How to Be a Power Connector: The 5+50+100 Rule for Turning Your Business Network into Profits

I heard about Judy Robinett’s book, How to Be a Power Connector, when she was a guest on the I Love Marketing podcast. Judy delivered such a wealth of actionable ideas during the interview that I clicked over to Amazon and ordered her book before it was over. If she delivered this much useful information in just an hour, I was confident that much more awaited me in her book. And I was right. In fact, I was astonished at the comprehensive, yet simple, system she maps out in her book. Even if you don’t aspire to be an over-the-top power connector like Judy, her book contains absolutely the best approach I’ve seen for helping you think strategically about forming alliances with others. An often-repeated theme throughout the book is to adopt a “giver” mindset. She advises readers to seek first how you can add value, value, value and more value to others before asking for anything. Adopting this mindset has totally changed the way I think about people I’m connected with and how I structure my emails and conversations. The results are consistently positive. Every bit of her advice is brilliant, reflecting 25 years of practice and refinement. Throughout the book, she provides examples of how she has implemented her own system over the years. She's ingrained these skills to the point that she automatically looks for ways to connect people with others who can help them solve their most pressing problem or need. The core idea is 5+50+100. You make a list of all your current connections and then organize the top 155 into 3 power circles. The TOP 5 circle is composed of the individuals closest to you, usually close family, friends and business associates. The KEY 50 are friends and associates you can call on for help or advice—and they know they can do the same with you. For the VITAL 100, include people from a wide variety of locations, roles and “ecosystems.” Judy provides all the details for preparing, connecting, engaging, providing value and deepening these relationships. She explains exactly how to build a robust network that’s deep, wide and diverse. It’s all there, and because of that, I’ve been recommending this book to everyone I can.

MUST BUY! This is by far one of the best networking books I've ever read. Judy does a great job at going into depth about the social psychology of building and nurturing relationships. To be success, one must learn how to collaborate, share, and give in order to get. Are you asking "How can I help you?" at your events and networking mixers? If not, then you should read this book and see how by asking this simple phrase, doors will open up for you. Networking is the easy part. The hard part is knowing what to do after getting someone's business card and contact, especially the 'follow up'. Judy lays it all out for you and gives you many ideas, examples, and strategies on how to become a Power Connector like her. This was very insightful. If you are considering buying this book, Buy It Now. You'll be glad you did. Imagine yourself having more connections, contacts becoming business partners, and lifelong friends. It is true, Your Network is really Your Networth! Judy coaches you through this mind shift in thinking. Not many people realize this fact. Its not what you know, but also who you know. Every college graduate should have this book as their last course before they enter the real world. I meet so many MBA students and business people, they have no clue how to harness the power of their rolodex and networks. Their current mental state is always 'me me me' where it should be 'share, collaborate, and we all become successful together'. To be great and to do great, its all about "WE" and "US" not "I". I have read many books on networking and Judy did a superb job. I will be referring to her book for life and recommending it to friends, family and partners. I've never written an amazon review before, and this is how strongly I believe in Judy Robinett's teachings and her sharing her life's work. I highly recommend buying and learning. I'm a big fan and can't wait for her next...

My book arrived from Amazon the day before I left to go SCUBA diving in Bonaire with friends, so I brought it with me to read on the plane. Before I returned, I had read it cover-to-cover, very slowly, twice, meticulously underlining hundreds of need-to-remember passages. This is the most important personal and professional book I've read in decades. For me it’s a true game-changer. It has caused me to rethink how I approach my business and work as a writer. An exceedingly well-structured and well-written book, it skillfully blends the idea of strategic, purposeful networking with the central imperative to generously add value, giving over and over without expecting anything in return. More than that, Robinett gives a wealth of specific how-to recommendations: • How to use social media to nurture your network. • How to put practical limits on your networking activities: the 5+50+100 rule. • How to evaluate who you’re connected to. • How to organize a system to keep track of existing relationships. • How to “ask” for what you need. • How to follow up after making contact. • How to “work a room” at a public gathering. • How to identify people you don’t want in your network. • How to assess your own value as a network resource. • How to approach a new contract. And a lot more. I especially liked her insights about the differences between male and female networkers. There is so much how-to “meat” about this vital subject that for me, it’s more than a how-to book. It’s a reference book. Before I adopt a tracking system, before I attend another conference, before I approach another high-profile influencer, I will reread the relevant chapters. I honestly feel that people who are trying to succeed in business and who haven’t read the book are at a serious disadvantage. My advice: get your hands on a copy and read it at your earliest convenience.

I found this book very helpful. It added a lot of clarity to my understanding of what networking is and how you should approach it. I found it very insightful and practical. When I finished it I new exactly what I wanted to do next to develop my network.

I am an avid reader, working my way through around 100 books annually. These books cover predominately personal/professional development, literature award winners with a dash of easy reads in between. There are endless books on networking available, many of which I have studied. I find this book, "How to be a power connector" by Judy Robinett, to be THE blue print for networking. There are numerous takeaways and incredible valuable ideas/tips. The key messages are : how do you add value to connections and build meaningful connections. Secondly is clearly shows it is not a numbers game, but quality and robustness of relationships that matter most. I am delighted that I have studied Judy's book in this early stage of my consulting business to enable my business to grow and better my personal life journey. I strongly recommend Judy's book to everyone - it is a game changer. Lastly, the book is extremely well outlined for those with a systematic viewpoint who wants to learn quickly. Thank you Judy for sharing your knowledge with the greater population! Hettie Stroebel

Judy Robinett is someone who both believes in giving unto others AND actually walks her talk. She is generous with her know-how and amazingly knowledgeable about a lot of things. What a great combination. When I heard that she was writing a book, I knew it would be filled with great ideas but little did I know that she would share her insider secrets to being a networking rockstar. This is the book you wish you had when you were 20 - one that teaches you a critical life skill that will both help your career and assure you have a well-lived life. Judy breaks down the exact thinking and tactics she uses to create a titanium network of contacts that has let her achieve what others only dream about. Yes, it takes some hard work, but using her techniques you can be sure you are doing the RIGHT work in the RIGHT room with the RIGHT people. No more wasted time and energy and frustration. Read this book if you want to land a great job. Read this book if you want to grow your business. Read this book if you want to get funding or attention for a new idea. Read this book if you want more friends. Read this book if you want to attract the kind of people into your life that can make things happen. Judy shows you all that and more.

There were some useful nuggets of information in this book, but it could have been greatly condensed. It's an easy read so it won't take you long, or just skim it. If you have a basic understanding of networking I probably wouldn't recommend this book.

Let me ask you a question. When someone mentions the work "networking" does it make you feel a bit icky? That's because a lot of people are doing it wrong. Maybe even yourself. In How To Be a Power Connector, Judy explains the benefits of having a successful network, including her own story starting out as a shy social worker in Idaho and going on to serve as the CEO of both public and private companies and in management positions at Fortune 500 companies. She's now a leader in the Venture Capital world. One of my biggest takeaways from her book is that to have a valuable network, you have to be strategic about building it. You know what else? You need to be sincere, and you actually need to help people. Judy's living proof of the effectiveness of that approach. In the book Judy takes you on a step-by-step approach to building a profitable network and includes things like The top 5 blunders ineffective networkers make, why weak links are actually the strongest and most important connections in your network and why she detests elevator speeches. The book also includes Judy's Top Ten networking tips and lots more than I can mention here. To listen to an interview I did with Judy Roinett about "How to Be a Power Connector", visit MarketingBookPodcast.com

This book could turn many people’s hate of networking into a love of power connecting. My goodness I wish this book had been around .. years ago, a-n-d I smile, - it's here now. You can start small and at any age. Rather than the sort of book where the tips are great but the book fades, here I have that sense of aliveness that I feel when I see the expanding opportunities and possibilities opening up around me. Judy emphasises the importance of being in the right room. As someone who took on an orphaned networking group, practiced connecting people, but realised that a very narrow and blinkered view permeates so many pure networking ventures - I believe this book or knowledge bank is the oasis in what for many is a networking desert. I heartily recommend this book for any businessperson, if you need funding, or if you have a cause you want to ignite. If you have kids going off to university / college or into the business world this book may be the very best investment that you can make for them. Phrases like life changing and game changing are frequently overused, but in the case of “How to be a Power Connector” by Judy Robinett I believe they accurately describes the very practical knowledge, advice, wisdom, and insights that you will find here. This book feels whole. You can read, learn, apply, adapt and most of all have some fun and enjoy expanding your world of quality connections.

The author cares about your "starting point" in networking which ever level it is. The approach is well structured, demanding without being over-ambitious, with practical exercise to carry-on. The book is full of sounds & genuine real-life examples which enable to better catch the underlying guidelines or pitfalls.

Very useful book, a must have

I have recently read this book and cannot emphasize enough the value that you will find in the content. This book is a must read if growing your business is important to you. We all struggle as business owners, entrepreneurs and managers to find that "Edge" that will put us in the lead. How to be a Power Connector is that "Edge". This book will provide you with practical no-nonsense ways to first identify your ecosystem and second how to reach out and make that connection. Remember, the view only changes for the lead dog. Be a connector, purchase this book.. Today!

Reading the book it oftens feels like "well she's right" - thats tghe game and this is how it works. although she is a connector in person - not everyone else is that type of human beeing. Although there are some points i will remember inf uture and try to follow her advices