They don’t start with a goal, that the minute I reach a 1000 people in my network,I will stop. No ! They’re networking for their entire life ! My grandfather was one.
Even when he was 70, he would go for a walk, come back and tell me that he had met 3 new people. Yes, thats not amazing, is it? Meeting 3 new people-anybody meets them! He met 3 new people, in the locality he lived in for 50 years! He already knew everybody, and still he would somehow manage to find 3 new people! Either they had just moved in, or they were visiting relatives or they were just there in the park that particular day! He was just an unbelievable networker! And that’s the deal! You’re a lifelong networker. You don’t start off by saying-“alright I am goin to look at 10 people, the minute I get 10 CEO’s or 4 fortune 500 companies in my network- that’s my goal, I stop:. No. Because once you start building an effective network, once you start building high quality relationships, once you start becoming helpful and available, you will see the benefits trickling in! And yes, they will trickle in! At first they will trickle, and then they will become a stream and then they will become a torrent! Suddenly one of these days, you would not even realize when you put up a small little request and you’re flooded with offers! Networking is an ongoing thing and a lifelong thing! And why shouldn’t it be? There are 6 billion of us on earth. And I am not saying that I got a network with everybody, but I am sure that each one has got an amazing tale to tell about their life. I am sure that each one of them has contributed to somebody else’s lives. And you can make the most of all of them, all! As with everything else, starting early works, but also leveraging your current network works. Facebook is a classic example. As more people brought more of their social network on the site, the site grew exponentially. Today, Facebook would be the 3rd largest country in the world by population if it was a country. It is and a very powerful one at that! Get introduced, introduce people, ask for references, provide references. linkedin.com has a lot of these wonderful features. You can ask one of your contacts to introduce you to one theirs and you can return the favor too. On Facebook you can suggest friends to any of your friends. Engage with the long term in view. I picked up this awesome little nugget from my boss. He asked me to meet up some very junior people checking into our hotel and entertain them, get to know them etc. I was a little shocked. Why would I want to 'waste' time with them when there were world leaders to be met? coz, in another 20 years, when you are leading your own firm, they will too! Start now, keep at it for life! P.S. This is the fifth part of the series 'Eight Habits of a Highly Effective Networkers'. There are 10 parts. Click here to go to the start of the series> Everyday, you will receive 1 new habit (there are 8, this was the 4tt) of an Effective Networker. Dont forget to sign up to receive everything in your email - ALL FREE of course! click here> > You can also click here to see all the articles on networking |          |
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