Next Chapter New Life

I met Alice Tang* a year ago through a friend I had previously worked with.  We were introduced over email as two people who probably have some professional synergy.  All these months later, I sit in awe of this tiny, Chinese powerhouse thinking, if her method of networking could be packaged up for others, we’d all be better off.  Networking is vital for every professional from careerist, to job seeker, to business owner. Networking is the oxygen of business.  It’s also an important personal activity.  I interviewed Alice in an attempt to better understand her and her extraordinary method of networking, as well as thinking it should be shared with the world. Here’s how she answered several key networking questions: What does networking mean for you both personally and professionally?  “Personally, networking is a way to get to know the world.  Whether it’s new knowledge, ideas, inspiration or people, I get to know the world more each time I connect with someone.  Professionally, I see networking as a marketing role, not selling.  Down the road this marketing (or networking) might lead to sales.  It’s important to me getting to learn more about others, so I can be a resource for them.  It’s all about the other person.  We cannot control what the other person will or will not do; we can only control what we can do.  So when I get to know other people better, my goal is to connect them to the right resource to help them with what they need.” You’ll notice that Alice’s orientation isn’t what’s in it for her, but rather how she can help the other person.  She is positioning herself to be a promoter of other people.  When you network, what is your approach? “I have a curious mind – I always want to know people better.  I want the world to remember me as someone who has added value to them, and that the world is better as a result of knowing me.  It always makes me feel GREAT when I help someone.  I believe if we focus our energy on helping other people to get what they want, we will get what we want.  And the results will come when you least expect it.” “When I meet someone new, the goal is to ask good questions about them, to be fully present, to learn about them and really know where they are coming from.  I try to fully listen, although I’m still learning to talk less than the person I’m talking with!  I try to find out what kind of year they are having, what type of people they want to attract and how they want to be remembered.” How do you remember or capture all this detail and do you have a system? “After I’ve met someone, I spend time reflecting on the person and what I’ve learned about them in my “down” time and if we clicked and we shall continue to talk.  I think this is a crucial part of networking.  We meet many good people every day, every month and every year.  How can we be effective in managing the relationship?    All things equal, we like to do business with the people we like.  All things not equal, we still like to do business with people we like.  Focus on people who click with me is the answer.   Then, I think about the implication of the work this person does and whom I know already needs to know about this person and his/her business and services.  I do make notes in computer data base, but strangely I retain pretty well in my personal CPU (computer reference of memory and computing).  I then usually will make an introduction sometime in the next week of someone that I think will support their needs.  People will feel your genuine determination to help them.  It’s also important to honor any promise you make or else don’t say promise anything.  Broken promise is worse than not making a promise. Finally, having a contact system to “touch” my key relationships regularly is the key.   I send invitations to events so that I can introduce them to more like minded people.  I send hand written cards.  I introduce them to others whom they want to be connected with.   I take them out for coffee just to find out what else is new.  I read the local business journal to see if there is anything about them, their business or their charitable organizations.  Now how regular is regular?  It differs from each one of us.   I say once every 1-3 months depending on the kind of relationship.  It can be managed simply using an excel spreadsheet or as a recurring task in your calendar or a piece of paper in your purse.” Experts in personal success models have said that the most personally and professionally successful people are the ones who are the best at connecting people to other people.  Alice’s approach is absolutely to connect people and she focuses on connecting them to people she knows will be helpful to the other person.  That can only be accomplished if you truly get to know them – it doesn’t take a lifetime, it takes a cup of coffee or may be two.   Every time we sit down again with a friend or an already established contact, we in general learn something new about this person. I asked Alice about the extra magic she puts into her networking: When you call up someone at some point after you meet them, you ask them some questions and say a few things.  This is what totally blew me away – What is it that you do?  (Alice called me a couple time and she started with, “You have been on my mind…what is going on in your world?  How may I help?”) “I met a great boss at my first job out of college.   She had become a mentor and a good friend and then she passed away after an accident. Her passing made me realize that I needed to act on my thoughts as they came to me.  You can’t wait for another day to say or do what you need to do.  When a thought of a person comes to me, I call them that day and tell them I was thinking of them.  I ask them about their life or family.  I then ask them what they need. What do they need that they don’t have?  How may I help them?” “I also follow up on introductions to find out if the referral was worthwhile.  I continue to learn more about this person.  None of this is big.  It’s the intention to check in on the well being of the other person.” Notice that Alice stays in contact and is continually looking for opportunities to help the other person.  She keeps learning more about others and asks good questions that get to the important things in a person’s life very quickly. Any Final thoughts? “I’m a happy person every day for the connections in my life.  I’ve had people as clients who, 7 years later, connected me with their relative for business.  Like I said, it will eventually come back to you.  My father had to give up school and support his family since he was a teenager and became an entrepreneur.  He said in business you never know when you will get a result you’re looking for, but it will come. You have to be patient, relax and do what you have control over!  You also need to surround yourself with people who believe in you and lift you up.“ In other words, networking can enhance your life, as well as others.  It’s not hard.  It’s asking good questions and keeping others on your radar while lending a helping hand.  Alice, you have made the world a better place and we’re all privileged to know you and your fantastic networking method. *Alice Tang is the VP of the Business Planning Group and recently nominated for the 2011 Orchid award by the Portland Business Journal as a Woman of Influence.  Her website: http://www.bpgnetwork.com/ . Alice is a Registered Representative offering Securities through Signator Investors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC.  You can reach her at: 12901 SE 97th Ave, Suite 100, Clackamas, OR 97015 Phone: 503-654-7676. And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to the Career Makeover Newsletter AND eWorkbook “Should I Stay or Should I Go” – both dedicated to Your career success, when you visit http://CareerMakeoverToolKitShouldIstayorShouldIGo.com/  From Dorothy Tannahill-Moran – Your Career Change Agent from www.nextchapternewlife.com 103-20110516-74429