11.26.07
“What’s the Difference between Networking and Joint Ventures?”
This is a commonly posed question. Here’s a simple illustration. A person shows up at a business networking group to sell her product, which is a “health Juice”. She approaches people and pushes her business card and brochures at them, uninvited, and immediately asks if they have used her magic juice which fixes anything from warts to bad marriages and will help you lose weight, make money, and fly to the moon. She talks and talks, blah, blah, blah, about herself and her snake oil (which will soon be replaced by another juice and end up on garage sales and in Wal-Mart.). She is “Networking” - read Selling.
Most people who are networking are there to sell one product or service and they’re trying to find buyers. They are not interested in what you want and they will instantly lose interest in you if you don’t haul out your wallet. The conversation will go something like this:
“And this juice / widget /elixir / service will make you money, make you happy, blah blah, what do you think?”
“Actually, my wife just died and I am in financial straights”
“Yes, but this amazing product is the best in the world and I am the smartest person in the world. It’s only $150 per bottle…”
“I’m really not interested and I think I’m having a heart attack…”
“Take my card. Here, take it! I will call you to set up a meeting to sell it to all your friends and your wife… Oh, there’s Sally. Sally! Sally!”
That’s a bit over the top, but you get my drift - sell, sell, sell.
Here’s a conversation with a Joint Venture Broker:
JV BROKER: “So what are you looking for? What are your goals and dreams? How I can help alleviate some pain in your life? What keeps you awake at night?”
“What are you selling? What business are you in? What do you do?”
“I’m not selling anything. I help people access the resources they need. I’m a Middle Man, a catalyst, a problem solver. What can I do to add value to your life? How can I help you? What do you want?”
The JV Broker solves - he or she doesn’t sell. If he or she helps someone solve their problem by linking them up with a resource, the JV Broker makes money. They get paid for results, not promises.
A Joint Venture is a win /win collaboration between two or more people, sharing resources to solve common problems and achieve goals. No limits, no catch, no selling, no manipulation, no risk. A good JV Broker can add value to the lives of everyone they meet, and as Zig Ziglar said, “You can get anything you want out of life if you’ll help enough other people to get what they want.” The goal of a networker is to make a sale. The goal of a JV Broker is to solve a problem and add value, regardless of the products or services that may be involved.
Someone who truly understands the Joint Venture mindset can make a fortune from Networking. The emphasis shifts from what you want and who you are to helping others and getting paid for it.Put your networking on steroids and tripple your bottom line profit overnight by acquiring the JV mindset.
Robin J. Elliott www.DollarMakers.com
