We Underestimate Networking, Do You?

There are many describitions of networking. However how do you perceive networking? Do you use networking enough for yourself and your company benefit. Everybody knows what does it mean to network. But what I think we do not use great potention of it.

Networking:“The process of developing and activating your relationships to increase your business, enhance your knowledge, expand your influence or serve the community.”

There is so huge power within of networking that many of us understimate. We think that when we talk to someone we network. But I would disagree, that is just first step, it is just beginning. Networking is about creating relationship with other side. When one activate relationship it is more powerfull, pro active attitude. It is basic rule of influence, that first we have to give and create feeling of reciprocity inside of other side. Do not wait for first step, just do it. If you want to succeed you have to enhance your relationship, it is always two way highway. People who network like this I am sure will show better result.

To be successful networker you have to understand that it is really about helping others as way of growing your business. People you help are more willing to help you or connect you to people they know.

I think that in the middle of crisis or whatever we go through, networking is the great way how to build strength in your business. We all want to do business with people, we trust and know. A lot of people think about networking like direct selling but there is difference. With networking you create relationship. Direct selling is not about creating relationship. So how often do you network and what strategy do you use?  

"You can try to connect with me :) at beginning"

More Mean Less

Today when you check out from window you see rain and you can feel that cold weather is getting closer. I was getting cold so I decided to make a tea. I like tea so I decided to go to cupboard and take one.

When I opened cupboard I have seen big selection of teas. I took my favorite apple and cinnamon but next to it was some other passion fruit, next was some green, black, wellness...

After while I was so confused that I end up with no tea at all. Is not it funny? I had such a taste at beginning but when I was facing so big option it made me feel confused regarding of my choice. What has happened?

I decided to browse web a little bit. I typed tea/ caj into google and pressed search. It was not good idea. Option which popped out I would say it was huge, I mean selection, I almost got headache. It was complicated to orient on web page. I do not recommend :)   

"I was thinking what they communicate to me" 

I understand that we want to feel freedom of choice however I did not feel good at all. "I believe that instead of offering huge variation of teas (or other product) they should focus to be more authentic, be more open, trying to talk to us, engage us. They should give us feeling that we are part of something."

Next time when you will be facing huge option, just think about what they want you to say. Do they want you to feel good, inspired or do they just want you to buy and they do not care about you...

Black Or White

What is the first thing that comes to your mind if you think black and white? You might think about bad and good, war and peace, fear and hope or something else? It is contrast isn’t t it?

Have you ever heard how you can use contrast in persuasion?

I have some fun example. I tried it out and I think you might try it out as well. I bet you will like it as I did. Imagine you are owner of your boutique where you are selling your stuff. Customer enters and he says he wants to buy nice elegant cashmere sweater and 3 buttons black striped suit. You are a person who wants to help what would you offer like a first?

If you showed first suit, you would for sure sell sweater as well. However if you did it reverse, you wouldn’t sell sweater and you might not sell suit as well. Why?  

There is an automatic mechanism inside of human beings which called law of contrast. It means if we can spend 495 Euro on suit and after they offer us sweater for 95 Euro which you wouldn’t spend normally, you would buy it now. You are influenced because of law of contrast. If you spent already 495 Euro, sweater would seem for 95 Euro cheaper than it is. 

You can try law of contrast as well home. You can make a little experiment home. You pour coke (sweet), water (neutral) and salty water (salty) into 3 cups. You drink first coke and after water. How does it feel? I bet water seems to be less sweet than actually is. Now drink first salty water and after water. Water will seem sweeter than actually is. There you can see how you are influenced by law of contrast. 

The first and second lines are equal length, third and fourth as well, yet the second appears to be shorter than the first

Enjoy weekend and try to use law of contrast :)  

Inspire To Make It Happen

Recently I have heard story about entrepreneur and motivation which I like. So I would like to share.

There was an entrepreneur who decided to open business abroad. Reason he came up with idea, that when he can employ people from his country and give them less paycheck than local people who worked in country he can sell product cheaper. Initially it is good plan, because he operated from win to win thinking. It means customers wins, because he buys cheaper, employer wins because he earns more than in his home country and owner wins because he creates business which produce profit.

However there is one single problem. Do you want to guess?

All business model was set up on manipulation. And manipulation brings only short term results, however on long run it will not work at all. He used paycheck to motivate employers to work and price should motivate buyers to buy... What happened is simple. His employers started asking more money, which means his profit margins declined and at end his price end up like his competitors. It meant his value in price disappeared.

What I think he could do different? At first of all he should give people he employed reason to work there. E.g. He could explain that he want to create store where people will come back with pleasure because he believes that people deserves friend in a shop not a seller. He should engage his employers with autonomy to bring any ideas which could lead to growth of business.  He should explain why he opened business. Business is not open because of making profit. It has to be open towards certain cause. And product or service is simple putting a life to cause.

I think there is a difference between motivation and inspiration. We can find motivation inside of us, however we should inspire others. What do you think about it? Imagine how you can inspire people around you?