Networking is one of the most important skills you must learn in business. More money is made from your networks than any other marketing medium. To build your network you must learn key networking skills and become a Master Networker. Every Master Networker has ten key characteristics, if you do not have these ten key characteristics then you must adopt them immediately and live your life by them.

1. Always Be Positive Even In A Bad Situation

Regardless of how you feel, or the situation you are in you must always be positive. One of the sad things about this world is that nobody cares if you are down. Unfortunately it is a fact of life, so it is important that when you are networking you are at all times positive. Even if someone is stealing from you, you still must remain positive.

2. Always Be Sincere

The world seems to be made up of very rude people and it only seems to be getting worse, as more people adopt the rude characteristic. Being rude will never win you friends and will only alienate those around you. The Master Networker always has a key characteristic to always be sincere even in a difficult situation.

3. Be Prepared To Help Others

Always be prepared to help others regardless of who they are. If you remember that there are only 6 degrees of separation between each of us, you must be prepared to help others because you just never know who they know or you may be helping someone who will help you in the future.

4. Always Be Networking

Whenever you leave home, your mind should always be focused on networking. You just never know when a new opportunity might arise; it could be in the supermarket buying the weekly groceries or some one you sit next to on the plane on your way to your business meeting.

The Master Networker is always trying to build his own network and expand his Mastermind Group.

5. Work Your Network

In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill talks about building a Mastermind Group of Advisers. You network is apart of your Mastermind Group that will help you build the success you desire. Working your network involves, asking for referrals from your network, advice and also asking them to share their experiences.

6. Always Follow-up On Your Referrals

If someone suggests that you give someone a call or they give you an introduction ensure that you follow-up on your referrals. If someone has given you a referral, then they are handing you an opportunity and they are also putting their reputation on the line by giving you the referral. If you do not follow-up on that referral you may find that you lose out in the future.

7. Be Enthusiastic About Life

Business is a tough world and many people are easily downed by the pressures that it brings. One of the secrets of Master Networkers is that they are enthusiastic about life and further to that they love the challenges and excitement that business brings. Love life to the fullest and everyday you get up, find a reason to keep going on.

Think and Grow Rich teaches us that we must have a clear desire on what we want in life to succeed. At the very least, you should be enthusiastic every single day to be going after your desire and the fact that you are one step closer to achieving it.

8. Always Keep Your Word

One of the great sayings I have heard many business leaders, including Donald Trump say is, "It is not personal, it is just business". Many people believe that that saying gives you the right to do anything that you want to another person all in the name of business. This is further from the truth. If you say you are going to do something then you must keep your word. Some of the great deals on this planet are done without contracts because the people doing the deals are known to keep their word.

9. Be 100% Trustworthy

Trust is an important characteristic of a Master Networker. If your network cannot trust you then they are not going to introduce you to quality referrals or to allow you to join their Mastermind Group.

10. Always Thank People

The sweetest thing to hear is a Thank you from a grateful person and in business today it is one of the things you very rarely hear people say. Thanking people can come in a number of forms, from a simple verbal thank you to sending a simple note to thank the person. For example if you meet some one at a Local Chamber of Commerce Meeting, then as a Master Networker it is important that you send a note to thank them for their time at the meeting

Networking is a major skill you must master if you want to achieve the ultimate success that Napoleon Hill talks about in his book Think and Grow Rich. The characteristics outlined in this article are mandatory for you to learn and live your life by. You cannot only adopt 1 or 2 of the characteristics to be successful, you must adopt immediately all ten characteristics.

To finish off, I want to take a moment to list the Top 10 Characteristics all Master Networkers must have:

1. Always Be Positive Even In A Bad Situation

2. Always Be Sincere

3. Be Prepared To Help Others

4. Always Be Networking

5. Work Your Network

6. Always Follow-up On Your Referrals

7. Be Enthusiastic About Life

8. Always Keep Your Word

9. Be 100% Trustworthy

10. Always Thank People