Networking Revised!

I left the corporate world of semiconductor manufacturing over 7 years ago and I've never looked back. Meeting people, getting different perspectives on life and philosophies is so much more enriching than the very routinized world of engineering. I am reminded of this yet again as I've recently become involved with a new form of networking.

I've been a BNI member and chapter president, I've held memberships in as many as 3 chambers of commerce at one time and served as an ambassador but I've never felt the 'givers gain philosophy' as strongly as experienced when I was introduced to Networked Events. Stephen Labuda owns his own business and has devoted much of his time to helping people network with other serious networkers. This is a volunteer effort that Stephen started with a group of business people who wanted to meet on a regular basis for low to no cost networking. A well known local (or is that loco?) business coach has encouraged Stephen to assist in bringing his philosophy and networking expertise to central Massachusetts. I was invited to attend the initial discussion meeting and participate in the decision to bring Networked Events to the greater Worcester area.

The result of the kick-off discussion was that all of the attendees of that meeting were invited to attend a Networked Event in Lexington so that we could experience the philosophy in action.

Very often when I go to a breakfast, business after hours etc. I come back to my desk with a handful of business cards of people that I've just met. I go through the cards and decide who I'd like to do some follow-up or add to my LinkedIn account. Typically there's one or two people that I feel comfortable with right off the bat, people who I'd be willing to have future discussions with and possibly refer to my clients.

I am at my desk doing my follow-up work from the Networked Event and there is only one card that I don't think is an appropriate fit for my network. That one card is for a mortgage lender who is clearly out of my service territory. All of the people that I met through Networked Events were people truly interested in meeting new contacts and building a network of outstanding referral sources. This was the most efficient use of my networking time that I have experienced to date.

BIG KUDOS for Networked Events and I am very excited to be part of the Central Mass kick-off taking place on October 13th at Worcester's Union Station.

Miss the bottom?

I am an information hound, I search out news and information that helps me understand what is happening in my marketplace. Today I came across this report. Take a moment and read it over. Now I'm not Alan Greenspan or Ben Bernanke but this sounds like good news to me!

Do you know someone who was waiting for the market to hit bottom before buying a home? You maybe? From my interpretation of this report, they missed the bottom! If the next run- up starts now, there will never be a better time to purchase real estate than RIGHT NOW. Call me and I'll get you into a home before the price get too much higher!