Networking Without the BS
Building Relationships That Actually Hold
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Twenty years in the industry and nobody to call BUY FROM INGRAMSPARKAMAZONKOBOREAD A CHAPTERTABLE OF CONTENTS 216 pages · Paperback ISBN 978-1-946458-40-7 · ebook ISBN 978-1-946458-68-1 |
| 216Pages | 32Chapters | 0Business cards required | 1Friday night that started it |
Twenty years in the industry and nobody to call
I was terrible at networking. For most of my career I kept my head down, did the work, and avoided the social parts of business entirely. Networking was for slick salespeople and smooth talkers, not introverted computer guys.
That held up until one Friday night at Trader Joe’s, where I ran the systems for a multi-billion-dollar company on a skeleton crew because corporate policy capped our headcount. The primary system did not glitch. It failed completely, in a way that would cost millions if it was not fixed by Monday morning.
I tried everything I knew, then started calling every vendor number I could find. Most did not answer after hours. The ones who did treated me like a customer who could wait until Monday. I sat in an empty office surrounded by broken machines and worked out that twenty years in the industry had produced exactly zero relationships I could use.
It got fixed through sheer stubbornness and no sleep. Then I started building relationships, badly at first. This is what I learned, without the part where you collect business cards and call it a strategy.
What is inside
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What it actually is
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Doing it
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Where it happens
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Keeping it
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What readers said
Amazon reviews of the previous edition. 11 of them, averaging 5.00 out of 5.
I was so impressed with the solid information in this book. Richard G. Lowe isn’t just giving another “how to.” He delves into his personal experience in a professional environment on how he learned to network and the bumps in the road and pitfalls a business person can run into as they struggle to make sense of networking to grow their business. I can relate to many of the examples he gave in this book. Well written. Well organized and I loved the “homework” at the end of each chapter. This isn’t just a book for reading. This is a book for doing. Well done. Becoming an expert networker is the real key to succeeding in just about anything. If you aren’t clear on how to do that successfully, this is the book for you.
Richard Lowe traces his evolution from an introvert to a networking expert. He shares the critical moments in his life and career that opened him up to the greater world of human and business contacts. Why and how to network are his themes, with plenty of resources. Every chapter ends with a recap of the major points and exercises challenging readers to expand their web of human relationships. My favorite nugget of wisdom: it’s not about sales, it’s about building relationships. People buy from others they know, like, and trust.
I have been a network marketer all my life! I love people, connecting them with others, and helping others to see their potential. This book put the importance of being more interested in the person you are talking to than promoting yourself! I recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to grow their business or to those who need to learn how to be a nice person!
I was very impressed with how the author describes real life situations to handle how to network the proper way with clear examples that show the difference in different methods and how much better his method works. Highly recommended reading if you are serious about networking with like-minded people and want results.
Who this is for
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Worth your time if
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Not for you if
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Why me
Richard Lowe, the Writing King
I was bad at this for twenty years and it cost me on a night when it counted. Twenty years as Director of Computer Operations at Trader Joe’s, supporting a 16 billion dollar operation with 474 stores, and no one to call at two in the morning. Everything here was learned afterward, from a standing start, by someone who found it uncomfortable.
Questions people ask
Also in Working for Yourself
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The Complete Professional Playbook |
How the Platform Works Now |
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Build a Profitable Consulting Practice The Part of Consulting Nobody Teaches |
The night you need someone is the wrong night to start
Nobody builds a network during the emergency.
BUY FROM INGRAMSPARKAMAZONKOBOREAD A CHAPTERTABLE OF CONTENTS
Paperback and ebook.
A chapter
Networking Without the BS
When you’re networking, one of the biggest missteps you can make is trying to sell to people. I know that sounds backward because, obviously, the reason most people network is to grow their business and make more money.
But here’s the problem. If you show up at networking events trying to sell your products or services, you’re doing it wrong. And you’re probably annoying everyone you meet.
Let me tell you about Dave, a guy I worked with who completely missed this point. We went to a computer convention together, and watching him operate was like witnessing a masterclass in how not to network.
The first person Dave met was Daphne, a development manager at another consulting company. Dave spent the next fifteen minutes telling her all about himself. How great he was, what amazing projects he’d worked on, how impressive his technical skills were, and why she should hire his company for her next project. Poor Daphne barely got a word in. She kept looking over at me as if I was supposed to rescue her from this one-sided sales pitch. Dave was so busy talking about himself that he never bothered to learn anything about Daphne, her company, or what challenges she was facing.
Dave repeated this performance with every person he met. Not surprisingly, he never heard from any of them. He added a ton of contacts but generated zero business from the entire convention.
My approach was completely different. When I met Seymour, a technical person manning a vendor booth, I focused on learning about him. What was his role at the company? What kinds of challenges was he dealing with? What was he hoping to accomplish at the convention? I asked questions and listened to the answers. When I helped him, either with information or connections, I helped without expecting anything in return.
After the convention, I followed up with Seymour and everyone else I’d met, not to pitch my services but to continue the relationship. I sent useful articles, made introductions to people who might help them, and stayed in touch regularly.
Two weeks later, Seymour called me. He needed a technical manual that was out of print. He remembered our conversation and wondered if I had a copy he could borrow. I mailed him one the next day, and we stayed in contact for years afterward. When I eventually needed to find a new job, Seymour gave me several excellent referrals that led to interviews. Dave’s business cards went straight into the trash, but my relationship with Seymour created real value for both of us.
Table of contents
Networking Without the BS
- Preface
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: What is Networking?
- Chapter 2: It’s About Relationships
- Chapter 3: Know, Like and Trust
- Chapter 4: Networking Is Not Sales
- Chapter 5: How Can I Help?
- Chapter 6: It’s Not About You
- Chapter 7: Act Professional
- Chapter 8: Strategic Networking
- Chapter 9: Deep Networking Techniques
- Chapter 10: Building Your Personal Brand
- Chapter 11: Treat Those You Network With as Partners
- Chapter 12: The Networking Meeting
- Chapter 13: Industry Events and Conferences
- Chapter 14: The Standard Networking Meeting
- Chapter 15: Digital Networking
- Chapter 16: Virtual and Hybrid Networking
- Chapter 17: Using TikTok and Instagram for Networking
- Chapter 18: Networking for Introverts
- Chapter19: International and Remote Networking
- Chapter 20: Why Cold Outreach Is Not Networking (But How to Make It Work Anyway)
- Chapter 21: AI and Networking
- Chapter 22: AI Transcription and Networking
- Chapter 23: How Not to Network with AI
- Chapter 24: Modern Tools and Systems
- Chapter 25: Keeping Track of Your Networking Efforts
- Chapter 26: Referral Systems
- Chapter 27: Maintaining Your Network
- Chapter 28: Measuring Success
- Chapter 29: Arguments Against Networking
- Chapter 30: Why Networking Is Not Manipulation
- Conclusion
- Appendix Interviews
Amazon reviews of the previous edition
Networking Without the BS
I was so impressed with the solid information in this book. Richard G. Lowe isn’t just giving another “how to.” He delves into his personal experience in a professional environment on how he learned to network and the bumps in the road and pitfalls a business person can run into as they struggle to make sense of networking to grow their business. I can relate to many of the examples he gave in this book. Well written. Well organized and I loved the “homework” at the end of each chapter. This isn’t just a book for reading. This is a book for doing. Well done. Becoming an expert networker is the real key to succeeding in just about anything. If you aren’t clear on how to do that successfully, this is the book for you.
Richard Lowe traces his evolution from an introvert to a networking expert. He shares the critical moments in his life and career that opened him up to the greater world of human and business contacts. Why and how to network are his themes, with plenty of resources. Every chapter ends with a recap of the major points and exercises challenging readers to expand their web of human relationships. My favorite nugget of wisdom: it’s not about sales, it’s about building relationships. People buy from others they know, like, and trust.
I have been a network marketer all my life! I love people, connecting them with others, and helping others to see their potential. This book put the importance of being more interested in the person you are talking to than promoting yourself! I recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to grow their business or to those who need to learn how to be a nice person!
I was very impressed with how the author describes real life situations to handle how to network the proper way with clear examples that show the difference in different methods and how much better his method works. Highly recommended reading if you are serious about networking with like-minded people and want results.
Richard Lowe gives everyone a quick course in networking. He not only shows you how, he explains why networks are the key to business success. By following Richard’s advice, you can become the “go to guy” whenever someone needs help or advice. When that’s you, the money follows naturally.
This book is a great find for anyone trying to grow their business through networking. Filled with suggestions, tips and stories that teach the reader how to be successful, I recommend you purchase this book.
Good ideas for keeping every avenue for success open. Easy-to-follow advice makes this a must-have for those just starting out and those struggling in today’s business environment.
Richard was easy to work with and helped me bring out networking tips I have used over the last 10 years. A must read for those who network or are thinking about networking.
Great book, well written. Very informative. A step by step guide to networking. Excellent for someone who has never networked at the business level.
Great ideas and easy to follow advice! This is a great book to have if you are just starting out in the business world today.
Very relatable. Great for those who have just started getting into networking.