Beyond the Secret: What We Learned

I and three of my best friends, Sally Dove, Cindy Garrett, and my husband, went to see "Beyond the Secret" tonight in Fresno. If you missed it, don't worry. This was just the prequel consisting of a panel discussion with people appearing in the full movie. The actual DVD is coming out in April.

As always, I had my trusty Moleskine notebook in my purse and took notes. So, in order to release their power into the universe ;-), here are some key phrases from "Beyond the Secret."
  • An MIT study showed that it takes 17 corresponding positive thoughts to get rid of one negative thought.
  • If your way isn't working, try someone else's.
  • What does being "realistic" cost us?
  • A dream is something we can control (vs. fantasy, something we can't control)
  • Hold an image of what you want in your mind and emphasize it. What you either fear or revere will appear in your life in the most convenient form available.
  • The law of gestation is different for everything, but it all takes time.
  • Successful people get exposure to World Class thinkers. You can believe success is real when you see it on a regular basis.
  • Ask for help from someone who is where you want to be, not another clueless person.
  • Self-trust is based on keeping agreements with yourself.
  • We don't tell people our dreams because they might expect us to do something about it.
  • Write down, share, & speak about your dreams.
  • Change is hard.
  • We don't know why we believe most of what we believe.
  • Program your own mind or others will do it for you.
  • Just do it... anyways.
  • The first law of receiving is to give.

Study Says: Effective Networking Increases Business Income & Success

There are two keys to this aspect of this result.

First, it is effective networking. Not doing it only when you need a new job or business is slow, but engaging in consistent, steady networking. Harvey Mackay calls it digging your well before you're thirsty.

Second, 19% of elite networkers believe it has a dramatic impact on income, with the potential to increase revenue or salary by 70 - 100%. In contrast, only 11% of non-elite networkers believe this.

Hm, perhaps the elite believe it because they have experienced the benefits.

It's much easier to accept that there are benefits of networking once you've enjoyed some of them. So conversely, sometimes it's tough to trust in the potential results if you haven't tried it at all or enough to say you gave it a real try. Can you just take the word of those who have had great success through networking?

It works ... now go out and do some!

Study Says: Success at Networking Doesn't Take a Lot of Time

The Upwardly Mobile Inc. study conducted by the Graziadio School of Business Management at Pepperdine University shows that it doesn't take a lot of time to be successful in networking. One of the myths about networking, one of the obstacles people put up to avoid networking, is the belief that it takes a lot of time.

The survey defined "elite" networkers as people making significantly higher salaries than other survey respondents. Of these top-earning networkers, 57% of them spent no more than a couple of hours a week. In contrast, the non-elite 66% of the non-elite spent less than an hour, or only networked when they had the need.

Can you squeeze out one hour a week? If you ever eat lunch alone, there's your time. You can find a group that meets at lunchtime, get something to eat, and still do something extremely valuable to build your future. The Clovis Chamber has four groups that meet during the lunch hour (we don't miss meals).

Figure that you spend maybe one more hour following up with the people you meet and you've invested 2 hours a week. 8.4 hours a month. 104 hours a year. That's all. You've probably spent more time than that just eating ... chips or something this year. Trade your chip-eating time for networking time. You'll be trimmer and richer. How's that for a deal?

Study Says: Consistent Networking Pays Off

The results of a study paid for by Upwardly Mobile Inc. and conducted by the Graziadio School of Business Management at Pepperdine University was just announced today on CentralValleyBusinessTimes.com

The conclusion? Professionals who consistently network, as opposed to those who network only when they need something, earn much more and are better protected from economic turmoil.

Well, duuuuhhhhh!

Experienced networkers know this. You must begin networking, especially when it comes to job hunting, long before you need it. Desperation stinks. If you don't want to come off as needy, start networking before you need it.

You can get a copy of the full 29 page study here...

But don't sweat reading the whole thing carefully and in-depth to find all the most valuable nuggets of wisdom. I'll do that for you over the next several days, so check back in for the latest update on the findings of this important study.

Here's the first key fact, probably of greatest interest to you Social Networking Fans:
  • LinkedIn was by far the most popular of all the online networking management tools.
So here's your first "To Do": Go to LinkedIn and set up a profile. Upload your contact email database (don't worry, you don't need to email anyone). LinkedIn will show you who you know that is already there. Connect to them.

Bookmark this blog and come back tomorrow for more insight into the study results.