Discovering the Power of Networking - One of the Happiest People I know...

One of the happiest, most successful entrepreneurs we know is a man called Steven Westwood.

Steven is:

• The founder of SPW Copywriting
• The host of the popular podcast “I’ll take that win”
• The author of “Oh No not another goal-setting book”
• The Hub Leader of the Explore ProTech UK Local Online Speed Networking Hub
• The Managing Editor of Entrepreneurs Lifestyle Magazine
• The Host of popular Youtube Show - So you think you can grow your business LIVE goal-setting coaching with Steven Westwood!

When you ask him how he rose to the top and why he enjoys entrepreneurship so much that he literally never stops going, his answer is simple: people. He’ll point to me and Peter, the co-founders of Explore ProTech, the owners of the newest, most exciting networking group in entrepreneurship who “always has his back”; Steve, the Global Leadership Coach, a fellow Explore ProTech Mentor, with whom he has monthly brainstorming lunches and occasional gripe sessions; and Leonie, a protégé whom he is currently training to take over as editor of Entrepreneurs Lifestyle Magazine.

Outside the company, Steven’s circle includes his counterparts in three strategic partnerships, who inspire him with new ideas; Ryan, a loving and supportive partner that “keeps him sane”, fellow copywriters in the industry whom he loves to coach, local UK entrepreneurs that present him with various opportunities from time to time, and other members of the Explore ProTech Entrepreneurs’ Tribe across the globe with whom he’ll meet up for a virtual coffee whenever time permits.

This is Steven’s social network (the real-world kind, not the virtual kind), and it has helped his entrepreneurial ventures a lot. But not because the group is large or full of high-powered contacts. His network is effective because it both supports and challenges him. Steven’s relationships help him gain influence, broaden his expertise, learn new skills, and find purpose and balance. Steven values and nurtures them. “Build your business through making friends! It’s both fun and effective!” is his motto.

"I've built my business up by being friends with the right people. This may not put money in your bank right away, but it is key to having a successful and sustainable business - play the long game, not the quick sale, and you can make so much more from it!",” he explains. “People may chalk it up to luck, but I think more often than not luck happens through networks where people give first and are authentic in all they do.”

Since the birth of Explore ProTech Entrepreneurial Haven, we’ve worked with many entrepreneurs like Steven, from almost everywhere in the world. What began as a project to help my own clients survive the Covid19 Pandemic and resultant Economic Depression, has since metamorphosed into a complete Entrepreneurial Haven, which teaches individual entrepreneurs to increase their effectiveness and probability of success by leveraging their (and our) networks.

The old adage “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is true. But it’s more nuanced than that. In spite of what most self-help books say, network size doesn’t usually matter. In fact, we’ve found that entrepreneurs who simply know a lot of people are less likely to achieve standout performance because they’re spread too thin… They don’t have time to actually spend time building authentic connections into REAL friendships. Corporate animals with lots of connections to corporate and industry leaders don’t win the day, either. Yes, it’s important to know powerful people, but if they account for too much of your network, your peers and subordinates often perceive you to be overly self-interested, and you may lose support as a result.

The data we’ve collected point to a different model for networking. The entrepreneurs who consistently excel in entrepreneurship in both performance and well-being have diverse but select networks that serve to support all aspects of their ideal lifestyle like Steven’s—made up of high-quality relationships with entrepreneurs who are hustling in several different spheres and from up and down the entrepreneurial hierarchy. These high performers, we have found, tap into six critical kinds of connections, which enhance their entrepreneurial journey and lifestyles in a variety of ways.

Through our work advising individual entrepreneurs, we’ve also identified a process that will help any entrepreneur develop this kind of network, based on your unique networking personality.

Next time we chat I’d like us to take a look at some common networking mistakes, but first I want you to make sure that you’ve taken our networking personality quiz and signed up for our personalized advice email sequence that will send you information to help you become a better networker, and build a better network, based on the networking champion in our network that has the same personality as you.

Once you’ve taken the quiz, let us know what type of networking personality you have and share with us any revelations that you’ve gotten from taking the test and reading your initial results. :) You can do it. The road to a better network, and more entrepreneurial success, in business and life, starts here. :)