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When you grow your RGA network in stages, you can make sure your network really works — for you and for the others in your network!

Let’s be real: you can’t add new people to your network without “vetting” them, or you run the risk of making poor referral choices. For instance, if someone asks if you know a good video production company, you need to know if they want corporate videos and commercials,  short form videos, voice-overs, or full scale production services.

You want to grow your RGA network in stages so you can really knowthe members in your network, get to appreciate their strengths, learn what they need, and make knowledgeable recommendations and referrals.

How do you grow your RGA network in stages?

Select an RGA chapter that feels right to you, and get acquainted with the members! Whether you network better at breakfast, lunch, dinner, or after hours, there’s an RGA meeting for you! Chapters meet weekly, and you don’t have to worry about being herded into a meeting that eats into your work day: RGA directors appreciate the value of your time, and make sure their meetings start and end on schedule. You can put your RGA meeting on your calendar and schedule the rest of your day with confidence!

During your RGA meeting, take note of others who make it a point to attend and interact with others. Introduce yourself and schedule a MOM or DAD — one-on-one Meetings Outside the Meeting or Discussions After Dinner — and get to know your fellow networker personally. Find out what makes him or her “tick,” and what they’re proud of in their chosen field. Learn what a perfect referral is for that person, and, after you’ve gotten acquainted, review others in your network to see if any meet that criteria.

Once you feel confident that you can explain why you are willing to recommend or refer, do it. Don’t wait for someone to give you a referral or to recommend you first. Someone has to take the first step, make the first overture. Why not you? When you are pro-active about referrals and recommendations, others take notice. Once that happens, your name and your areas of expertise will become top-of-mind for an ever-increasing number of people. You’ll be one of the first resources people think of when they mention those they know, like, and trust.

Recognizing Success

At that point, you’re likely to realize that you’ve built your own success by leveraging your network on behalf of others! The amazing success guru, Zig Ziglar, was famous for noting that you can get anything you want, if you help enough other people get what they want. It’s true. People you’ve carefully added to your network by identifying the resources they need are often eager to help you out, too.

And when it comes to networking, there’s another appropriate Ziglar observation:

You don’t have to be great at something to start, but you have to start to be great at something.

So, make today the day you start with RGA!