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Dear readers and followers:

Please go to http://www.zachryinc.com/therelentlessnetworkerfor future posts and the archive of this blog.

Thanks for reading and thanks for continuing to follow us.

Keep on networking!

Relentless

Relentless Live: at the NDCC September 3

On Thursday, September 3rd, I'll be presenting a seminar in the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce's Business Toolbox Series entitled “Using Networking and Social Media Tools to Build Your Brand and Grow Your Business"

The 7:30 am event is intended for business owners. Visibility and top-of-mind awareness are the keys to building your business. Over the past several years, I've used a number of tools and methods as a part of our strategy to build awareness of the Zachry Associates brand in the DFW Metroplex and beyond. By telling our story and sharing his examples, I hope to arm you with ideas and tools you can use yourself. In this presentation, I will cover how I have used these tools to build the ZA brand in the marketplace:

• Social media
• Blogs
• Face-to-face networking
• The US Mail
• Obvious things

For more information, please visit www.ndcc.org to register.

Relentless

Stay focused

No matter what, keep your eye on the ball. There are many distractions in this business world and you have to not be distracted by the latest tool, the wrong person or the things that waste time.

Be there and be square.

Relentless

Co-opetition

How often have you been in the presence of your competitors? Whether it is at a trade show or networking event or in a lobby awaiting an interview, we've all been around those we are competing with.

What should you do?

How about make friends and be courteous? Flys and honey and all that aside, it's the best thing to do. Sure, you won't divulge competitive-sensitive information, but you can have a polite conversation. It might teach you something about them, their motives and--you.

The latest version of this phenomenon I witnessed was with a group of marketing managers for credit unions. These folks are all competing for similar business and clients, yet they are will to set aside their differences for 2 hours a month to talk over ideas and learn new ones.

My personal experience is from my Honeywell days as a trade show manager. I made friends with the TSM of our biggest competitor, Johnson Controls. I still am in touch with Keith Tomaszewski as he is a great souce of knowledge about the trade show industry and the controls business.

I realize this is also the title of a book by Adam Brandenburger and Barry Nalebuff, but the term works well with a lot of industries and situations.

Relentless

Adam M. Brandenburger, of the Harvard Business School, and Barry J. Nalebuff, Yale School of Management, published "Co-opetition" in 1996 with Doubleday.

Managing your volunteer efforts

It is the best of things to do: you help an organization by lending them your skills. You get the satisfaction of having helped further a cause or organization.

However, it has it's pitfalls. Remember, you aren't being paid and it can't (shouldn't) infringe on your work time (if you have one; if you are in transition, be careful not to take too much time away from your search).

The good news is that volunteer activities have a way of working on an ebb and flow concept: if you can't do a task, don't be afraid to ask for help. The help also sees when things fall off and will jump in.

It always seems to work out, but you need to manage the time and effort just as you do your work flow.

Relentless

A great example of personal brand

Jamey Wozniak is the best example I've seen in sometime of someone doing two things well:

• Creating and managing her personal brand
• Using her skills to transition from one career to another

Jamey is the owner of Joe's Hitch, Trailer and Truck Accessories in Dallas. This former human resources professional really took a sharp turn in her career: HR manager in the cosmetics and home fashion business to CEO of an automotive parts and accessories company.

Her skills as a human resources professional allow her to speak and interact with her employees and customers as few know how to do, applying her knowledge to the day-to-day operation of her company.

She also did a makeover of her appearance: from suits to jeans and boots--business to biker.

While it might seem extreme, from what I've read and learned of this smart businessperson is that it more suits her personality. She makes it clear in the consistency she shows from contact to contact: a Dallas Morning News story and photo, her Facebook and LinkedIn pages and profile, her image associated with the business in advertising and other media.

Consistency is a must when projecting one's brand image. Great work, Jamey.

Relentless

This is extracted in part from Cheryl Hall's story in the Sunday, 8/9/09 edition of the Dallas Morning News. Thanks, Cheryl.

The Three Ps

My colleague, Rob Brown, reminded me of another mantra for networkers and business seekers: the three Ps.

• Patience
• Persistence
• Passion

Patience. Good things come to those of us who wait. It is really true.

Persistence. Keep at it. Don't be rude or impolite, but keep at it.

Passion. It's worth your time and energy, go for it and do it with wild abandon.

Relentless

Rob Brown is the principal in RDB Consulting, www.rdbconsulting.biz