“More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject.” -Peter Drucker

Would you believe me if I told you that I grew my online business this last weekend without once connecting to the internet? What if I told you that I not only built my business without internet access for the last four days, but I did so while going out to eat at great restaurants, smoking fine cigars, throwing back a few beers, and sneaking into the bar to catch parts of the weekend’s football games? Sounds a little too good to be true, right?

It’s not. I can assure you, I may not have been doing “work,” but I WAS working it…

So, what’s this magic formula I’ve discovered that lets me drink beer while building a bigger and better business? I wish I could give it a really cool name or unveil a brand new instant-income, push button system. Alas, the “magic formula” was nothing more than something we all do to a certain degree anyway – NETWORKING.

Okay, okay – you’re disappointed I don’t have any golden nuggets and your already bored. We all know how to network and you probably think it’s not worth talking about. For most people, the phrase networking immediately conjures up negative thoughts of having to fake being nice to people you don’t like so you can pimp your own shit to people who could care less. Am I right?

Well, I ask you to bear with me for a little longer. I was able to learn a few things this weekend about the concept and I’d like to share some of the things I picked up on.

UNSEMINAR 7

First of all, quick back-story on what I was doing this past weekend to give you a little context. Pat O’Bryan hosted Unseminar 7 in San Antonio. For those of you who’ve never heard of Pat’s Unseminars, do yourself a favor and look it up. It’s not your typical marketing seminar. There are a number of reasons this is the case but the biggest difference between an Unseminar and a “normal” seminar is that this one is actually fun…a lot of fun.

Aside from the legendary internet marketers who speak throughout the three-day event (Joe Vitale, Marlon Sanders, Eric Farewell, Bill Hibbler, and Craig Perrine just to name a few), it’s a perfect place to develop relationships with potential JV partners and to get the help you need to take your business to the next level. Throw in the food, cigars, and adult beverages (not to mention the occasional jam sessions from attendees) and you have yourself a pretty good weekend. And you know I mean it because I skipped going to Dallas for the Red River Shootout between my Texas Longhorns and the hapless Oklahoma Sooners (where you at Boomer Sooner?).

Anyway, back to what I was able to learn and why it’s important to YOU. Networking, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.” With a definition like that, it’s no wonder why most people think that networking is either a waste of time or just a duplicitous and boring necessity that’s part of the “game.”

Well, fortunately I realized it doesn’t have to be boring OR duplicitous. It can be fun and it can involve copious amounts of my favorite beverage. I really was able to build my own business this weekend without actually doing “work” and I had a blast doing it. I was able to meet a couple of people that I will partner up with on joint venture projects that will augment the growth my business. But that’s not really all that important to you.

What IS important is that I was able to observe some of the “big dawgs” in action and saw how THEY networked. I was a part of a number of conversations that began as casual inquiries but eventually led to handshake agreements on projects that will be worth a LOT of moolah (I’m talking multiple six figures here people). And, I’ll be honest – I was fascinated. I saw the ease at which these guys and gals made things happen and the speed in which they were able to get deals done. All while they were chilling at the pool, drinking a few brews, and smoking some cigars.

So I learned a few things this weekend that could really help all of us in our pursuit to blaze our own paths. I am going to present a video post later in the week discussing some of the things I picked up on and would love for you to join me. See you back here on Friday?

Paul

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