By Drew Miller
We have all said it at one time or another.
However, if you are too busy with your current workload to get future business, you are going to have a slow period. Let’s face it; nobody really wants a slow period. A slowdown means you become concerned, stressed both fiscally and emotionally. When we’re busy, it’s the best time to keep up on your networking. You are pumped up, you are confident and you are ready to divide and conquer. Your energy alone will sell itself!
Time management is something everyone works on, pays attention to and gets stressed about. It is vitally important to having a balanced life. With a balanced life, everything you do is more fulfilling. Projects become opportunities versus something you struggle to get done. Work and play time join and become equal. This is what we are all aspiring to. If that’s not where you’re headed, I am here to tell you, you are missing out.
Balancing all that I do is critical because I don’t want it to be just about work. I want to live a fulfilled and powerful life. I discovered this the hard way.
In 2006, the real estate market went haywire and everything changed. In late 2008, the market crashed and I found myself scrambling for income. This was when I learned the importance of networking. If I had only networked and marketed my business during the busy period, I would have had business during the slowdown. Instead, since I worked solely within the mortgage industry (and we all know where that went!), I was faced with reinventing myself.
First thing: I set up my website with Google pay-per-click to generate online traffic in the hopes of getting appraisals from new sources. This really paid off. Today, my website is booming with traffic and I am getting appraisals from divorce attorneys, realtors helping their clients, and homeowners interested in combating their property taxes.
Second: I found another source of income that required me to get out and network my businesses. While out looking for businesses in need of merchant services, I was able to expand my network of colleagues. I met realtors, lawyers and insurance folks that continue to drive appraisals my way.
Third: (and most unexpected), I joined the team at the Chamber encouraging others to network with the Gay & Lesbian Business Exchange. GLBX is the trifecta of networking for me. While being on the board of GLBX and the GLBX Leads group along with membership, I learned the importance of building an army of workers for my business to ensure I do not have another income CRASH!
Networking has turned into something I really enjoy. I have met so many new friends along the way. People I might not have ever come in contact with otherwise, but I’m really happy to have them in my life. Just the other day, I got my tail light replaced at ECO-Friendly Auto Center. The owner, Sully (GLBX Leads Group) is a Harley-ridin’ family guy from Coral Springs, and he couldn’t be more genuine and open to making new friends in the GLBX.
Greg Hardy with Solutions Insurance and Victor Flores with Fastprintz are two people I spend a lot of time with networking. So much so they have become dinner companions, and I look forward to the quality time we share. When I needed marketing material for my SmartRide team fundraisers, I called on my friend Victor and he donated a banner without a second thought.
Speaking of SmartRide, there is a fundraiser for this worthy cause at my home on Oct. 8. (Details on my Facebook page). It’s the perfect place for you to get starting networking yourself. Yes, you’re invited.
Drew Miller is a business and networking consultant. He can be contacted at Drew@DrewMiller.biz.