Networking Your Way...

Had a friend recommend an incredible book to me a few weeks ago that I had never heard of before. Which is pretty unusual because I keep a pretty good pulse on business books. Its titled "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi.

And one of the things that I have been struggling with and also wanting to master is Networking. I have lived on the west coast all my life up until August of this year when I moved to Detroit, Michigan. And an observation that I have made is that professionals network much more here in the mid-west. I love it. And, due to the fact I moved to Detroit not knowing anyone - I had a lot of work to do; better yet a lot of networking to get done.

Keith Ferrazzi has done an excellent job in his book explaining how to network effectively and making things happen. I'm not going to get into much detail about the book because I don't want to spoil it. But here are the facts. Where I am today and the company I am working with is all due in part to a few individuals.

Here is a quote I want to highlight from Keiths book, "Never Eat Alone"

"I came to believe that in some very specific ways life, like golf, is a game, and that the people who know the rules, and know them well, play it best and succeed. And the rule in life that has unprecedented power is that the individual who knows the right people, for the right reasons, and utilizes the power of these relationships, can become a member of the "club," whether he started out as a caddie or not."

My point is this, you cannot become super successful alone-its not possible. You need to surround yourself with like-minded individuals. You need to realize that every person you meet is an opportunity to create a very successful business relationship with & friendship as well. A lot of you may be asking..."Great, but how do I do this?" Well for one read the book. If you need help from there, contact me.

Here is my short personal example that happened to me this year 2008:

I was doing some research online and came across the Brownfield Conference that was held in Detroit. I called a guy from the website and he told me I needed to speak with Doug. I called Doug and he connected me with Steve. Steve then connected me with Nathan. And now I am experiencing one of the greatest opportunities of my career. I don't mention this to brag-only to illustrate how powerful networking can be. And due to the fact Doug helped me out I am now sending him all the business I can. The law of reciprocity...

Principles Trump Technique Every Single Time

It has been three and a half years since I graduated college with a bachelors degree. And the majority of that time I have been self-employed. What I want to discuss is character. In life and in the world of business there are good and there are evil people and companies. When I say evil, I mean they simply are using you for a means to an end; and typically that is just to make a buck and move on. Whatever happened to repeat business?

When you think about it, these evil characters or businesses really don't have a sustainable business model at all. Its only a matter of time until the cards come crashing down. Just take a look around right now - there are huge, giant corporations simply disappearing. For the majority of those companies, it was their very own foolish greed that got in the way and brought the company to its knees.

So the question is, who do you trust?

Just the other week I was at a Section 8 Tenant Fair for our real estate company. And as I was waiting for it to get started, in comes this guy. He immediately strikes up a conversation with me and my associate. He begins to claim that he does real estate deals all over the country....on and on. And then I stepped back for a second and thought, "Wait a minute here, if this guy is what he claims he is, why is he dressed up like this?" His suit was homely. His pant legs were wrinkled around the knee. He was not shaven and he REAKED of smoke, I stepped away like 5 feet and still couldn't get away from his stinky breath. We then asked for his business card and he said, "I don't have one, I prefer to be more personal." He then writes down his email. It was a yahoo email address? What a joke!

Anyhow, it only took me about 30 seconds to realize this guy is just a swindler. His demeanor, vernacular and lack of knowledge of real estate was just not adding up.

My point is this, I can do business with the most intelligent, savvy & experienced individuals, but unless he passes the stink test - I'm wasting my time. Tom Flick once said, "Principles trump technique every single time." And what he means by this is - unless this individual that I am considering doing business with is someone I can trust, then I shouldn't even get involved. I'm just so sick and tired of scams, slicksters & swindlers.

Do you realize every decision you make on a daily basis is a reflection of YOU as a brand. Everyday you continue to create your reputation. It only takes one negative incident to completely ruin you and your reputation. Is it really worth it?

So what this all comes down to is character. I only want to be associated with and do business with those whom I can trust. I need to know if this person with whom I am considering doing business faces a predicament that he won't lie & cheat to attempt to solve the problem. Surround yourself with trusted advisers and colleagues. Life is too short to take shortcuts and hope you don't get caught.

Am I Driving Dangerously Forward in Impossible Pursuit?

"His seizures have subsided with now evidence of permanent cerebral damage, but I’m concerned that this experience will have a lasting effect. Agent Mulder undertook this treatment hoping to lay claim to his past; that by retrieving memories lost to him, he might finally understand the path he’s on. But if that knowledge remains elusive, and if its only by knowing where he’s has been that he can hope to understand where he is going, then I fear Agent Mulder may lose his course; and the truths he’s seeking from his childhood will continue to evade him, driving him more dangerously forward in impossible pursuit."

I've got to admit that my wife and I are X-File junkies. Two years ago I purchased all 9 seasons on DVD for my wife for Christmas. But I want to discuss what Scully has shared with us in the quote above.

Mulder's lifelong pursuit is to discover the truth. And he has lost something very dear to him, something he desperately needs in order to solve a mystery. He needs memories that were lost to him. When was the last time you lost something that you were willing to put your life on the line? Do you take your memories for granted?

Up until this point Mulder had been the rock in the partnership with Agent Scully. And what he is experiencing now is something that I experience all too often. Where am I? What am I doing? What am I trying to accomplish right now? And why am I doing this? What path am I on and where exactly am I headed?

I got slapped in the face August of 2008. My entrepreneurial ventures were not panning out, I was going on months without an income, my wife was pushing me to go get a job, I was confused. "What happened? What went wrong? How do I fix this? I don't want a job. I don't want to give up on my dreams." The list goes on and on. So I was faced with a decision. I could remain where I was residing or I could move to where I was doing business. And that place was Detroit, Michigan.

I was buying foreclosed homes from out-of-state in Detroit. With no money coming in for months; how were we suppose to move 2,000 miles across the country? Where there is a will there is a way! We literally showed up to Detroit with $2,000. And all of that was going to go towards was a security deposit and rent.

So the packing of the moving truck sucked in 100 degree weather but the move was exciting. Then after arriving, my focus was to raise additional private capital from private investors to purchase more houses. Lets just say things were not going according to plan. So I had to reflect. Am I driving dangerously forward in impossible pursuit? (just how the quote states above) Isn't that what everyone does? The answer to that question is NO. I feel the only people willing to do anything extraordinary are those who know their purpose, who know their why. It's entrepreneurs like ourselves that make this world interesting. Just imagine all of the boring stories there would be if nobody took risks.

Its the level of risk that makes the story unreal. Who exactly is moving to Michigan right now, let alone Detroit right before winter comes? (my hand is up) The way I have risked everything to be where I am now has probably not been the smartest move - but it was the situation that I was in and I needed to take action.

I want you to know that every headache, sacrifice & piece of stress I have experienced has been totally worth it. If you take risks, I promise you, you will be rewarded. It only takes one success to make it happen. All you need is one!

I beg of you, never give up. Do whatever it takes to accomplish the desires of your heart. Anyone will tell you its not possible but that is their world. Our world is limitless and when someone suggests its not possible - for me that is simply an invitation to a challenge. Go out there and prove them wrong!

Deep down inside what is it that we all desire? What is it that drives us to do what it is we do? Why do we sacrifice so much as entrepreneurs to achieve that success? Agent Mulder risked his very life for this precious, but rare commodity. The truth is out there...

Do You Demand Success or Survival?

I want to shed a little light on your situation right now from a brief 9 minute experience I had. I was listening to a John Maxwell CD today in the car. And he posed a very interesting question that provoked me. In essence what I concluded is that I need to plant seeds, many seeds in order to reap any degree of success. In other words, I need to give beyond expectation to my intended receiver.

Now, many years ago I was flipping through a book and this individual had listed off his goals. There were over 100 goals and they entailed a lot of travel and exploration nationally and internationally. This inspired me to think very big. But this was a very long time ago when I was in grade school. I have since let go of those dreams, until they were rekindled recently when I read The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss.

I have had many days this year of reflection as to why I have not be given more? Why have I not achieved what I set out to do? That was until I witnessed the video above. I can sit in self-pity and wonder why I am not or why I do not have...but the truth of the matter is I have been blessed beyond measure.

If you spent the 9 minutes to watch the video above you would have learned of an incredible kid by the name of Adam Bender. Adam is only 8 years old and he is having more success than the typical 8 year old kid. He is the leading scorer on his soccer team, he is the best quarterback his team has ever had, he is one heck of a slugger at baseball & a sound catcher. He is accomplishing all of this with ONE leg!

Adam Bender is an inspiration to me. Lance Armstrong once said that his cancer cured him of laziness. Folks, do you demand success or survival? What is separating you from the pack? What drives Adam Bender to be what he is today? And how exactly did he overcome his physical setback mentally? Do you really have it that bad? If not, then what can possibly hold you back if Adam Bender is out there having the time of his life?

Why can't I run a marathon? Why can't I complete an Iron Man? What is stopping me from reaching the level of success that I desire? I am more than capable - the only thing holding me back is...ME!

If I told you a 60 something year old man completed an Iron Man would you believe me? What if I told you that he not only completed the Iron Man, but that he carried his son the entire competition? Now, in retrospect...if this old man did that, I can definitely do an Iron Man, I guess it's all a matter of perspective. Take a look below:



YOU are the single most challenging obstacle to overcome. Choose to allow yourself to be successful. Implement discipline and most of all COMMIT!

What separates you from Adam Bender?