November 2014 – melclifford

Networking –What have you got to say?

November 24, 2014 No Comments

I shared with you two blog post of extracts from Harvey Mackay book entitled ‘DIG YOUR WELL BEFORE YOU’RE THIRSTY- THE ONLY NETWORKING BOOK YOU’LL EVER NEED. I thought I would share some of his quotes contained within his book. Some of them may strike a chord with you. Like any new behaviour, the more you practice the skills of networking, the easier it gets. Up the proverbial creek? If you’ve got a network you’ve always got a paddle. No matter how smart you are, no matter how talented, you can’t do it alone. Networking may not be rocket science, but studies prove it works for rocket scientists. Your car just gets you to work. Your network can determine whether or not you’ve got work to get to. Before you meet new people, before you make that call, do your homework. Find that common ground. Determine where their needs and interest lie. Make that connection. It does not matter how they remember you, but it’s more important that they do remember you. Your best network will develop from what you do best. People aren’t strangers if you’ve already met them. The trick is to meet them before you need their help. Networks may not be for members only, but they are surely for members first. Keeping a Rolodex is a lot like getting dressed in the morning. It doesn’t matter so much how you do it, it just matters that you do it. There are no dead-end jobs. There are only dean-end people. If you build a network, you will have a bridge to wherever you want to go. In networking, you’re only as good as what you give away. It takes years to become an overnight success. The wise person isn’t the one who makes the fewest mistakes. It’s the one who learns the most from them. In a world where information jobs and even whole companies are transient, only your network is permanent. Safeguard it. Just because you are not working doesn’t mean nobody’s talking about you. You don’t have to have the resources of a national treasury to strike gold as a networker. Two things people never forget: Those who were caring to them when they were at a low point, and those who weren’t. Elevators go up and down Are you building your network? Check out rapidtimenetworks.com

What is a network?

November 18, 2014 No Comments

I shared with you last Thursday a blog post of an extract from Harvey Mackay book entitled ‘DIG YOUR WELL BEFORE YOU’RE THIRSTY- THE ONLY NETWORKING BOOK YOU’LL EVER NEED. I thought I would share another extract from a different Chapter. Chapter Title – What is a network? A network provides a path, a way of getting from point A to point B in the shortest possible time over the least possible distance. To expand on that a bit, it’s finding first whom you need to get, what you need in any given situation and then helping others do the same. Networking is a way of connecting the dots between A and Z without having to go through C, D, E……W, X and Y. In other words, a network is geodesic rather than pyramidal. In a network, the interconnecting links can be lateral, vertical, or diagonal. Each link is no more or no less important than another. The whole structure is designed to minimize the distance between any one point and another. Each part reinforces the others. A network is an organized collection of your personal contacts and your personal contacts’ own networks. Networking is finding fast whom you need to get what you need in any given situation and helping others do the same. Are you building your network? Check out rapidtimenetworks.com When two people exchange dollar bills, each has only one dollar. When two people exchange networks, they each have two networks.

Networks, are you building yours?

November 13, 2014 1 Comment

I thought I would share with you an extract from Harvey Mackay book entitled ‘DIG YOUR WELL BEFORE YOU’RE THIRSTY- THE ONLY NETWORKING BOOK YOU’LL EVER NEED. This book contains many great chapters and important take ways to support you in building your network. It’s never too late to start. Chapter Title – SIX CONCLUSIONS TO BEGIN The New York Times ran a series of front page articles on the devastating effects of downsizing on American workers. Since 1979, more than 43 million jobs have been lost in America (given that this book was first published in 1997, with confidences I would say this figure has increased dramatically). Though a greater number than that have been added, many are at lower pay. Among those who have been laid off and have found new jobs, two- thirds are earning less. When I finished reading the articles I came to the conclusions: 1.Talent alone will not save you in today’s economy. 2.The traditional advice – more training and education – will not save you. 3.The government will not save you. 4.No matter how self reliant, dedicated, loyal, competent, well educated and well trained you are, you need more than you to save yourself. 5.You need a network. You need your network. Every day. A network will help you deal with some of life’s minor annoyances as well as you most challenging problems. Your network can provide role models, advise you, comfort you, provide you with financial assistance, intellectual and social resources, entertainment, and a ride to work in the morning. Without it, you’ll have a hard time finding a client, making a sale, seeking a job, hiring the right employee. To say nothing of the personal stuff, like locating a competent doctor, buying a house, or deciding on a nursery school for your kids. If I had to name the single characteristic shared by all the truly successful people I’ve met over a lifetime, I’d say it is the ability to create and nurture a network of contacts. 6.I would share what I had learned from a lifetime of networking. No matter how smart you are, no matter how talented, you can’t do it alone. Are you building your network? Check out rapidtimenetworks.com

Changing the way I am – ebook

November 6, 2014 No Comments

New Poetry Book now available as an ebook. ‘Changing the Way I Am’ contains a selection of over 30 poems. To celebrate the launch, a free copy will be emailed to the first 50 new subscribers to my blog post. Morning Light When days have passed and things get tough And in the mornings we may look rough We will have to plan each day to fill Mind each other if we ever get ill The kids have gone to live their lives All now with their partners and wives’ On our own again at last How did these years go so fast? Since we met we have never looked back We built our lives and there is nothing we lack As we hold hands and sleep quietly this night I hope tomorrow we both wake together with the morning light

Mel Clifford

Mel Clifford

Blog & News

Month: November 2014

Networking –What have you got to say?

What is a network?

Networks, are you building yours?

Changing the way I am – ebook

Mel Clifford