Who can introduce me to____________?

[Brian Koning]

On a recent car trip our family was taking, my 6-year-old son Kyler wanted to play the game I Spy. You know..."I spy with my little eye something _______?" and everyone has to start guessing. So, I started..."I spy with my little eye something green." Well, everyone started guessing things like the car next to us, the grass, the exit sign, the leaves, my shirt...and of course my son guessed "a booger!" Everyone became frustrated with me and asking for more clues because they were all wrong. It was a bumper sticker on the truck in front of us.

When it came to my son's turn, he said, "I spy with my little eye something big, yellow, looks like arches and they sell Happy Meals." Hmmmmm....what could that possibly be?

The point is, I made it hard for those around me to see what I was seeing. But my son, in his simple way, helped everyone hone in on the obvious.

Most people network like I played the I Spy game. Sometimes we are so vague about telling others what we need that those around us can't focus or flip through their mental Rolodex fast enough. Someone introduces themselves and says, "I'm looking to meet small business owners who need more customers" or "I'm looking for people who want to be independently wealthy". And my favorite (and I really, really like this person and am a client...so I'm not picking on her), "I'm looking for anyone with skin". I'm just as guilty in being specific about my needs.

But, what if we could narrow our focus and say, "Who could introduce me to the Chief Marketing Officer of Exact Target?" or "Who can introduce me to the person in charge of IT for Clarian North Hospital". Better yet, "Who can introduce me to Pat Coyle of Smaller Indiana".

So often, we go to networking meetings just thinking that if we tell people about our business and throw out a generic need, the referrals will just come pouring in. I think that's why people become frustrated and quit going to networking meetings. They blame the organization when it's really their inability to share with the group what they need. We need to make real, tangible connections. But, it takes some research and focus on our part to tell others exactly who we need to be introduced to so that we can schedule a meeting.

I'd really like to see members of BRN adopt the practice of using "Who can introduce me to _____________?" I believe this will expedite the referral process and get everyone to look through their contacts. It might take two or three people to get to the right person, but it all comes down to those infamous Six Degrees of Separation.

So, who would you like to be introduced to? It doesn't have to be local, even. Tell us so we can help. But, be as specific as possible.

[Joe Obergfell]

Who can introduce me to IT Managers looking for .NET Developers? I am currently out of work with 2+ years experience in .NET development with SQL Server. contact me @ [e-mail]

[Deanna Sipe]

Who can introduce me to owners of companies with 10 or more employees who are dedicated to empowering their employees to think bigger and do better? These companies that either partner to educate their employees or make it available through employee communications.

Who can introduce me to the communications gate keeper at Clarian? Someone that can authorize communicating about an educational/financial empowering option for all employees?

[Jennifer Anderson-Henry]

Who can introduce me to...medical practictioners who would like to be part of a new online healthcare initiative? Potential partners should have a strong desire to be viewed as the expert in their field as well as willing to grow their practice by accepting new patients.

Thanks!

[DeWayne A. Landwehr]

Great post. I am Executive Director of the Flagship Enterprise Center in Anderson, and we are alway looking for startup or growing businesses that need a little extra nurturing. So, if you know of any business owner in that situation, please introduce them to me. Together, we can improve the economic health of Indiana. Thanks.