Meeting Likeminded People.. placing yourself in a successful environment

You can join BNI, different marketing or entrepreneur groups. Find people on this board that you can talk to and bounce ideas off. It has helped me a lot to talk to people in the industry, no matter what type of level they are on.

There will always be those types, but whether it's in person or here, you will be able to sort them out quickly.

I always offer advice with the disclaimer that it stems from my preference and experience...doesn't mean I'm pushing, but it means that you know what I do and I can help in THAT arena.

The people you find that help you and are good, will outweigh those that are there for themselves.

That's usually every person's goal. That doesn't mean you can't gain valuable connections and relationships with those people!

Thanks, I’ll check them out.. Sometimes I feel intimidated going to these events because I think well maybe I’m not as successful as those people and I don’t want to be viewed differently. You guys are right though, I’ll definitely check those out. Has anyone used meetup.com or heard of that service, Is it great for meeting others?

Here's the power of a Success Group:

I attended a BNI one-on-one, where you meet individually with another BNI member and exchange detailed information about your business and what you're looking for.

I went with my co-worker to meet a contractor with 30+ years under his belt.

He showed his "retirement" project -- an $8 million+ house in Tennessee with the most obscene luxuries you'd ever see -- a $100k Harley... an elevator... a movie area designed to look like the inside of a coal mine....

Turns out the dude at 51 years-old 7 years ago bought out the company he worked for as a welder and turned it around tremendously since then.

Point of the story is when you hang around with wealthy people (both the welder-turned-businessman and the contractor who's taking 10% fee to conduct the project) -- more specifically when you actually are PRESENT with them in person -- you actually see what success looks like... and that people are still making it... and more importantly, that the MONEY is still out there waiting to be taken.

I even asked the contractor, "Hey, what's it like working for a guy with a project this big and intricate?" He said the only problem he had was that he was trying to give him options to SAVE on his boss's investment.

Once he realized that the boss KNEW what he wanted and had no limitations on what he'd spend to get it, things have been fine.

And, by the way, I had to ask him how he came into this deal. He said it was a referral from an insurance man in BNI. Said he HAD to contact this contractor for his retirement home.

Ended up NOT EVER talking to ANYONE else to do it. His mind was ALREADY made up when he contacted him that he was going to be the contractor for his house. ALL on a referral.

Now that's powerful.

How can we advise you when we don't know where you are currently, and I don't mean geographically, I mean what level are you at?

Who are you looking to mingle with? CEOs of nationals, multi nationals, branch managers of national brands, marketing department heads.
In UK, that's where I am so it's all I know for sure, there are various types of network meets, some where it seems you have to be 'in the know' to be invited, what that really means is you have to be prepared to suck up to the right people, massage their egos, then they might invite you, those sort of meets, though at looking at the photos may seem ideal, aren't worth it as it's all posturing BS with a bunch of pretenders who can barely afford the cocktail they've been holding onto all night as it's more valuable than their one client.

I find meets arranged with Educational (University etc) establishments attract really genuine ,well connected, serious business people, here we have Cardiff Business Club which has monthly speakers (owner of multi national, President of National trust, Royalty etc) and that certainly attracts the right bunch, with serious money to spend on their business.