Fishing and the Right Bait

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The Lion’s Pride: Networking

Fishing and the Right Bait

During my youth, most family summer vacations were in the 1000 Islands. There, I learned how to drive an outboard motor-powered row boat, swim and, most importantly, fish.

Why was fishing such an important thing to learn? Simple. Fishing successfully depends upon two basic things: going where the fish are and using the right bait.

The same is true for networking: go to where the contacts are and know what they want. Networking contacts are a lot like fresh water fish; know where they are and what they want and you're successful. They fall into three basic types:

Pan fish. You can catch enough for dinner pretty easily if you hit the right spot. These networking contacts can be found schooling in organizations like Rotary Clubs. Pan fish like basic bait - worms, mostly. Likewise, the contacts in this group want a simple approach: who you are, what you do and how you might be able to help them.

Catfish. By their nature, catfish lurk in the murky bottoms of fresh water and eat what they find there. The contacts in this group will take anything they can get. But the bait needs to be attractive - if they suspect something's amiss, they'll disappear in a muddy cloud. Even though they'll bite on almost anything, patience and building trust is the key to success.

Muskies. Oh, these are fighters! They're big fish with a ton of muscle! Latch onto one and be prepared to hold on! While some are caught with worms, they generally have a taste for smaller prey. Have a flashy lure that looks like a perch, crawfish or frog? You might just be lucky enough to land one. Contacts in this group are cut-throat executives who devour those who get in their way. They thrive on it. To woo one of these, you better have something to catch their eye and satisfy their yen for winning.

IN THE CARAVAN: To network effectively, you need the right bait.

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Business Card Pack Rats / Gump-Style Networking / Becoming the Hub Increases Your Brand / Becoming the Hub II: Building Self-Feeding Buzz / Myths and Truisms / Grow Your Network - Go Where The Employers Are! / It's Not What You Know... / Always Be Prepared...Even If You're Not a Boy Scout / How to Make Six Degrees of Separation Work (Even If You're Not Kevin Bacon) / Marketing and Branding Yourself, Part I / Branding II: Your Website or Blog / Finding the Right Contact Person / Give a Little to Get a Little / Why Join Organizations? / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 1 / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 2: The Winning of The Sally / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 3: First Impressions / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part 1 / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part II: It's Not the Song, It's the Singer / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part III: Getting down to business / Networking at Job Fairs / Doing It On the Road / Networking Online / Getting Info From Sally & Co., Part I / Getting Info From Sally & Co., Part II: Asking The Right Questions / Networking Out of Town Part I: Laying the Foundation / Networking Out of Town Part II: Touring for Interviews / Working the Network by Feeding the Network / 'Running' Into Contacts / You Only Get What You Ask For / Press the Flesh II: Small Talk / Press the Flesh Like a Pro / Playing the Percentages / Fishing and the Right Bait / Shrek Style / Get Your Butterflies Flying In Formation / Discover Other People’s Passions / Double Dipping Doing Good / Overbooking Your Way to a New Job / Shaking the Branches of Your Family Tree / Working Your Reunion / Parents of Your Kids' Friends