What
is
an
Ideal
Network?
A
business
consultant
set
a
goal
to
secure
a
particular
type
of
client—a
real
estate
developer.
She
made
three
connections
with
members
of
her
network:
one
to
secure
a
name
to
go
with
her
goal,
and
two
connections
to
create
a
direct
link
to
the
goal.
Within
a
week,
the
consultant
had
a
name
for
the
developer
of
choice.
With
assistance
from
one
of
the
connections
she
made
during
the
week,
a
meeting
was
set
with
the
developer
and
shortly
afterward,
the
developer
hired
the
consultant.
Goal
achieved.
That
was
two
and
a
half
years
ago,
and
the
developer
remains
a
good
client
and
has
brought
more
business
to
the
consultant.
An
ideal
network
includes
only
the
best
contacts
to
create
the
best
connections.
A
top-selling
real
estate
team
decided
to
target
investors
as
their
“ideal
clients.”
A
team
partner
made
a
call
to
a
contact
in
her
network
to
help
map
out
a
plan
to
create
visibility
within
this
market.
That
contact,
a
marketing
consultant,
made
three
calls
within
her
network:
one
to
a
Web
site
designer
to
rework
the
existing
Web
site
for
“investor
appeal,”
and
two
calls
to
contacts
for
the
purposes
of
generating
visible
sponsorship
opportunities.
Along
with
the
perfect
visibility
inside
the
target
market
came
invitations
for
prestigious
events
for
the
real
estate
partners
as
well
as
the
marketing
consultant.
Mission
accomplished!
An
ideal
network
is
organized
for
easy
access
and
quick
results.
When
a
beach
resort
decided
to
cease
operations,
the
owner
called
a
professional
networker
to
help
the
employees
transition
into
other
employment
when
the
resort
closed.
The
networker
turned
to
her
network
to
make
some
initial
inquiries,
which
resulted
in
over
70
connections
--
at
least
3
good
job
leads
for
each
employee.
Two
months
after
the
project
initiated,
success
was
in
grasp.
In
the
process,
the
networker
found
employment
opportunities
for
two
other
people
who
weren’t
even
on
her
employee-client
list.
An
ideal
network
can
pull
off
the
impossible
…
and
then
some.
What
is
an
“ideal
network,”
really?
For
the
business
consultant,
marketing
consultant,
and
professional
networker
in
the
stories
(who,
by
the
way,
are
all
the
same
person),
an
ideal
network
is
one
that
can
help
her
manage
each
goal
with
simplicity
and
speed.
Her
network,
unlike
an
ordinary
address
book
or
database,
is
first
organized
according
to
her
very
specific
needs,
and
second,
continually
developed
based
on
her
honest
appraisal
of
how
she
utilizes
each
contact.
It’s
her
ability
to
look
beyond
a
person’s
occupation
to
see
the
true
attraction
she
has
with
her
network
members
that
allows
a
business
woman
to
bring
ideas
to
life
and
projects
to
fruition
time
and
again
with
incredible
finesse.
Here
are
a
few
tips
to
help
you
in
planning
and
utilizing
your
own
ideal
network:
1)
Staff
members
have
roles
and
job
descriptions.
Your
network
is
your
personal
staff,
so
consider
how
you
utilize
them
and
assign
those
roles
to
your
network
members.
Categorize
accordingly
2)
Cull
out
“deadwood.”
People
with
whom
you’ve
had
no
contact
inside
of
three
years
might
be
acquaintances,
but
there
isn’t
enough
growth
in
relationship
for
them
to
be
considered
ideal
for
your
network
“staff.”
Do
keep
in
your
network
decision
makers
or
experts
in
fields
of
interest
to
you
3)
Every
network
should
include
mentors,
connectors,
and
media
contacts.
Mentors
provide
inspiration
and
guidance;
connectors
know
everyone
and
love
making
introductions,
while
media
contacts
are
invaluable
sources
for
information,
publicity,
and
marketing
venues.
Include
these
in
your
network.
4)
Once
a
goal
is
clear,
identify
the
appropriate
contacts
from
your
network
and
make
the
connection.
Don’t
let
the
fact
that
you
may
be
clueless
as
to
how
to
reach
a
goal
thwart
your
efforts.
If
you
plan
your
first
level
of
“ideal
network”
contacts
well,
they
will
provide
the
“how.”
You
will
ask
each
contact
for
a
next
step
or
another
contact
to
help
you
reach
your
goal.
Chart
your
way
through
levels
of
contacts
in
order
to
see
exactly
where
you
are
going
and
who
is
paving
the
way.
The
chart
is
a
visual
map
and
helps
to
keep
you
on
track.
More
important,
it
documents
your
progress
so
that
when
your
goal
is
reached,
you
know
who
to
thank
for
what.
Follow
up
with
any
lead
that
you
commit
to
as
the
contact
that
provided
the
lead
may
follow
up
with
you.
Your
own
ideal
network
can
be
organized
in
an
hour
or
two
one
afternoon
with
long-lasting
rewards
of
incredible
success
achieved
with
synchronicity
and
flow.
As
a
creative
entrepreneur
or
business
professional,
what
you
wish
to
accomplish
is
important
and
personal—and
it
is
available
to
you
with
a
customized
network
of
staff
members
just
waiting
to
be
of
service.
Now,
that’s
ideal!
Mary
Kurek
is
a
Networking
and
Marketing
Coach,
Career
Transition
Expert
and
Speaker.
She
is
the
author
of
"Who's
Hiding
in
Your
Address
Book
--
Introducing
the
Ideal
Network
for
Successful
Women,"
and
the
developer
of
the
Instant
Resume
Kit.
A
former
Chamber
of
Commerce
Executive,
Mary
is
called
"The
Chamber
Lady,"
for
her
dedication
in
promoting
Chamber
membership
to
her
professional
audiences.
Combining
her
passion
for
making
amazing
"people
connections"
with
her
leadership
and
media
background,
Mary
brings
a
clarity
and
new
simplicity
to
creating
the
steps
to
success.
Visit
her
at
www.marykurek.com
