It's still who you know!

Ain't that the truth?

Yes, it is the truth; and it's also the tag line for an exciting new blog, Handshake 2.0.  As Handshake's Blog Diva, Anne Giles Clelland, reminds us, who you know and who knows you makes or breaks deals.  It's your network that testifies to your credibility.

Talking about networking always reminds me of Charlie, who claimed to know every important person in the world.  Not to be steam-rolled by his braggadocio, I challenged the assertion.  "You can't possibly know the Pope," said I. 

"Go with me to Rome and you'll change your tune," said he. "Loser pays for the tickets."

We made it to Rome, taxied to St. Peter's Square, and arrived just in time for a public appearance by His Holiness.  "Wait here, and watch the balcony," Charlie commanded.  In a few minutes the Pope emerged, followed closely by Charlie.  Needless to say, I was astounded, even dumb-founded.

Just then a well-dressed gentleman to my side tugged on my sleeve and asked, "Can you believe that?" 

"No, I certainly can't," I answered. 

"Yeah, it's really weird," he continued, "Who in the world is that oddly dressed guy up there with Charlie?"

You're not Charlie.  You can't know everybody; but you can know someone who knows the person who knows the person who knows the person you need to know. 

And your Mentors can be the foundation of your business network.  They know, after all, a lot about you and your enterprise.  They also have networks of their own.  If you impress your Mentors, they will connect you to their networks, including nice recommendations, thank you.  And their networks then become part of your network.

Stronger, more successful Mentors equals stronger, and earlier, additions to your own business network.  And, by the way, LinkedIn is a nifty electronic way to formalize and expand that network over time.

Comments

[Anne Clelland]

I was fortunate to see you yesterday and get a chance to tell you in person that what I most admire about your blog is its consistently high-quality content. The writing is a true pleasure to read and the wisdom is invaluable.

I wrote about the apllication of your mentoring ideas here:
http://www.insidevtknowledgeworks.com/2008/10/its-still-who-you-know.html

Thank you for mentoring me.