Recession-Proof Your Network

I’ve stopped reading the headlines…for a while it was amusing to see how many negative words they could cram into the headlines. When the mortage & real estate industry started to tank I actually saw the word “plummet” (or was it “plunge”?) twice on the same front page. When writers used up their quota of plunge & plummet, they switched to the relatively minor “dive” & “fall”.

Now the words have swung the other way...as gas prices "skyrocket" and other costs "soar" and the cost of living "increases". Where is it going to stop?

No one really knows where the economy is heading, should we be doing “something” to prepare? Historically, business owners will agree upon one thing. When times get lean, the strength of their network helped to sustain them. Those who were less connected, floundered.

Your network supplies you with ideas, information, resources and yes…referrals. The majority of us do not fully leverage the vast resources available to us through our networks. Here are some ideas to strengthen and build upon the connections you already have.

1. Go through your database. Make a list of those who you want to catch up with or learn more about, then pick up the phone. This is not a sales call. You are calling to learn if it is possible to build a reciprocal business relationship with them. Use dialogue like, “I know it’s been a while since we last talked. I would love to
know what’s new with your business. A lot of information crosses my desk on a daily basis…some of it may be beneficial to you”. If the call goes well, you can suggest a meeting…”Let’s get together and see if our collective networks can benefit each other”. Make a call or two each day and set one meeting a week. Consistancy will be the key.

2. Beef up your online profiles, add to your connections and spend some time looking through them for possible alliances (we call them "Links"). If you find someone whose clientele matches yours, and you are not in competition with them, it’s time for a phone call (use the same script as above). Your connections are the dowery you bring into your business relationships.

3. Buy a box of notecards. Send them out to anyone you want to acknowledge, thank, or congratulate. Set aside a few minutes first thing in the morning to brighten someone's day with a note of encouragement. (A handwritten note…not an automated card sent from a service out of state. Believe me...there is a HUGE difference!)

4. Stay informed. Read the business publications, and share with your network information about events, resources, industry news, etc. Attend seminars, then do a write-up and share what you
learned with others.

These easy-to-implement efforts, when done in a consistent manner will produce results that will make your business less vulnerable to economic fluctuations. You will establish yourself
as “a hub through which information flows”. People are attracted to those who are the center of activity.

Ignore the headlines, stay optimistic and REFUSE to listen to the “nattering nabobs of negativism"**

**There I go quoting Spiro again!