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1/17/08: Don't Clam Up to New Relationships |
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Don't Clam Up to New Relationships
Networking is an essential part of building wealth. ~ Armstrong Williams
Yesterday evening, as I sat alone in an almost empty Clearwater, Fla., crab shack, downing a dozen steamed clams, a gentleman pulled up the chair next to me. Now I must admit I often like to just keep to myself, eat my dinner and head back to a hotel to prepare for the next day’s sales presentation. But as I stared at the TV, acting as if I was in my own world, the man threw out the standard, ”So what do you do for work?” After telling him what I did, I returned the question.
Turns out, the older man in the beat up jeans and old coat is a grandfather of four, has one “super funny” son who creates animations, another “brilliant” son who is a web designer, four grandkids with one on the way, and a loving wife who was the crab shack bartender. What I soon learned was that this fun loving grandfather was also an entrepreneur who started five highly successful technology companies and was writing a book on how to build technology businesses. Oh, and those two sons of his, they too were highly successful entrepreneurs. They started a well known animation parody company called JibJab. After about an hour of chatting and throwing back some seafood, we exchanged cards. I made a friend, got some business tips and now have a future guest for my radio program.
The lesson I was reminded of last night at dinner was that there are great people, business owners or not, who if we give them a chance, can help make us wealthier. And when I talk wealth, I’m not talking about dollars. I’m talking about the wealth of knowledge that so many individuals have to share if we are open to receiving it. So this week, if you find yourself sitting or standing next to somebody new, strike up a conversation. And by the end of the week, your head, your heart and maybe even your business opportunities might be a little richer than they were last Monday morning.
To learn more about Brian Sullivan’s PRECISE Selling, go to www.preciseselling.com. And if you are looking for a good laugh this week, go to www.jibjab.com.
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