The 29 Solution 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies
In many ways, success at networking is the uncommon application of common knowledge. Most people understand that networking is important to their success–they just lack a step-by-step process to get the results they want. Almost no one really implements a comprehensive methodology that will build a business through networking. Thus, the need to network is ‘common knowledge,’ and the development of the methodology required to be successful at it is the ‘uncommon application.’
By reading this book, you will experience the true essence and meaning of networking. The 29% Solution gives you the answers to two conflicting questions that a business owner or salesperson faces every day: How can I tend to my existing clients while at the same time network for new business? and, Should I place higher value on my current clients or on new clients?
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Great Primer for Networking Beginners
Years ago when I first started to realize how important it was to be connected I just went at it willy nilly – trying to meet everyone. Now I see that there is much more to it than that. You should set out to do networking with a plan. You should know not just the why, but the how to go about it and realize how to focus on getting people into your circle who can help you to move forward.
Ivan Misner and Michelle Donovan should almost call this book Networking 101, but I would imagine that this title has been taken already. Instead they named it The 29% Solution: 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies after the successful participant of the famous Six Degrees of Separation experiment many years ago. Ivan Misner is world famous for being the founder if the global business networking group Business Networking International, or BNI as it is commonly known. He also has a doctorate and has been a professor of Business Administration in southern California for a number of years, so he writes from authority. And although this is her first book, Michelle Donovan is known in business circles as “The Referability Expert” and has been in the networking business for some time in the western Pennsylvania area so she is no stranger to the networking game herself.
My first comment of the review has to do with the fact that Misner and Donovan start from the premise that the reader knows absolutely zilch about business networking so they set out to give the reader the advice and tools that will be needed to get off the ground and get within the 29% networking group. For instance they made sure that you know there is a very big distinction between a contact and a connection and why this distinction should be meaningful to you. In this sense of taking the beginner by the hand I believe the book really does a great job. For some of us who have been at the networking game for some time lots of the material could be second nature, but there was still some advantage to going through this. The authors offer more than advice but they also offer their vast experience. All of the information I saw that they put out is very practical and would be the same kind of information that I would offer myself to wall flowers who need help.
On top of this there were tips in there that many of us more experienced networkers could use and incorporate into our own business practices – so that alone would be worth the price of the book for the non-beginners. The book had a very holistic view of the nature of constantly working at expanding one’s circles and I can’t see anything wrong with that.
Before I finish with this I will say that I did appreciate that the authors did not take this subject as a one way street. In order to properly network, they assert, you need to put in to the network as well, otherwise it is like trying to drive a car with no gas. There was a great example in the book about periodically just letting people know that you can help them with other contacts even when this had no relation to you. They showed in one case how this really turned the flow on for one networker with inquiries starting to flood inbound as well. Now that’s what I like to see! Why, because the authors were very correct in this assessment: This is how networking really works!
5 Stars I was surprised!
Having been self-employed for nearly 20 years, I thought I knew how to network. Oh how wrong I was. The checklist in the first chapter clearly showed me the many ways I could vastly improve my networking efforts.
I found this book to be comprehensive, chock full of great ideas, and easy to read a chapter or two, then pick it up later and read a few more chapters. This allows the reader to try out a few recommendations at a time, rather than being overwhelmed with an impossible “to do” list. It’s very clear, too, laying out for the reader exactly what to do and how to do it. Couldn’t be much simpler!
While anyone who needs to do a better job at networking will benefit from applying the knowledge gained from this book, I believe people who are self-employed, who own a small business, or are in business development roles will benefit the most of all. Most of all, I think the reader will be totally persuaded of the benefits of networking the way the authors recommend. I know it has changed my thinking and behavior with regard to networking.
Christine Posti
Marriage On and Off the Rocks: Intimate Stories of Marriages that Made It and Others that Didn’t
5 Stars The Business of Networking
“It’s not ‘net-SIT or ‘net-EAT’, it’s ‘net-WORK” states Misner in his great book, “The 29% Solution.” If you are wanting to take your business to the next level or are starting out in the crazy and challenging world of social networking for business, Misner and co-author Donovan provide 52 weekly networking strategies that are a combination of easy to challenging.
The self-analysis easily points out areas to focus on as you begin to network. From there you can choose the weekly strategics that will assist you in meeting your goals. Therefore each week you are working toward a new network goal or strengthening one that you are already doing.
The fact is that many books often tell you what to do but don’t provide tangible action steps to help you actually do it. This is a book that you will refer to again and again as your “solution” to building your business through your network. The 29% Solution: 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies
5 Stars Easy transaction
Good experience purchasing this item. In great condition and
arrived in a reasonable amount of time.
5 Stars A savvy guide on how to network
How can you develop new clients and new business? The four most time-tested techniques are “cold calls, advertising, public relations and networking.” Cold calls are more enjoyable than sticking yourself with red-hot needles – but not much. Advertising costs big bucks. Public relations can backfire if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. That leaves networking. Networking is not demeaning like cold calls. In fact, it can be fun. It doesn’t cost an arm and leg like advertising. And you won’t inadvertently end up in some crusading reporter’s crosshairs. Ivan R. Misner and Michelle R. Donovan’s book teaches you the best networking techniques. They explain, “It’s not net-sit or net-eat. It’s net-work.” You must “work the networking process.” getAbstract thinks this savvy book does a good job of showing you how.
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