Joe Rogan opened a comedy club earlier this year called The Comedy Mothership. You can watch a compilation of what the top comedians think of his comedy club here. Be careful where you watch it, there is a lot of foul language.
The comedians rave about Rogan's club. They call it perfection. Comedian after comedian repeat a common theme: Joe Rogan thought of everything. In building The Comedy Mothership with all of the bells and whistles he knew comics would appreciate, he has insured a good time will be had by all. Happy comics equal happy sets, and happy sets equal happy audiences.
After I watched the video of the comics singing the praises of Rogan, a thought came to me. What if we could be the Joe Rogan of networking?
What if we could "think of everything" for our referral partners, and the new business owners who are networking for the first time, and our good friends that we've been passing business to for years, the whole kit and caboodle?
Would this not have a reciprocating effect? I remember my referral partners who have come alongside me during the hairiest of times in my business, and thought of everything for me, through small, considerate gestures. Now I'm their biggest cheerleader, their biggest fan.
Selfies are common at Mix and Mingle Business Networking events
Here are some of the small acts or practices to implement while you network that make you likable, memorable, essentially, the Joe Rogan of your circle. (If the tip or practice came from someone else, I've linked the person who was gracious enough to share the tip with me.)
ON APPOINTMENTS:
Keep your appointments and send a reminder email or text 24 hours before the appointment, checking in with your person to make sure the time/day is still good.
If you have to reschedule an appointment, offer the alternate day/time. Don't make the other person do it.
If you have to reschedule the appointment, buy the person lunch/coffee because you have put them out. The key here is not to announce your intention to pick up their tab, let it be a pleasant surprise at the end of your time together.
Honor people's time. Don't let the appointment run long without first checking in to see if the person has a hard stop time. Additionally, if you have a hard stop time, let the person know right away.
ON CONVERSATIONS:
Be the "tour guide" of every conversation that involves more than you and one other person. For example, if you, Mary and Bob are talking, and Mary brings up a topic or an incident with which you and Mary are quite familiar, but that Bob knows nothing about, before replying to Mary, look over at Bob and bring him up to speed. If Bob is in the know, he will continue to listen actively and feel comfortable contributing. If he is left out in the cold, he'll feel like a dweeb and began to look for an easier conversation to join.
Ask business owners what they are most proud of. They rarely get a chance to brag on themselves.
Never let two people who both know you talk to each other in your presence without checking to make sure they know each other, or need an introduction.
Pass out compliments like a deck of cards.
Another selfie at Mix and Mingle Business Networking
From Michael Maher: Connect people who would greatly benefit from knowing each other at the beginning and end of your meetings. For example, if you are meeting with a realtor at 11am, and a home inspector wants to have lunch, schedule your meeting with the home inspector at the same place in which your meeting with the realtor is taking place, and schedule it at either 10am or noon. This way, the realtor and home inspector will likely see each other, and you can make an introduction as one comes and the other leaves.
From Danielle Baily: Bring a notebook with you to your 1-2-1s, and write down any introductions you promise you will be making to the person with whom you are meeting. Check your notebook a week later to make sure you've kept all your promises.
Treat every conversation like the people with whom you are conversing are bringing you a gift. This mindset will serve you well.
"Leave conversations better than you found them." This quote from Holly Hillyer is one of my favorites. I'm not sure what tactical advice to give to help you leave your conversations better than you find them, perhaps a few of the suggestions above might be good start. What you are after is a good feeling immediately following the conversation, by all involved. To the degree you contribute effort to produce that good feeling, is to the degree you will slowly become the Joe Rogan of your network.
ON GENERALLY BEING A STAND UP GUY/GAL
When someone asks you to take a picture, use your shirt or a napkin and wipe off the lense of the camera on their phone before you take the picture.
Carry things in your car or purse that people commonly seem to need. (Gum, ibuprofen, etc.)
Take as much blame as you can without feeling resentful or disingenuous when things go wrong. Instead of being defensive, ask yourself if you may have done something to contribute to the may-lay.
My referral partners and I at my BNI meeting pose for a quick picture.
Go network my friend, and remember:
Think of everything, and others will think of you.
Faithann Basore and her husband Dave have owned Window Cleaning Plus (WCP) for 10 years. Growing WCP through networking has given Faithann the desire to guide other small business owners through the networking terrain so they can feel comfortable and build long lasting relationships in their business.
Got networking questions? Email me at [email protected].