Upcoming Book
WHAT IS NETWORKING?
In order to have a clear conversation it’s important to define terms, so let’s define networking. Networking is the development and maintaining of mutually beneficial relationships. Anyone that is truly successful knows that success is a team sport. No one develops long-term success in a vacuum. Being able to work with people to accomplish beneficial results is critical to success. Networking is the most direct and natural route to success in almost every endeavor.
Everyone has a sphere of influence. People generally have about 250 people that are in their sphere of influence. If you took out a legal pad and wrote down everyone that you could think of that you know you’d probably come up with about 250 people (unless you were the prom queen or the kid with the coolest car in the student parking lot- then you’d be approaching 1000). Think about your family, your friends, the mailman, the person that’s serves you the frappa-dappa-mocha-choca-whatever at Starbucks every morning and so on. You know a lot more people than you probably think you do. Now remember that each of these people also has about 250 people in their network. With just 10 of these people you are connected directly and indirectly with over 2500 people. With 250 people who each have about 250 people in their spheres of influence you’re up to 62,500 indirect connections. The numbers get staggering from there. It really is a small world.
WHAT ISN’T NETWORKING?
There are a lot of misconceptions out there on what networking is. When many people think of networking they think of smokey rooms with people schmoozing and trading cards while not making eye contact and trying to get to the next sucker….I mean, contact. Some people think of fast talking salespeople that say things like “have I got a deal for you”, “have your people call my people” and “lets’ do lunch”. This is networking….in cheesy movies, not in the real world. Let me redefine that, it is networking, just not effective networking. Networking isn’t about what can you do for me. It’s not about how can I get something from you or do it to them before they do it to you.
Effective networkers understand that relationships are the key to success. Relationships aren’t one-night stands. They are long-term, win-win alliances and associations that are mutually beneficial. In a real relationship you are concerned about the other person and want the best for them. In true, sincere relationships you make it a priority to help the other person get what they want and you are pleased when you can help them accomplish what is important to them.
NETWORKING’S POTENTIAL
You can count the number of seeds in an apple but you can’t count the number of apples in a seed. To take that thought a little farther, you can’t even begin to count the number of orchards in a seed. 1000 orchards can come from one seed- not only can they; that’s how orchards have always started and that’s how they always will start. It’s the same with networking. Just by connecting with one person you are opening the door to a lifetime of opportunities. Think about how you met your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, boss, etc. You met them somewhere. More than likely you met them through someone directly or indirectly. If you trace the steps back, there was a relationship somewhere that led you to where you are today. Almost everything that you desire to have, do or become is based on your relationships. The potential of networking in terms of income, job or career satisfaction, business potential and romance is limitless and we’ll look at this in more detail in the next chapters.
