How To Approach The PLAYERS In Your Niche

Business owner to business owner, I want to remind you of something that you probably already know:

With the election just one month away, the world is SWIMMING in conflict and negativity. And you need to be serious and proactive about protecting yourself from it. Because -- if you don't -- it'll kill your career, kill your business, kill your dreams and everything you really care about.

I refer to the negativity and the tilting-at-windmills that is dominating the online spaces right now.

The mass news media is NOT your friend. Neither are these ever-increasing niche-oriented outlets who yell with (and at) their choirs and who point out the massive failures of "the other side". The social media algorithms are feeding us more and more chaos because that's what's getting the clicks.

We are all addicted to chaos right now.

And not only must you protect YOURSELF from this drip, drip, drip of chaos and depression, you need to fight it on behalf of your employees, your partners, your friends and (especially) your children and family.

Shut off social media if you must. Delete the apps from your phone. Pull yourself away from the screen or the keyboard -- and get to productivity and GROWTH.

We're in a particular cultural moment -- and this is true, no matter your political persuasion -- in which we can allow ourselves AND our business to become sunk into political fights and fears. Don't get stuck there.

Here's an idea: take some time this week to pursue higher level connections and door-openers for your business, in your community or within your particular industry niche. And today, I actually have some thoughts about how you can do that right.

How To Approach Bigger Business Players In Your Niche
"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Successful people rarely reached the top without a lot of help along the way. The ability -- and willingness -- to ask for help is one trait that really stands out among those who are truly committed to success. You find these people at your local Real Estate Investors Association https://nationalreia.org/find-a-reia/

Personally, I've been approached a number of times by tax and accounting "up-and-comers" I and have seen this done the right way ... and the wrong way. Whether it's your boss or another entrepreneur, here are some tips for seeking advice and connections from those who get asked for this all the time:

• Do NOT waste their time. Once they've agreed to help, get to the point quickly. Don't go through your life story in excruciating detail, nor spend an hour explaining your business plan or the plot of your novel. Plan what you want to ask so you can make a clear, succinct request.

• Be as specific as humanly possible. Don't just ask, "What should I do?" Imagine you can ask only one question (because that may be the case). Identify the most important issue you're facing that your expert is qualified to address and build your question around that. You may get a chance to ask a follow-up, or to move on to another subject, so be prepared, but don't assume you'll have all the time in the world to get to what you need.

• Save one general question for the end of your exchange. The corollary to the rule above is to save a few minutes to ask something like, "Is there anything else you'd recommend?" once you've gotten the answer to your essential question. This gives the expert a chance to expand on whatever information he or she has shared and provides the opportunity to start building more of a relationship than a one-time transaction.

• Offer something actually useful in return. You're asking for a favor. Be ready to trade services, buy lunch, offer your own expertise, or provide some other form of reciprocation. This demonstrates your professionalism and commitment to building relationships, not just grabbing information, and leaving right away.

Here's the good news: it doesn't take much to reach out.

Stay focused out there...

BE THE ROAR not the echo®

Warmly,

Janet Behm