I’ve been reading some interesting blogs lately on how recruiting compares to sports. Barb Bruno had an interesting one just a few days ago comparing recruiting to golf.
It got me thinking about where a split fee network might fit into the comparison of recruiting and sport. My conclusion is that networks function much like sporting leagues. They group like-minded recruiters together and organize the playing field for participants with various levels of tools and rules.
Some recruiting networks are loose and informal. These are for the casual recruiter allowing them to dip in and out of contact with the group as needed. Not much commitment, minimal expectations from others in the group and perhaps a limited return on your time invested. This is the equivalent of the pick-up game of basketball, a quick 9 holes of golf with some folks that you met on the first tee, or a set of tennis on the public playground.
Other split fee networks are more structured. What is nice about these more formalized networks is that they have been created by like-minded recruiters that are serious about getting deals done. They have expectations of themselves and of you. Frequently these networks provide both tools and rules. These recruiters are not dabbling in the business, they are committed. This is like the competitive tennis league that charges a registration fee, plays on the best courts, and awards players for performance. It can still be fun, but is fun with a goal established up front…results will be rewarded and recognized. This is a league for more than just participation. This is a league where you expect to play with others at your level on an organized field of play.
If you are serious about sports, you know that practice is what improves your skills and the more you apply those skills on a controlled and organized playing field, the better you will become at applying the skill. So if you are serious about recruiting, and consider splits a part of your overall strategy, consider committing to an organized split fee network. It might be fun and financially rewarding!