It is an almost lost art that is coming back. The cold call.

Whether in person or on the phone, calling someone for business purposes “out of the blue” is alive and well. Read More...

Whenever you engage in conversation, there are a number of things to remember–particularly that the key word is “engage.” You can kill a conversation very easily by committing one of these sins:

1. Hijacking a conversation
2. Lack of eye contact
3. Ghost listening
4. Shameless self promotion
5. Making tasteless jokes
6. Being negative
7. Dead-end answers

Let’s start at the top: Read More...

The terminology may not be precisely right, but you get the idea: your image, bio and other details of your professional life are out there in cyberspace.

For example, you change your LinkedIn profile in any way and your whole network (”connections”) gets a notification. Read More...

In every conversation, we have to remember that it is just that–an exchange, an equal trading of information.

And, really, it shouldn’t be about you. Read More...

There are lots of ways we prepare for a meeting–collect our thoughts, review our notes, rehearse, make sure we have enough business cards.

But what about the physical side of things? Did you stretch? Are you relaxed? It’s not like you are going to pull a muscle or anything when you walk into that reception, but you could not be clear headed. Read More...

It is the expected and hoped for outcome of the networking or leads meeting: the one-on-one follow up meeting.

At a networking event today, a participant stood up and gave this description of a typical one-on-one meeting between newly connected networkers: Read More...

Sometimes we all have to take risks to achieve our goals. Whether you are a relentless networker or a football coach and his team, you have to look ahead and see what actions you have to take in order to reach your objective.

Coach Sean Payton of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints took three risks in Super Bowl XLIV and went 2-of-3 in order to win the game. Read More...

At a leads group meeting today, the “spotlight presenter” was a consulting firm specializing in helping start-ups and companies in trouble get past their problems and into good graces and profitability.

They have earned the informal moniker “bank whisperers.” Read More...

One of the most important elements in your networking is to be consistent.

People remember you by what you say, what you look like, how you interact with people. Now, I’m not saying you should wear the same duds to every meeting like a uniform. What I am saying is to be clear, concise and consistent in being yourself. For example: Read More...

Most of got into networking to connect to find new business. Along the way, some forgot what the point of all of this connecting to people was for.

It’s to find business. For you. Read More...