Focus On Networking
Contributed by Margaret King MS, NCC, NCCCCertified Career Counselor
We have all heard the expression, "It is not what you know, but who you know." Though that in part may be true, consider also-"who knows you."The fact of the matter is that in order to grow a business, manage a career and grow in professional and personal endeavors we need talent and skill but equally important is having a network of contacts.
Networking has been defined in the book "Power Networking" by Donna Fisher and Sandy Vilas as "making links from people we know to people they know in an organized way, for a specific purpose, while remaining committed to doing our part, expecting nothing in return."To be successful at networking is to recognize the true spirit of networking. Many people feel that networking means getting something from people. However, effective networking is about building reciprocal relationships that generate mutual value and benefit. It is amazing how this shift in attitude of "give and thee shall receive" will allow you to be more comfortable with approaching people and making contacts.
Keep in mind these "10 Commandments of Communicating and Connecting"
put forth by author Susan RoAne and watch your business and career flourish:
I. Thou shalt treat people with respect, courtesy, integrity, truth and
honor.
II. Thou shalt follow up and follow through- Do what you say you'll do and
report back in a timely way.
III. Thou shalt pay attention to others- Listen with ears, eyes, head and
heart.
IV. Thou shalt nurture your network- Touch base with your contacts through
calls, e-mails, cards, etc. even when you need nothing from them.
V. Thou shalt treat people as people- Treat them not as contacts made for
professional purposes, but as individuals with personal lives as well.
VI. Thou shalt "good mouth" people- Praise people and pass on
the praise of others.
VII. Thou shalt acknowledge all sustenance with pen and paper- Thank those
who have gifted you with time, ideas, food, support, ideas, leads, laughter,
etc.
VIII. Thou shalt perform good deeds- Reciprocate those deeds done on your
behalf.
IX. Thou shalt be an example of these principles.
X. Thou shalt have fun and be of good humor.
Business Link on the Web
Visit Business Link on the Half Hollow Hills' library home page. Locate websites of interest or find local business organizations interested in helping the small business owner or entrepreneur. Access one of the library's many databases- The Wall Street Journal, Plunkett, Reference USA, Thomas Register, or the Business & Company Resource Center to name just a few. Interested in finding programs and seminars sponsored by local organizations? Check out Business Link's Programs in the Community. Bibliographies covering a broad range of topics, from business etiquette, to patents, to selecting the right small business for you, to taking care of the family business- are all here. Visit Business Link at http://hhhl.suffolk.lib.ny.us/BusinessLink
"What's New in Business Reference"
Plunkett's Almanac of Middle Market Companies (2005)A directory of 469 private and publicly-held U.S. corporations with revenues between $100 million and $300 million. Focuses primarily on the following fast growing industry sectors- health products/services, biotech, energy, financial services, computer hardware/software, and electronics. Company profile data includes: address, company contacts, financials, divisions, corporate affiliates, and an extensive description of products/services.Bus Ref 338.7 Plu
Plunkett's Food Industry Almanac (2006)A directory of 400 of the largest companies in all segments of the food industry. Company profile data includes: address, company contacts, financials, divisions, corporate affiliates, and an extensive description of products/services. Also included are statistics on the food, beverage, and restaurant industries, and an in-depth analysis of the major trends and technologies affecting these industries.Bus Ref 338.7 Plu
"In a Nutshell"
A compact, ready reference series written by experts in each field. The library now owns:
BR 346.73066 OES Mergers and Acquisitions
BR 346.73066 HAA Corporate Finance
BR 346.73038 OWE Products Liability
BR 346.73068 HYN Agency, Partnership, and the LLC
BR 346.7306 HAM Law of Corporations
BR 346.73065 SHA Business Associations
BR 346.73066 BUR Federal Income Taxation of Partners & Partnerships
BR 343.7305 BUR Corporate Taxation
BR 343.09 PIE Regulated Industries
BR 343.087 FOL International Business Transactions
BR 343.0721 GEL Antitrust Law and Economics
New Magazine
Specialty Retail Report: The Magazine for Retail EntrepreneursA quarterly
publication focusing on the latest trends and opportunities in this $10
billion dollar industry. Feature articles include choosing the right product,
hiring and managing employees,finding suppliers, site selection, marketing
and more. Each issue profiles a successful entrepreneur who has successfully
started a cart or kiosk business.
Let Us Know! Have any Questions or Concerns? Ideas for programs and events you would like to see at the library? Email us at bizlink@suffolk.lib.ny.us
Top lenders for the six months ended March 31, 2006, in millions of dollars.
Did You Know? Small Business Facts & Figures
Entrepreneurs Are Getting Grayer and Are Increasingly Foreign-born
For the past ten years, adults ages 55-64 have been the age group most likely
to start a new business, according to a recent survey by the Ewing Marion
Kauffman Foundation. Immigrants continue to have a greater rate of entrepreneurship
than native-born Americans, while the construction industry continues to
prove fertile ground for new business startups. For a complete look at the
Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity National Report, 1996-2005, go
to www.kauffman.org.
Business Owners Are High Income Earners
Business-owning households in the 1990's were more likely than wage earners
to be in households classified as high income earners, according to a study
released in June by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Business ownership
has traditionally been the route to prosperity for Americans and the 1990's
were no different. In 2001 small business-owning households were more than
twice as likely as non-owning households (57.1 percent to 25.5 percent)
to be high income. For a complete look at How Did Small Business-Owning
Households Fare During the Longest U.S. Economic Expansion, go to www.sba.gov/advo.
Upcoming Events & Programs
New to the Collection
Websites of Interest
Half Hollow Hills Community Library
Dix Hills Building
55 Vanderbilt ParkwayDix Hills, NY 11746 (631) 421-4530
Melville Building
510 Sweet Hollow RoadMelville, NY 11747 (631) 421-4535
http://hhhl.suffolk.lib.ny.us
Compiled by Eileen Effrat and Rosemarie Jerome
Reference Department
First printing 200October 2006