Page 87 - The Bootstrapper Bible

ChangeThis PEERS These are the folks you work with or compete with or just orbit around. Even though they seem less important than the folks you buy from, sell to, or work with, they have a huge impact on how you make decisions. If you interview someone who’s terrific but not for you, send that person to a peer. You just made two friends! Finding peers is difficult. Most bootstrappers and senior-level executives believe that they are too busy to take the time to interact when there isnʼt a specific business reason. Big mistake. Networking can dramatically increase the quality of your sales efforts and your products and, best of all, increase the wisdom you gain from your work. The best way to find peers is to devote several hours a week to doing favors for people. Favors with no intent of being repaid. Do some favors for strangers and some for friends. Whatʼs a favor? Sending someone a relevant newspaper clipping or e-mail message. Even better, referring business to another company that can handle it better than you. Find oppor- tunities to brag on other companies and other people you know. Youʼll be meeting sometime with someone who might need to work with them. If you interview someone whoʼs terrific but not for you, send that person to a peer. You just made two friends! If you write an article and need a case study, ask a peer to contribute. If you deal with a business and youʼre happy (or unhappy) with the experience, write a letter to the president and, founder to founder, let her know, how she did. | iss. 6.01 | i | U | X | + | h 87/103 f