Why is Networking important for creation business success and wealth? The answer is simple. It is no coincidence that hundreds, even thousands of people are hired for positions over individuals who are more qualified and experienced, simply because they have cultivated relationships with key centers of influence. It is no coincidence that one politician is elected to office over another because he has cultivated relationships with more individual voters than with the opposition.

Through networking, you will receive opportunities that will expand your current knowledge base, business and wealth creation. Through networking, you will be put in positions to expand your current skills and learn to communicate on many levels. Networking is communicating with others to create mutually beneficial relationships.

People often confuse networking with “amount of contracts.” However, the purpose of networking is simply to improve your cause. Think of networking as opening doors to the unknown. You might be tempted to believe that the more doors you have, the better the chances of making the right kinds of connections, but that's incorrect.

Networking it is intentional by design. By placing yourself in situations that attract others with whom you can form mutually beneficial relationships, you increase the potential benefits. Therefore, one of the greatest traits of a network leader is the ability to proactively identify which doors need to be opened.

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5 Ways to Connect Your Way to Business Growth and Wealth

1. Do your homework

This may sound self-explanatory, but you'd be surprised how many entrepreneurs overlook this part. pLANNING it's a component of networking, and you'll need to make lists and look for sources that can answer basic questions about the person or organization you'll be meeting. For example, who knows the person you are trying to meet? Who else works with this person? Where do they live? I'm not suggesting you follow your potential set of networking targets; instead, sit down and list information that can help increase the quality of your potential interactions.

I learned the importance of doing homework when I had the opportunity to have dinner with author Mary Higgins Clark. Despite the many possible ways to learn more about my future celebrity dinner host, time demanded that I choose just a few. The first step was a trip to my local bookstore – a place with excellent networking resources. I asked the person working behind the counter if he had ever heard of Mary Higgins Clark. “Oh yeah,” she replied, as she pointed to a display that held more than 10 of her books. Now I felt anxious; despite my desire to read what seemed like stacks upon stacks of her bestselling novels, I only bought three to read on the plane. As I walked out of the bookstore, I found myself less anxious and more excited about my next date.

2. Take the initiative and introduce yourself

When meeting someone famous, it's natural to be nervous about making a bad first impression, regardless of your level of success. Even the most charismatic individuals say the wrong things out of nervousness or emotion. I think it's always wise to rely on courtesy. This seems like an obvious suggestion until you mistakenly call someone by her first name after a two-minute introduction. Whether the person you're approaching is famous or not, it's always acceptable to ask, “How would you like to be addressed?” after introducing yourself. I also like to have a few questions in mind that start with the phrase, “Tell me about…”, followed by a reference to something you know about the person. Because most people like to talk about themselves, the more the conversation focuses on your new acquaintance—not why they should be excited to meet you—the more likely there will be a next meeting

Fortunately, I didn't have to make any decisions about how to approach the dinner host, as Mary Higgins Clark greeted me as I approached her home. Outside, though, Mary and I talked about a variety of topics, from our families and hobbies to the scholarship. She was very interested in the market. She asked questions that were, frankly, quite complicated to answer. Instead of trying to impress her (a mistake often made when trying to make a good impression), I answered her questions with simple, straightforward answers.

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3. Do it for them

You never want to make yourself sound better, smarter or more knowledgeable than your conversation partners. When you do this, you seem condescending and, despite your desire to build a foundation for additional interaction, you may have closed the door. In fact, it should be your goal ask more questions than you answer. Keep the other person involved in the conversation by having them share information about themselves. Find a common interest. Finally, do what you need to do to show up approachable. Providing your business card is just one way to ensure this happens.

My use of Mary Higgins Clark's effective networking skills immediately paid off. For example, as I was leaving after a wonderful evening of conversation at a dinner party in New England, Mary asked if she could talk to me for a minute. I walked her to the corner of the room where she said, “I really like how easily you explained the answers to my questions. I'm looking to open an investment account with another company and I'd like you to open the account with me.”

4. Stay in frequent contact

Why did this happen? Simply because I took the initiative to stay in touch. There are many ways you can do this. Writing thank-you notes, sending items of interest with a note, or remembering important events with flowers are all examples of frequent contact. Sending an e-mail message—although impersonal compared to a letter—also keeps your name and contact information out there. Call a few contacts periodically and, if you're in their area, take them out to lunch or give them a quick phone call to say hello.

5. Look for ways to offer praise

Making others feel good is essential to walking through doors once they are open. Congratulating someone on their accomplishments or thanking them for taking the time to talk to you are ways to be praised. This doesn't mean you have to act like a crazy fan; instead, think about what you could say that would make the other person feel good about themselves. Praising your accomplishments can lead to a competitive tone in your conversations. Having a comfortable sense of self while praising others makes you appear self-confident and much more worthy of additional contact.

Last words

No successful entrepreneur achieves business or financial goals without the help of others. It doesn't matter how knowledgeable, qualified, or experienced you are: Without the help of others, you probably won't be able to shine. Push yourself to stretch outside of your immediate comfort zone, look for different ideas and discover a world of possible possibilities for yourself and your business.

Mastering the art of networking will increase your skills and opportunities to create the business growth and wealth you desire.