Misner: The ‘truth and delusions’ about networking

UPLAND
November 14, 2006 12:01am

• BNI founder says it’s like farming

• Networking at a funeral – it can be done

Much of business success is built on personal relationships and the phenomenon of business networking is growing worldwide, notes business author Ivan Misner.

But there are misconceptions about the methods used, he says.

Mr. Misner, founder of Business Network International, has co-authored a new book that he hopes will dispel the misconceptions.

The book “Truth or Delusion: Busting Networking’s Biggest Myths,” written with Mike Macedonio and Mike Garrison, looks at what they see to be both the truths about networking and what they contend are the myths or misconceptions.

((Listen to an interview with Mr. Misner by clicking on the link at the end of this story.))

Mr. Misner says one myth that hampers business growth is that if a business provides good customer service, people will care about the business and help market it by word of mouth. He says it seems that good customer service only stops the bad-mouthing.

In the CVBT interview, Mr. Misner says successful networking can even happen in a funeral, if careful thought is given along with the proper respect.

And he explains that business networking should be seen as akin to farming, sowing the seeds for future, not instant, success.