Building Your Sphere

Everyone should have a close network of professionals in his or her group of friends whom you can refer people to.  They should be industry specific and good at what they do.  They should be related to your industry, but do something that you don’t.  Someone in my networking group this morning called it his “sphere”.  The larger our sphere the better.

A contractor should know an electrician, a plumber, a mason, etc.  A realtor should know a mortgage broker, a real estate lawyer, a building inspector.

As a caterer, I’ve made relationships with cake decorators, florists, bartenders, rental companies, photographers, a distillery, and a handful of venues among other related professionals.

Don’t dilute your sphere with those who don’t deserve being a member.  Make sure they’re willing to pay it forward.  They should appreciate the business you give them and be willing to reciprocate.

Most importantly, make yourself a powerful resource for the members of your sphere.  The more you do for them and their clients, the more your sphere and its clients will do for you.

And the larger your sphere is, the more business opportunity you can have.