Stop Xenophobia Now
Xenophobia must STOP,
by Seth Naicker
As a South African , it is a down right shame that brothers and sisters from other countries in Africa are being treated with such blatant disregard.These acts of violence and injustice that has transpired is repulsive, shocking and disgusting!
However, we must put the pressure on the government to address this matter of xenophobia. Our president needs to speak out against it, without delay of or need for investigation. The news report is definitive enough and cannot be denied, so president Mbeki must stand up and condemn these acts of violence without delay.
The complexity of South African’s who are acting out in frustration of their own circumstances, as people who are agitated by the non-delivery of democratic promises, can and must be understood, but not to the extent that we take out our frustration on our fellow African brothers and sisters, who are need of our support, understanding and love. (more…)
While Good Men Do Nothing
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‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ Edmund Burke.
For the last 14 years I have been proud to call myself a South African. I have travelled the world sharing the miraculous story of hate turning to hope and racism to reconciliation. I have praised the code of ubuntu that most of us South Africans have claimed to live by.
Man on a rampage in Ramaphosa
But I have lived to see another story unfolding that I am not so proud of. I have seen and heard of violent crimes and abuse of women and children and now the Xenophobic and cowardly attacks on unsuspecting immigrants in our communities. The last 10 days have seen the escalation of these attacks and created thousands of displaced people overnight. What is sad is that many have very young children with no food, clothes and blankets. Community halls and police station have become refugee centre, for those seeking refuge from the violent mobs.
My wife Stacey and some of the Young & Able team members have been visiting some of the affected areas since Friday and have realised the tremendous need for assistance. Olefile (Y&A Consultant) spoke with a man in Alexandra who seemed to have lost hope and did his best to comfort and give hope. Today I spent some time in Tokoza Community Centre next to the police station. I was greeted by a very sobering scene, hundreds of people some of whom still have blood stains and and fear written all over their faces. Jane the local council member who has been there since Saturday (who looks exhausted) escorted us over the bodies of people who occupying any space they can salvage. We realised that some of the food Stacey and the Salvation Army organised the day before is running low and this time we had brought nothing with us today. We promised that we would get more assistance.
I realised that every little bit does help and also that all that is needed for evil to win is for us to do nothing! We can overcome evil with good and it’s not just by talking it by doing. I saw local man standing guard to protect people inside. These were local South African people who are saying with their presence ‘NOT IN OUR NAME’. Others are giving food and blankets and hours of their time.
I believe that there are good people in South Africa with compassion and who want to act. The opportunity is now. We can’t tolerate hateful or demeaning talk in our circles about immigrants. People are people no matter where they come from and when we dehumanise others we ourselves loose our humanity. Our words and attitudes towards others are just as important as our actions.
I am challenging you to do something! You cannot continue merrily while things go up in flames. Make a decision to do something. If you are out of Johannesburg reach out to those in your sphere. If you are in Johannesburg respond to the call for help and use the existing points of contact. We are doing our bit as Young & Able and Heartlines, you can join us if you can. See details below.
Sincerely
Buhle Dlamini
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Buhle Dlamini is an Entrepreneur, Speaker and Writer as well as the Founder of Young & Able Youth Advisory Services cc, helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams. Buhle is also a consulting Project Manager to Heartlines a values-based Mass Media Initiative. Get Buhle’s FREE monthly Success Newsletter by visiting his website at www.youngable.com
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Innovation-Get Creative, Get Rich
By Buhle Dlamini
“The real source of wealth and capital in this new era is not material things.. it is the human mind, the human spirit, the human imagination, and our faith in the future.”
Steve Forbes
The 2008 Forbes World Billionaires List was released last month and Patrice Motsepe becoming the first black South African to make the list. The youngest of all is 23-year-old Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is quite possibly the world’s youngest self-made billionaire ever. Mark’s innovation has not only catapulted him to the dizzy heights of wealth but has changed millions of people’s lives around the world. Innovation has become a very important factor of life and business these days and if you want a piece of the action you need to release your creative juices now.
We are living in the era of innovation, where everything and anything is possible if you can conceive it and make it work. Daily in the silicon valleys of the world entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs are hard at work to come up with the next best thing and when successful their endevours are often rewarded with millions if not billions. Here in our country there are still many gaps that need to be filled. Even for those who are employed there are often numerous opportunities that can be taken in the workplace with a little creativity. All it takes is for you to let your creative juices flow and change your life.
When you hear about these people who come up with innovations that become big hits, do you ever think ‘why didn’t I think of that’. Think of Nate Stahl that came up with the Post-It Notes that we now use everyday, while working for 3M. It was so simple, so common sense and she’s the only one made millions out her invention. The question is how can you become more creative and start getting into the innovation zone. Business is all about innovation, those who succeed in their careers also do it by being more creative than the herd. But can anyone be creative and innovative? Well you be the judge by applying some of these exercise to let your creative juices flow:
Mess Up Your Routine -
We all get stuck in the rut of doing things the way we’ve always done them. Sticking to well worn routine is a sure way to remain uncreative. Think of a new route to work, start your work schedule the other way round, change one habit that you have. Messing up your routine forces you to think creatively.
Keep an Ideas Notebook -
Ideas come up anytime and anywhere. The stroke of genius often hits when we least expect it. I have kept a notebook since I was 14 years old. I have come up with the craziest ideas and some of those ideas have become my businesses successful and some duds but recording the ideas when they came is what made the difference.
Get Fresh Viewpoints -
Magazines, blogs (YoungEntrepreneur.co.za and SucceedNow), books and websites can open your mind to new ideas. Visit the library and read books on topics that intrigue you or related to your field. Attending seminars and workshops that will expose you to a new way of thinking. Expand your viewpoint and enlarge your creativity.
Ask Questions -
Asking questions like “Is there another to do this?” often leads to a mental engagement that can lead to a new solution to an old problem. If you could change anything about your work, your business and the service that you offer what would it be? Ask questions and think about possible answers and you could be on your way to the Forbes Billionaires List.
So there you are, do you have what it takes to become a creative genius and change your life, career and business? The answer is in your hands, now you have the tools, use them.
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Buhle Dlamini is an Entrepreneur, Speaker and Writer as well as the Founder of Young & Able Youth Advisory Services cc, helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams. Buhle is also a consulting Project Manager to Heartlines a values-based Mass Media Initiative. Get Buhle’s FREE monthly Success Newsletter by visiting his website at www.youngable.com
Website: www.youngable.com
Listen:http://yaab.mypodcast.com Online Mall:www.buyonline.co.za
Freedom Was Not Free, Neither Is Success
By Buhle Dlamini
“In life there is no such thing as a free lunch.” Anonymous
If I have heard that phrase once I have heard it a thousand times, “there is no free lunch in life”, obviously not to be taken literally. I have enjoyed many a lunch at no monetary cost to me, but there are other costs like time spent with the other etc. Recently I have been thinking about the cost of freedom that we enjoy today. Freedom to be whom and what we choose to be. Freedom to vote for those we want to lead us in government. Freedom to choose how and who to worship. Freedom to associate with those we choose to associate with. Freedom to express our feelings and concerns without worrying about being thrown in jail. These and many others are some of the rights or freedoms we have today. We can never take any of these rights for granted; they define our freedom as human beings living in a free country.
If we scratch a little deeper though we realize that this freedom we now live in was not free. This freedom we have came at a great cost. It cost many families loved ones and many individuals years of suffering, torture and separation. Freedom was not free even though it is now available for free to all of us today. We must never forget the cost of freedom so that we will defend it with all of our might. We need to always put before us the cost so that we will always cherish freedom and not trample it.
Success, like freedom is not free. Many are waiting for success to be passed out in buckets for free and that is not going to happen. Many believe that those who are now successful should share their success so that others may get it for free. It is a notion that many want to even fight for as their right. This is ridiculous to the extreme! Success in anything, education, business, career and relationships, comes at a cost. Success has to cost you something; otherwise it is no success at all. By it’s very definition success speaks about overcoming something to be in a better position. (more…)
A call for corporate conscience in South Africa
South Africa whether we admit it or not has a booming economy, that is spinning off its’ spiral concerning the fact that we have an economy that is a living breathing tyrant of capitalism. However we must consider the fact that our successful economy is only benefiting certain parts of South African society, and these parts being the middle to upper classes.
President Thabo Mbeki himself has openly provided critique of our South African economy and the fact that we have bought into a capitalist economy, which ultimately further disenfranchises the poor and the marginalized. Our concern in corporate South Africa should be, “How can we find a hybrid of an economic system that is governed by intentions to seek economic growth within a model that simultaneously seeks to empower the multitudes of South Africans that are of the lower class, who are in many cases stuck in generic poverty and struggling just to make earnings to put bread on the table.
There seems to be a social process of hegemony, where people of influence and power are not willing to question the tremendous flourishing of the rich and the elites in a South Africa where post apartheid has not dealt with issues of chronic poverty, housing, unemployment etc.
Why is it that people, organizations and institutions have no social conscience and desire to ask critical questions about the state and the plight of the poor? Instead we come up with simple answers to complex situations. Simple answers such as, “the poor are poor because they are lazy; they don’t seek out opportunities, they are too happy to just go from door to door begging and they don’t have drive.”
What response will corporate South Africa provide to the growing gap between the rich and the poor? Will corporate South Africa choose to be silent, by ignoring the plight of the people, or will corporate South Africa come alive to having a concern for the social demise of many of our country’s sons and daughters.
There may be a need for a radical revolution within our economy, where we seek out a custom made socialized democracy that is driven by a concern for the development of all South Africans, a hybrid economy that allows profit without a cost that further denies the healthy development of our people.
Blessings and ‘alutta continua’, “la lucha continua,” the struggle continues.
Shalom, Shanti, La Paz sea contigo, As-Salamu’Alaykum - Peace be upon you!
Yours sincerely
Seth Naicker
Program and projects director
Office of Reconciliation Studies
Bethel University
3900 Bethel Drive,# 2083
St. Paul, Minnesota
55112-6999, USA
Tel: 651 638 6417
seth-naicker@bethel.edu
indiAfrique - Training and Development
smnaick@hotmail.com
Get Lucky – The Art Of Creating Your Own Luck
By Buhle Dlamini
One of the exciting books I have read in recent years is “Lucky or Smart” by Bo Peabody, a successful entrepreneur who made a lot of money by starting several businesses that he sold and made him rich. In the book he looks at why he became so successful, was it luck or was it his ingenuity? He admits it was a bit of both but mostly luck which he created as he went along.
We often hear people saying that to succeed we need to be creating our own luck. Sounds great, but does one actually go about doing that. And hey isn’t luck all about chance anyway? Well if that is so, how can some people be repeatedly lucky in different areas of their lives while others hit the dead end? There must be something that these lucky people keep doing that makes them lucky more often than not. Wouldn’t you want to be one of them instead of just observing from the distance?
If you are serious about creating your own luck as you go along then you need to consider the art of creating your own luck. Let’s take a look at what lucky people do consistently to set themselves apart from the herd:
• Take The Plunge- Seize Opportunities
Lucky people take the plunge while others dither and tap dance on the edge of opportunity. Every single day we are presented with opportunities to do things that could easily lead to other bigger, better things. But, because many of us undermine or completely neglect these opportunities of chance, we rarely ever see where the rabbit hole leads. We continue on with our merry little lives avoiding anything out of the ordinary instead of looking for a chance to do something or go somewhere different. If you ask the so-called lucky people what brought about their lucky break you’ll often hear them say things like: “I just happened to be talking to this stranger who turned out to be so-and-so and the rest is history”. Opportunities are created out of chance meetings, chance conversations that turn out to be vital in roads to something bigger.
People who create their own luck often take a plunge in starting businesses that seem like a big risk. They attend functions where they might meet people who hold a key to their luck. They often talk to strangers or risk humiliating themselves, which they often do, but the newspapers only capture the moment of their luck/breakthrough.
You can choose to be one of the lucky people by deciding to take the plunge more often in your life. Not all the plunges you take will lead to great opportunities but the more often you do it the more likely you’ll hit the mark. Decide to take more opportunities that come your way to do something different, something a little risky and see what happens to your luck factor.
The best definition of luck is “luck occurs when preparedness meets opportunity”
• Play Your Strong Cards. (more…)
Creating Your Desired Future
By Buhle Dlamini
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” - Allan Kay
One of my most successful presentations to date has been “Owning The Future” which looks the 5 keys to being at the forefront in your field. As we look at business, career and personal success it is important to note that there is not much we can do about our past. And the present, well, we’re in it right now, if we haven’t played our cards right in the past the only thing we can do with the present is give it our best. It goes without saying that what we all have power to shape is our future.
We, each and every one of us are in a position to make decisions right now that will have an impact on our future and in turn decide whether we are in the lead or lagging behind. In “Owning The Future” I speak about the fact that if we want to be at the forefront we need to get into the habit of making future-based decisions. Let me put it into terms that you might understand better: If 8 years ago you had decided to invest a portion of your money in a company like Google which back then was just a start-up company, you probably would not need to work again for the rest your life.
The art of making future-based decisions is what sets apart those who succeed spectacularly from those who just get by or even fail. I hasten to point out that this habit does not come naturally to most of us because we are all products of our environment. We are often obsessed with our past and our present that we have little or no time dedicated to our future. Consider the wisdom of the ant, oh sluggard, which works hard in the summer (sometimes carrying food ten times its own weight) in preparation for winter when food will be scarce. Just to paraphrase from the Bible.
As you enter into yet another year in 2008 you have a great opportunity for you to create your desired future. Let us look at what you need to look at in inventing your ideal year:
1. Decide To Invent Your Best Year Yet
Nothing ever gets done until a firm decision has been made about anything, that’s just how things work. Realising that you have a choice in how your future will and can pan out is a liberating revelation. Embrace this revelation and decide to make this your best year yet. Unforeseen circumstances will come but the difference this time will be your determination to deal with whatever you are going to face to make this your best year. So then, just do it, decide to make 2008 the best year yet in your business, life, career and relationships.
2. Turn Intentions Into Actions
As I look at my 2007, although it was my best year yet, including the highlight of receiving an award from Desmond Tutu for HEARTLINES. I also can’t help but think about the many good intentions that remained just that – intentions. (more…)
Investing In Your Success!
How To Maximise Your Resources
By Buhle Dlamini,
One of the things I say to people who want to succeed in their lives but feel that they lack resources to do so is this: “You are never without something to start with.” The key to unleashing success in whatever area in your life is realizing that you already have something to start with. The biggest hindrance to people really achieving great goals in their lives is the crippling “Illusion of Lack of Resources”.
The illusion of lack of resources means that we are always starting from the point of lack. Most dreams and ideas never even see the light of day, because we the dreamers decide prematurely that we won’t have the resources needed to achieve them. But, when we realize that we already have something to start with it can change the course of our lives, businesses and careers.
You are only responsible and accountable for what you already have, you cannot account for what is currently beyond your reach. When you are clear about your starting point it will make it easier for you to turn that into success. We always think of money as “the” resource we need to achieve our goals, but in reality money is a very small part of the equation. If you speak to the really wealthy people you’ll soon realize that the resources they cherish most are the ones we all have access to and money is the least of them. This is why the really wealthy people will be able to make their money back in short space of time even if they loose all of it today. The same can be said about some in real poverty, if you gave them millions today, they’ll manage to loose it all within 3 years.
Your most valuable resources readily available, they’re your Time, Energy, Network, Knowledge, Talent and Relationships. There is no monetary figure attached to these, you cannot buy them although you can maximize each and everyone of them. If you are serious about your success you need to learn the art of using your resources properly. There are really three ways to use your resources: Spend, Save or Invest them.
Invest in Your “Real Resources”
Everyday we have a choice about how we are going to use the resources we have available to us. If we choose to spend our resources we’ll have nothing to show for it in the future, you can only spend the coin once, once it’s spent it cannot be used again. If we choose to save our resources it will be better than spending them but they will never really be more than they are now they’ll just pile up and collect dust. If, however, we choose to invest our resources we get something revolutionary, we double, triple and quadruple what we started with. Investing your resources is the secret of success that is so simple and in our face that we have to duck out of the way to avoid being hit by it. And yet we choose to duck and not use it to our advantage everyday.
What about doing the following and see what happens:
BUSINESS BREAKFAST INVITATION
INVITATION
TO A BUSINESS BREAKFAST
“I am so glad I came to breakfast — who knew that what
I could learn over eggs could change my life so much!”
Come and join us for an exciting breakfast meeting!
This is a business breakfast like no other. You will hear about people living truly extraordinary lives and achieving outstanding results.
“Your success in anything is directly related to the identities of
the people sitting around your board room table.”
Why is it that some people seem to attract wealth easily while other people work hard without getting anywhere at all? At this breakfast, you will gain an understanding about how wealth is created and what wealth really is.
You will also learn the role that critical moments play in business and personal success 
and how to create attraction within your network. And, of course, how to dramatically improve the quality of your network.
You will also learn about the breakfast sponsor, the XL Results Foundation, its vision and the role that social entrepreneurs are playing to change the world.
“We make a living from what we get;
we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
So while this breakfast is about growing your wealth, your business and getting connected with entrepreneurs around the world, it has far more to do with why we should be doing those things and the significant impact we can have on the world by working together.
This breakfast will be an enlightening, inspiring and valuable experience – a critical moment in itself.
Click Here to Attend A Breakfast Near You!
About XL Results Foundation
Recognised as Asia’s Largest Entrepreneur Network, XL has now developed a worldwide network that will provide 1,000 events in 100 cities in 2008. XL provides individuals with the invaluable resources to accelerate their personal success and the inspiration to contribute in a way that creates the maximum impact.
XL is also the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs with philanthropic projects all over the world.
About XL Breakfasts Meetings
XL networking breakfasts bring people together to connect, meet new contacts and learn from each other in a supportive and inspiring atmosphere.
What You will Learn:
- The role that social entrepreneurs play in improving the economic position of their own communities and the world around them.
- How business owners and entrepreneurs are using the network to accelerate the growth of their businesses.
- What wealth really is and how to create it.
- The role that attraction plays in your network and how to create it.
- That there are specific pathways to wealth and how to determine what yours is.
- What critical moments are and how to take action / make decisions when they occur.
Who Should Attend?
- Entrepreneurs
- Business Managers
- Business Owners
- Professionals
- Business Coaches
- Anyone interested in Social Enterprise and Philanthropy.
About the Speaker
Eric Edmeades is a successful entrepreneur and consultant. In his mid-20’s he started what would become Europe’s leading supplier and maintainer of data capture, wireless networking and mobile computing equipment. Nine years later he sold the company and turned his focus on his true passions: teaching and inspiring other entrepreneurs; speaking and consulting internationally on a variety of business topics; philanthropy and social enterprise.
Eric is the developer of the Living Rich Experience™ and the One Life Workshop™. He also runs a number of Adventure Seminars™ including See You at the Top, a seminar that includes climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain.
Eric is a co-founder of the Build a School initiative, an advisor to Global Angels and donates his time to speak for schools, prisons and charities all over the world.
Click Here to Attend A Breakfast Near You!
PS. There is no cost for attending the Breakfast Meeting but they are limited to first-registered, first served.
Networking and Marketing Yourself
Be Patient
Networking is a long-term activity. Steven Ginsburg of the Washington Post describes
networking as “building social capital.” You may not see results overnight, and at first
should expect to give more than you get. But over time, your network will become one of
your most valued assets.
COMMON MISTAKES
Not Wanting to Bother Anyone
Remember that people love to help others. Don’t take up too much of their time, and
come well prepared. When you ask for someone’s time, be specific. Say, “I’d like 30
minutes of your time,” and then stick to it. Don’t outstay your welcome. Whenever you
meet with someone, always be thinking, “Is there something I can do to help this
person?” Create a win-win situation.
Coming On Too Strong
Networking is not about selling something to someone who doesn’t want it. You are
looking for opportunities to create a mutual relationship, where there is give and take. In
order for networking to be successful, you have to be interested in developing a longterm
relationship. Remind yourself that your focus is on relationship building, not on
immediate results.
Not Coming On Strongly Enough
You put yourself in networking situations, but never talk about your needs or interests.
This may be because you are not clear enough about why you are networking, or you are
networking for reasons that are not particularly important to you. Go back to step one and
clarify your purpose.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Michelli, Dena and Alison Straw. Successful Networking. Hauppage, NJ: Barron’s
Educational Series, 1997.
De Reffele, Frank J., et al. Successful Business Networking. Worcester, Massachusetts:
Chandler House Press, 1998.
Web Site:
The Vault Guide to Schmoozing:
GETTING STARTED
Everyone can always benefit from networking and marketing themselves. Business is
driven by relationships and marketing yourself requires you to build strong and
meaningful relationships—many that will be long term. The following are questions to
consider as you prepare to network and to market yourself:
• Why are you networking? What is your personal or professional goal?
• What are your strengths that will help you to market yourself?
• What organizations or events will be valuable places for networking?
• How much time do you want to spend on networking, and when will you do it?
• How will you know when you’ve been successful?
FAQS
Why should I bother to network and to market myself?
Research has shown that people who have a vast network of contacts, who are involved
in professional and community activities outside their business, and who look for
opportunities to be visible are more successful in their careers.
Isn’t networking the same as politicking, and won’t it look bad?
No. Networking is done for the good of your business, rather than for personal gain. If
you are a successful networker, people are drawn to you because they know you are well
connected and that you have good resources.
When is the best time to network?
Networking should become a way of life, a way of being. You should be networking all
the time. As you build professional relationships, be constantly thinking: “What can I
offer this person?” “How can I be of help?” The more you try to be of service to others,
the more people will want to do things for you, and in the initial stages of a new business
this will be a huge help.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
Clarify the Purpose of Your Networking and Why You Are Marketing yourself.
There are many reasons for networking and for marketing oneself. When you are starting
up or trying to grow a small business, for example, these reasons may include gaining
support for a major project, finding funding, or setting up a partnership with other local
businesses. If you are hoping to gain a new job or promotion, you may be looking for
someone who can give you expert guidance. Although it is important to continually build
relationships, it is much more effective to know from the outset why you are building
these relationships and what you hope to accomplish. Everyone has limited time, and this
will help you to decide how to prioritize your networking activities.
Make a List of Your Strong Points
It is important to have a sense of who you are and what your strengths are when you are
networking and marketing yourself. What are your special skills and abilities? What
unique knowledge do you have? What experiences will other people find valuable? What
characteristics and beliefs define who you are? Once you have made this list, make
copies for your bathroom mirror, for your car dashboard, and for your wallet. Knowing
your strengths helps you to remember that other people will value what you have to offer.
Never network from a position of weakness, but from a position of strength. This means
having something of value to offer others, so that they don’t see you as an annoyance. It’s
also a good idea to begin networking before you need anything from other people. Join or
create a network to build relationships, and do what you can to help others or the
organization.
Make a List of Organizations and Events for Networking
Identify professional organizations and events that may be helpful to you in your career
or with your project. Look for special interest groups like those for “entrepreneurial
women” for example. Get involved. When you are at professional events, make sure that
you attend social functions, that you join people for dinner, and that you seek out
volunteer opportunities.
Create a Contact List
Keeping in mind your reasons for networking, brainstorm all the people you know who
might be of help to you. Prioritize the list according to who is most likely to be helpful.
Think about people you have done favors for in the past who might not be of direct help,
but who may know someone who can be. After you have spoken to each one, ask him or
her, “Who else do you know that can be of help to me?”
Create an Action Plan with a Schedule
Take your list of organizations and events and your contact list, and put together an
action plan for making connections. Schedule networking events on your calendar, along
with organizational meetings, conferences and so on. Using your contact list, set up a
schedule for making a certain number of calls per day or per week.
Meet with People and Attend Events
Before you meet with someone or attend an event, review your list of strengths, and focus
on your purpose for networking and marketing yourself. It helps to visualize or picture a
successful outcome. Be friendly and professional, but most of all, be yourself. Spend time
connecting with people on a personal level before asking for help or sharing your reason
for networking. If you are meeting in person with someone on your contact list, always
bring a gift—something they can remember you by.
Network on the Net
The Internet is a valuable place to make connections and to learn fruitful information
from colleagues. If you have a special interest or a special field, there is sure to be a
newsgroup or threaded bulletin board on your topic. If not, start one by setting up a
listserv at www.topica.com, or at similar sites.
Market Yourself
The actions you take depend on why you are marketing yourself, but think of yourself as
a brand; “Brand You.” When marketers are marketing a product, they look for the
“Unique Selling Proposition” (USP). A USP is something relevant and original that can
be claimed for a particular product or service. The USP should be able to communicate:
“Buy our brand and get this unique benefit.” When marketing yourself, you need to
define who your “customers” are and what your Unique Selling Proposition is. Your list
of strengths above should give you some clues, but the USP needs to be stated in a short
phrase. People who are closest to you can often give you suggestions. It might be
something like: “I help people to realize their dreams,” or “My leadership brings out the
best in others,” or “I solve problems quickly and simply.”
Once you know your USP, brainstorm ways that you can market yourself and your
uniqueness. The key is to let people know what you have to offer. Write an article for the
company newsletter or a professional newsletter related to your USP. Volunteer to give a
talk. Design a project that uses your unique talents and propose it to the right people. Be visible.
Assess Your Progress Toward Networking Goals
You may wish to keep a notebook of your action plans and your progress. It also helps to
have someone as a sounding board. That person can be a friend, a partner, or a
professional coach. When we feel accountable for our actions to someone we trust, we
are much more likely to follow through. It also helps to have someone who is willing to
celebrate your successes and accomplishments with you.
Always Say “Thank You”
As you network, many people will offer you information, opportunities, and valuable
contacts. In your notebook, keep track of the favors that people have done for you and
make sure that you write each one a short and simple thank-you letter. People are always
more willing to help someone who has been appreciative in the past.
Be Patient
Networking is a long-term activity. Steven Ginsburg of the Washington Post describes
networking as “building social capital.” You may not see results overnight, and at first
should expect to give more than you get. But over time, your network will become one of
your most valued assets.
COMMON MISTAKES
Not Wanting to Bother Anyone
Remember that people love to help others. Don’t take up too much of their time, and
come well prepared. When you ask for someone’s time, be specific. Say, “I’d like 30
minutes of your time,” and then stick to it. Don’t outstay your welcome. Whenever you
meet with someone, always be thinking, “Is there something I can do to help this
person?” Create a win-win situation.
Coming On Too Strong
Networking is not about selling something to someone who doesn’t want it. You are
looking for opportunities to create a mutual relationship, where there is give and take. In
order for networking to be successful, you have to be interested in developing a longterm
relationship. Remind yourself that your focus is on relationship building, not on
immediate results.
Not Coming On Strongly Enough
You put yourself in networking situations, but never talk about your needs or interests.
This may be because you are not clear enough about why you are networking, or you are
networking for reasons that are not particularly important to you. Go back to step one and
clarify your purpose.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Michelli, Dena and Alison Straw. Successful Networking. Hauppage, NJ: Barron’s
Educational Series, 1997.
De Reffele, Frank J., et al. Successful Business Networking. Worcester, Massachusetts:
Chandler House Press, 1998.
Web Site:
The Vault Guide to Schmoozing: