Monthly Archives: July 2018

It Is All About Forgiveness

Kevin Willett says not to be quick to anger when someone stands you up for a meeting.

This week one of my friends forgot that he had agreed to come to a networking event with me. When he realized his mistake the next day, he sent me a note to apologize and did a LinkedIn video about the importance of keeping your promises to build your brand.

My friend made an honest mistake and I admire the fact that he was hard on himself for letting me down, but we all make mistakes. All we can do is apologize and move on.

I often see people post on social media that they are upset because someone did not show up for an appointment and left them waiting in a coffee shop. My advice is to always ask before you yell. Sometimes legitimate things happen. Recently, I was supposed to meet with someone and their mom had a heart attack that morning.  When someone doesn’t show up for a meeting, I email them and say that ‘I thought we were meeting today, I just want to make sure that you are ok.’ Could you have imagined if I yelled at the person whose mom was ill for not showing up?

My friend is correct. It is important for your brand to follow through on your promises, but please be quick to forgive those who make an honest mistake.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

How To Be A Great Networker

Kevin Willett says that being a great networker is easy.

The simple answer to this question is to help others. When you are at a networking event, look for the person standing alone and go over and introduce yourself.  Offer to help that person by introducing them to other people at the event.

Sometimes after we have been networking for a while, we forget what it is like to be the new person at the event. For most of us it can be very overwhelming. I found that when I take the time to introduce people, both the new person and the people I am introducing them to, are grateful. This helps build my brand.

I found that my business grew when I started focusing on helping other people. I have complete strangers reach out to me because they had a friend tell them about how I helped them.

Another way to be a great networker is to offer to commute to events with people so they don’t have to go alone. This will give you a chance to chat with the person during the commute. Most people will be appreciative of you taking the time to help them.

Lastly, when you meet someone, think about whom you know that they would benefit from meeting and offer to introduce them to that person.  It’s as easy as a phone call or email introduction.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

Summer Time Networking

Kevin Willett believes vacation time is needed, but not the whole summer!

I find that many people take the summer off from networking. I may be biased because I do run two networking groups, but I will do my best to convince you that it is a really bad idea. If you disappear for three or four months it is only natural that people may believe that you went out of business, especially if you are a new business owner. Also you have been working really hard to build relationships through networking and when you take months off from events it can feel like you are starting over again. I suggest that you find time to attend one or two events per month that you really like and find valuable to keep your name out there. If you find that you simply cannot attend events please make sure you are staying in touch with your connections through your newsletter or by emailing them.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

Are Your Dreams Big Enough?

Kevin Willett reminds you that your dreams are important.

I have been working on some new ideas for networking events, such as Speed Networking. I am amazed by how many people tell me “nobody wants to attend speed networking events, it is a horrible idea”. What I have found is, if someone does not like my idea, they will expand their opinion from they do not want to attend to nobody wants to attend.  Well, the first two speed networking events have sold out. So far, so good.

When someone offers me an opinion, I typically listen to it and then ask myself do they have any valid points? Just because someone does not like your idea does not mean that it is not a good idea.

I learned this lesson teaching entrepreneurship this semester. A student would tell me their idea and right away I would hear another student say ‘no, that is never going to work’. But they said it because; they personally, don’t need or wouldn’t use the idea. Please remember not everyone is going to like or need your idea. So don’t be discouraged when someone jumps in right away and puts it down.

I think there are two parts to this tip. First, please do not let people discourage your ideas simply because they don’t like your idea. Secondly, be careful with your words. Please do not discourage people. When someone tells me an idea they have for a product or service, I try to start with why I like the idea and then I mention concerns I have about it, to see if they have considered them. In some cases they have considered these concerns and do not feel it will be an issue. In other cases they have not, so we talk about how we can make sure their ideas will be successful. No matter what, keep dreaming.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events.

Are You Really All Set?

Kevin Willett reminds you that the person you are speaking with may not be a potential client , but may have connections that could be.

My friend tried to start a conversation this week with one of his referral partners at a networking event and the person told him ‘thanks, but I am all set. I am happy with the person I am working with’. We all have business relationships that we are happy with, but when you say you are all set, it hurts your chance to develop a referral relationship with the person you are speaking with. This happens all the time.

Rather than just saying I am all set, how about saying something like ‘that is not a match for me, but tell me more about what you are doing in case I meet someone who needs your services’. This simple approach will help you to build a relationship with that person.

It is important to remember that when we are networking we are selling through the person, not to them. Using myself as an example, I don’t have a lot of needs but I do have a good size network of people that I can introduce you to.

I have many friends who are not members of my networking group, but they have introduced me to many people who have become clients. Please give some thoughts to this next time you are tempted to say I am all set.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events.