Networking is one of the most important skills you must master in your path to becoming obscenely rich and successful. In the book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill teaches that you must build your Mastermind Group through building your network. Your network is your personal advisers to help you in the path to success and the larger your Mastermind Group the more you can achieve. The key to building this group is to be able to network with your business associates, those you know and those you don't. There are ten questions you can use to start a conversation to learn about a person you may have not have met yet in your path to see if they are worthy of your mastermind group.

Q1. Why did you choose to start your business?

Everybody loves to tell their story and this question really opens the door for them to talk about them and their business. Unlike when we were younger, in business we must talk about our business to survive or no one will know who you are.

Q2. What is it that you enjoy about your position and your career in this industry?

One of two things will happen with this question. They will either whine and winge about their role or business or alternatively they will tell you every positive thing that has happened.

Q3. How do you distinguish your company for your competitors?

This is the chance for the person you are talking to, to give you an advert on their business. To share with you why they are the leaders in their industry and what makes them different to all their other competitors.

Q4. How do you promote your business to your customers?

Learning how they promote their business to their customers may in fact open an opportunity for you to both work together in marketing each of your business. You may also pickup hints and tips to market your own business. The key role in business is to find ways to expand your sphere of influence and learning how they promote their business may enable you to use that technique to market your own. You may also be able to refer them to a colleague who would be interested in working with them. This will earn you a reputation as a powerful source of information and influence.

Q5. How has your industry evolved over the years? What changes have you seen?

Learning how their industry has changed helps you see how long they have been in business and their understanding of their industry. Most people will have a tendency to throw facts and figures your way which may help you or they expand both of your businesses or maybe there is a way to work together.

Q6. What new trends and opportunities do you see evolving in your industry?

No industry stays stagnant and there are always new trends and opportunities emerging. This is once again your opportunity to learn about their industry but also the chance for you to find new opportunities for your business.

Q7. If someone wanted to enter your industry what advice could you share with them?

This question is about seeing if they are prepared to share. This question is designed to help you work out how easy they are prepared to help those around them and those they do not know. This in turn teaches you about their character.

Q8. Can You Share with Me, a Memorable incident that has occurred in your business?

Everyone has heartwarming and good will stories that they want to share. This gives you a chance to learn what they consider an important and memorable moment. It helps you learn more about them and what they consider important.

Q9. If you new that there was no chance of failure, what would you do with your business?

Opportunities in business can come from anywhere and at anytime. The key advantage of this question is to look for opportunity. You may find an opportunity to help someone to make their goals a reality or through your networking you may be able to facilitate the person achieving their goals and in the long make some money for yourself.

Q10. How would your customers describe the way you do business?

This question gives the person you are talking to the opportunity to share with you positive stories from customers on how they have helped them in the past. This is your chance to learn more and more about your networking partner.

The ten questions I have outlined in this article are designed to help you learn about the person you are networking with. These questions are designed to help you learn about their character and whether they will be a powerful member of your mastermind group.

Look, remembering these questions can be a little challenging especially if you are in a highly stressful networking environment or meeting place. My recommendation to you is to copy these questions onto a small card and laminate the card. The card should be the size of your business cards and they should fit into your wallet. If you ever forget any of the questions you can always pull it out of your wallet as a quick refresher. An easy way to do this is to simply excuse yourself to go to the bathroom and discretely review the questions in the bathroom.

To finish off I want to reiterate the ten questions to help you start a conversation in a networking environment:

Q1. Why did you choose to start your business?
Q2. What is it that you enjoy about your position?
Q3. How do you distinguish your company for your competitors?
Q4. How do you promote your business to your customers?
Q5. How has your industry evolved over the years? What changes have you seen?
Q6. What new trends and opportunities do you see evolving in your industry?
Q7. If someone wanted to enter your industry what advice could you share with them?
Q8. Can You Share with Me, a Memorable incident that has occurred in your business?
Q9. If you new that there was no chance of failure, what would you do with your business?
Q10. How would your customer describe the way you do business?