The Professional Networker, Inc. Newsletter

November 20,  2006

Dear Member,

“Networking with integrity creates a greater willingness of all parties to be part of a human conduit to serve as energy and resource to one another. Sometimes you will give more than you receive and sometimes you will get back more than you give. It’s not about keeping score."
-- Chris London, MANHATTAN SOCIETY: The Art and Spirituality of Networking

Each week I am asked, "I keep giving referrals and giving referrals to people, but no one is giving referrals back. Why?"

Networking is like a bank account. You give referrals to people (depositing in your account), and build your foundation of QUALITY referral sources (your database). Each time someone becomes a QUALITY referral and becomes part of your database, your bank account becomes more valuable. You earn more interest the more you keep your foundation growing.

If no one is giving you a referral, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

• Am I in a business that takes a long time to earn trust? eg. financial planners, mortgage broker, banker
• Do I tell people SPECIFICALLY who I want to meet?
• Do people really understand my business?

I am blessed to know two wonderful "Connectors". Dean Klassman of Klassman Financial Services (847-454-0660)and Chad Coe of Coe Financial.

These two gentlemen are like the energizer bunny of referrals. They keep giving and giving and giving. Not only do they give referrals, but they give their time to charity and to their family. They never complain about not getting referrals. They know that they are getting so much back in other ways, and they do get referrals, because they would not be successful business men without them. They put in the time.

We each need to understand our referral cycle and determine where we are at. Giving referrals are wonderful, but giving QUALITY referrals keeps you in people's minds so much longer.

Sharan Tash

Events To Help Build and Maintain Your Foundation

This has been a busy week for adding events. Many of the Colleges have listed their

Winter business courses, so be sure and check the calendar through May of 2007 for classes you may want to attend.

Always check with organizations before attending events to be sure they have not cancelled an event or changed locations.

You can check out all the events at The Professional Networker calendar of events.

NAWBO B2B Roundtable - North Shore - 11/27
Authors Marketing Group - Monthly Meeting - 11/28
Interactive Networking Event - 11/30
Midwest Writers - All About Blogging - 11/30
PRO - GETTING TO KNOW YOU - 12/7
LMA - 35 Ideas Worth Stealing - 12/7
Engaging Speakers Monthly Program - 12/8
Second Saturday Support Group -What Women Need to Know about Divorce & Afterwards - 12/9

Third Powerful Conversations - Powerful Connections

The very first "Powerful Conversations - Powerful Connections" has taken place in Evanston.

The second one is happening on Thursday in Wheeling.

To be considered for this invitation only event, please edit your profile at The Professional Networker website and fill out the CONNECT piece along with the demographics if you have not done so. Our advertisers like to see the demographics of the members. Thank you in advance.

C - Category - What business category are you in? (Accountant, Web Designer, Travel Agent etc...)

O - Organizations - What organizations do you belong to? (Chambers of Commerce, Professional, Charity, Social etc..)

N - Needs - What do you need right now? (Accountant, new web site, a receptionist etc...)

N - Neighborhood - What neighborhood did you grow up in and are you living in now (Lincolnwood, Bucktown, West side etc...)

E - Enjoyment - What do you do outside of work that you enjoy (Football league, knitting, travel etc...)

C - College - What High School and College did you attend and graduate from and what year did you graduate? (Niles West - 1970 and Northeastern Ill - 1990)

T - Target Market - Who do you want to meet? (Corporations, Consumers living in the west loop, At home moms)

Power Partners - State your Power Partners. These are businesses that compliment you, but are not in competition with you. (A travel agent would have power partners with hotels, airlines, car rental agencies etc...)

Birthday - I don't need a year, but a month and date would be nice.

New Testimonial Site

Would you like to let us know how The Professional Networker has helped you? Would you like others to know about you and your business at the same time?

We have teamed up with KudosWorks to try their testimonial site. Not only can you write a testimonial, you can upload your picture and other information. This is a win/win for everyone.

As Mickey said, "Try it. You'll like it"

Please let me know what you think of it. Here is the link to the Professional Networker testimonial area.

Please Write a Testimonial for Us