Business networking and relationships

This is one of the topics I'm most passionate about! Meeting business associates, interacting with other business owners, leveraging contacts to enhance your bottom line... it's all fun! A lot of people think of building a business, but they just don't know where to begin when it comes to finding suppliers, distributors, competitors, allies, and associates in general. It's unfortunate, because all you have to do is make that first phone call or send that first e-mail.

I'll tell you a little story about how I began my first business... I was 14 years old and I was quite the computer geek. I loved designing websites and I wanted to make money doing it. I went ahead and searched around (we didn't have Google at that time!) for a website that looked outdated, or simply needed a revamp. I stumbled upon a site called "CarAudioSecurity.com" (I'm sure it's changed owners since I designed it), and I shot the owner an e-mail. I told him I thought his site could use a revamp, product database, content management system, and a few other goodies to enhance his web presence.

I told him a new site would cost him $2,000... he said he could only afford $1,000. I said ok, let's go with $1,000 and you give me all of your dealer prices on the products you stock. My first deal was a success! So here I had cash and a nice "in" for a subsequent venture. At this time in my life, all the kids were looking for nice stereo systems for their cars. So what did I do? I sold car stereos, speakers, subwoofers, and other accessories to local kids. The decks you saw at Circuit City for $300, I got for only $90! What a great business, right? Well, I figured I should do the logical thing and build a website... voila, Audio Fanatik was born.

The point here is that I found an opportunity and created something out of nothing, simply by initiating contact with another business owner. Some people call it uncouth. So I say, "What is normal?" Do you know how I got my great dealer prices on other accessories? I made my competitors my allies. My biggest competitor was eBay. I wondered how in the world sellers on eBay could sell items for less than my dealer price... so I asked. I figured if they could sell it for less than my dealer price and still make a profit, I should find out how they were getting it so cheap! I contacted the seller (usually a company), setup a dealer account with them, and I waited. I waited to place an order with them, and I waited for them to make a mistake. That mistake? Send me an invoice or package with their supplier's address and contact information on it. Then I made my move... I called up their supplier and cut them out of the chain... thus going to the ultimate source. It's simply going up the "business food chain" and using the knowledge you gain to your advantage.

There are so many ways to get in contact with fellow business owners and suppliers, it's ridiculous. Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, blogs, google, e-mail, and the traditional phone call. Need to know who someone is, or how to get around a "gate keeper"? Jigsaw or Lead411 can help with that. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't make a phone call or initiate contact to enhance your business presence or personal knowledge. What's the worst they can say? No... and they won't as long as you're cordial and sincere.

I could talk for days about this topic, but I'll conclude it with this: If you're sitting around waiting for something to happen; if you're waiting for your 'big break'; if you're waiting to figure out how to make your first move... you'll never get anywhere. Stop waiting and start doing. Make the phone call. Send the e-mail. Send a friend invite. Do something... because if you don't, well, you'll just be reading my blog wondering what could have been.