“It’s not what you know, but who you know.” How many times have you heard that phrase? A cliché, yes, but timely, especially in the current economic climate.
Timeliness is on a business networking group’s side as it branches out to Calabasas.
Making connections
With more than 600 business networking chapters and over 50,000 members across the U.S. and Canada, LeTip International claims to be the largest, privately-held, professional business leads organization in the world.
Based in Arizona, the 30-plus year organization has come to Calabasas through the efforts of Brigitte Jones, a real estate broker and a managing partner at Keller Williams Calabasas Estates. The Calabasas chapter held its first meeting on July 19 and plans to meet , at the .
Business category ownership
“You can attend as a guest the first time and gauge if it’s the right fit for you and your business,” said Jones. “Just bring at least 20 business cards and be ready to network.”
After signing up and committing, there are annual membership dues, which cover training events, mixers and intra-chapter events.
“We might have a speaker or an event one time that will cover a topic such as how to get business leads or maximizing business opportunities,” said Jones. “We might also ask a member to do a business presentation so the group can get acquainted with that member’s business or industry.”
There is some type of reciprocity between chapters in the same region, like the Conejo Valley or the San Fernando Valley. “We can attend their events and vice-versa,” said Jones.
Not to be confused with a local chamber of commerce and other networking groups, LeTip is different because members can “own their business category.” The competition can be excluded from the category.
“We can still accept another real estate broker for example, but in the commercial division,” said Jones, who specializes in residential real estate.
There can be multiple lawyers specializing in various areas, but only one practicing family law, bankruptcy, intellectual property rights and so on, she said. So far, several business categories are still open including financial services, interior design, hospitality and retail, to name a few.
Expanding membership
Just like most organizations, members are expected to attend the weekly meetings as much as possible and help pass business back and forth. Members are also required to pass on at least four leads a month.
LeTip has the ability as an organization to track success, Jones said. “We have one board member who does just that,” she Jones. “We have a system in place which will allow us to track leads and the business generated from those leads.”
Meantime, Jones is just concentrating on building the Calabasas chapter’s membership base. “We are just starting to spread the word and hopefully, we’ll reach our goal of at least 30 members very soon,” said Jones.
“That way, we can promote business in Calabasas and people can keep forging relevant connections.”
For more information or to RSVP for the next breakfast meeting on Tuesday, contact Brigitte Jones at Brigitte@brigittejones.com or call 818-657-6525.
