by Thierry MazuéFrench Bureau Chief
As much as we love the "French exception", this time there is no doubt, and no exception: France is in the middle of its biggest economic downturn.
"Hard times", "30% less than last year", "If it gets any worse, I don't know what can happen "... You heard all of these at the last mixer you attended didn't you? Bad news is, again, no "French exception" here!
The good news is: When it comes to focused networking and referral business, there is NO FRENCH EXCEPTION!
This Wednesday evening in Paris, I attended a meeting featuring Dr. Ivan Misner (founder and chairman of BNI - Business Network Int'l - as well as a New York Times best-selling author and fellow TNNW writer) with 200 French entrepreneurs. What are they looking for? Positive energy, business, sharing experiences, finding partners, working with experts!
Several times, I saw the audience react to Dr. Misner's speech. Among many, here are some of the topics that produced the best reactions during this event.
Give to others first.
Is it a strange concept today? No! It does work that way. If I help you, and I mean without expecting something in return – this is not a transaction – chances are you'll be willing to help me too. Can you imagine, when this is the way you live, the difference it produces? I can tell you that opportunities come to you, what goes around comes around, and you are referred to good prospects, matching your target market. Is this a pleasant way to handle and grow you business? Give it a try, and let me know.
We all speak the language of Referrals.
Referral Marketing is not taught in any French school or university. Yet this is the best way to grow your business! Working with a group of entrepreneurs you know, like and trust, and with whom you develop a real relationship. Referring business to somebody can only happen when trust exists between you and this person. And to make it simple: isn't it easier to promote someone else's business instead of your own?
Focused Networking.
That's what it takes. If you want the result (getting business by referral) your networking has to be pretty well organized. If you are wondering how to do this, I urge you to read Dr. Misner's last book "The 29% solution – 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies". It explains how you can develop a diversified network of contacts, and work with them to build successful business relationships that produce referrals.
And if you need to learn and to implement a referral marketing plan in your business, take a look at the Referral Institute web site and call them.
I refuse to participate in a recession.
This one is great! Last week, I talked to a group of hairdressers. They are looking for ways to improve their businesses, sell new products, and implement new techniques in what they do... regular business professionals. Like other business professionals I meet every week, they have stopped listening to the Media that focus on how bad the situation is. Instead, they are looking for opportunities where others see problems. Does it make a difference? Yes! Absolutely! Not only in their businesses. It's not that they are denying reality; it is just a positive attitude, focused on this basic principle that Dr. Misner reminded us:
"You can't change your competition. Your competition will do what your competition will do.
You can't change the economy. The economy will be what the economy will be.
But you can change your response to your competition.
You can change your response to the economy.
And I absolutely refuse to participate in a recession!"
All that Dr. Misner told us goes way beyond boundaries, cultures, educations or traditions.
It overlays all this, and of course the "French exception".
From Paris,
Thierry Mazué
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