As much as you might shudder at the thought, your career success will be directly tied to your willingness and ability to network. I’d go so far as to say that if you don’t learn how, and actively practice and build your networking skills, you won’t reach your goals. Your resume (and your shoes) may be polished to a shine, but if you are ignoring the fact that 2/3 or more of people get their jobs through people they already know, or people they meet in the search, all that shine is for nothing. We get information, ideas, resources, scoop, and new contacts from others in all other areas of our lives, so why should your career be any different?
I had the pleasure of interviewing Kathie Thomas, the founder of the Virtual Assistant industry in Australia, in a live tele-seminar for Wonderful Web Women. I asked Kathie to share with us where she suggested you should start if you intend to become a Virtual Assistant. Here are Kathie’s tips.
You want to educate potential clients on your business and article postings such as this one are a great way to get your name out there. Once your article is written it usually takes another 30 MINUTES to post it if you’re not already registered. Setting up the account, formatting your article properly based on the site’s specifications, and a few last minute spell checks can be pretty time consuming. From now on, write an article in word and email it to your virtual assistant with a list of placed you’d like to have it submitted. Done! Now your article can be uploaded to NUMEROUS websites and you’ve moved on to something else.
It is important that you develop success habits now. It isn’t to late or to early, but develop them now because they mean ongoing success for the life of your business. The key to figuring out what these habits are is to know what your goals are. Envision them, don’t just say you want to be a success, how do you want to be a success. What part of your business do you want to be successful at?
But before you start “selling” the key is to build relationships and this starts with getting to know, like and trust people. So try these business wireless networking tips and tricks and market your business in a way that makes you feel comfortable.
The goal therefore is to become your new profession. Don’t wait until someone hires you before you think of yourself as a computer programmer. Start to think of yourself that way now. Begin gathering the knowledge and experience you will need. Surf websites and chat rooms. Join associations and networking groups. Talk to other programmers. Read books. Practice. And most importantly, build a body of work.
Technique: Before you go on an appointment with a client, visit their LinkedIn profile. One of their connections could be a good candidate for your product or service. When you visit your client ask them if they could help you by way of providing an software defined networking introduction to the individual as they know them.
Designate certain time blocks for business development, marketing, networking and cluster your client appointments. For example, if you run a retail store, you might consider scheduling vendor meetings before or after store hours.
My intentions with all these truths is definitely not to discourage you from starting your own business, but to prepare you for the truth of what lies ahead. Success will not come easily or quickly. It is a long, hard, frustrating journey to success. But, if you want it bad enough and possess the qualities needed to finish the journey, success can be yours!!
The bottom line is that the more you network or meet others, the more confident you will become. In turn, the more confident you feel, the less shyness will be in your way. And the closer your dreams and goals will be to becoming reality.