DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA: Out for the Holidays

Doing Business In China with Dan Paulson

In the US, we may take it for granted that the holidays we celebrate are also celebrated elsewhere. In China this is not so and if you’re not careful, you may find yourself in a pinch.

With the holiday season upon us, I am reminded how different cultures can be when it comes to celebrating. Seasoned travelers understand that what we celebrate here often isn’t celebrated somewhere else or vice versa. You can imagine how things change around the holidays in the US. During this time of year, retailers are in full swing. There’s a reason why Black Friday is such an important day for this industry as most of the profits earned by retailers starts just after Thanksgiving. In some industries, trying to do business this time of year is virtually impossible as business-to-business transactions come to a screeching halt.

In China, the holidays there are considerably different than they are here. The Chinese have seven holidays (see table) that are recognized nationally. During these celebrations, work in China comes almost to a complete standstill. With the exception of New Year’s, no other holiday aligns with ours here in the states. If you are doing business with China, it will be important for you to remember these dates and understand their significance.

Festival	Date	Legal Holidays	Holidays of 2010	Holidays of 2011
New Year’s Day	Jan. 1	1 day	Jan. 1-3	Jan1-3
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)	Based on Lunar calendar	3 days	Feb. 13-19	Feb. 2-8
Qingming Festival	Apr. 4 or 5	1 day	Apr. 3-5	April 3-5
May Day	May 1	1 day	May 1-3	May 1-3
Dragon Boat Festival	The fifth day of the fifth lunar month	1 day	June 14-16	June 4-6
Mid-Autumn Day	August 15 according to the lunar calendar	1 day	Sep. 22-24	Sep 10-12
National Day	October 1	3 days	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7

In addition to the seven legal holidays, there are four other national festivals where workers may get time off, plus there could be numerous recognized local and regional events that could impact workflow.

Recently we were working with a company in the states that wanted to purchase products from China. This company is very client centered and deadline driven. While they were used to working with these tight deadlines, they had not done much business with China.

We were asked to assist them with finding a suitable manufacturer and making the contact for them. We began our process in early fall and shortly after starting work, were asked to place an order that had to be in the United States by early October. At the time the order was placed, it was approximately two weeks before National Day which is the equivalent of our Independence Day. Keep in mind the products had to be made, passed through customs, shipped, pass through customs in the U.S.A. and delivered in this time. What transpired in the coming weeks was enough to give anyone gray hair and I earned my share as different unexpected challenges popped up.

The shortened version of the story is the products, though they were made in time were tied up in shipping and customs, and ended up arriving late. Even our best efforts couldn’t control all the variables from what would be a normal workweek in China. The problems compounded themselves with the holidays. Here we have been spoiled in recent years. There was a time in our not too distant past when nothing would happen on a national holiday. You spent time with friends and family. If you needed to go to the store or get something done, too bad. In China, it is still much like that. Everybody stops to celebrate, and while early October might not be a big deal to us, it is very important to that culture.

So here’s wishing you a happy holiday season. If you are looking at expanding internationally, be sure to know that nation’s culture and what they celebrate as well. It could lead to profitable relationships for years to come!

For more information, please visit Dan's TNNWC Bio.

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DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA: Out for the Holidays

BEYOND NETWORKING: Strategy Fourteen: Look Back to Move Forward

Beyond Networking with Ron Sukenick

Human relationships always help us to carry on because they always presuppose further developments, a future—and also because we live as if our only task was precisely to have relationships with other people.

Albert Camus, French-Algerian Philosopher and Writer

While I have always felt I understood the value of relationship with others, it was not until I started writing this book that my realization that relationships do not have to end was reinforced.

Let me take a few moments to share this experience with you. The times in my life that I have always treasured are my teenage years. During those years, I sought to find my way in life, formulate my values, and adapt the character of the person I was to become.

Almost all of the people that I met or spent time with during my adolescence had an impact in shaping my future. From a musical perspective, it was The Beatles and the Beach Boys. And then, there were the friendships.

Have you ever thought about the impact of your best friend, your best friend of the opposite sex, and your first boyfriend or girlfriend? What makes them so special? Well, in my opinion, what makes them so special is what you attach to the experiences you had with them. For me, it was a time of discovery, a time of experiment, and a time of questioning—truly my wonder years.

In October of 2002, I reconnected with two people from my high school years: my best female friend and my first love from the 60s. Wow!

After a series of e-mails and phone conversations, the three of us decided to get together for an extended 4-day weekend in beautiful South Florida in late February.

We hardly missed a beat from the last time we were all together in 1967. From that time, we’ve continued to connect.

What am I really saying or suggesting? I'm suggesting you think about the meaningful relationships you had in the past. Then ask yourself the following question. If I were to reconnect with these people today, is it possible that I would have satisfying and joyful experiences?

If you once connected so powerfully, chances are you would again. The renewed friendship could be very exciting, and enjoyable, and continue into the future.

We have said throughout this book that relationships never end. And why should they? Relationships play such an important part in everyone's life. Each relationship is such a precious commodity; renewing and shifting these relationship into the future opens up undiscovered possibilities.

Perhaps as you look back, some relationships were filled with too much conflict, too many hang-ups and so on and so on. Having a positive response may be your guidepost.

Search out and start the process of rebuilding those incredible relationships you loved from the past. Enjoy the process of taking yesteryear's relationships and bringing them into the present. In essence, you're looking back in order to move ahead.

Taking the Moment & Dancing With It

Taking the moment and dancing with it is a term I first learned in 1974. I was a bass player seeking to align with an upcoming band in Los Angeles. I responded to an ad for a singing bass player by two gentlemen building a musical theme around their book, The Awakening: The Electromagnetic Spectrum. They were Robert Bearns and Ron Dexter.

Robert was somewhat of a philosopher and would always point out the need to take the moment. He would go on to state that people often move quickly past opportunities for mutual success. He also stated that if you want to know or understand more, all you need to do is take the moment and notice more.

How true it is. Taking the time to notice more, and know again the people we have enjoyed being with in the past allows for movement into our forward thinking future. It’s the experience of relationshift that we introduced earlier: the act of identifying and transforming your thoughts and your view of a relationship into a new relationship. Relationshift truly works!

By the way, we recorded a few albums while together: The Golden Voyage music series by Bearns and Dexter, Awakening Productions, Culver City, California.


For more information, please visit Ron's TNNW Bio.

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BEYOND NETWORKING: Strategy Fourteen: Look Back to Move Forward

BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: Develop a Relationship Mindset

Beyond Networking: Being with Ron Sukenick

"The most important single discovery of this generation is that we change our conditions by changing our attitude of mind" - William James

A turning point in developing my relationship mindset occurred about thirty years ago. I was on a plane from L.A to N.Y. to visit my parents. It was one of those midnight specials. The plane wasn’t as full as I am sure the airline wished it would have been, and the opportunity to stretch out across the entire row of seats made itself available.

What happened next I believe literally changed my life, or, at least my attitude about life and the power behind developing a relationship building mindset.

On awakening after a few undisturbed hours of restful sleep, I felt something at my head. Grabbing to feel what it was, I picked up this 5x7 black-covered book titled The Master Key System by Charles Haanel. For whatever reason, somebody either accidentally dropped it at my head, or possibly placed it there for me to enjoy for the rest of my life.

Let’s take a moment to examine some of Charles Haanel’s ideas. The book points out that much gathers more is true on every plane of existence, and that loss leading to greater loss is equally true. Our minds are creative, and conditions, environment and all experiences in life are the result of our habitual, or predominant, mental attitude.

Our attitude of mind depends upon what we think. Therefore, the secret of all power, all achievement, and all possibility depends upon our thinking.

This is true because we must “BE” before we can “DO.” And we can “DO” only to the extent which we “ARE.” What we “ARE” depends upon what we think.

Our attitude of mind toward life pretty much determines the experiences we meet. If we expect nothing, we shall have nothing; if we expect much, we shall receive the greater portion.

The important aspect of this strategy is recognizing how our thoughts are getting in the way, and focusing on relationship connecting, rather than spending our energy on negative thoughts about the relationship or the individual, or what is not working. We are able to focus on gathering more.


Ron Sukenick
Business Advisor / Relationship Strategist / Author / Connector
rs@ronsukenick.com
www.ronsukenick.com
317-216-8210
Check out my Radio Podcast’s
http://www.smallbizamerica.com/beyond


Let's get connected on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ron-sukenick/0/226/20a


“Certified Human Behavior Consultant”
Nominated 2009 "America's Most Influential Business Connector"


For more information, please visit Ron's TNNW Bio.

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BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: Develop a Relationship Mindset

BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: 13 Ways to Create Impact

Beyond Networking: Being with Ron Sukenick

Are you making the most from the contacts you're making?

How often do you go out, meet people, and for whatever reason, nothing happens?

Think about it. Do you consciously plan or map out what you're looking to accomplish?

In most cases, people go out to network with no real goal in mind. They simply do it for the joy of interaction. Now, I’m not putting down the concept of interacting because as you and I know, if it wasn’t for having some fun at it we would never do it. So you make a lot of contacts but the relationship never really goes anywhere.

Did you ever think about why?

And while we can make all the contacts in the world, wouldn’t it be great to know more about how we can convert contacts into purposeful connection? As a way to help you in the process, listed below you’ll find some tips on how to do just that.


13 ways to help you create impact at the point of interaction

1. Contribute – Always share ideas, information and your resources with others.
   


2. Make it a small world – Everyone you meet has something in common with you. Your job is to find out what that is. In helping you to make it a small world, always mention the names of people, places and things. You’ll be amazed on how people will respond when they find that you have experienced something or know someone in common.
   


3. Take interest in others – By investing a little time in research prior to your following up on a contact you made, you’d be amazed at the impact upon your follow-up phone call. Go to any of your favorite search engines and be amazed at what might come up for you to read. Once found, mention to the person you're following up with what you found as you were surfing the net. They will love that you took the time to learn more about who they are. In exchange, they will be more open to learning more about who you are.
   


4. Link one relationship to another – The power has been and always will be in making the connection for others. Do what you can to link one relationship to another.
   


5. Shorten learning curves – Learn to provide information to someone in need at that very moment that request is made.
   


6. Listen three times as much – When you speak, you learn what you know. When you listen, you learn what they know. Need I say anything more?
   


7. Look & comment about their business card – Quite often people exchange business cards and without even looking at it. Consider looking at it and commenting on something you see on the card. The person in front of you will love the attention.
   


8. Be passionate about your work – Having a passion for the work that you do is contagious. Learn to express yourself as though your life relied on it.
   


9. Find your reason for being – If you're going to go about building relationships with others, it’s important that you self reflect and strengthen the relationship with yourself. Find your reason for being.
   


10. Connect their goals to people you know – Another form of linking relationships to one another. Once you determine what they're looking to accomplish, simply make the connection with others that you know that might be able to move what their wanting to accomplish forward. Think of this as an act of kindness.
    


11. Connect the dots – Connecting the dots is your ability to recall information that helps to clarify one’s intention for moving forward.
    


12. Take the moment and dance with it – Being in the present will always create impact when being with others. Make every effort to be with the person in front of you. Eliminate any possible thoughts going through your mind that is not directly related to the conversation and person your with.
    


13. Follow-up – Know that just being there is not enough. You must have a solid system for creating a persistent presence. This is where most people fall down. They meet people and do nothing with the information. You must follow-up and do so within 48 hours or less. With you being one of the only people following up from the event you recently attended, you’ll surely get their attention for future opportunities.
    

Ron Sukenick
Business Advisor / Relationship Strategist / Author / Connector
rs@ronsukenick.com
www.ronsukenick.com
317-216-8210
Check out my Radio Podcast’s
http://www.smallbizamerica.com/beyond

Let's get connected on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ron-sukenick/0/226/20a

“Certified Human Behavior Consultant”
Nominated 2009 "America's Most Influential Business Connector"

For more information, please visit Ron's TNNW Bio.

The National Networker Companies

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BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: 13 Ways to Create Impact

BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: The World of Relationships is Like a Kaleidoscope

Beyond Networking: Being with Ron Sukenick

When we fundamentally understand that we have a multitude of considerations that impact how we are in relationship, our view of change and the importance of change is magnified. Consider Ron’s personal view of change.

Let’s take a few minutes and communicate about relationships and change.

When you were a youngster, did you enjoy looking into a Kaleidoscope?

Were you amazed at the infinite varieties of colors and patterns that evolved as it turned in your hand? Did you ever turn it so quickly that you did not have a chance to fully appreciate what you were watching because things were changing so quickly in the little viewer?

The changes in the viewer pale in comparison to the changes experienced in the last decade--and the changes we will experience in the years to come.

There was very little to think about when turning that little Kaleidoscope: just look and enjoy. If you view the world of relationship as a Kaleidoscope, you will see change. Rather than standing there mesmerized or memorizing the colors and patterns as if you can keep things the same, imagine what it might be like to be the colors. For openers, think about every second of your life, every minute, every day, being different from the preceding second, minute, or day. No two interactions or opportunities are the same, just as the patterns in the Kaleidoscope are never the same. Changes are inevitable--in behavior, in life patterns, in your knowledge base, in your habits, and in your relationships. We are not the same person we were even moments ago.

People change. Look around you. Are there new people in your life that were not there a month ago, six months ago, last year? Get to know people around you, and get involved with them. Don’t just observe the changes passively, as if you are looking into a viewer. Be a part of them. Get to know people you come into contact with, what they do, what makes them tick.

Become interested in them and how you can help them. They’ll do the same for you and you’ll enjoy life more.

Technology changes. Are you still using the same equipment as one, two, five years ago? Not very likely. And the equipment you are now using will become obsolete in the near future. Further more, staying abreast of the technological changes and discussing preferred communication tools with your partner is key in developing a collaborative relationship.

Leadership techniques change. When was the last time you picked up and read a management book for insight about new management and leadership practices?

An understanding of the changing needs of today’s workforce (that’s all of us!) will help you be more progressive and able to meet and partner with others within or outside your organization.

Economic factors, urgency, people’s values, technology, and relationship management: all changing everyday, truly a Kaleidoscope. You can become a part of the Kaleidoscope--get inside the viewer--and be the one who determines the next pattern, if you make up your mind to.

Ron Sukenick
Business Advisor / Relationship Strategist / Author / Connector
rs@ronsukenick.com
www.ronsukenick.com
317-216-8210
Check out my Radio Podcast’s
http://www.smallbizamerica.com/beyond

Let's get connected on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ron-sukenick/0/226/20a

“Certified Human Behavior Consultant”
Nominated 2009 "America's Most Influential Business Connector"

*Follow TNNW on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TNNW_BUZZWORKS
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BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: The World of Relationships is Like a Kaleidoscope

BEYOND NETWORKING: He's Right, Too!

Beyond Networking: Being with Ron Sukenick

There's an old Jewish folk tale about two men, Jacob and Joseph, who were having a dispute. Each was absolutely sure he was right! They asked their Rabbi to settle the argument once and for all. Jacob went first, telling his side of the story with great vehemence. The Rabbi stroked his beard and, saying a number of "Hmm" s, finally concluded, "You know, Jacob, "I think you're right." Then Joseph had his turn, angrily correcting Jacob's version of the story. "Well," concluded the Rabbi, "Joseph, it appears you're right, too!"

By this time a small crowd had gathered, and one of the bystanders, unable to contain himself, cried out, "But, Rabbi! They can't both be right!" A brief silence, punctuated by more "hmn's" ensued. Finally, the Rabbi said to the bystander, "You know, you're right, too!"

In an earlier Beyond Networking article, I explained that the Model of Human Behavior I use in my work as a Certified Human Behavior Consultant™ reveals that there are four main personality styles. What's more, just like the men consulting their Rabbi, all four of these styles are "right". How can this be?

Each of us has a style of relating to events and to other people. That's why I always tell my coaching clients that they can't change other people. What they can do, though, is adapt the way they relate to those other people and learn to better meet the needs of others.

Being able to make this kind of adaptation is the key to going from leads to referrals, from networking to NetBeing. Ultimately, it can mean going from "so-so" to success!

Ron Sukenick
Business Advisor / Relationship Strategist / Author / Connector
rs@ronsukenick.com
www.ronsukenick.com
317-216-8210
Check out my Radio Podcast’s
http://www.smallbizamerica.com/beyond

Let's get connected on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ron-sukenick/0/226/20a

“Certified Human Behavior Consultant”
Nominated 2009 "America's Most Influential Business Connector"

For more information, please visit Ron's TNNW Bio.





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BEYOND NETWORKING: He's Right, Too!

KARL SMITH: Women can break career and other barriers through networking

by Karl Smith

Networking as a career management strategy is important as the burden of responsibility for one’s career has shifted from the organisation to the individual, with the notion of employability becoming one’s career goal says Karl Smith, author of Beyond The Business Handshake: Dare To Build High-Trust Business Relationships. Moreover, more and more corporate, government and other organisations see building social capital as an organisational priority.

Social capital is ‘the structure of individuals’ contact networks - the pattern of interconnection among the various people with whom each person is tied’. It constitutes a valuable resource. Relationships possessed by an individual can provide one with access to new information, resources and opportunities says Smith. This information, resources, and opportunities, both within and outside one’s current firm, can result in direct enhancements of one’s career and the firm’s competitiveness.

Well-connected employees contribute more to the bottom-line because they know how to get on board quickly, get the job done, get the business, get behind organisational initiatives, get the most from conferences and meetings and they get ahead. One of the topics that often arise in the corporate world is why the networks of men in the workplace are more “close” than the networks of women.

Networking is simply building relationships says Smith. Another expert, Kram defines networking as a proactive behaviour that helps develop one’s relationship constellation. Research conducted by Forret and Dougherty in 2001 suggests that some individuals are more likely to engage in networking behaviour than others. Utilising factor analysis, they identified five types of networking behaviour: maintaining contacts, socialising, engaging in professional activities, participating in community, and increasing internal visibility.

So is there a difference between men and women in networking? In a business magazine, professor Herminia Ibarra at INSEAD - a women herself, says that men have more in common because they do more activities together. Many men have an overlap between their professional and personal network. Forret and Dougherty seem to concur with this sentiment. They suggest that the only gender difference in the five dimensions of networking behaviour found was that men engaged in more socialising behaviour than women. Other research found that women build two separate networks: one for their job and one for activities outside their job. What are the consequences?

Men know their professional contacts also more personal. This leads to a natural bond and trust which women often do not have with their professional contacts. “When a company has to take risks, then it is pretty normal that a man gives a tough task to another man. Because he knows him better, he trusts him more”, says Smith. Ibarra offers the following tips for women:

When there are not enough women in your own company try to enlarge your network with female professionals from other companies. By having contacts with those “peers” you get a bigger overlap between your personal and professional network. Women can also strengthen their relationships with men through having more lunches with them or finding other activities they can do together.

Smith says that the practice above all others that opens the door to connection with others is to look for common ground. That rule applies whether you’re searching for a job, resolving conflict with your spouse, teaching a child, negotiating a deal, selling a product, writing a book, leading a meeting, or communicating to an audience. People who connect are always searching for common ground. That probably seems obvious, because all positive relationships are built on common interests and values. They build upon agreement, not disagreement. But if that’s true, why do so many people neglect to search for common ground and build upon it?

Copyright 2009 by Karl Smith
This article may be copied or republished with the following credit: Authored by Karl Smith, Founder of Business Networking South Africa (http://businessnetworkingsouthafrica.co.za). This article was originally published in The National Networker Newsletter (http://www.TheNationalNetworker.com) , and is reprinted with permission.

For more information, please visit Karl's TNNW Bio.

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KARL SMITH: Women can break career and other barriers through networking

BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: What Could Be Better Than Leads?

Beyond Networking: Being with Ron Sukenick

You're on your way home from a networking event, and, well, you're rather pleased with yourself. Not only were you able to collect several dozen business cards while handing out a similar number of your own, but two individuals you met actually gave you "leads". Now you have in your proud possession the names and contact information for companies your networking friends think might be able to use your products and services. What could possibly be better than that?

And the answer is…(TV quiz show drum roll here) Referrals!

Let's backtrack a moment. In this Beyond Networking blog, remember, the goal is to reach further - and deeper - beyond traditional networking, getting to the point where networking really starts to work for us. The fact is, study after study demonstrates that your best clients meet you through an introduction from someone they already trust. In other words, the way to meet really good clients is through referrals.

Every sales training course (I've taken many and led many!) talks about referrals, and about how lack of commitment to getting referrals can limit a business person's success. Bill Cates, author of Get More Referrals, has something truly worthwhile to say about the big R's, something very much in tune with my Beyond Networking principles. A common error, Cates says, is making referrals be about you, where you, in the old sales-school style, explain to clients that your business is built on referrals. What the clients hear is that, in order for you to keep providing them with good client service, they need to help you grow your business by supplying names of their friends and associates.

"Clients give referrals only when they see the value in the work you do," Cates explains, suggesting that if a business is not getting referrals without asking, it's a signal something's wrong.

In coaching hundreds of people over the years, I've arrived at a very simple conclusion about all of this: R's (referrals) depend on R (relationship). As we continue to create deeper relationships with our clients, coworkers, and network contacts, referrals will follow. My book, The Power Is In The Connection, is all about relationships.

What's better - much, much better - than a lead? A relationship, and its inevitable result - a referral!

Ron Sukenick
Business Advisor / Relationship Strategist / Author / Connector
rs@ronsukenick.com
www.ronsukenick.com
317-216-8210
Check out my Radio Podcast’s
http://www.smallbizamerica.com/beyond

Let's get connected on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ron-sukenick/0/226/20a

“Certified Human Behavior Consultant”
Nominated 2009 "America's Most Influential Business Connector"

For more information, please visit Ron's TNNW Bio.

Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free For Your TNNW Newsletter and THE BLUE MONDAY REPORT! - Click HERE.
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BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: What Could Be Better Than Leads?

KARL SMITH: Are You Ready For The Network Economy?

by Karl Smith

Early this year I received an eBook entitled “Winning By Sharing” authored by Léon Benjamin. It was brought to my attention by Owen Cloete from Performance Strategies & Technologies, company based in Boksburg – Johannesburg (South Africa). Owen felt I might enjoy Benjamin’s views on the subject “Wining By Sharing” as the author’s views are similar to my approach in building mutually beneficial business relationship. As a life-long learner I found Benjamin’s views about the power of social networking through collaboration invaluable. However, I am also a keen business environmental scanner and I believe all of us involved in networking at all levels (government, large corporations, entrepreneurs, independent consultants, networking teachers, network forum co-odinators etc) must understand the environment in which we operate.

Benjamin points out that the arrival of the network economy is a natural progression from the Agricultural Economy characterised by Independent People, followed by the Industrial Economy (Corporations) which created Dependent People and now the Network Economy consisting of Inter-Dependent People.

Let me first capture the highlights of his works:

* Like it or not, power is shifting to the individual
* Brands preach while consumers connect
* Networks provide unsolicited benevolence which brands cannot understand
* Social software is revolutionising people’s behaviour
* Trust is emerging as the defining characteristic of that new behaviour, creating very different organisational forms

One of the better definitions of the characteristics and effects of network economy is summarised by the following table. It reflects the consensus and opinions of economics professionals and research institutes worldwide and particularly in the UK and USA. It was originally adapted from Atkinson's ‘The New Economy Index: Understanding America's Economic Transformation’, published by the Progressive Policy Institute.

ISSUES OLD ECONOMY vs. NETWORK ECONOMY

Economy wide characteristics

Markets Stable vs. Dynamic

Scope of competition National vs. Global

Organisational form Hierarchical, bureaucratic vs. Networked

Structure Manufacturing core vs. Services core


Source of value Raw materials, physical capital vs. Human and social capital

Relations with other firms Go it alone vs. Alliances and collaboration or
‘winning by sharing’

Business-government
relations Impose regulations vs Encourage growth opportunities

It is important to point out that "The Network Economy" is viewed from a number of perspectives. For instance, one commentator suggests that if we understood a network not as a type of formal organisation, but as social capital, we will have much better insight into what a network's economic function is. By this view, a network is a moral relationship of trust: A network is a group of individual agents who share informal norms or values beyond those necessary for ordinary market transactions. Indeed, the network, rather than the individual firm, has become the most relevant and effective form of organisation in the modem economy. This highlights the fact that companies now need to manage whole networks, not just individual alliances, and that the days when firms operated in isolation are over. It further means that leaders and managers must review their current and future human capital resources strategies - and where necessary equip their leaders and staff with relationship building and people skills - if they want to have a competitive edge in The Network Economy.

Karl Smith a powerful self-improvement speaker, trainer, consultant, entrepreneur and the author of Beyond The Business Handshake: Dare To Build High-Trust Business Relationships: helping people to increase personal efficiency, productivity, performance and ultimately profitability.

Visit ww.businessnetworkingsouthafrica.co.za to see Karl in action, see what Karl’s clients says, book Karl to speak or to do in-company training, attend a public event, subscribe to his newsletter or to use the free networking resources. Karl acknowledge the expert advice of other commentators in drafting this article.

For more information, please visit Karl's TNNW Bio.

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KARL SMITH: Are You Ready For The Network Economy?

BEYOND NETWORKING: ONE + ONE + ONE + ONE = SUCCESS

Beyond Networking with Ron Sukenick

Have you ever been DISC=ed? The DISC Personality Profile is an indispensable tool for my work as business adviser and personal coach. One interesting thing I found out while studying under Dr. Robert Rohm is that most of the world's major corporations use the DISC to form effective teams. In today's fast-paced, global business environment, that's how most of the work gets done - it's assigned to project teams.

Teams, of course, are made up of people, individuals with unique personalities and behavior styles. It's obvious that team members must be able to get along and communicate effectively with one another, with other teams, and with management. But corporate leaders know teamwork goes well beyond just getting along and communicating results. They know that having different personality styles represented on one team is the secret to competitive performance. That secret lies in the synergy of different perspectives and different talents being brought to bear to solve problems and arrive at innovative business solutions. Synergy means that the whole adds up to more than the sum of the parts. Synergy is the magic that happens when teamwork really works!

Now, some of the businesses for whom I'm the adviser are so small, they don't have all four DISC personality types on their company team. That's exactly where going Beyond Networking helps. Those very small businesses create their magic by connecting with other business owners. (Remember, we're not talking about exchanging leads and referrals a' la traditional networking; we're about going beyond that to Connection.)

Ron Sukenick
Business Advisor / Relationship Strategist / Author / Connector
rs@ronsukenick.com
www.ronsukenick.com
317-216-8210
Check out my Radio Podcast’s
http://www.smallbizamerica.com/beyond

Let's get connected on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ron-sukenick/0/226/20a

“Certified Human Behavior Consultant”

For more information, please visit Ron's TNNW Bio.

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BEYOND NETWORKING: ONE + ONE + ONE + ONE = SUCCESS

GOING BEYOND NETWORKING - IN STYLE!

Beyond Networking: Being with Ron Sukenick

Before starting out on a journey, it helps to think about how our destination point. You and I, remember, are going into the Beyond Networking zone, beyond traditional networking, that is, and on to Connection, and then further on, to Relationship. And we don't want to just get there - we want to relish the trip itself, every step of the way.

When I was studying under Dr. Robert Rohm to become a Certified Human Behavior Consultant™, one of the very first things I learned was the Four Main Personality Styles. Of course, the whole purpose of studying these is to be able to really understand what another person is saying, and what motivates that person. No, we're not talking about some parlor game that helps you "guess" what others' styles are, but a way to better connect with all kinds of people. Connection, remember, constitutes the first big leg on our journey to Relationship.

Dr. Rohm uses a model of human behavior called the DISC. You may have heard of the DISC, because so many big corporations use the DISC profile in working with their employees and maximizing the productivity of business teams. The DISC is based on four basic behavior patterns that people tend to use. (By no means is Dr. Rohm implying that each of us always follows one type, because we all use all four styles in different settings and different situations.) What almost all of us have, though is a "fall-back" style of behavior, a way of being that feels most natural and comfortable, a style we tend to use first, and which we use without thinking about it!

Discovering our own style and learning to recognize others' styles can give us an extremely valuable tool in building connections that work. The DISC has proven to be a very powerful tool for beginning this self-discovery. For today, I'll just mention the four, and then we'll go much deeper into each type later on.

D stands for Dominant, I for Inspiring, S for Supportive, and C for Cautious.

If you're fresh from many years of old-style networking, I imagine that every fiber of your businessperson self is screaming with impatience (if you're still reading this blog). After all, there's business to tend to and deals to close. Who has time for self-discovery? You need results!! Here's what I have to say to you if that's the way you're thinking:

Hold those horses! Remember what we don't want - to keep up this frantic pace of working at networking. We want networking to work for us! To do that, we need to reach beyond networking and go inward a bit. We need to understand what really makes business people "tick", and what makes us tick in "style"!

Ron Sukenick
Business Advisor / Relationship Strategist / Author / Connector
rs@ronsukenick.com
www.ronsukenick.com
317-216-8210
Check out my Radio Podcast’s
http://www.smallbizamerica.com/beyond

Let's get connected on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ron-sukenick/0/226/20a

“Certified Human Behavior Consultant”

Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free - Click HERE.
The National Networker Companies

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GOING BEYOND NETWORKING - IN STYLE!

BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: Moving Into Legendary Status: Going From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary

Beyond Networking: Being with Ron Sukenick

Ron's section is sponsored by SmallBizAmerica.com

A consistent focus in moving from the ordinary to the extraordinary moves us to legendary status. Rethinking what we do, looking for ways to become more resourceful, and having a process and project management focus will help establish this exceptional foundation. Going from the ordinary to the extraordinary calls for a continual self reflection of how you are performing in relationship. Self reflection provides information to help you improve your efforts and move toward extraordinary relationship satisfaction.
Here is a simple process to help you reflect back.

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Imagine looking at your life through a movie projector. Slow the projector down and stop on those moments that were exceptional. Focus in on one and then answer the following:
1. Describe the experience.
2. What was it about the experience that separated it from all the rest?
3. What made it so extraordinary?
4. How did it feel?
Perhaps you focused your mind’s eye on a holiday, a trip to the beach, a successful project, your honeymoon, the first day on a new job, or your first kiss. Whatever it was, the experience came with an extraordinary feeling, and probably came in relationship with at least one other person. How can you help your partners achieve this feeling? Ask good questions! Ask what makes the difference between good or great for your partner. By asking good questions and purposeful listening, you’ll gain insight from verbal and nonverbal cues, and information derived from reading between the lines.

A Project Management Focus
A project begins in relationship with at least one other person, or one element of your environment. There are many considerations as you examine all the elements toward the extraordinary completion of a project


What is the vision that both of you have for the project? What resources do you need to move your project, and therefore your relationship, toward legendary status?
Project management is a matter of identifying all the important factors, and then creating a system to move your project and your relationship forward. A project management focus provides a framework and makes it possible to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Ron Sukenick is the Chief Relationship Officer and founder of the Relationship Strategies Institute, a training and Relationship development company that provides innovative, effective and relevant programs and systems for corporations, organizations, and associations. To learn more about the value of Relationship Development, visit his Web site at http://www.ronsukenick.com/. You can reach Ron by phone at: 317-216-8210, or by email: rs@ronsukenick.com
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BEYOND NETWORKING: BEING: Moving Into Legendary Status: Going From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary