My Open Arms Approach To Networking

I received a compliment and a very interesting question. I felt it was worth sharing.

Dear Zale,

I happened to see your response to Thomas Smith’s question regarding promoting his International Trade Group [in LinkedIn Answers] , and I wanted to thank you. I am considering developing a group and online business, and I found your advice helpful.

I was looking over your profile and was impressed with your range of experience and views. I agree with your opinions, but I am interested to know whether you have always held your open-arms approach to networking / business development or did it develop over time? Were there any experiences that showed you the importance of this open approach?

My present company values a much more selective information exchange policy between staff and departments, so I am trying to better understand my own feelings and how I may be able to help my co-workers open-up and share information more effectively when possible.

I have always had an open arms approach. I am one of those people that love people. I love talking to people, I love helping people. I talk to strangers on the street. One of the reasons I teach is because I like meeting people.

For many years the thought of doing sales was abhorrent to me. I managed to overcome that, but its still a challenge and an embarrassment for me to ask for the money, I really just want to give away the service. (I think I might has some self esteem issues)

Here is one thought I recently learned from a Zig Ziglar book about business development.

“When you sell somebody something, who benefits more the seller or the buyer?”
When you sell you get your profit or a commission. How long does the money last? An hour, a day, a month in a very large sale?
The buyer gets the product and it will typically lasts several years. Now imagine a plush bunny a parent buys for their first child. Skip forward 25 years, and their child now has a child of their own. You find that plush bunny, imaging all the memories that flood back.

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Tagged as: Networking, new_business_development, Success Through Balance, Zale Tabakman, Zig Ziglar, zig_ziglar