Network your way to financial success

Like all food recipes, the recipe for wealth contains a number of ingredients.

Some ingredients are more important than others – for instance, lasagne can survive without the oregano but it’s just a pile of mince without the pasta. In terms of financial success, the ability to form strong, lasting relationships is your business pasta.

Successful people tend to be networking gurus because they understand that earning money and getting on with people go hand in hand. The ability to network translates into new clients, more customers and eventually more money.

Here are some tips for becoming an expert networker:

1. Happy Birthday

Birthdays offer a great excuse to keep in contact with ex clients, partners and peers. If you keep that yearly contact going then you keep your name on the periphery of their lives so that if you ever happen to need them, they may be more inclined to help you.

2. Attend life events

Wealthy people are always heading off to a wedding here, an anniversary party there. Keeping an active social life is part and parcel of upholding your name and reputation in business circles. While it might sound fun, dragging yourself out to a party for someone you barely know can take a lot of effort sometimes. It’s worth doing though – you never know who you might meet, or how much of an impression you will make on someone just by showing your face.

3. Volunteer

Join community groups, local charities and business groups. This will expose you to people you would otherwise never meet, opening up new opportunities and helping you to build a support network. People are always willing to help a friend in need. While working hard is fundamental to building a successful business, if you hide in your office beavering away you will simply lose your connection with the outside world – and the outside world is where your customers live.

Business coaches can help entrepreneurs manage their workload and learn fundamental skills including the ability to network successfully. If you would like to find out more, please visit our Business Coaching page.

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