Today was a great lesson in the power of networking. After my BNA networking breakfast meeting, I took a drive over to 75% Off Books - a store that I frequent because of the great deals on new books. While there, I got into a conversation with the gentleman behind the desk and discovered that he was the owner of the store. We had a great talk about business as a whole and some specifics about dealing with employees etc. While talking, we also both met for the first time a woman who is the manager of a Tuesday Morning retail store. The three of us talked about everything under the sun and by the end of the conversation I had a consulting appointment to assist the man with accounting and tax issues, and am planning a lunch with the woman. (One of her best friends is Kathleen Kennedy - producer of the Jurrasic Park films, Signs, Seabiscuit and a host of films (60 since her first one - E.T. the Extra Terrestrial) Talk about the power of networking!

Pennie brought up a very good point when I was telling her about how my day went - where you meet people can determine to a great extent, the type of people you meet. The bottom line is that if you want to get ahead and build something - find people who have influence and help them. It is really that simple. Make yourself invaluable to those who can assist you and the results will be amazing. I think it was Zig Ziglar who said, "You can get what you want by helping enough people get what they want."
- posted by Chris @ 2:39 PM