When you are watching your kids play sports and you are in a business of any kind that deals with consumers in the local community in anyway or business to business mostly locally then it pays to introduce yourself around and find out about their kids, family, career, etc. Of course you need to be careful not to talk about religion, politics and such, because this might do the opposite of finding any common ground.
After all these folks see you around often enough you will begin to become familiar and your conversations will indeed become more in depth and can lead to referrals. If you find you can refer someone to one of the other parents for their business, consulting practice or in some beneficial way, then ask them if it is okay if you refer them.
Believe it or not some people may say no. Me for instance, I do not need any more work thank you very much. But what you might find is the gesture is taken in a kind way nevertheless and you may find them referring business or customer to you.
Really I enjoy referring people, because well I know so many people, yet because of that very fact I am totally swamped. So, if you are networking and give first and ask first you will win either thru reciprocation or simply out of kindness for the thoughts you bring forth. Either way it makes sense to think like this, as mankind is a very social animal indeed. Consider all this in 2006.
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/ |
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