Nutrition, Investing and NetWorking, Part II: The Power of Discipline

Last month, in Part I of this series (click on the link below to request Part I if you have not received it), we talked about diversification as a success factor in Nutrition, Investing and NetWorking. We took this a step further when we related Investing and NetWorking to an asset allocation model.

While this is helpful in understanding our NetWork as an asset (or group of assets), this does not take into account a key difference: most people who invest rely upon others who do nothing but WATCH our investments for us. These asset managers decide (on our behalf) which stocks are moved into and out of our portfolios. Sure...we can ultimately decide to sell an asset when we are not happy with the manager's performance, but we still need somebody to do it for us (unless we happen to be a particularly savvy investor).

On the other hand, in the world of Nutrition and NetWorking, we do not have others we can rely upon who will eat the right foods for us or get us NetWorked. OK...with NetWorking you CAN sometimes rely on business connectors or "hubs" as they are sometimes called to get you NetWorked, but there has to be some reason for them to do so first.

So at the end of the NetWorking day, success is really put upon our own shoulders. Yes...there are CEOs of larger organizations who have entire sales and marketing staffs that will NetWork to get referrals, but show me a CEO who doesn't know the basics of NetWorking and I will show you a CEO that will soon be flipping burgers! Remember that NetWorking isn't just about getting referrals as much as it is developing and cultivating relationships for strategic alliances, information, data, jobs, etc.

SO the question becomes, "How do we ensure our own NetWorking success?"

The answer is the same for the question: "How do we ensure our own nutritional success?"

The answer, as the title of this article implies is "discipline", which implies the following steps:

1.) Assessment of where we want to be (desired results or outcomes). What is it we are looking for?

2.) Assessment of where we are right now. Are we appropriately NetWorked? What's missing?

3.) Planning the actions to get from where we are now to getting the desired results or outcomes, including measurement parameters, or metrics. How will we know how we are doing?

4.) Continual monitoring, follow-up and accountability. At one month, two months, three months in...where are we? Where should we be according to our projections? Is this good or not-so-good progress? What will we do about it?

Beyond this, effective NetWorkers also use discipline when it comes to:

- Managing their time, making sure they give appropriate time to each of their NetWorks

- Ensuring that their message is appropriately communicated

- Ensuring that the people they refer are the best so that they maintain their credibility

- Knowing which contact in which NetWork to tap into for ANY given situation

- Keeping in touch regularly with key contacts

- Following up on those they refer, those that refer to them and all others who benefit from the connection.

So while we don't have equivalents of asset managers, the good news is that we do have nutritionists, personal trainers and fitness coaches to make sure we're on track with our diets and excercise programs. The world of NetWorking has its equivalents as well. Talk with a membership strategist, strategic planner, marketing guru, NetWorking and/or sales trainer or coach to help you.

Keep in mind that by cultivating both diversification and discipline in NetWorking produces the following benefits:

- increased exposure to new ideas, new people, new opportunities

- increased returns on referrals and relationships

- increased percieved value as you can position yourself as a link between major NetWorks. As my friend Scott Degraffenreid, noted Social Network Architect and co-author of "Embracing the N.U.D.E. Model:  The New Art and Science of Referral Marketing" says, "Being in any number of networks is only worth a fraction of what building a unique synthesis is.  Connecting resources   from network to network will make you rich.  Droning around from  network to network looking for the right connection just makes you tired."

So if you’re tired of the same old NetWorking and want something new, keep reading and we'll see you next month.

Kovitz Enterprises, LLC
Connecting, Educating and Inspiring Business
18 Rockwood Road
Levittown, PA 19056
(215) 945-3411