A couple of years ago I decided to try my hand at sales. Having never sold anything before I grossly overestimate my ability and grossly underestimated the task at hand. Needless to say within a year I fell flat on my face. Perhaps i should have taken the time to learn how to sell; before I decide to jump head first in deep water. But most importantly I didn’t know how to build and strengthen a personal or professional network.
Since then I’ve become increasingly interested in personal and professional networks. I want to know how they work, grow and become strengthened and weakened. I’m constantly exploring tools that can be used to help me with my network. I seed it, water and occasionally weed it. Sometimes I even talk to it.
So here are some resources to help you get started developing your own network.
- How to win friends and influence People; Dale Carnegie
- The Little Black Book of Connections; Jeffrey Gitomer
- Trust Agents; Chris Brogan and Julien Smith
- Rolodex Book; Harvey Mackay*
*The Rolodex book can be downloaded from www.harveymackay.com.
