2020+ prep, reviewing 2 Networking Books

Networking

It is really just going beyond our genetically coded need for socialization and adding in a business aim. Since many social activities, the best really, have a social aim that feeds your DNA and often can or do serve a purpose for society, the business component becomes a manufactured addition that is often added on either obviously or often as a secondary, unspoken, reason.  

Currently, I am in the midst of a book re-reading project. This includes 8-12 books and is mostly part of a personal "resetting" that I am working through over the last 6+ months. But, I also have limited shelf space. The project is fairly simple; re-read books I've read somewhere in the last 8 years and consider the following;  

• Does this book "hold up?" I have one from the late 1800s and several from the early 1900s that do.
• In a business context; was this book written to genuinely share and move society forward or is it more something written: "as a business card?" If it is the latter, I really do not need it on my shelves, and likely wouldn't pass it forward
• Do I interpret them differently now?
• Did I learn and apply the lessons I was supposed to have learned back then?
• Like an article, should/could this book bring someone more value than if it is left on my shelf?
• The writing of a review/post is part of that resetting project

I've also learned that although it was not intended, I have several books whose knowledge is amplified when paired with others. I thought re-reading these two concurrently could have a similar effect;

Derek Coburn Networking is Not Working

Ivan Misner and Mike Macedonio The World's Best-Known Marketing Secret

The short answer, yes, I think both books are still valid and worth reading today. This is especially true for someone who is brand new to the business side of life, specifically sales and/or entrepreneurship, or has a couple of years of solid work but needs a boost to whatever their next level is.

In either case, reading The Worlds Best Known Marketing Secret is a great start. It has the density of knowledge, facts, and ideas somewhere between a textbook and an encyclopedia, but likely is a far better value for your dollars. Although some of the specific names, groups, websites, etc. may have changed, the core of this book is still very strong. Keep in mind it was originally printed in 1994, nearly pre-internet, and this copy is from 2011. Having read many "older" books it still holds the keys I am looking for; is the underlying thesis/ideas still accurate? Yes. Can someone deploy the ideas in this book and be successful? Yes. None of this means I agree 100% with the ideas. However, the fact is, I have tried most if not all that is in here and can 100% say "it" worked for me. At least to a point, and most of us can agree that when it comes to the networking part of the business you should take what works for you and go with it. You definitely do not have to do every activity, even if expanding your comfort zone is a good idea. Small disclaimer, yes, this book has some specific parts about Business Networking International as well as The Referral Insitute(no longer operating?), those are the corporations owned by the authors. But, those sections are limited to a few pages. Yes, I also spent 13ish years in BNI and can say much of what is in this book is at the core of BNI, but, they are also at the core of doing good business. Likely not a coincidence.

Networking is Not Working was published in 2014, I've only now realized this, so it is ironic that it picks up on a couple of ideas where Ivan and Mike left off. Keep in mind, both touch on and expand a bit on some harsh realities; A lot of networking actions do not work and are borderline offensive in their amateurism. Like all things, there are better ways and worse ways to do things. As mentioned earlier, I spent somewhere around 13 years in BNI and would recommend it to many people. But, my recommendation now includes a few pre-cautions and additional recommendations now. This book takes elements that I've had work in a BNI room and goes a bit beyond. But, at the core, are some of the very basics of networking that are to often overlooked; Be a resource, look at the time invested, focus on great and diverse options, not just the people you "know." It also gets beyond what can be the very stale, very redundant breakfast table in a ho-hum bakery/diner and applies some customization to it. The curation, care, and consistency deployed by the author are like saying that if you can earn a bachelor's degree after some time in BNI, this is somewhere between an executive-level certificate program and masters. Leaning closer to a master level of networking.  

Both books also have an underlying idea of getting beyond the basics of not just giving and receiving, but trying to find more value in each side of that exchange. At the same time, neither expands upon or really spends much time on something that has been apparent and relevant to me for quite a while. Life. How does this really fit in with life? Somewhere on the interwebs, there is the saying about how much time in your life you will spend working so you might as well be doing something you like with people you like. The same holds true for networking, but networking seems like it could and should go beyond that. You are having some supposedly meaningful and valuable dialogue and exchanges with other humans. Where is the cross over point? Where does this, how does this, should this, be the adult version of the playground/neighborhood/classroom/door room Where seemingly disparate humans have some basics in common and develop into life long friends? 

If you want my copies, I have one of each, just message with your address and I'll send them. First come first served.