Your instinct is to stay in your own comfort zone by networking with people who are equally successful. If you want to achieve higher levels of success, it is imperative to surround yourself with people who are a level up influencer.
When you surround yourself with others who are highly successful, you’re in a position to learn from them, collaborate with their connections, and challenge yourself. You’ll also see how they create a system of reciprocity, that is, they actively and regularly give back to a person who was able to connect them or refer them.
This is where a lot of business owners get stopped when trying to level up their networking. They don’t network up because they don’t think they have anything to give the highly successful and influential person.
Don’t let that stop you. If someone of high influence has been generous with you in giving you their time and attention, try these ideas:
If you’re at the same event, connect with them on something interesting about the setting. When Ivan Misner, the Chairman of Business Network International met Jack Canfield, Best Selling Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul for the first time, they were at book signing for speakers. Because the audience was at dinner, no one was at the signing. Ivan Misner approached Jack Canfield and started to share a story about the time where Ivan had only one person at his book signing – and it was his mother. Ivan shared that his mother acted like she was a fan and made a big deal at the signing that people started crowding around his table. Jack Canfield laughed so hard that it helped him remember Ivan so well that Jack invited Ivan to join his personal network called the Transformational Leadership Council.
Refer their book to others and include the link to the book on Amazon. Any publicity you extend to an influencer gets noticed. When you genuinely show appreciation by sharing their book with others on social media with a link to the book, leave a gracious review on Amazon, or mention their book on your blog, it’s a great way to start a relationship. It’s not always a one-and-done either. Interact with them regularly and watch the relationship foster.
Refer them to a major news outlet or to another major player. What a great way to be remembered than to connect them with another major player.
There are many ways to give back to a successful business professional. When you nurture the relationship, watch what happens.
If you’re ready to level up your networking this year, remember to join us on Thursday, January 31, 2019 for the Level Up Networking Mixer where Livonia Mayor Dennis K. Wright will be sharing business opportunities happening regionally.
