Sharing You!

In the past several months I have created a tool that networkers can use to objectively measure the relationships they enjoy with others. It has been an eye-opener for me!

The middle section is all about personal details that I would know about the other person and conversely, they would know about me. What I have found out is that I don't share personal details! I am now trying to get better that that because I know those details add to the depth of the relationship, but this is not easy for me.

Yesterday, I attended a networking lunch (The WEN lunch meeting at LaScola) with my 10 year old granddaughter, Kaitlyn, who is staying with me for the week. Those who were introduced to her asked what we were doing this week and we were able to share that we'd been able to sink the kayak, played lots of card games and we were going to the fabric store after the meeting so I could help K learn to sew.

Some comments were: "Oh, I didn't know you had a pond." "Oh, I don't even know how to play Backgammon." "Really, Debby, you know how to sew???"

It occur ed to me that Kaitlyn was not only my front porch (Power of Approachability by Scott Ginsberg) but she was also the bridge for getting information about myself to others. While I am usually VERY uncomfortable talking about myself, it was easy to talk about our fun experiences.

In thinking about this, it goes back to why horntooting is so important. When you are willing to share something important about yourself with your networking pals, they then have the opportunity to use that info when they are introducing you to another person. They are the bridge for your details and you don't have to talk about yourself.

Who is your bridge?

Couldn't Have Said it Better

Yeah, it takes another blogger's post to sometimes waken the sleeping Debby!

Tom Fishburne is a favorite of mine. He says and draws so succinctly what others can't even begin to explain. In today's post, Tom talks about brand archtypes, but really he's talking about how big companies use a process to determine who they are going to sell to.

Since we help our students in the Certified Networker course to do the same thing (sometimes kicking and screaming!) these couple sentences in Tom's post resonated with me.

"Without narrowing, a brand is trying to be all things to all people. It ends up standing for nothing. When brands stand for nothing, the only way it can compete is on price. " (I have bolded and enlarged the last sentence.)

We help our students to network less, by being clear about who they are selling to. When they know that, then they know where to network.

Any comments????