Ten Tips from Jerry Wilkinson

Jerry Wilkinson (VP Sales at Merrill Corp. and former NFL standout) stopped by yesterday to share his thoughts with the attorneys at my firm during a training session on building a personal network. Most engaging! He left me some tips he’d jotted down and now I’m sharing them here:

Jerry Wilkinson’s Ten Tips for Highly Effective Business Networking

1. Be you…authentic. Authenticity always has an audience.
2. Find like-minded people in the business arena where your expertise meets an need.
3. Do what you love and love what you do and you’ll never work another day in your life.
4. PMA (positive mental attitude) is like a magnet. There is so much crap in the world, that most people truly enjoy being around optimistic people who see the glass as half full.
5. Take it personal, make it personal. If you don’t then you won’t really have a relationship (with clients or contacts).
   
6. Send handwritten personal notes.
7. Be a resource. The power of brokering education, information and fun cannot be understated.
8. Timing is important. Being timely is everything.
9. Visibility is key. Join organizations that you really have a passion for (Boy’s & Girls Club of America, YMCA, Advisory Councils, et al).
10. Leave the jerks to the competition. Is the revenue really worth the pain?

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