The document discusses focused networking as a strategic approach to building business connections intentionally, emphasizing its importance for professional success. It outlines the difference between traditional and social media networking, highlighting how effective relationships can lead to credibility, leads, and sales. Tanya Smith, a career coach, provides insights into utilizing social media and traditional methods to grow and sustain professional relationships.

1. Focused NetworkingFocused Networking
for Business Successfor Business Success
Tanya SmithTanya Smith
Design Your Work © 2009Design Your Work © 2009
www.designyourwork.comwww.designyourwork.com

2. OverviewOverview
 6 Degrees Myth
 What is Focused Networking
 Traditional & Social Media Networking
 FOCUS Tips

3. IntroductionIntroduction
 I help super busy professionals enjoy
Monday morning.
 I am a Certified Career Coach & owner of
Design Your Work, faith-based career
coaching
 I work with misemployed professionals who
are miserable in the wrong work

4. Why I’m hereWhy I’m here
To message that you can adopt the skill of
networking through reading, training, and
coaching so that you can be part of the 29%
who are, in fact, separated by 6 degrees.

5. 6 Degrees Myth6 Degrees Myth
 Dr. Ivan Misner’s book, The 29% Solution
talks about how Stanley Milgram led a
study in the 60s & 70s where several
groups of people sent a chain of letters
through other people to get the
communication to someone they didn’t
know.
 The most successful group only had 29%
connect where the other 71% did not.

6. 6 Degrees Myth, cont.6 Degrees Myth, cont.
 Focused networking is not about leaving
your connections up to chance, but creating
an intentional strategy around your business
connections.

7. What is Focused Networking?What is Focused Networking?
 Focused networking*: a business
management technique in which you
connect with people who have:
1. Relationships w/people who will invest in
your products/services
2. Knowledge to help you grow your business
 Quote from Thomas Power, chairman of Ecademy: “I network for
knowledge, because knowledge can easily be exchanged for money.
Without knowledge in the new economy you will not eat and neither
will your family.”
*Susan Whitcomb, Christian Career Journey

8. Focused Networking, cont.Focused Networking, cont.
 It’s about developing contacts who can
• Help you fulfill the purpose God has for you in the
service He has gifted you with - Ephesians 2:10 says
10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared in advance for
us to do.
 Do it right and you benefit from increased
credibility, leads, sales and a sense of personal
fulfillment

9. Focused NetworkingFocused Networking
Knowledge
Relationships
Adapted from Susan Britton Whitcomb - “The Christian’s Career Journey”

10. Types of Networking We’re CoveringTypes of Networking We’re Covering
 Traditional – in person, whether
w/individual or a group
 Online, or Social Media Networking

11. Social Media NetworkingSocial Media Networking
 Social Media Networking: David Riklan from
www.selfgrowth.com says it’s “people
sharing with people on the internet”.
 Web 1.0 vs. 2.0 - Before, people read static
Internet pages & now they interact with
each other, give opinions, build or destroy
business & personal reputations - all using
the internet.

12. Facts about Social MediaFacts about Social Media
 According to the Social Media Marketing Report by
Michael Stelzner
 Most commonly used social media resources are
Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook & blogs,
 blogs = contraction of term “web log”
 individual commentaries sometimes incl. pics, videos,
etc.
 i.e., Twitter is a micro-blog where entries are limited to
140 characters.
 These are all FREE & there are increasing #s of
people using these to grow and sustain their
business.

13. More on Social Media…More on Social Media…
 Interesting Statistics
 112 million blogs on Internet, Facebook has 200 million +
members, YouTube has13 billion videos viewed/month, LinkedIn
has over 36 mil business members, Twitter growing 40%/month
with 8 million current members
 Remember this, however – this is not fly by night; It takes time to
develop relationships that lead to actual business. Those who take the
time can find great results.
 Link to the Social Media Report from which many of these
stats were taken. Also visit www.marismith.com for
Facebook info and www.twitterhandbook.com for Twitter
tips!

14. Tips on FacebookTips on Facebook
 Benefits – one of the fastest growing (250k
members/day), discussion capable, personality
flexible application online, in my opinion.
 FB provides opportunity to position yourself in
front of thousands of potential new clients, joint
venture partners, suppliers, service providers &
more (remember? Relationships & KnowledgeRelationships & Knowledge)
 Avg age group using it is 35+; predicted to hit 500 million
members by 2011

15. FOCUS TipsFOCUS Tips
 Follow a business model
 Operate w/Christian principles – Givers Gain
 Come prepared – with your networking toolkit
 Understand the networking culture/etiquette
 Study, study, study business and networking
techniques

16. Other ResourcesOther Resources
 Support group on LinkedIn called The 29% Project,
self-paced – add comments as you go through
Misner’s book, The 29% Solution
 Invest in programs like Book Yourself Solid by
Michael Port or Get Clients Now by CJ Hayden to get
focused on your message & your target audience
 Great info about Social Media: Mari Smith – FB
queen; Twitterhandbook.com; Jason Alba - LinkedIn
 Visit me http://www.coachtanyasmith.com for updates
on more Savvy Christian guides and classes
coming!

17. Presenter InfoPresenter Info
 Tanya Smith, the Monday Morning Coach,
helps super busy professionals create
meaningful work so they can enjoy Monday
mornings. Visit our main site
www.designyourwork.com to sign up for
your complimentary copy of “7 Lessons on
the Way to Greatness”.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened in order that you may know the hope to
which he has called you…Ephesians 1:18