Networking with friends is no different than networking with anyone else.
Here’s the thing:
Even when you know the person
Even when you’re friends with the person
Even when you know their kids!
Their spouses!
When your spouses are friends!
If you start a networking session with chitchat
You tend to leave the session
With regret.
See if this helps:
Even if you’re offering something at a 100% friends and family discount
Structure the call like you would with a client or prospect
With a little tweak at the beginning
That might go something like:
Hey! So good to see you!*
Listen, this is going to sound crazy but … you cool if we just dive in?
You know me, I love you, I love your family, but you’re busy.
You wanna just run through this for like 20 minutes
And THEN we’ll catch up?
Is that crazy?
They will say no, it is not crazy.
And then structure your call
Like you would a normal call
My bet is this:
You’ll be so busy helping your buddy
You won’t have time for chitchat
Even at the end
Because you are having
Too
Much
Fun.
I’m here,
Kevin
*WARNING: Do not start off with an open-ended question of any kind. For example: “Hey, you look great! How’s it going?” I’ve done it. And I can tell you that 100% of the time we don’t get much done and we both feel not so awesome about it.