AmSpirit Business Connections is a no-nonsense networking organization that connects determined small businesses to reliable sources of quality referrals. Learn more...
Leadership and low-cost franchise opportunities are available for those who don't just want to be in a group, but actually own them.
Networking Rx: Chris Borja – Guest Interview (EPS 036)
Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, interviews Chris Borja, master connector and promoter of all things networking as well as the inspiration behind the Become A Better Networker program.
Far too often, people figuratively chain
themselves to their computer and clank away in LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter
hoping to create business for themselves. While they may stumble onto some, it
seldom reaches the level they hope for.
Know this… Social media (and especially LinkedIn)
is not a sales machine… it is not an order-taking system…it is not an ATM. It
is merely a tool that you can use to better network yourself … It is not a
replacement for networking.
Think of it in terms of this analogy …
We networked before we had phones. People worldwide and people in this country
built vast and complex civilizations long before they had any sort of
electronic telecommunications. They were able to network themselves …
Word-of-mouth, couriers and carrier pigeons did the trick. Back in the day,
people did business and associated with those they knew, they liked and they trusted.
When the telephone came along, it did not
change the underlying aspects of networking. It just made it easier. But they
still did business with those they knew, they liked and they trusted. The
telephone was just a tool.
The same is true of social media (such as
LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter). It is just a tool. It is not networking. It is
just a tool to make it easier to get to know people, determine if we like them,
and then ultimately trust them.
Networking Rx: The ABCs of Asking for Referrals (EPS 035)
Drawing from firsthand observation, Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, encourages us to impress upon our network that there is a variety of levels of referrals we need.
Networking Rx: Networking and Non-Verbal Communication (EPS 033)
As a follow up to Episode 019 (Creating Networking Recall), Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, shares research on the power non-verbal communication has in making us memorable.
Drawing on an anecdote from the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games, Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, encourages us to carry ourselves with the same pride and confidence that American athletes demonstrate in carrying Old Glory.
Networking Rx: John Millen – Guest Interview (EPS 030)
Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, interviews John Millen, executive communication consultant who encourages the use of storytelling to create impactful messages (www.johnmillen.com).
Networking Rx: The Freshman Mixer Parable (EPS 029)
With the assistance of a short entertaining story, Frank Agin, founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections and host of Networking Rx, demonstrates how aggressive sales tactics can impair long-term networking potential.