What Is The Difference Between A Center of Influence (COI) vs. A Network?

I was asked at the San Francisco Main Event what my thoughts were on business networking.

The way I see it, a COI is a person who can bring you at least 10% of your business this year.

A COI is well connected, likes or respects you and comes in contact with enough people to be able to feed you referrals or put you in touch with the right people.

You heard it said "it’s not what you know, it’s who knows you that counts." Read Vital Friends -- it will help you deeply understand the importance of the people you choose to allow to influence you.

A Business Network is a collection of colleagues who may or may not send you business. When you join a network of people, each person is angling for the same thing, more business.

Both COI's and networks are valuable, but COI's make you a lot of money without requiring the maintenance of a large network, which can be exhausting and fraught with seduction.