Have you heard of Jan Vermeiren of Brussels, Belgium?
He’s a marketing expert who teaches the power of the “Second Degree.”
What he teaches is that the true power of networking is NOT in the people that YOU know, but in the people that THEY know.
And it’s called the “Second Degree.”
First Degree -> People that YOU know.
Second Degree -> People that know the people you know.
When you understand this powerful principle, it helps you in several ways…
1. It takes the pressure off of you to try to sell your services to people you meet while networking (which you shouldn’t be doing anyway).
2. It frees you up to have fun and be yourself. It turns networking into “friend building”.
3. It helps you to understand that ANYONE could be an important contact for you…because you never know WHO KNOWS WHO!
I loved learning about Jan and the Second Degree because this practice is what I’ve been teaching attendees at our monthly SendOutCards networking events.
When you stop looking at people as being “the ones” you must sell to and simply focus on forming friendships and getting to know them, it becomes easier, stress-free and much more effective.
So … what are you going to do at your next networking event? Focus on NET ‘WORKING’ or make FRIENDS?
