Everything I know about networking I learned from my mom. She was indeed a master connector and a very successful real estate agent. During the late ’70s, Renault (the French car company) opened a U.S. headquarters in Detroit and transferred many of their top French executives to oversee the transition. My Mother’s well-developed and cared-for network landed her the exclusive account as the realtor for all of the relocating French executives to Detroit.
She utilized her networking skills to do much more than simply find them a home. She wanted to assist the entire family with the transition and did everything from meet them at the airport, to help open a French school for the children. She provided an unexpected – and much appreciated – welcome and introduction to the United States through hosting luncheons and dinner parties. She connected them with her network of painters, decorators, and carpenters, most of whom were new and struggling small-businesses owners.
By recognizing individual wants and desires and putting their needs first, she accomplished not only her own goals, but also created opportunities for her new and existing contacts by connecting them together. By constantly looking for ways to be a successful resource to her network, she became an award-winning realtor in 1979 for her record number of successful closings in only her fifth year in real estate.
Initially, she anticipated the account would bring her a dozen closings. But in the end, she helped 25 families make a smooth transition and impacted more than 15 small businesses in a powerful way.
You see… when you live your life as a connector you not only prosper professionally, but you also prosper personally too. When my mother died in 1994, many of those French families, the painters and the carpenters all showed up for her funeral some 16 to 18 years after my mother first connected with them. Although they talked to me about how she shared prospective leads, helped them build their businesses, and delivered great service, they primarily expressed how she gave everything expecting nothing in return.
I still smile when I remember how mom used to work her magic on people. I was fortunate to be with her in her final days when friends and colleagues stopped by to pay their last respects. When a good friend of mine, who was single at the time, came to visit my mom, she summoned our minister, also single, to come over immediately. Thinking he was coming to deliver my mother’s last rites, he soon discovered he was being “fixed up” for a date with my friend by my mom! Even from her deathbed, my mother was still connecting people.
Perfecting Connecting® Action Steps:
1. Look for ways to be a resource to others. When you meet people, think about what and who could be helpful to them. If you’re not sure ask, “How could I be a resource to you?” E-mail is a wonderful, effective, and efficient way to connect two people whom you know that need to know each other.
2. Live life with an abundance mentality. My mother always tried to bake a bigger pie so that everyone got a bigger slice. By helping other businesses grow first, her business took off. And who doesn’t like pie… especially blueberry?
3. Take the time to find out what is really important to the people in your network. Look for opportunities to have a “virtual cup of coffee” with your contacts and spend 10 minutes talking on the phone just to get to know them better. Build a deeper relationship so you can really be of service to others. You also might discover things you have in common, which just makes life so much more interesting!
Connect for life…not just for the moment,
Thanks Mom!
