Networking, it's all about what you can do!

As I work with clients in all industries, from manufacturing, to service, to health care, to distribution, there continues to be one prevalent theme.......WHO DO YOU KNOW!  The old adage of it's not what you know, but who you know, continues to be ever prevalent.  This has and continues to be the case in finding employment, but it doesn't stop there.

Do you ever have questions come up in your business and it's determined that no one internally has the answers?  Well, some of those questions are typical business questions that you can reach out to your attorney, accountant, or bank, but what about more of the operational and sales challenges, as well as, some of the best practices happening inside and outside your industry? 

When I began consulting six years ago, I was not very well networked.  I began connecting with those that I thought could provide me guidance as well as introductions to others that were well networked and/or people that were just good to know.  What I quickly learned about engaging in this process is that it wasn't about what they could do for me, but what I could do to help them?  Although my consulting practice is entirely based on helping individuals and businesses on their journey of growth and profitability, I needed to see how I could help others that I was networking with achieve their goals, and in so doing, they would help me achieve mine.  As with all networking, you learn quickly who is truly networking for mutual benefit and who is networking for purely self-gain. 

Running a business today is more difficult than it has ever been.  Those who are in business for strictly self-serving purposes, will not sustain themselves long-term.  Those that are looking to learn and grow and contribute to the success of others, while in pursuit of their own success, will have a bright future.   

Go outside of the walls of your business and join a professional organization such as Executive Agenda or TEC, or become involved with a non-profit as a volunteer or Board Member.  When others reach out to you to connect, always say yes.  It's the relationships that you build that will allow you to grow both personally and professionally.  You never know when they can and will be a resource to you and you to them.  Being successful in business is all about being the best in your chosen field.  None of us is as smart as "all" of us....make sure your "all" is both broad and deep and you will reap the rewards.

Jayne McQuillan, CPA, MBA, CEPA is a strategic management consultant, and the owner of Journey Consulting, LLC, in Green Bay