Networking Know How Spells Financing

Getting and staying financed is as much about relationships as it is about your company's performance. In my experience as a venture capitalist, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur, I've found that if your relationships are strong, you'll be given more time to improve your performance. Key to building relationships is networking. My top six networking tips follow:

1. Be aware of the impression you make when networking. When you network, are you giving or taking? "Palm-up" networking embodies the spirit of service, of giving, and wanting nothing in return. When you network "palm-down" it's about pure personal gain. Palm-up equals heart-oriented interaction. Palm-down equals greedy grasping. Which attitude results in building relationships, providing value, and ultimately bestowing benefits on both parties? You guessed it. Give to others. It'll all come back to you in time.