We are a friendly, welcoming and supportive group of local professionals who MeetUp to help each other grow personally and professionally through networking. We're about LEARNING and NETWORKING, and we'd love to meet YOU!

If you're an entrepreneur, small business owner, someone between opportunities, or someone simply interested in meeting new people and building a professional network, this MeetUp group is for YOU!

Joe Girard, who is considered by many to be one of the greatest salesmen of all times, is credited with creating the theory of 250. This says that the average person "knows" 250 people. These 250 are your 'Sphere of Influence.'

The premise of Ann Arbor Connect 250 is to consciously create, develop and cultivate a network of 250 (or more) people. Harvey MacKay boasts of a Networking Sphere of Influence of over 15,000 people! Once you have a network of 250, you establish yourself as a networking resource to those 250 people. When any of them need the services of a professional, they would think of you, since you belong to a Networking Group of professionals. Whenever one of your friends needs services provided by one of the members of Ann Arbor Connect 250, you can create an introduction and create a win-win-win situation.

The Win-Win-Win of networking referrals:

You have a friend who needs "X" service.

Another Ann Arbor Connect Member provides great service "X"

You introduce your friend to your fellow member, and the following happens:

1) Your friend is happy because they get service they need from a great professional = WIN!

2) The member is happy because they get new business = WIN!

3) You are a STAR, because YOU created this win-win situation, and BOTH these people will look for ways to help YOU. = WIN!

This is a simple (not easy) concept. Referrals are given based on TRUST. Trust is earned by the development of professional relationships over TIME. This evolves from coming to MeetUps, meeting folks, engaging, meeting one-on-one, etc.

WHAT THIS NETWORKING GROUP IS NOT: This is not a place where you come to our MeetUps and expect to SELL your product, service, or business opportunity to fellow members. While other members DO need to know what you do, PLEASE approach members in the INFORMATIONAL mode, not the SELLING mode. That is the quickest way to blow a potential relationship, and is incredibly short-sighted.

We are a FUN, ENERGETIC, and WELCOMING group. We work very hard to make everyone feel welcome. We know it can be way out of your comfort zone to come to an event with a bunch of strangers. I encourage you to make our events part of your Networking routine. You will meet some GREAT professional folks, and really be glad you did!