Don’t Commit Financial Suicide…..Consider Having Multiple Streams Of Contacts
We’ve all heard of the advantages of multiple streams of income. It’s no secret these days, if you have a job, consider yourself lucky. If you want to feel extra blessed, you need to consider having multiple streams of income.
Why? You never know when your main job will go away, for what ever reason. Multiple streams of income lessen the financial liabilities if one of your sources of income goes “south.”
Now, I’d like to take that concept one step further and have you consider the advantages of having multiple streams of “contacts.” Most everyone realizes the importance of being involved in a local community or business organization. My question is, “why just one organization? Why not join 3 or 4 organizations and have multiple, continual streams of contacts?”
Have you considered that your regular, consistent, educated referral sources in an organization may eventually dry up. If you’re only associated with one organization, this could be financial suicide! The contacts in your organization that has been feeding you business referrals could possibility relocate, quit their job or just leave the organization. In most cases, when they leave, their referrals will go with them…..basically, out of sight, out of mind.
So I’d like you to consider creating multiple sources of “contacts” to fill your pipeline for your referral pool. And, the key to building your multiple streams of “contacts” is through building business relationships throughout your community.
Dr. Ivan Misner, founder of BNI, and author of “The Worlds Best Known Marketing Secret” teaches that you should have a powerful, diverse network of contacts.
Joining a strong contact network that meets on a weekly basis for the sole purpose of passing business referrals is the first type of organization he recommends you consider. Then, you should be involved in a soft networking organization like your local Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau. These organizations meet less frequently, in a less structured environment, but their purpose is still for you to have an opportunity to meet other business people and broaden your network of business contacts. Also, Dr. Misner recommends that you join a local community service club. Giving back to your community is of great importance for many different reasons on many different levels, but it will also give you the opportunity to build your word-of-mouth business.
Remember that being involved in your local community, socially and via your business, is like stamping your contact information in everyone’s rolodex (or database these days). Each time you are seen in the community you are building your contact base. Why not be involved in several business and social organizations and create multiple streams of “contacts” so that your name is always the first that comes to mind when someone needs your service?
