Entrepreneurs are a unique brand of businesspeople. Successful entrepreneurs know that one great idea, a newly designed mousetrap, a new flavor of potato chips, a unique and outrageous new design for women's shoes, are great starts, but they also know that a vital aspect of being in business for themselves is being connected.
Some entrepreneurs start out being too shy to entertain a worldwide view of their company. They limit marketing to their own "backyard." In their own backyard they can see if their products and services will fly, without losing too much face. But, eventually, they know they need to get out into the real world and see what the folks out there think. That means pressing some palms, greeting some strangers, joining business groups, and networking groups, and getting noticed.
Networking, however, has long been the millstone around entrepreneurs’ necks, pulling them down, creating drag on their good intentions, and oftentimes preventing them from moving forward. I asked some friends recently what networking meant to them and each one heaved a big sigh before admitting that networking was a task, a chore, something they dreaded, yet it was something they attempted to do on a regular basis, without much success. Why? Because networking involves being around a lot of other people, and most new business owners are uncomfortable in crowds.
ENTER: Networlding
Melissa Giovagnoli and Jocelyn Carter-Miller; two women who easily take the fear out of building a human network, one that will help you go places you never thought you could go, have written a book to help shy entrepreneurs succeed. This book is touted as, “The best friend a career could have.” The book: Networlding: Building Relationships and Opportunities for Success (Jossey-Bass, Inc. San Francisco, CA 2000) provides information on the jacket back that sums it up nicely:
“A career safety net for the new economy, Networlding shows you how to build the mutually beneficial relationships that are the real keys to job satisfaction, career advancement, and personal fulfillment in the 21st century.”
Article comments
1 - Melissa Giovagnoli
I just wanted to thank this author for such a powerful and complete review of Networlding. As of 2008 this book has been on Amazon's best-seller list for year. Also, the Networlding system that is shared in the book has been licensed by schools like Yale University through their graduate school of business and companies like Motorola.
I also now give away six free lessons from an online e-learning program when people sign up for our free e-newsletter on www.networlding.com or www.networkingforjobs.com, our newest site where we help college grads get what we call "smart starts" in their careers. There are no "smoke and mirrors" with Networlding. It is a system that I created and have take approximately 2000 people through. It's intended to help people build transformational opportunities for the greater good of all.
It's my passion and, now, my living legacy to help college kids who I also ask to teach one other student they know about Networlding. My goal is simple: to make the world a better place.
Hopefully, you will explore Networlding and share it with your friends and colleagues if you like it. Again, thank you for your thoughtfulness with this great review. I know you will enjoy the book.
Warmest Regards,
Melissa Giovagoli
Founder and CEO
Networlding