Networking Magic: Find the Best — from Doctors, Lawyers, and Accountants to Homes, Schools, and Jobs - By Jill Lublin, Rick Frishman with Mark Steisel, Adams Media, Avon Mass., (2004), 264 pages.

In this electronic age, it seems that people today meet in person less and less. However, some of the most important contacts people make in terms of both their personal and professional lives come from networking and meeting people face to face.

The power of personal contact is not to be underestimated, and the book "Networking Magic: Find the Best — from Doctors, Lawyers, and Accountants to Homes, Schools, and Jobs" emphasizes that those who network will reap the rewards.

Authors Rick Frishman and Jill Lublin show how networking with quality contacts can help people enrich their personal and professional lives.

Frishman, president of New York based Planned Television Arts (part of Ruder Finn) since 1982 and Lublin, CEO of Novato, CA-based Promising Promotion, have written about how networking has helped them to get where they are today.

Through networking, Frishman, met his wife, secured his first job and became head of PTA and built a client base. Lublin launched her writing and speaking career from the contacts she met when she first joined the National Speakers Association.

As they say in the book, "Undeniably, networking is a valuable tool. Reports claim that over 8- percent of all jobs are obtained through networking. Clearly, networking can boost sales and increase profits. It can help you find a wonderful place to live, a great caterer, and an endless stream of professional services."

According to the authors, the key is to surround yourself with top people who are caring and helpful and to have a mutually supportive relationships with these contacts.

They add, "Nothing is more important or will enrich your life as greatly as forging close personal relationships, which is what networking provides. And it gets even better when these relationships are with the best and most outstanding people!" The authors note that "giving" is at the core of networking. They explain that the best networkers are those who are genuinely happy to help others.

They state,"To successfully network with the best you must constantly create goodwill and then build upon that goodwill to forge bonds that develop into close, meaningful relationships."

In Chapter One, "Creating Magic," Frishman and Lublin state that to be a good networker, one must recommend people, products and services that are excellent. If your recommendations don’t pan out, people will not continue to ask you for advice."

Qualities that create lack of trust include not keeping your word, not showing up, being late, boasting or bragging and blaming others. These types of actions should be avoided at all costs.

In Chapter Four, "Setting Your Priorities," the authors state that people must always be ready for a networking opportunity and always be ready to make a good impression. Also, if the timing is inappropriate, wait until a better time before making contact with someone.

In Chapter Five, "Finding the Best," the book emphasizes that the best contacts come from the best people. For example, find out who your CEO uses for an accountant, computer technician or realtor.

Chapter Six, "Positioning Yourself for the Best," has the authors including information on how people can build upon their accomplishments by getting written letters of praise and testimonials from clients.

Other ways to position yourself include flying first or business class, attending seminars, volunteering at local clubs, going to conventions and getting published.

In Chapter Seven, "Your Networking Toolkit," the authors emphasize the importance of creating a sound bite about yourself that explains who you are and what you do, or why you make a difference.

Samples of effective sound bites include, "I help people stay in focus; I'm an optometrist" or "I turn your experiences, adventures and ideas into bestselling books; I'm a ghostwriter."

People will be successful in networking if they believe it will work, target the right audience, make a strong first impression and are willing to help others, according to the book. http://www.odwyerpr.com