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I recently won the 'door prize' at my BNI chapter and it is a book written by Ivan Misner called The 29% Solution: 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies . If you read my blog SOHO-Life you would have seen my recent post about the
6 Degrees of Separation, which is where the title of the book came from. Ivan shares the real story of that particular experiment which was carried out in the 1960s and 1970s by Stanley Milgram and encourages the reader to become one of the 29% who actually do have 6 degrees of separation, unlike the remaining 71% of people.
In my post I share how online networking tools such as LinkedIn and the web itself wasn't present when that experiment was done. Perhaps the end result may have been different. But all the same, the self-assessment at the start of Ivan's book shows me that I still have much room for improvement in my networking skills as well. We are on a constant learning curve, don't you think?
Week 19 of Ivan's book covers the importance of maintaining contact with people and going the extra mile. He challenges the reader to send a simple thank you card. Although it sounds old-fashioned it is something that stands out far more than an email and often a phonecall. People recognise you took the time to pick out a card, write in it, stick a stamp on it and post it.
Ivan felt that our society seemed to be moving away (quickly) from the handwritten word and so doing something like this certainly shows an example of 'going the extra mile'. He further points out that while it appears to be old-fashioned the greeting card industry is still holding on to its market share. So, there must be something to sending a card, mustn't there?
A personal card addressed to someone can make a small but significant impact on other people.
I know when I've attended networking events that Robyn Henderson speaks at here in Australia, she also speaks of the importance of sending a card. In fact I remember her saying more than once 'send a card a day'. And I've been a recipient of her cards - they were always a surprise and well received. It showed she took time out of her busy schedule to think of me and to let me know she was thinking of me.
We all know the importance of follow up in business and yet while many will claim that's an important act, how many actually do it?
Ivan encourages his readers to take a bit of time out, select a card, write a message and send it off. He also advises NEVER to send your business card with that greeting card. The thank-you card should be about your gratitude and not about pushing your business. Or it might not be a thank you card, but a birthday, anniversary, congratulations or 'thinking of you'. There are tons of reasons for sending cards.
The funny thing is, in doing something as personal as selecting and sending a card, it is going to make people remember you more.
Isn't it time you started doing something about sending cards to those who deserve to know you appreciate them and what they've done for you and your business?
And what has all the above got to do with the 6 degrees of separation and the 29% Solution? It's about keeping in contact, networking and building relationships via your database. This is all part of Customer Relationship Building with your existing and growing database. Work the database - don't sit on it!
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