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2009-04-14T01:50:24-07:00

Two days before Thanksgiving 2007, my job ended abruptly after seven years. With five children to support - Christmas around the corner - and little money - I called on my network. Here is what I did:  I first sought out others looking to network, and went to:  • Craig’s List – Barter exchange. Two services I advertised for Barter:  1. My soon to be broadcasting schools apprenticeship training program ( valued at $5000) 2. A fully researched and formatted Google Adwords campaign for a business  • Next, I tapped into my network and contacted a friend who owned a web development company. He was more than willing to build a broadcasting school website and wait 180 days for payment.  • Contacted a copywriting friend who agreed to fine-tune the copy I was writing for my still unbuilt website.  • Consulted with a friend who is an SEO Expert to develop a search engine placement strategy.  • Reached agreement with a colleague to allow our sports broadcasting webinars to be used as the new curriculum.  • Called a well connected acquaintance for a referral to the best graphic designer he knew. The graphic designer he recommended cut me the deal of a lifetime when she learned who sent me.  Within a month, agreements had been reached on both of my Craig list barter offers, resulting in:  • $1500 cash in exchange for formatting two Google Adwords campaigns for a Real Estate company in San Francisco.  • A player piano from a man in Atlanta in exchange for broadcasting training services. The broadcaster who agreed to mentor this person in her Atlanta radio station was also a member of my previously established network.  • My nephew then sold the piano on eBay, resulting in a $4300 sale.  Two months into my nomadic journey to start my own business, the web copy had been written and fine-tuned, six future issues of a newsletter prepared, and the website completed.  In an almost too-good-to-be-true scenario, my very first lead turned into a sale. Within a month of this students training, he was hired by the radio station. I now had his success to point out as proof of my new company's legitimacy. The company has been mildly profitable since day 1 and continues to grow - even in these tough economic times. • Every single person I had contacted in my moment of need was a member of my network. Many had commented that they were willing to help me since I had done so much for them in the past and never asked for, or expected anything, in return.   c3f_NvEIaqllvkab8P4pmk

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2009-08-29T08:58:52-07:00

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How Networking Saved My Family

2010-02-02T09:12:55-08:00

how-networking-saved-my-family

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Michael_Madden

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