One of the first things you learn when you go into business is that you can’t do everything yourself. You need help from other people, but not just anyone and everyone. You need expert help from professionals, such as an accountant, a banker, an insurance agent, a mortgage broker, a title company, and, of course, both real estate agents and brokers.

How do you find all these experts? The best way to find the right people for your team is through networking. Networking may come naturally for some entrepreneurs, but for many it has to be learned. In a recent CareerJournal.com article, Harvey Mackay lists six techniques to overcome the fear of networking:

1. Practice “let’s pretend.”
2. Adopt a role model.
3. Take lessons.
4. Keep taking lessons.
5. Join up.
6. Have a little faith in yourself.

Unless networking is “as natural and instinctive as breathing,” you should consider taking a class like Intensified Real Estate Training that will show you how to network while you learn the ins and outs of real estate. In this hands-on training class, professionals just like the ones you’ll need for your real estate investing business actually come into the classroom to help you understand what they do and how to network with them.

Another article, written by Kelley Robertson in About.com, lists the five strategies to make your networking profitable:

1. Choose the right networking group or event.
2. Focus on quality contacts versus quantity.
3. Make a positive first impression.
4. Be able to clearly state what you do.
5. Follow up after the event.

These are great strategies and exactly what the Mentoring Program does for you. A mentor will target the professionals with the required expertise in your community who can help you have a successful real estate investing business. Then they will guide you through the process of meeting with some of these potential power team experts, like a banker or a broker.

You may be asking yourself the next obvious question, “Once I find the expert, how do I get them to help me for little or no money?” I like what Zig Ziglar, a famous author and motivational speaker, says, "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” In other words, the people on your power team will help you succeed because they understand that in return you will be helping them succeed. For example, when you develop a relationship with a Realtor, he or she is willing to accept a lower commission while working hard to exceed your expectations so that you will bring them more business and make them more successful. It’s a win-win for everyone, which explains why it always works.