switzerland?
Or for guys like Mark Cuban and Travis Kalanick (founder of Uber) to happily invest in your company? Or to get invited to travel to 8 European cities on a private jet?
These all happened to me… and I believe it’s a natural result of one thing I did right: Investing In Relationships.
I began figuring this out in my mid-twenties and WOW did it make a difference.
Here’s what people often fail to realize:
Your biggest business opportunities ARE NOT going to come from your strongest connections. (Weren’t expecting that, were you?)
Usually, you’ve already explored those connections…
Instead, it’s the friends-of-friends or the people you barely know (called “weak ties”) that are going to present you with the best-unexpected opportunities.
Which means you’ve got to focus on connecting and building NEW relationships.
But… how?
In today’s video, I share the details on how to network like a professional… even if you’re an introvert. Be sure to watch it:
Exclusive Download: Dream 100 – Learn How to Identify The 100 People That Will Transform Your Life (Peers, Advisors & Mentors)
Here are the core ideas I’ve learned through successful networking:
- Go out
- Host dinners
- Perfect your intro
- Add value
- Stay connected
Perfecting your intro (a huge shoutout to Clay Hebert) is especially useful when making new business connections.
Too often people lose opportunities because they just downplay themselves. Here’s an example:
Imagine you own a $10M business and someone asks you, “What do you do?”
Your answer: “Well… I built a web app”
Dude! Step up your game!
Nobody says you should brag or be arrogant, but you’ve also gotta deliver a valuable answer!
Practice a clear and concise intro that can open the doors for a bigger conversation and a new connection.
The basic format is super simple:
“I help [insert your ideal customer] get [the result].”
Here is an example from my friend Melanie: “I help entrepreneurs create memorable experiences”
Melanie’s intro sets the context for her to expand on what she can do. It’s a simple and catchy intro designed to grab people’s attention and create new connections.
So now it’s time to think about your intro. Wanna try it out? Drop a comment on this week’s video and let me know how you would introduce yourself with the format above.
