My Pinnacle Network

Grow Your Business Through Networking

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B2B networking awards. My Pinnacle Network recognizes region’s best connectors with Networking Ninja Award winners.

B2B Networking Award winners
(l-r) Networking Ninja winners Brian MacFee, MPN Founder Steve Dubin, Lois Drukman, MPN Partner Joe D’Eramo. Not pictured,  Sheldon Prenovitz, winner of Most Ubiquitous

My Pinnacle Network, the B2B networking group with monthly meetings in Braintree, Mansfield, Marshfield, Needham, Plymouth and Westborough, MA, recently announced the winners of its fourth annual Networking Ninja Awards. The newly minted Networking Ninja Awards were created to recognize the region’s best networkers in four separate categories: Best Connector (helping bring people together); Most Ubiquitous (appears to be at every networking event); Most Altruistic (does most for others); and Brightest Beacon (adds energy to networking events).

Carmella Beroth, of Debt Management, Inc. in Mansfield, MA, took home the honors as Best Connector. She is a member of My Pinnacle Network-Mansfield.

Sheldon Prenovitz of Concord, MA-based ConnectPay won the Most Ubiquitous Networking Ninja Award. He is a member of My Pinnacle Network-Westborough.

Brian MacFee of System Support in Marshfield, MA won the Brightest Beacon honors. He is a member of My Pinnacle Network-Braintree Third Thursday and My Pinnacle Network-Marshfield.

Lois Drukman of Walter May Insurance in Hingham, MA won the Most Altruistic Networking Ninja Award. She is a member of My Pinnacle Network-Marshfield and My Pinnacle Network-Plymouth. She is also one of the owners of South Shore Networking Professionals, which hosted the awards ceremony at its regular third Tuesday event at the Cask & Flagon Restaurant in Marshfield, MA.

An additional award was given this year to My Pinnacle Network Partner Joe D’Eramo. My Pinnacle Network Founder Steve Dubin awarded the “Unsung Hero” trophy for his behind-the-scenes work. He also noted his work writing and publishing My Pinnacle Network’s book, 15 Keep-it-Simple Tips for B2B Networkers, available at www.mypinnaclenetwork.com.

“Congratulations to all the winners. We had a number of networkers nominated for these awards and these individuals stood out as the cream of the crop in our region,” said Steve Dubin, founder of My Pinnacle Network. “Each of these winners has proven themselves to be first-rate connectors who are givers first, which is how they ultimately receive referrals for their respective businesses.”

Voting for the Networking Ninja Awards took place from January 1 through February 28 on the My Pinnacle Network website, www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. Other members of the B2B networking organization nominated for awards include: David DeBlasio of Deblasio Marketing located in Dedham, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Mansfield; Calvin Nelson of CCNIII of Stoughton, MA; Alex Bungener of Digital+ in Cotuit, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Marshfield; Jim Hickox of Apple Corps Cleaning in Weymouth, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Braintree Third Thursday; Jay Nuss of Jay Nuss Realty of Braintree, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Braintree Third Thursday; Richard Archibald of Aflac and My Pinnacle Network-Marshfield; Dave Gilman of Cognito Creative and My Pinnacle Network-Westborough; and David Allen of Balance Wealth Advisors in Wellesley, MA and My Pinnacle Network-Needham/Newton and My Pinnacle Network-Westborough.

“Networking, sharing information and opportunity, is what makes the world go round,” noted Dubin. “Both whimsical and pragmatic, the Networking Ninja Awards provide recognition for many who typically do great deeds and humbly hang in the shadows.”

For information about My Pinnacle Network’s B2B networking groups, please visit www.MyPinnacleNetwork.com, or contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061.

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How introverts can be good networkers

Does this guy seem introverted?

Having run networking meetings for quite some time, we often hear people describe better networkers as “born networkers”. That could be true. Some people are blessed with the gift of gab while starting and sustaining a conversation can be a real chore for some. Yet that doesn’t exclude introverts from being good networkers. It just means you may need to take a different path.

Take My Pinnacle Network Founder Steve Dubin. Please. Seriously though, Steve thinks of himself as an introvert. If you have met him, this may surprise you a little. Yet Steve learned how to overcome his shyness in networking situations by using skills he developed as reporter. Namely, asking questions.

When Steve meets people at a networking event, he reverts to a list of questions he has memorized. The questions are a little less cliché than “what’s your business?”. Typically, it’s about the event or something of the sort. Since many people are more comfortable answering a question rather than starting a conversation, guess what? A conversation ensues.

This technique often gives Steve the opportunity to learn more about the people he meets. This in turn makes it easier for him to connect the people he meets with people in his network. And we all know that giving is the key to receiving in networking.

Okay, so maybe you’re not a former reporter. It doesn’t prevent you from creating a list of questions to have for when you go to events. Fortunately, networking is much more about what happens outside networking events. And that’s where introverts can be very successful if you choose to be.

How?

Ask any great networker what the key to networking success is and most will say it’s follow up. Much of follow up today can be done online. So, if you meet somebody at a networking event, be sure to follow up afterwards with a little note via e-mail. Better yet, check out their LinkedIn profile and connect.

If this contact is somebody you want to get to know better, set up a one-on-one. If you’re not sure, perhaps you start a virtual dialogue that includes some additional questions. Like who in your network would they like to meet? Conversely, you could ask if they know anybody in an area that’s of interest to your business.

This is but one way for introverts to break out of their shell and get into the networking game. Check out our ebook, 15 Keep-it-Simple Tips for B2B Networkers, for more pointers.

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My Pinnacle Network announces March 2018 schedule of B2B networking meetings.

My Pinnacle Network recently announced a full slate of business-to-business networking meetings for March. My Pinnacle Network meetings are as follows:

My Pinnacle Network – Marshfield, Thursday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 165 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050.

My Pinnacle Network – Westborough, Tuesday, March 6, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at Digital Federal Credit Union, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

My Pinnacle Network – Mansfield, Wednesday, March 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 20 Cabot Blvd., Suite 300, Mansfield, MA 02048.

My Pinnacle Network – Needham/Newton, Thursday, March 8, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at Bullfinch Group, 160 Gould Street, Needham, MA 02494.

My Pinnacle Network – Plymouth (Real Estate), Thursday, March 8, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Keller Williams training room, 91 Carver Road, Plymouth, MA  02360 (Ocean State Job Lot Plaza)

My Pinnacle Network – Braintree Third Thursday, Thursday, March 15, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 100 Grandview Road, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Braintree, MA 02184.

Only one B2B professional will be selected for each category. Those categories can be found at bottom of http://www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. Prospective members are encouraged to attend a My Pinnacle Network meeting before committing to join.

If you are interested in attending a meeting in your area, please contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061 to RSVP. There is no charge to visit a My Pinnacle Network meeting.

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A signature move to entice prospects

Many professionals regard the e-mail signature as an obligation. You know you should have one and provide all your content information. For many of us, we get hung up on titles and making sure every website and social media link is included. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing that. But did you ever think of upping the ante and adding part of your messaging?

That could be a tagline (e.g. PR Works. When done correctly, PR Works). Or you could take it up a notch and make it more specific (e.g. PR Works—Press releases and content that tell your company’s story).

See the difference?

You could also take it up even further and add a link to your lead magnet or, even better, a picture of your lead magnet that links to a free download (the MPN lead magnet is pictured above). Or maybe, if you don’t have a lead magnet, you could link to your latest blog post with a teaser (e.g. check out our latest blog post on our newest product/service).

Now, you’re probably thinking, “It’s an e-mail signature, will I really get business from it?” Maybe, maybe not. But you have to remember that new business is about touches. Generally, it takes seven or more. If you are regularly e-mailing a prospect or someone in your network, they see your e-mail signature with every exchange. Whether they realize it or not, that puts you front of mind, even for a very short period of time. On some level that will register with the person you’re exchanging e-mail with. Who knows who they will be speaking with who might need that service?

The best part of being more specific with your e-mail signature—it’s very little work. Change it up every couple of weeks. See what happens. Honestly, you have very little to lose—you’re going to have an e-mail signature to share your contact info anyway, right—and much to gain.

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Networking Ninja Award nominations sought. My Pinnacle Network holds 4th annual recognition of the region’s best connectors.

2017 Networking Ninjas

BRAINTREE, MARSHFIELD, MANSFIELD, NEEDHAM, PLYMOUTH AND WESTBOROUGH, MA…

We live in a high-tech age with texting, tweets, snap chats, etc. Yet ask any small business where they get the majority of their new business leads and referrals and it’s through good old-fashioned networking. My Pinnacle Network, a business-to-business networking group with monthly meetings in Braintree, Mansfield, Marshfield, Needham, Plymouth and Westborough, MA will honor the individuals who do networking the best with its fourth annual Networking Ninja awards.

During the month of February, My Pinnacle Network members and the general public can go to www.mypinnaclenetwork.com and cast their vote for their favorite networkers in any of the following categories: Best Connector (helping bring people together); Most Ubiquitous (appears to be at every networking event); Most Altruistic (does most for others); and Brightest Beacon (adds energy to networking events).

The deadline to vote is February 28.  Winners will be announced in March, with awards being given out on March 20 at the South Shore Professional Networking Group event at the Cask & Flagon in Marshfield.

“When you pass a lead or referral or connect somebody and that leads to business for that person, you create cosmic goodwill. Hopefully, that comes back in the form of new business to you. Sometimes it does, sometimes it’s not as apparent,” noted Steven V. Dubin, one of the founders of My Pinnacle Network.  He continued, “We created The Networking Ninja Awards to recognize the contributions of our areas best connectors and networkers, who continually add to the well of cosmic goodwill.”

For information about the Networking Ninja Awards, please visit www.MyPinnacleNetwork.com, or contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061.

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What are the best networking films?

Al Gore strikes again. When researching a topic for this week’s newsletters yours truly came across an article listing movies that best explain networking newbies. Movies about networking? Really? Then, when you really put some thought to it, there are many movies with a networking element.

The most obvious networking film is The Godfather. Sure, we hear the cliched “it’s just business, nothing personal”. Of course, that’s not really true in the movie. Even in real life, we do tend to want to do business with people we like versus we don’t.

Ground Hog Day was an interesting mention. Bill Murray’s character can try out any number of “verbal brands” or “elevator pitches” and know that if one doesn’t work out, he will have the same opportunity tomorrow. That’s not always true in business. Yet if you are in a networking group and you come with the same verbal brand every time, folks may start to tune you out. That’s why mixing it up with a client success story to back up your verbal brand is so critical.

Other movies mentioned include: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Social Network, Gone in 60 Seconds. For the complete list, click here.

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A great opening line – How did you land your first client?

Are you tired of opening with “What’s your business?” as an opening line at networking events? Or the ever so popular, “who’s your best customer?”. While those are perfectly valid questions, it sets the stage for a canned conversation that probably doesn’t flow naturally. As an alternative, why not ask something like:

How did you land your first client?

This question will catch them off-guard at first. But typically people don’t forget their first client. Usually, there’s a story of some kind with it. If it’s a business that’s been around a while, it may even make that person nostalgic and proud about how far the business has come since it’s humble beginnings.

Or they may not remember at all.

If they don’t remember, ask how they landed their last client. Or last five clients. Usually, there’s a straightforward answer to these questions that don’t require much rehearsing. So people can answer without a lot of thought and it’s a more natural conversation.

If these questions fail to inspire a conversation, you have two options: tell them how you landed your first client or customer; or bail. You can use your judgment on that one. But if you’re having difficulty getting somebody to talk about their business, it’s probably a good sign to choose the latter and move on.

The point of any networking activity is to learn about other people and their business so you can be a connector. Hearing the story of their beginning can jump-start a conversation and provide you enough information so you can think about who in your network might travel the same traffic lanes as your new acquaintance.

Give it a try at your next networking event.

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My Pinnacle Network announces January 2018 schedule of B2B networking meetings

My Pinnacle Network recently announced a full slate of business-to-business networking meetings for January. My Pinnacle Network meetings are as follows:

My Pinnacle Network – Westborough, Tuesday, January 2, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at Digital Federal Credit Union, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

My Pinnacle Network – Mansfield, Wednesday, January 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 20 Cabot Blvd., Suite 300, Mansfield, MA 02048.

My Pinnacle Network – Marshfield, Thursday, January 4, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 165 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050

My Pinnacle Network – Needham/Newton, Thursday, January 11, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at Bullfinch Group, 160 Gould Street, Needham, MA 02494.

My Pinnacle Network – Plymouth (Real Estate), Thursday, January 11, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Keller Williams training room, 91 Carver Road, Plymouth, MA  02360 (Ocean State Job Lot Plaza)

My Pinnacle Network – Braintree Third Thursday, Thursday, January 18, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 100 Grandview Road, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Braintree, MA 02184.

Only one B2B professional will be selected for each category. Those categories can be found at bottom of http://www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. Prospective members are encouraged to attend a My Pinnacle Network meeting before committing to join.

If you are interested in attending a meeting in your area, please contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061 to RSVP. There is no charge to visit a My Pinnacle Network meeting.

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The “Book” on networking. Plymouth, MA resident unveils free e-book for B2B networkers.

As B2B networking group with monthly meetings in seven locations, My Pinnacle Network ascribes to the KISS theory of networking: Keep It Simple…ah, you know the rest. With that thought in mind, My Pinnacle Network recently published an e-book of tips tailored towards B2B professionals and small business owners.

“Small business owners and B2B professionals are a busy lot. With that frenetic pace, we tend to forget some of the little things that make the networking process run smoother,” said Joe D’Eramo, a My Pinnacle Network partner and author of 15 Keep-it-Simple Tips for B2B Networkers. “This e-book is a nice reminder of some of the little things as networkers we know should do but sometimes overlook.”

The book consists of 15 tips taken from My Pinnacle Network’s weekly e-newsletter. Some of the sections include: Who’s the best networker you know; It’s not who you know but what you hear; In networking, it’s who you don’t know; Tom Hanks and “Thank You”; and more.

You can download the e-book for free on the home page of My Pinnacle Network’s website at www.mypinnaclenetwork.com.

In addition to providing information, My Pinnacle Network hopes to use this and future e-books as marketing tools to recruit new members.

“Generating leads and referrals is what our groups are primarily about. Yet one of the great value adds of our group is the breadth of knowledge and experience in one room,” said D’Eramo. “Creating this e-book is a good example and something we hope our members will do to market their own businesses”

My Pinnacle Network hosts monthly meetings for B2B professionals at six locations—Bourne, Braintree, Mansfield, Marshfield, Needham, and Westborough. A seventh group for real estate-related business professionals is held in Plymouth. For the complete schedule of meeting go to My Pinnacle Network’s website at www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. To attend a meeting, contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061.