Jack Canfield presents a short talk on the importance and practical power of networking for entrepreneurs and business owners. He argues that success depends not only on skills but on relationships, outlines three networking stages (visibility, credibility, profitability) credited to Ivan Meisner, shares examples of collaborators and influencers (Patty Aubrey, Janet Schweitzer, Jim Bunch), and gives concrete homework: list people to network with and ask them two questions (what they’re working on; how you can help). The video closes with standard CTAs and a link to his website.
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Hi there, I'm Jack Canfield, and today I'd like to talk to you about the power of networking. It's often been said that success is a team sport. It's not just what you know, it's also who you know. And while you may be able to create tremendous success on your own, traveling the path of success with others makes the journey more enjoyable. Plus, the added accountability will propel you to success faster and further than you originally envisioned. In my career, success in any undertaking has come down to not just who I know, but also who I have on my team. And along the way, I've learned a number of success principles that can now help you build your own network of influencers, mentors and experts, and develop a support team of people who can help you succeed. Now, one of the most important skills for success in today's world, especially for entrepreneurs and business owners, is networking. My friend Jim Bunch, the creator of the Ultimate Game of Life, once stated, your network will determine your net worth. Now, in my life, this has proven to be true. The more time I have spent consciously building and nurturing my network of friends, advisors, colleagues, clients, students and fans, the more successful I become. Businesses and careers are built on relationships, and relationships form when people meet and interact with each other over time in in an authentic and caring way. As I'm sure you're aware, statistics confirm over and over that people prefer to do business with people they know, respect and trust. Now, effective networking, therefore, is all about developing relationships. In developing your own personal network, your job is to seek out people who know what you don't and who can help you connect where you can't. Initially, your goal shouldn't be to make a sale, but but instead to seek advice, connections, recommendations and insights to the extent that you can provide something in return, do so. But remember that developing genuine relationships that you can call upon at any time for years into the future potentially takes time and consideration. It requires careful thought and a mindfulness for others. Now, my good friend Ivan Meisner, the founder of the international networking phenomenon BNI Worldwide, explains that good networking is a combination of three visibility, credibility, and then profitability. Visibility is you and another individual becoming aware of each other. The individual who may be a source of information, referrals to people who can help you, or even a potential customer may learn about you through your public relations, social media or advertising efforts, or through someone you both know. Now, soon you might become acquainted and communicate on a first name basis. That's visibility. Credibility means you take the next step and become reliable and worthy of the other person's confidence. You begin to form expectations of each other and those expectations are fulfilled. Credibility increases when appointments are kept, promises are acted upon, facts are verified, and services are rendered. The old saying results speak louder than words is true. Credibility also comes from third parties. Will someone they know vouch for you? Are you honest? Is your project or your business legitimate? Are you effective? Are you someone who can be counted on in a crunch? And if you are, your credibility will grow, as will important and beneficial relationships. Profitability is what comes from mature relationships, business or personal, that are mutually rewarding and where both people gain something from the connection. This stage may be reached quickly, such as when an urgent need arises, or it may take years. Most likely it's somewhere in between. Of course, much depends on the quality of your interaction with each other, but most especially on the desire of both parties to move the relationship forward. Of course, profiting from relationships isn't limited to making money from a new customer or getting a referral. It may come in the form of a connection to someone who can help you launch a new initiative or otherwise grow your business in some other way. It may include access to a mentor or a professional advisor or a contact in another industry who can help you expand your market. It might be the ability to delegate more of your workload, gain substantial free time for your hobby or personal interest, or spend more quality time with your family. You know My closest and most productive network has included my business partner, Patty Aubrey, and my success principal's co author Janet Schweitzer, two women who've not only been close friends and colleagues for 25 years, but have also developed a robust and influential network from which I benefited. By combining their own contact lists with people I know, we've generated millions of dollars in business, accumulated a million Facebook fans, and produced millions of customers, clients and students who follow the success principles. Our combined contact lists are filled with hundreds of key individuals who can help out with advice, direction, a name, an idea, resources, marketing assistance, and much more. At any time we can ask each other who do we know who can help us with this new initiative, confident that we can get our needs and wants addressed within days. That's the real profitability of a network. Now here's your homework to complete. After watching this video, make a realistic list of the people you would like to network and then call or visit at least one of them and ask them the following two questions. What is the most important thing that you're working on right now? And after they answer, ask them, how can I help you and if they tell you do anything you can to deliver on their request that will create the credibility in their eyes that later you can turn into profitability when you make a request of them. Okay, thanks for watching and remember, nothing will change for the better until you do. Now, if you found this video helpful, make sure you like it, share it with a friend who may need it, and subscribe to my channel. For more videos like this one, and for some additional resources on how to network, visit my website@jackcampfield.com and thanks again for watching.
