Need advice on how to network? Alana Muller’s “Coffee Lunch Coffee: A Practical Field Guide for Master Networking” will teach people how to improve their networking skills so they can build meaningful relationships with their professional peers. (Photo provided by Alana Muller)
By: Jacob Elyachar
Welcome to the newest segment of my blog!
5 Questions is a new feature that will focus in up-and-coming authors, businessmen and performers that you need to keep an eye out on in the coming months.
I am very proud to have Kansas City author Alana Muller as my very first guest for this segment. Alana has recently released her first book: Coffee Lunch Coffee: A Practical Field Guide for Master Networking.
Through our correspondence, Alana stated her reasons for writing her book and shared one of her favorite strategies.
Jacob Elyachar: What is your definition of networking?
Alana Muller: Networking is about establishing meaningful, bi-directional and long-term relationships. It is about connecting with others, establishing community and deepening one’s sense of belonging.
JE: Why did you decide to write this book?
AM: In 2008, after 10 years with the same company, I decided to leave my corporate position in search of a more entrepreneurial path. However, I quickly realized that I had been so inwardly focused on my company that I really did not have an external network to rely on when it came time to create my own firm. As such, I devoted myself entirely to networking over a nine-month period of time. I structured my days around three key meetings: one in the morning, one at midday and one in the afternoon and called my approach “Coffee-Lunch-Coffee.”
My goal was to meet at least 15 people per week. When all was said and done, I had 160 meetings and met 200 new people. The result was that I was given access to an amazing variety of opportunities: Some professional, others more civically oriented and, still others, purely social. I wrote Coffee Lunch Coffee to help others learn the principles of networking while enabling them to achieve their own professional, civic and social aspirations.
JE: What differentiates your book from the other networking books that are out there?
AM: Coffee Lunch Coffee offers an accessible, relevant, immediately actionable approach to professional networking for anybody interested in connecting with others, getting involved in their community, seeking to advance their career or looking to build social relationships. It will help you formulate a strategic mindset around networking while creating a game plan to get out there and connect.
JE: What is one of your favorite strategies that you can share with my readers?
AM: The best networkers connect with others for long-term relationship building without knowledge of what, specifically, that relationship may ultimately bring to their lives. There is no expectation of payback or remuneration. They are not networking simply to get ahead, or to change jobs, or to develop their sales pipeline. Rather, they are passionate about something, they want to connect and share their passion with others who are equally passionate about their own interests. It is a virtuous cycle that can have major, long-term, life-altering implications.
JE: How has social media helped you throughout your networking process?
AM: Social media has helped to spread the word about my networking principles, my blog (www.coffeelunchcoffee.com) and my book. I utilize Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn on a daily basis to communicate with the Coffee Lunch Coffee Community — a group of people who have opted in to engage in the dialogue about the importance of networking and to share tips, tricks and tools for maintaining and growing a relationship base.
Jacob — Thanks for your wonderful support. I am very grateful to you! Cheers! –Alana