Much of the motivational literature and many seminars focus on individual effort as the key to success. Take responsibility, they say. Develop a positive attitude. Set goals. Move into action. All of this, of course, is great advice. But only to a point. While your home business success certainly starts with you, it grows to higher levels as a result of your associations and relationships with people. Home-based businesses tend to be smaller operations than other small businesses. And the smaller a business, the more important networking is to the success of that business. As such, home business owners must place a greater importance on networking, and work harder at it, than other business owners. Simply put, you won't succeed on a grand scale all by yourself.

Let's define networking as the development of relationships with people for the mutual enhancement of our personal and professional lives. Networking is a way to leverage your own efforts and accelerate the pace at which you attain results. After all, the more solid relationships you build, the greater your opportunities for home business success.

While your home business success certainly starts with you, it grows to higher levels as a result of your associations and relationships with people.

Networking can benefit your home business as well as your personal life. In your home business, networking can bring you: new clients or business leads; employment opportunities; help in finding the right people to fill critical positions; valuable information and resources; and assistance in solving problems. For your personal life, networking can: enhance your social relationships by introducing you to new friends; help you to become acquainted with people of varying ethnic, cultural and philosophical backgrounds; and contribute to your spiritual growth.

Now that you know what networking can do for you, both professionally and personally, the question is: What will you do to enhance the effectiveness of your own network? The following are several techniques organized into five separate but, related categories that can be of help to you.

page 28     Home Business Magazine     June 2002   Continue to Read -->