How to Build a Kick Ass Business Network
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Transcript of How to Build a Kick Ass Business Network
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Building a Kick Ass Business NetworkNI Chamber of Commerce/Arts Council of NI
13 March 2014
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A bit about me …
• I started life as a commercial accountant• I left my safe job to become a Silicon Valley dotcommer• Became an entrepreneur later in life than most• Have founded 4 startups of my own … so far!• I’ve been described by others as “as a collector of people
and a nurturer of networks” – I’ve been doing that all of my life• I’ve only ever applied for a job through formal means once
in my life
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Why bother with networking?
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Why bother with networking?
“You start forming relationships the day you are born; growing and nurturing those relationships is key to the success of an entrepreneur”
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Why bother with networking?
• Gain introductions• Meet people you can access for help & advice• Make sales and get new leads• Personal career advice• We live in an increasingly collaborative world
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Why bother with networking?
“No matter who you are, most of the smartest people workfor someone else”
Sun Microsystems
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Why bother with networking?
“In order to be open for business, you need to be open in everysense of the word”
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How do I get started?
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How do I get started?
• Think about who you already know• Join some organisations – formal & informal• Start to write a blog or comment on other people’s • Join some LinkedIn or Facebook groups & make smarter use
of Twitter• Do some homework before you attend events
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What are the Rules?
• Be brave and approach strangers – what’s the worst that can happen• Be friendly and pleasant• Have a 30 second elevator pitch and be ready to trot it out• Be ambitious in who you reach out to – especially online• Remember this is a two-way street & karma plays a part
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Watch out for the Cardinal Sins?
• Not following up• Playing a numbers game• Rejecting anyone you deem to not be useful• Mixing up networking and selling – a complete no-no• Disregarding reputational capital• If you’re the “recipient” – don’t expect the other party to do
any running or heavy lifting
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A nice visual representation
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So - what’s networking ever done for me?• I’ve met some very interesting people – many of whom are
now friends• I’ve given my business a personality• Networking has led to new work and engagements• I’m better informed than I would otherwise be• I’ve dramatically increased my reach & made myself more
visible• I found a wonderful non exec director for my Board• I’ve met people who I’ve later recruited• Oh yeah – I’ve had a lot of laughs along the way
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I even met this guy…
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…and persuaded this one to let me put him on a mug…
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…and I was the proud recipient of an MBE this month…
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Final thought …
“A wide and varied network is a thing of beauty and a joy forever – so building it is definitely worth the effort”
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• Email address [email protected]• Read my blog at www.kickingassets.co.uk
• Connect with me on Twitter at @MMaryMcKenna