22 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
22 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Is This A Load Of Bullcrap Or Is It True?

by mikestenger
19 replies
Have you ever heard the saying...

It's not what you know but WHO you know?

My philosophy is skills pay the bills and relationships build a lifetime of success. Some of the relationships you can form can turn into be highly profitable ventures.

Sure, skills are still very important but with the right relationships, you can take the leverage you have with those skills, to another level.

What do you think?
#bullcrap #load #true
  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hersh
    Sure, I agree with you.

    Skills are really important if you want to get the people you know to do things for you. Of course if you have no skills, no one will want to do anything for you or with you.

    Cheers,

    Mike G
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096422].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Barbara Eyre
      I believe you have to have the skill set (of whatever professional you are in) well before any of the people connections. You have to be able to walk the walk before you can talk the talk. You can have all the connections in the world, but if you can't produce anything to back up anything you say, your connections will be short-lived.

      Your connections will provide new avenues for you to use your skill set, which is what JVing and such is all about.
      Signature
      Phoenix Rising Web Services | Fibromyalgia Information
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096490].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Designerplus
        If you know the right people you don't really need to have outstanding skills. But I think that saying applies more for when many people have more or less the same skillset. I prefer the saying "it's not so much what you know but who you know".

        Knowing the right people can make you a lot of money - or knowing the right people at the right time.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096533].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author genietoast
          I think it's a bit of both. You need to have the skills or talent to be able to profit from your expertise, but it doesn't hurt to have a network to help you find opportunities. I think many actors and entertainers fall into this category. Some writers, too.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096761].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Emma Stery
    I've personally seen someone with the skills and the product not doing well.. until the "who you knows" came in and catapulted that person's success.

    Sometimes it's a combination of your skills and standing on the shoulders of giants.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096879].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mjfan
    I somehow think that perspiration pays too.. but not only skills or only hardwork pays. It has to be a combination.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096899].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Travis
    Obviously you have never been involved in Louisiana politics.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096927].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author drmani
    Originally Posted by mikestenger View Post

    My philosophy is skills pay the bills and relationships build a lifetime of success. Some of the relationships you can form can turn into be highly profitable ventures.

    What do you think?
    Here's my 2 cents.

    I'm right in the thick of putting together a promotion for my new
    print book. Out of the people I contacted for help, I've received
    64 "Yes, I will" replies, and only THREE "Sorry, but I can't" ones.

    These are because of relationships built over YEARS and that have
    grown stronger over time.

    I can't imagine having this kind of strike rate with any group that
    I try and contact out of the cold.

    All success
    Dr.Mani
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096934].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bossman34
    I think it's a little bit of both, but knowing the right people can give you a huge advantage.

    I have been given opportunities that would have been very, very difficult to get without knowing the right people.

    Having just one or the other, though, is going to limit your opportunities. You need to leverage your skills and relationships!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096964].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jillian Slack
      I agree that it's both who you know and what you know.

      If your skill set is crappy but you know the right people, they won't want their name associated with your crappy product.

      However, if you really know them and they really want to help (and if they are not in the habit of recommending things unless they have checked them out first), there is always a chance that they might take you under their wing.

      Or they might at least say, "Hey, you've got a great idea here but do you mind if I offer you a few pointers on how to make it even more fabulous, whip it into shape, and then relaunch it?"

      That would sort of be a nice way of saying, "You really need to work on this before you put it out there."
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096979].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author FrankPinch
    I got the skills to pay the bills! ** Beastie Boys! :-)

    Who you know is very important, but if you don't have the skills, doesn't do you much good!

    My opinion!
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096982].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Molano
    It depends on your approach.

    1. Are you going to focus on networking and joint ventures? Because those are proven to work. Even more so with the right people.

    2. Are you going to focus on building your own empire that doesn't rely on anyone else, based on your own skill sets or those you develop in the process?

    Personally, my business is about 10% of option 1, and 90% of option 2.

    I rarely do JVs and networking. They work and all, recently 1 single JV made me over $14,000 USD in 72 hours. But I was approached for that, I never do.

    And I hate relying on others. I much rather build it up by things I know I can control.

    So is it true? It can be, but not in my case.

    My projections show that I will be closing 2010 in 7 figures of overall sales, and that was done 90% by me alone (well, and my team of course).
    Signature
    Como Ganar Dinero Por Internet - Spanish Make Money Online Site

    Daniel Molano     - LinkedIn Profile
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097012].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MikeGriffith
    I totally agree that it's who you know that's more important than what you know. That doesn't mean, however, that you don't have to know anything. It does mean that if you're willing to apply what you DO know, the right business relationship can mean the difference between success and failure. A good mentor is like a gold mine.
    Signature
    PLR Article Rewriting Service
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097041].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    It's not who you know, it's whom you know.

    Sorry, just had to do it... :p
    Signature

    P.S.

    Join The Future: Telekinetic Marketing

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097175].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mrcouchpotato
      You definitely need both to have a complete package. My brother-in-law knows a lot and is very very smart. Just ask him and he'll tell you.

      His industry skills are great but his people skills are the worst...and because of that he doesn't have many friends. It took him forever to get a job but I think if he knew more people in his industry, he would have gotten that job years earlier.

      Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's like a Reeses Cup.

      The two ingredents (chocolate and peanut butter) are ok separately, but put them both together and you have one tasty treat.

      Just like you need both ingredients in life (skills and people you know) to make it a tasty treat.

      Mike
      Signature
      Let Me Show You How You Can Turn Your
      Existing PLR CONTENT Into CASH MONEY
      In Dozens Of Different Ways!
      CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097231].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
    Skills and relationships are important.

    Assets are critical too (i.e e-mail lists, quality products etc)

    You can maximize your assets through relationships and your skills.
    Signature
    'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097240].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Sandor Verebi
      Hi,

      If I would be cynical, I would say: you need to be on the right place at the right time, and that will be enough to succed.

      Without cynicism I'm saying that both of them are useful: what you know and whom you know. If you have skill in something then you need to practise it diligently. And in this process you'll get the 'whom', according to me.

      All the best,

      Sandor
      _________
      "The motivation what starts you. The custom is, what carries you to the goal."Anon
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097309].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Arted4Life
    Knowing people can help quite a bit. Of course if your completely brainless you won't get far either. A good combination of both will get you far.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097318].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    OK, I'll throw a witty (maybe not) take on this subject...

    I think it's mostly what the people you know know.

    Yeah, don't know why but I woke up in a very Zen mood today. Probably best to just ignore me. Or give me coffee. Chocolate's good, too.

    John "Ohmmmm"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097467].message }}

Trending Topics