Crucial Personal & Professional Networking-->

I’ve been having extensive talks with my friends about the value of networking. This article will jump around a bit because some of it is connected to other thoughts I’m having right now. But I’ll try to bring it full circle.

It seems obvious to me and I’m sure many others but there are still a lot of people who don’t understand the value or don’t practice networking to add value to their life. It’s difficult to not do some networking if you interract with other people. Life is, in part, a sum of connections we create with people. Those connections create opportunity and in turn give opportunity. You can’t see networking as one sided. You must be willing to be of value and help connect people where there is a need in order to gain from networking. I look at every relationship as an opportunity to help others and as an opportunity to be helped. This isn’t just for business as it also applies to my personal life. I use it when I’m dating or meeting new friends as well as when I’m working on business deals. Personally or professionally, I don’t really see the distinction except in approach. I have good friends who I do business with and good business people who I consider friends. Most people don’t like crossing this line but I consider that nonsense. I love doing business with people I’m friends with and the communication is much easier in those instances. But I could go in to depth on that with another article.

Opportunity can only be created through personal and professional connections. Loose connections will provide more value than strong connections when it comes to networking and building opportunity. The reason for this is that all the people that are tight with you in your circle already know most of the opportunities that you do. However, this is not always the case. But any time you open yourself up to a new group or run in a new circle of people you are gaining access to opportunity and in turn they are gaining access to your friends and all you know (if you are doing this correctly). Giving is the essential key to receiving. It has been my philosophy for some time that if you want to receive something in your life give freely of that thing and abundance will be your result. This is contrary to the thinking of some because the conventional thought is towards hoarding something that you do not have much of. However, that has never lead to success in my own life nor the lives of many I have noticed. There is always enough of whatever you have to be able to give something, even if it’s only a nickel to the hungry man on the corner. Also, love and appriciation are free and feed the soul. If you have nothing you have a kind word and a smile and this will enhance the day of others. Giving that can enhance your day as well.

Oh, so back to this networking thing (: Now that I’m single and have the luck of having people to help me with my son (so I have a bit more time on my hands) I have been expanding my network a great deal to those types of people that I would like to associate with. Unfortunately in my last relationship I was limited to time due to my investment in that relationship and also was limited to the connections I could build with females. I tend to not build many new friendships with females when I’m in a relationship unless my girlfriend is good friends with the female in question. For me this is practical because I don’t like any ambiguity when I’m in a relationship. However, I may change my stance on this for future relationships. It’s kind of out dated and I have much more self control than I did years ago when I setup this rule. Further, I’ve noticed that many women are far better connectors than men. They are more willing to introduce you to their friends and talk more openly about relationships with others.

Lastly, be willing to say hi, smile and shake someone’s hand. Step out of your bubble and touch someone. Be willing to be touched. Find personal and professional interests you have in common. Also find things that you may not have in common but may be interesting nonetheless. Conversation is a freestyle dance of sorts and you must feel out when to lead and feel out when to be lead. Be careful about crude, offensive or disgusting topics… it can be pretty crucial to read your audience and make sure you don’t make a fool of yourself. But don’t worry, everybody makes mistakes now and then. Learn from it when you do and keep it moving. Remember, no amount of genius has been acquired with the willingness to fail.