How do you spell business? P.E.O.P.L.E.
If you've read anything else I've written, then you know that what makes the world go 'round is relationships. That is also what makes businesses go 'round. And it goes without saying that you can't have relationships without people. Well, you can, but here we're talking about human relationships with each other. What constitutes a relationship? Interaction of some kind. It could, and generally does involve communication of some sort, perhaps verbal or nonverbal but it doesn't have to.
A non-human relationship could be a tenuous attraction by a person to a thing or organization. For example, the loyalty of a customer to a particular automobile brand. Let's take another example - soft drinks. Does a customer have a relationship with a soft drink or the soft drink company? No, because there are no people involved other than the customer.
Now, I've seen people talking abusively to the soda dispensing machine, but that's not the same thing because the machine doesn't respond back. In fact, sometimes it doesn't respond at all. So why are people hooked on soda? Believe me, it has more to do with sugar than with people. However, I digress.Every business entity out there knows that without people there is no business. Brick and mortar businesses need customers off the street. MLMs need people to continue the growth. I mean, even the government, (and I use that word loosely) needs people to tax. What does a telemarketer need besides a phone? Yep, people.
Before I begin rambling any further here, I've got to make my point. And that is, it takes people to do anything in this world. If that's the case, if you want to establish and grow your business, then you should be interacting with people. Like you didn't know that. What's a good way to interact?
Well, how about inviting someone to lunch? Someone you've been wanting to meet for a long time. Someone who could be a customer or business associate? Someone who could mentor you? Lunch is a terrific way to get to know someone, share ideas. And one of the perks of lunch is that it gets you out of the office! If lunch doesn't work for you, then how about "Let's do golf." or "Let's go to the track." (this one depends on which state you're in). If you're of the female persuasion you could ask, "Let's uh,...meet at the spa."
My point is this - business is about interacting with people. So go out and find someone to interact with. You may be surprised at how fruitful these "lunches" become.
And remember this: don't talk with your mouth full!
Oh, and TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE unless you're expecting a call. If that' the case, please have the courtesy to tell your lunch partner before you sit down that you're expecting a call and ask if that's O.K. with them! Few things are more disrespectful than having your conversations interrupted with a phone call!
To your business networking success!
Business Networking - Let's Do Lunch