Your NET WORTH = Your NETWORK

It’s been a brutal winter, for those of us that live in the upper Midwest. I’ve spent my entire 43 years (32 in Minnesota, 11 in Wisconsin) in this part of the country. Many winters are not bad, and the four distinct seasons can be delightful!

Did you know that approximately 40% of Christmases are brown in Minnesota? Meaning, there isn’t any snow on the ground on Christmas morning.

Crazy, right?

But not this year. We had over 90” of snow, close to 40” more than normal. Officially, we had the 3rd snowiest winter on record. And the temps? Just as brutal.

We didn’t have a 50-degree reading until April 1st, when we average our first 50-degree reading on March 9th of every spring.

It was brutal, as mentioned.

How does this relate to your NET WORTH and your NETWORK?

Well, the snowfall and temps forced many to forgo the Happy Hour networking events in January, February, AND March. Or didn’t allow for making an association luncheon midday due to schools being closed and kids being home.

It was just a big ‘ole hot mess.

But, spring has officially sprung! My wife is giddy about her tulip bulbs starting to sprout, and that means more outside time for all of us, my family included.

_{Do you follow Twitter? If not, I’ll post my “Sales Tweets of The Week” below, for more thought-provoking ideas, trends, or stories. Check them out below!}

The best SALES professionals practice building their network(s) each day.

Whether you saw my above tweet from two weeks ago or not, there can be both obvious and non-obvious connections to how your NETWORK influences your NET WORTH.

Let’s explore!

Where can you expand your network?

A great question, right? Here are a few places I’ve thought of that help boost your network of people you know and associate with:

• Employer - Believe it or not, this is a hidden gem for all networking activity. We often forget that the composition of our company today will ultimately change tomorrow, the next day, and the next day. And the people that come in and out of your company came from other companies and will go on to different companies, after. The circle of influence runs small when you take the time to get to know those already around you.

• Community Ed - These localized groups can also be a goldmine for finding new connections. Many of the folks that you want to get to know have kids. And their kids, like yours, most likely play sports and participate in theatre or other activities. If you’re in SALES, you know and appreciate spurring a conversation with someone outside of a work environment to boost the chances that the (business) conversation converting.

• Seminars - Many industry seminars have like-minded people and business leaders. Most times, your goal going into attending a seminar or industry trade show is the same as others … to make connections!

• Networking Events - It’s so easy to “network” nowadays. Social media, the internet, and all things connectivity allow us to interact and inform so many more people than before. Find events that fit your industry, or better yet, if you’re looking to advance your career (as an example), find the industry networking events that you can attend as a guest.

• Community Groups - Churches, local Chambers of Commerce, and Banking or Finance groups are all great places to meet other professionals. Groups like BNI, or lead-sharing groups can also be wonderful environments to expose your business goals to a new network of people.

• Social Channels - Many of you found my Sales Homie newsletter via Twitter or LinkedIn. When used correctly, our social and connected lives via your favorite social media app can help formulate and shape your circle of influence AND your network of individuals.

• Mentors - You hear me talk about mentorship often in Sales Homie. As much as your mentors help with identifying new individuals in your network, they also can help guide you into the right places/areas to expand your network. Like your parents, a great mentor knows you best and can help push you in the right direction and at just the right time (and place).

SALES Secret: If you want to sell to a certain affluent or distinct group or clientele, identify the areas of your community where the business owners and/or decision-makers live. And explore all of the above areas in and around those areas of the community.

If you want to “swim with the big dogs,” you should start by swimming in the same pool.

The moral of the story? A SALES professional has a higher percentage chance of closing any deal or opportunity when a personal relationship is heightened by interaction outside of the workplace. Hence, your NETWORK will directly impact your NET WORTH.

As you expand and grow your NETWORK, be sure to continually cultivate past relationships to expand upon your circle of influence. This isn’t a “one and done” type deal. You want to be able to add to your NETWORK, not work from person to person. When you focus on community building, it makes expanding your NETWORK easy. That’s when you start to see real growth. Both in your career and in your NET WORTH.

Sales Tweets of The Week!

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