In early March of 2004, Larry Miller (owner/broker, CENTURY 21 Larry Miller Realty and a long-time Clarion Company client) and I began a 20-month journey which culminated in the birth of the CSRA HOME CONNECTIONS© Local Alliance Co-op Marketing Program (www.CSRAHomeConnections.com) on November 30th, 2005.  It’s been described as a “Welcome Wagon on steroids”—but it’s actually a synergistic blend of extremely efficient co-op media advertising and dedicated referrals of the program’s Preferred Providers from everyone involved with CENTURY 21 Larry Miller Realty—agents, property management staff, relocation team, administrative staff, etc. Naturally, the program features a monthly networking breakfast where everyone—agents, Preferred Providers, staff—enjoys getting together to learn how to work together.

Recently, the guest speaker at our Spring Success Seminar was one of our own Preferred Providers: Ted McLyman, CEO and co-founder of APEXX Behavioral Financial Group LLC (www.ApexxBFG.com). Ted—who served as an Economics Instructor at the U. S. Naval Academy; an Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management in the Pentagon; and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps—is a master networker. His ability to bring people together for their common good while projecting a pragmatic brand of positive thinking has served Ted well in his second career as a financial advisor extraordinaire.

It’s all about “leveraging”.

Ted McLyman’s primary message to dozens of attendees–including realtors and fellow Preferred Providers—was how to leverage their membership in the CSRA HOME CONNECTIONS© program for greater growth and maximum profitability. The credibility of Ted’s focus on networking as the most powerful, time-tested tool in a business owner’s arsenal is all the more believable because Ted McLyman practices what he preaches–every day.

I have noticed that, all too often, we lose opportunities for new clients and/or sales to friends, fellow churchgoers, and even family members simply because we have failed to make sure they know exactly what we do for a living.  Networking is not just a cool new trick to “try out” every once in a while. If you want to optimize your success potential, networking must become a good habit, deeply ingrained in who you are and what you do.

BERT DEAN This is a sponsored marketing article. Veteran marketing consultant and creative guru Bert Dean is president and founder of The Clarion Company, a full-service integrated marketing communications firm. He is also Executive Director of the CSRA Home Connections Local Alliance Co-op Marketing Program. You can reach Bert by phone at (706) 796-7795 or via e-mail: bertdean@clarionsouth.com. (www.clarioncompany.com)