keith03-bio

Sometimes you don’t end up reading a book until at least 5 people recommend it. I’m glad I read “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferazzi – it opened up eyes on how to build relationships within my business without the cheesy/fake networking elements.

Keith’s big thing is pushing through the first layer and really getting to know someone – that someone could be a colleague or a thought leader in your industry, etc. He starts out by helping you feel comfortable meeting people every day and dispells the myth that you’ll meet the right people for your network by going to mixers and networking events.

Keith does a great job of pointing out there’s much better places to meet folks, sometimes simply standing in line at the grocery store or at the gym. These are places where you will more likely be yourself and have something in common with the other person. He takes it a step further, if you really want to connect with someone – offer to take them to a baseball game or a yoga class, somewhere you can both have an experience together. That’s really where people bond.

A clear message of the book is to always offer to help others. That’s a golden rule that Keith goes by and we know it works. In addition, it feels good to help other people, especially if it’s a job or resource.

Overall Keith Ferazzi got me to be even more confident to approach new people and find out how I can help and grow their business. Check it out, I bet you’ll learn the same too!

Related Posts:

• Top Business & E-commerce Posts of 2010

If you are active on BizNik in the Portland area, you’ve probably seen some good articles and activity from Kaya Singer. Kaya has a very unique background, she’s owned a pottery business, been a family therapist and is now a small business coach. She has recently launched her book, The Entrepreneur’s Handbook to Money & Freedom.

It’s impressive how active Kaya is in communicating with businesses through Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Read below and learn how powerful online communication can be for a business coach.

kaya_orange-tree1

What’s your business?

Awakening Business Solutions – I offer tools, process and coaching programs to solo business owners to help them overcome obstacles and develop a business mind-set.

When did you start using social media? What made you decide to try it?

I began social media as soon as it was available. I was on e-mail before most people. Communication is my focus and I loved the immediacy and the ability to create community with people world-wide.

How has social media affected your business?

It has allowed me to market to people world-wide and develop strong communities and relationships with people I would never have met. It has allowed me to put articles all over the world and make a huge difference in people’s lives.

What is one tool that you use the most?

Not just one. My LinkedIn group – Awakening Women in Business, my blog, Facebook, Twitter, BizNik, EZine articles and I am getting ready to move forward developing a membership site.

Have a social media story you’d like to share?

I was part of an e-mail group called “Powerful Women Entrepreneurs“. There were hundreds of women and it ran as a Yahoo group. The woman who facilitated it decided to suddenly quit so there was no place for all these women to go.  On a whim- one morning when I was on LinkedIn, I began “Awake Women in Business” and I invited all the women from the other group. Many of them came and then I also invited  other women I knew and posted it on Facebook and Twitter. It was active and involved almost immediately!  I love it as I am a natural facilitator, and it is a way to build community with women in business. It is also giving me some training for my new membership site that is coming soon.  I love working with women too so this also fulfills that need.

Related Posts:

• Local promotional products company builds community through Twitter