DEAR HARRIETTE: I know a lot of people. As a result, I’ve noticed people contact me all the time to put them in touch with others. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but then I noticed a couple of these frequent callers are actually booking people for appearances on TV or for speaking engagements. It seems like everybody is getting paid except me. How can I leverage my relationships so I get a piece of the action? -- Making Connections, Washington, D.C.
DEAR MAKING CONNECTIONS: Consider starting a business where you claim what you already do -- that you make connections. Figure out a price structure that works based upon a range of factors. For example, putting people together who start a business together may have a different value than someone who speaks at a senior center. Consider what the budgets are that may be available for different situations. Do your research to see what others are paid who offer this service. I know one woman who requires a 15 percent fee for any connections she makes -- that would be 15 percent of whatever the yield is for that setup. Of course, trust has to figure in because it’s not always easy to know what people earn from these bonds.
Another idea is to become a producer or booker for a media company. Producers are responsible for pitching ideas for segments or episodes, and this includes finding guests who match the topic. If you are a creative thinker with great connections, this could be a fulfilling option for you that doesn’t require you to be an entrepreneur but that does offer you compensation for your reach into the community.