May
20
2010
We do that…
Author: Inside Stuart's head...Last evening our Calgary Business Professionals Networking Group held their monthly Beer, Wings and Networking event at the Rusty Cage in South Calgary. What a great establishment for a social networking event where everyone can come together for some fellowship and networking. Hats off to our great business club in Calgary. Thanks to Ray and the entire team at the Rusty Cage/Studio 82 for another wonderful event.
The lesson learned at our Calgary Business Networking Club
Social Networking requires people to be real. Our business networking club is social networking and we are not hiding behind some keyboard and computer screen. We are out and about in the community, meeting up, sharing stories, exchange business cards and learning from each other. One of the comments that we kept hearing throughout the event is how real this business club actually is. That everyone can just be themselves and tell it like it is in a completely comfortable environment. This is a very important and a crucial life-lesson I learned a while back. Many tried to reach out to me, especially during my “I” focused years. We need to be authentic, real and ourselves more than anything.
During the evening and speaking with the members at the event I ran into a Calgary Social Media self-proclaimed Guru. It was this couple’s first time at our event and one of the people claimed they knew me but sorry I don’t recall meeting them in the past. This guy and his partner claim to do everything in the world of social media. They will fill your pipeline with qualified leads, your revenues will gush like Leduc Number 1 and they have an endless team. You need feet on the street in New York City, he does that. You need some customized coding, he does that…maybe you need someone to mop the floors at the end of the night, he does that. Can you see the potential challenges here?
In my early days of IT Matters, we gave the perception to our clients that we were their single source for anything IT related and even to this day at Ulistic, there is value is being a single source or that CONNECTOR who knows the right people to introduce in situations. This is why I network, to understand who does what and who I can refer business to. I still like to believe we can be a single source of knowledge and share openly with those we care about and trust (KNOW, LIKE, TRUST). What is different about that mindset vs. “we do that”. We don’t do everything, however we have strong strategic alliances that are able to help you with what challenge faces your business.
Do you need a sign for your office, we know someone and we can introduce you. How about some tricky software code, that as well…we don’t do that but we have talented business relationships that we would more than happy to connect you with. It is about being a CONNECTOR, about looking out for the needs of others without “sticking your oar” in and claiming it is all about you.
People like to deal with humble, authentic and real people. Part of being authentic and real is knowing what you are good at, showing that you really care and forming alliances with those who can help you with the weaknesses in your business.
