Why I am so happy with Rainmakers Networking Organization?

I moved to Bloomington in August of 2008, coming from Brownstown, IN and before that all over CA for most of my whole life. Within a week of actually moving to Indiana, I really discovered Bloomington…I had seen it before on vacations but didn’t really get to explore it like you do when you live close by. I fell in love with Bloomington straight out and that is a whole other blog. The other thing I did soon before I moved to Bloomington was get my real estate license thinking Bloomington would be a great place to not only live but to be a Realtor.

There were two major factors that I didn’t account for in taking on that venture, one was the economy was just starting to really go South in September of 08 and the other was I hadn’t factored in the data base of prospective clients. Where was I going to come up with a list of local people, friends and colleagues to market to when I knew absolutely no one really except just a few acquaintances? In this case ignorance was bliss because if I had really thought about it at the time like that I might have given up.

Luckily one of those acquaintances I spoke of was the Sales Manager for Eagle Pointe, Jacob King who was also a founding member of the Bloomington Rainmakers Chapter. I hadn’t even interviewed with any local Real Estate Firms when I went to my first Rainmaker meeting, so technically, I wasn’t even employed. I just knew what I wanted to do and where and just had to basically start somewhere, but I still had no idea what to expect. Never in my life had I been involved with a networking organization. I just knew, I at least needed to meet people in Bloomington so I attended my first Rainmakers meeting.

I could barely remember my name that first night I was so overwhelmed with everyone coming up to meet me, greeting me and asking me what I did and how they could help me. Running me around the room introducing me to people they thought could help me in my quest. I had lived out in the country peacefully, raising my daughter for years and was a little out of practice in socialization and completely inept at networking. I was way out of my comfort zone that first time, but I don’t regret it one bit. In fact, I feel so lucky that I stuck to it because it’s only getting better and better…relationships take time.

I have been with Rainmakers for a year and half now and I love it. It has a different philosophy than other groups, very proactive with helping members build their businesses with regular meetings, whiteboard coaching sessions, classes offered through Rainmaker University, Make It Rain networking website, and as many as 57 actual events that you can attend each month within 3 states…(Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio) and all for the same price. Obviously you can’t go to them all but you can attend where you want to grow your business. This opportunity is one that the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

I happened to get extremely involved by taking a position on the board of the Rewind event and also being one of the co-chairs for the First Annual Rainmaker Auction benefitting United Way along with Lisa Morrison of Morrison Marketing and Media and Marti Doering of Stylemakers Salon. It just takes a time to forge relationships and build enough trust that you are very comfortable referring a fellow Rainmaker. Personally, after about 10 to 11 months I started getting referrals and now I get a good portion of my business from Rainmakers. And visa versa, I am referring people to various Rainmakers every week. It is definitely a win/win and as a bonus I have made a lot of wonderful new friends.