Connecting with others is about first connecting with yourself.

Abundant Networkers are Connectors. Everything they do is about the relationships they build and contribute to.

Connectors are individuals who naturally build bridges between themselves and the outside world through powerful, lasting relationships. Connectors have a knack for identifying other’s needs and talents, and linking them up with other like-minded people, resources, and needs. They love to build relationships and connect people for the pure joy of it.

The Abundant Networker group coaching program takes the concept of being a Connector a step further by helping you understand that connection begins with yourself. Abundant Networkers are also powerful Connectors in that they have a sense of their Significance, their Self-Worth, and how they add value.

Abundant Networkers learn how to connect with themselves, to excavate the DNA of their greatness and then learn how to bring that greatness to the world through quality relationships.

They understand that before they can build relationships with others and the world outside them, they must first build a relationship with themselves, with who they naturally are.

Are you a Connector?

I just got back from participating in the Referral Institute annual Conference. The Referral Institute is a training, consulting, and coaching company focused on the art of referral marketing. Their training is second-to-none, based on the intellectual property of Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and chairman of BNI.

This conference is unlike any other conference. That's because everybody who attends it is a master networker. You don't just attend this conference - you actively participate by getting to know other attendees, and building relationships.

The title of Keith Ferrazzi's book, "Never Eat Alone", definitely applies here.

It was an eye opener and a priviledge to be a part of this exceptional group of professionals.

The next time you go to a conference, ask yourself:

Who do I most want to meet?
Who do I want to re-connect with?
Who do I want to be introduced to?

You may just come away with a lot more than information - you may build or re-capture some amazing relationships.

For more information and to register, click here.

Sarah Dolliver “Networking Success for Introverts”
April 26th at 2pm et

Just the thought of going out to network can start the butterflies or cause overwhelming anxiety. The crowded room, having to talk about yourself , finding it hard to initiate contact and just getting yourself out the front door are all sources of dread. Yet, it is possible to network as an introverted or highly sensitive individual. Face it, we're social beings, too. We simply want to do it on our own terms. Come and hear Sarah Dolliver, Founder of InnerVantage speak to these and other challenges facing the "innie" who runs their own business. You can learn to find networking success for yourself.

Due to the amazing popularity of the Abundant Networker call series, I've created a unique 10 week group coaching experience that expands on the principles explored during the original series.

This group coaching program is different from all the other networking courses out there because it helps you go beyond strategies, techniques, and more information to examine the root causes of what's keeping you from being a natural networker. Participants in this course work to eliminate the sources of scarcity in their networking, conquering their fears once and for all so that they can network on their terms.

In this 10 week teleclass series, participants receive:

5 group coaching sessions

5 buddy calls

Office hours for 1:1 coaching with Kim

and 6 bonus expert calls with networking and marketing gurus like Michael Port, Roger Parker, Sarah Dolliver, and Soni Pitts.

Curious? Find out more by clicking here.

But don't wait too long - registration ends April 17th!

Enjoy!

Don't get the magazine?  No worries! 

You can read the article here.

Let me know what you think!

During our Abundant Networker class today, I mentioned a wonderful resource called the "GAINS Exchange". 

Developed by Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and chairman of BNI, and featured in his wonderful book, Business By Referral, GAINS is an acronym for:

Goals
Accomplishments
Interests
Networks
Skills
   
Each of these areas represents a category of information you can ask questions about to learn more about people you meet with.  It is an excellent tool for getting past "small talk" to meaningful conversation.  A great resource for building relationships!

Read Dr. Misner's article on the GAINS Exchange here.

They build bridges between diverse groups of people.  They introduce people with the potential to add value to each other.  Adding value is not just about business transactions.  It's about information, support, inspiration, creativity, and engagement.

Abundant Networkers are all about connecting -- connecting with the people they meet, not just on a superficial level, but really being engaged in learning and listening to people.  Connecting is also about introducing people, being the "matchmaker" in a sense. 

Abundant Networkers see opportunities to enrich other people's lives.  Here's the bigger difference - they act on it.

What opportunities do you have to build bridges?

They ask for what they want.

More importantly, they know what they want.  They've done their homework, prepared for the event or meeting, and they have a plan.

Abundant Networkers also ask for help.

They aren't afraid to admit when they don't know something, or could use a hand.  They understand that the power of relationships is not just in giving, but in allowing yourself to receive.  When we ask for help, we give others a gift.  When we don't accept help, we block the channel of reciprocity and allowing.

The Law of Reciprocity is not a one-way street.  It is a rotary of entrances and exits, with new opportunities presenting themselves all the time.

But we have to allow the flow of opportunity.

What could you ask for that would open your flow of opportunity?

"We can have in life whatever we are willing to be."

Marianne Williamson, The Gift of Change

Abundant Networking is available to everyone because Abundance is available to everyone.  Scarcity comes into networking when we think we have to be someone else to be successful.  We think we have to fix something that's wrong with us before people will find us interesting.

This endless search for the pot of gold keeps us from being who we are.  It keeps us from meeting people, building relationships, and exploring opportunities.  It keeps us from going to the networking event in the first place! 

On the other hand, Abundant Networking leads us to the Greatness of who we are. 

Abundant Networkers let go of the search for the pot of gold and realize they've been standing on buried treasure all along.

What are you standing on?

Enjoy!

These fears take on countless shapes and sizes.  At their worst, they may even have you fearing that you'll look like our friend the spitting lama over there to our left when you go to a networking event.

What they all have in common is that they keep us from being who we naturally are and from doing what we CAN do. 

They keep us playing smaller instead of living into our greatness.  They keep us from being the Abundant Networker that we are.

So how do you begin to deal with these fears running around in your head?

In my book, Coaching Into Greatness, I give my readers a two part test that is easy to use.  Called the Truth or Dare Test, this exercise can be utilized by anyone in any situation to identify and move past the fear in their mind.

Ask yourself:

What evidence do I have that this is true? 
What is the fear grounded in?  Do you have any proof?
99.99% of the time, you will never be able to find out proof that it's real.  That's why we call it a fear - false expectations appearing real.

The 2nd question is:

How does thinking this way serve me?
Our fears always serve us in some way.  The question is whether it is positive or not. Fears tend to keep us safe and comfortable, doing what we've always done. The problem with that is that it keeps us safe and comfortable, doing what we've always done. 

There's no question your fears are serving you.  But is it the way you really want to be served?

Abundant Networking is the process of unlearning your fears about networking.  Even more so, Abundant Networking is about unlearning your fears about yourself.

That you're not interesting enough.
That you're not smart enough.
That you're not clever enough.
That you don't have anything of significance to give.
That this networking thing can actually ever work for you.

How do you unlearn these fears?  One way is to start doing.  Get into action.  Go to an event.

Still stuck?  Take a friend.  Call ahead and introduce yourself to the President or Officer of the group.  Let them know you're new and ask them to help by taking you around and introducing you to people.

Just go.  Take that first step.

Then you can work on the Illusions that cause those scarcity fears in the first place.  I'll blog about how to do this tomorrow.