A big city that does business like a small town
A Chamber orientation, a brand-new owner, and the difference between meeting people and having people.
I went to a Vegas Chamber orientation expecting to learn about the Chamber. I left reminded why I love doing business in Las Vegas.
One of the owners there had opened their doors less than 30 days earlier. Within minutes, the people around them were offering help: a spot on a vendor list, an event where their ideal clients would be, an introduction to someone who could help. Nobody was selling. Everyone was trying to help a new owner succeed.
One line from that morning stuck with me: “Don’t network to collect business cards. Network to build relationships.”
It made me think about the owners I talk with. Most believe they need more answers. What they usually need is more perspective and more trusted people around them. Networking is a great way to meet those people. A council is where some of them become the people you call when something goes sideways.
The difference is time and depth. The same 10 to 12 owners, in the same room, every month, under a confidentiality agreement. After a few meetings you stop explaining your business and start talking about what’s actually going on in it. That is when the introductions, the warnings and the honest advice start to matter.
Las Vegas is a major metro now, with millions of residents and a world-class economy. It still opens doors for people willing to show up and contribute.
What is the single most valuable business introduction you’ve ever received, and who made it?