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From a NETWORK GURU (Volume 1)
YOU ARE NOT YOUR BUSINESS CARD By: Ted Fattoross, founder
of Network
Plus
You
are not your business card. You are a person.
Attending a networking function can be a little
like dating. Would we go out on a date, go
to a restaurant and before the waiter gets
to the table to take our order propose marriage
to our date? Yet, for some reason that is
exactly what we do -- at both social and business
networking events. We are not our business
cards. Some people have the notion that once
cards are exchanged this ritual is rite of
passage to do or say anything. In truth, it's
just a small piece of paper -- smaller than
a credit card and has a street value of about
a nickel. It's who we are that really matters,
not what we do. It's the size of our heart
not our business card that’s important.
It's what we stand for, not what we sell that's
relevant. It’s who was associate with
that defines us, not where we live or what
we drive. It’s why we do what we do
that really counts. You are not your job --
you are Infinite Opportunities, Unlimited
Dreams and Ageless Beauty. We are not sharks
in suits, we are eagles with wings.
Who
am I? Just a guy, who at 4 AM woke up this
morning and realized that most of us have
been hypnotized at an early age and as adults
have remained in this hypnotic state. For
good reason we were taught not to talk to
strangers. So we paid attention. Became cautious,
less curious. Locked our doors, closed our
minds. Put on the armor of the “right
business suit”. Went out and got business
cards and communicate by phone and email --
yes, even to the people sitting in the same
room -- both at home and at the office.
Ted
Fattaross inspires, instructs and
shines the light of powerful networking
techniques to his many Network Plus
professional members.
The
wake up call? We are not children - we can
talk to strangers. We can get to know the
person at the check-out line, the bus, the
train, the plane and bagel shop. We are not
our business cards. We are people. People
do not do business with business cards, they
do business with people. So, maybe the real
question is not what type style or color should
I use on my business card.
Maybe
the real question is “who am
I?” Ask yourself- “what
do I stand for? -- and why
do I do what I do?”
By the way, these questions are frightening
- terrifying. But these are the real questions,
the real deal. Are you the real deal? Too
many people follow what I call the “family
of origin script” and live a life not
their own. Living the “family of origin
script” is comfortable, safe and secure.
In truth, it’s a prison - three “hots
and a cot” as they say in prisons.
Safe.
Leaving this place takes courage. Courage
is not being fearless, courage is moving forward
while facing our fear, period. Our real fear
is not of failure. Our real fear is of possibility.
Of what we are, of what we may become. Our
real fear is that glimpse of amazing abundance,
infinite wisdom, and boundless possibilities.
We fear ourselves, our possibilities. Within
each of us is a seed. A seed that must be
planted, nurtured, cultivated and embraced.
It’s our seed -- not mom’s, dad’s,
our teachers, preachers or neighbor’s.
We own it and are responsible for its outcome.
We own the outcome. We allow others to direct,
dictate and manage us in an all-out effort
not to take ownership of our lives - thus,
avoiding the ownership of the outcome. We
lose by default no matter how large our portfolio,
value of our estate or size of our business.
Never
live by default. Own your seed, own your journey
and celebrate the ownership of your outcome.
Remind yourself that every day above ground
is a great one - a gift, be thankful. Rejoice
in all things. Please read the following poem
I gave birth to when I first started my journey
of sowing my seed. For the record, since then,
I have not used a business card, completed
over 6000 speaking events, over 100 consulting
assignments and counseled over 1,000,000 people.
I am not my business card, I am Infinite Opportunities,
Unlimited Dreams and Boundless.
We
are born complete, we are not born deficient.
We need not be fixed, for we are not broken.
We are whole, not fragmented.
We need to nurture the child in us, not force
it to grow up.
We are love, only love.
It is fear that prevents us from being who
we really are.
We are love, only love.
-Ted
Fattorross-
PS. The greatest gift I am
thankful for is the honor, the privilege and
joy of being the daddy of Taylor and Jared
Fattoross
As
our first contributor to our ADVICE
section, you couldn't get better guidance
about networking than from a real veteran-turned-producer
like TED FATTAROSS. Ted is the founder
and developer of NETWORK
PLUS-- a highly successful (New
Jersey based) business-to-business networking
organization. This three-year old program
has skyrocketted to a member count of
over 10,000 strong with 26+ major locations
in the regional area.
He
attributes the strength of NETWORK PLUS
to his many innovative philosophies
and a genuine "make-a-difference"
approach that maximizes networking time
and opportunities for all attendees.
His event formats are as result-driven
as they are fresh & exciting. The
energy he emits throughout his alliance-building
execution carries such a level of confidence
to anyone involved.
B2BNETEVENTS.com
proudly introduces the wisdom and guidance
of such a remarkable network leader.
His ability to tap into the netowrker's
psyche alongside his understanding of
the many issues, emotions and conflicts
within the networking experience and
his style of trouble-shooting is a refreshing
sound for so many ears.
You
are not your business card. You are a person.
Attending a networking function can be a little
like dating. Would we go out on a date, go
to a restaurant and before the waiter gets
to the table to take our order propose marriage
to our date? Yet, for some reason that is
exactly what we do -- at both social and business
networking events. We are not our business
cards. Some people have the notion that once
cards are exchanged this ritual is rite of
passage to do or say anything. In truth, it's
just a small piece of paper -- smaller than
a credit card and has a street value of about
a nickel. It's who we are that really matters,
not what we do. It's the size of our heart
not our business card that’s important.
It's what we stand for, not what we sell that's
relevant. It’s who was associate with
that defines us, not where we live or what
we drive. It’s why we do what we do
that really counts. You are not your job --
you are Infinite Opportunities, Unlimited
Dreams and Ageless Beauty. We are not sharks
in suits, we are eagles with wings.
PROLOGUE: