Are You Finding Success by Finding the Successful

I used to play a game called Star Fleet Battles. I would travel to tournaments where the goal was to win the coveted title of "Rated Ace." Only one player per event earned a Rated Ace Card, except for at the national convention where a small handful could earn the title.

There was a saying in the Star Fleet Battle circles: "Aces breed aces." This meant that new rated aces tended to come from groups that already had a couple of rated aces. They brought the level of play up so that relative new-comers in their circles would rapidly come up to speed and surpass the ability of those who played in groups without Rated Aces.

Are you spending time with Rated Aces? If you want to increase your networking skills, you need to spend time with those whose abilities surpass your own. If you want to build your business, you need to spend time with people who are working to build their businesses. And if you want to grow in all areas of your life, you need to spend time with other people who are learning and growing.

Picture from Flickr by Benimoto

Oh, what's that? Do I have a Rated Ace card? I have two. And the last time I checked, I was still the only woman in the history of the game to have ever won one card, much less two.

P.S. If any hardcore SFB'ers see this post, yes, I realize they are not playing SFB in the picture!

The Networking Motivator Newsletter

The Networking Motivator Newsletter is a weekly publication that I recently started. It will feature one clear short paragraph or two about a single idea that you can apply during the week. It will be a quick boost of inspiration or it will be a thought-provoking question or it will be a networking success story.

You decide!

Tell me what networking issue are the most annoying, difficult, or perplexing to you. I'll answer the question to the best of my knowledge and I may even bring in an outside resource or two.

Have you got a great networking success story? I would love to feature it in the newsletter. It can be anonymous (although that defeats some of the purpose of networking) or I'm happy to link to your site or blog.

To contact me about The Networking Motivator with a question, suggestion, or story, send email to thenetworkingmotivator@gmail.com

To subscribe to the newsletter visit www.TheNetworkingMotivator.com

Want to Catch What's Going Around?

Seems that the swine flu scare is about over. An article in our local paper said that it's not as virulent and doesn't seem to be spreading as they thought. The only thing that most people caught from each other was fear.

It's funny how contagious our concerns and attitudes can be. Ever been in a happy mood, then went to lunch with a couple other people who were gloomy? Guess what, you were probably gloomy, too, by the time lunch was done.

Or, if you're a little down, but spend some time with your friends who are always upbeat and make you laugh and you'll feel better. Monday mornings are a drag, but I have my Toastmasters club meeting at noon. I always feel uplifted and ready to go by the time we're done.

Photo from Flickr by Zenilorac

This is one of the unexpected benefits of networking. You'll spend time with people who are usually positive and forward-thinking. They feel good because they are taking action toward their goals. The energy will be contagious.

So think really hard about the kind of people you spend time with. Do some networking to get a boost. And when you sneeze, use your sleeve.

Are Toastmasters Natural Networkers?

Not familiar with Toastmasters? It's a world-wide organization dedicated to helping people improve their communication and leadership skills. Meetings include prepared speeches and extemporaneous speeches, as well as the opportunity to take leadership roles in the meetings. It's helped millions of people around the world improve their speaking skills.

As I sit here in the lobby of the Bakersfield Marriott, waiting for hospitality night to kick off the event, I wonder if Toastmasters have a natural edge in networking.

• Toastmasters are good communicators. Networking takes excellent communications.
• Toastmasters are excellent, trained listeners. Networking takes good listening skills.
• But are Toastmasters extroverts? Put on the brakes! I suspect many Toastmasters are actually introverts. But that's okay - you don't have to be an extrovert to be a good networker.

Want to improve your networking skills? Try Toastmasters. You'll boost your confidence, learn better communication skills, and you'll make some great friends!