 | Networking Tips: Have Fun Networking! | When business contacts become friends ... | Posted on: 27/11/2013 By: Jacky Sherman |
Last week, several people I know through business networking, took their courage in their hands and took to Firewalking. Why? To raise money for a local charity called Families United Network ...
Ellen Willoughby organised the fire walking event and it was great to be part of such a fun evening! Who says your business contacts can't become your friends!
They could have just handed over their cash but this was, of course, more fun and they could include their friends, family and business colleagues in the occasion. It was quite an amazing evening and those 31 people got a real buzz from walking on hot coals on a freezing cold and rainy November night.
I hadn't been brave enough to join in though. I went along as support originally, but afterwards I did wish I had taken part. Huge thanks to Ellen Willoughby who organised the event as it was a fantastic night!
This time of the year we’re all invited to many Christmas events with friends, family and business contacts. We seem to cram all our socialising into about four weeks and much of it with a sense of duty rather than real pleasure. Bah, humbug!
I wonder what would happen if you added fun into your referral marketing strategy all year round? I know, I can imagine many of you thinking that it sounds rather manipulative “come to dinner because I want a referral or to sell to you.” You may also be thinking that you like to keep business and your private life separate, or even that you don't have time for fun, you're just too busy working!
Or you could look at it another way ...
Your friends are people who you like and trust and want to spend time with and they with you. Your closest referral sources are people you like and trust and want to spend time with and they with you.
You may have started your relationship with a business intent but as the relationship deepens you become friends. Many people say that belonging to a business network group has the added plus of building long term friendships and support. I wonder how much better it would be if we went into networking with that as the intention rather than it emerging as a side effect?
"The business flows out of the relationship rather than
the other way around."
Your business friends may share a passion for football, sailing, theatre or a myriad of other interests you have, so why not go together? If we were in a job we wouldn't think twice about going with colleagues, would we? You don't have to talk shop all the time and you are allowed to just hang out!
These are the people who have helped you all year in some way. So how about saying thank you? It may be as simple as buying a drink for them, or inviting them for a curry. It may be that you invite them to a larger event that you're going to anyway and would like their company.
Many events are more fun to attend with a group. You don't always have to pay for them as people are just happy you invited them along. As a side effect, what a great way to introduce people to each other!
So two short and simple tips this week:
Mix business with pleasure. Fun is not just for Christmas. Do it every week!
Running a business can turn into a 7-day a week treadmill. Why not add in some fun just for the hell of it and who better to share that with than your business friends?
If you want to have fun and make money and would like some help in achieving that, then call me on +44 (0) 7970 638857 or click here to ping over an email and I'll get right back to you.
Until next time ...
JACKY SHERMAN
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