We were impressed recently with an article on the internet by Mr. George C. Fraser. He offers Tips to “Click” when meeting people, either in business or socially. Mr. Fraser kindly gave us permission to reproduce his article in this space.
(This is the second installment of the George Fraser Top Ten Tips to CLICK: From 1 to 6. Final installment of All Ten early next week.)
Top 10 Tips to "CLICK" Quick
By George C. Fraser, Founder and CEO of FraserNet, Inc.
I've accomplished a lot as America's networking guru, but my beginnings were humble. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, into a family of 11 children (8 boys and 3 girls). At the age of three I was placed in foster homes where I spent the next 15 years. The difficulty of those years and growing up on the streets of New York left me with little hope and few expectations.
Although my guidance counselor suggested I drop out of high school, I graduated from high school with a vocational diploma in woodworking; the school system did not consider me college material. Thank God I felt differently. For several years, I mopped floors on the midnight shift at LaGuardia Airport while I attended college.
Over the next three decades, I used my Ten Truths and tapped into the hundreds of relationships I developed to build one of the largest professional networking organizations in America. It was my way of testifying to the spiritual paradigm of ONENESS and the power of people working together. It is also a testimony of the strength of one man who dared to dream—despite insurmountable odds.
I believe the goal of all networking is to CLICK: to create the win-win. For those in business, "time is money." To this end, CLICK: Ten Truths to Building Extraordinary Relationships helps answer two critical questions: Do you find yourself wasting time networking and investing in business relationships that don't add value? And, why do some business relationships never work and others seem to CLICK?
From a personal perspective, doesn't it feel good when you CLICK (create a win-win) with someone? Wouldn't you like to know how to do it more often and enjoy the benefits of extraordinary relationships in your business and life? The following Top 10 Tips to CLICK will give you the tools you need to build extraordinary relationships in business and in life … quickly.
1. Be Authentic: Be who you really are. Have an agenda, know why you're there, what you want and need. Be on your best behavior—but always be yourself.
2. Be in the Moment: Please … shut up and listen with your eyes and ears. Ask good questions. Roaming eyes (looking over and around someone) is an instant turnoff. Your task is to understand the other person first.
3. Find a Need and Fill It: Help someone with their child, health, or wealth and you will CLICK quick. Using the paradigm of ONENESS, pretend you're in a contest with the other person to see who can genuinely give, serve and add value first. Always look for the win-win.
4. Follow-up or Be Forgotten: Attention spans are short these days. Following up demonstrates you care and helps build the connection. It also will impress people, because 98% won't do it.
5. Give Credit and Take the Blame: This is especially true when you lead a team. Remember you have a limited amount of time; therefore, quickly rid yourself of toxic people and bloodsuckers—people who drain you of your time, energy, and patience.
6. Make Others Feel Significant and/or Important: Give sincere compliments. Appropriateness is the key, be it the hair, jewelry, suit, tie, remarks, accomplishments, ideas, etc. Remember, insincerity is the highest form of B.S.
George C. Fraser, master teacher and visionary with rare combination of business and people skills, is chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc. He founded FraserNet, Inc., the nation's largest network of black professionals, business owners, and community leaders, and is the author of Success Runs in Our Race (Harper Collins, revised 2004) and Race for Success (William Morrow, 1998). This article is based on his latest book CLICK: Ten Truths for Building Extraordinary Relationships (McGraw-Hill, 2008). For more information please visit www.frasernet.com or www.10truths2click.com.
Road Construction Update
S.R. 806/ Atlantic Ave. from a point east of S.R.7/ U.S. 441 to a point west of Lyons Rd.
Construction began on January 7, 2008 on 0.5 miles of S.R. 806/ Atlantic Ave. from a point east of S.R.7/ U.S. 441. This $756,745.68 construction project including milling and repaving of the existing roadway, drainage improvements, guardrail relocation and new signing and pavement markings. The project is being built by Ranger Construction Industries, Inc. and is expected to be complete May 2008.
Restriction: There will be alternating lane closures from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday, April 21 through Friday, April 25. Flagmen will be onsite to assist motorists during lane restrictions, delays are expected.