Fishing By Kelly: Networking Tips from the Faith Based Community By Maria Elena Duron, Multicultural Networking Editor Maria's Bio     Email article     RSS feed      Share on  facebook

Every Thursday morning, I get great fishing tips from Kelly Cockerell, Owner of the Midland Concierge, a cutting-edge touch screen kiosk that provides community information, tickets and restaurant ordering capability at the touch of a screen. His “second hat” that he wears is the technology pastor of Second Baptist Church in Midland, Texas. “Just like the flu this year, your excitement is contagious!” Kelly shares enthusiastically with his fellow members of a local networking Chamber LEADers club.

The idea sprang from Kelly’s work in this faith based community. He sprung the idea on his networking club with the thought that “the same practices utilized to build a church community could build a networking community.”

The GO FISH program that he is referring to was developed by Andy Stanley author of the book, study guide and DVD of the same name. The program is described by the publisher as a new perception on the word “evangelism” by showing how believers can make sharing your faith a natural, easy part of everyday life.

Kelly felt that the correlation between that teaching and what he could share with his networking group would make it easier for members to share their belief in being able to do business by relationships. Gratefully, his club listens to the “Fishing by Kelly” moments. According to Kelly, “the root of the message is that Jesus called the first disciples to be Fishers of Men. They were by profession already fishermen, He told them if they would follow Him, He would make them Fishers of Men.”

The tips I have adapted to the networking group are:

1. We were all fish once
2. Your excitement is contagious
3. Don’t over think it [prospects]
4. Fishing buddies (the atmosphere we all create during the meeting is what will keep them involved once they come, hence the actual group is our fishing buddy)
5. Keep it simple (we tend to over complicate what we tell people, Andy tells a great story about how easy fishing for sharks is)
6. The one that got away (understanding the cost of letting a good member “get away”)

In mainstream networking, it’s wonderful to get some faith based tips to make our networking “work”! The true spirit of relationship performance management is to take high performing entrepreneurs and executives from frantic networking to profitable engagement that comes from shedding the limitations of old sales pitches and creating compelling connections. I invite you to discover your personal brand strengths and connect-ability readiness by taking this on-line quiz found at http://www.buzz2bucks.com. If you'd like to learn more about succeeding at your personal brand, visit http://www.buzz2bucks.com. You'll learn everything you need to know from what is your personal brand, how to use what makes you best, and engage others in a way that compels others to speak positively on your behalf and influence their contact sphere to your benefit.

 

Maria Elena Duron, C.P.B.S., C.N.P. PCC, is Chief Buzz Agent, speaker and coach specializing in connecting high performing entrepreneurs and executives and using what makes them best so they can move from their frantic pursuit to success and balance now.

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