Exerpt from “Smart Networking” being released today!

People have been telling me for years I’m not enough of a self-promoter (ha), I’m not good at getting myself “out there” (ha), I’m not good at introduing myself to perfect strangers (ha), really not good at connecting people (double ha) and most importantly I am a terrible networker (triple ha).

That said, instead of telling people how wonderful I am I have decided to let others do the talking for me. My dear friend and advisor, Liz Lynch, has just published, “Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online” being released by McGraw-Hill today November 7th. Liz has been kind enough to allow me to share an exerpt with you here on my blog with the understanding that you buy the book or else!
Be the Star of Your Own Group

SETTING THE STAGE FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PROSPER

In June 2006, at the urging of a media friend in Los Angeles, Bill Sobel started the New York: Media, Information and Exchange Group (NY:MIEG), drawing media professionals to monthly breakfast meetings that include lots of free-form networking time and a chance to hear insights from key innovators and top names in the industry.

In Bill’s words: “NY:MIEG is a place for executives in media, entertainment, and technology to meet with peers, share ideas, and develop friendships with the goal of assisting each other in reaching the next level or their personal goals.”

Fast Company magazine called him a master connector. His mind is always racing about who needs to meet whom. NY:MIEG gives Bill a venue to make those connections happen on a much bigger scale. If you’re interested in networking with people in broadband video or mobile media for example, just come to one of his events featuring that topic and you’ll meet dozens of them. In the process of building NY:MIEG, Bill has also built his own reputation and visibility. He’s been contacted by companies all over the world who’ve heard of his events, read his blog, which is updated daily to keep NY:MIEG’s message alive, and are primed to do business with him before even meeting him.

Bill has benefited tremendously from being the star of his own networking group. But it couldn’t happen unless he was also creating value and opportunities for many others