I used to think that networking was for a certain kind of person. And that person was not me: I am not outgoing; I don't particularly enjoy large crowds; I don't need everyone in the room to like or even notice me.
This is what I thought good networkers did; therefore, I was not built to be a good networker. Then a mentor of mine in college put it a different way, assuring me that there was nothing wrong with me: "Janice, you just treasure your connection with a person more." Thanks, but what value did this have in business? I thought. Oh, well. On through college and on to working in one cubicle after another. I figured this was the path I was built for, being a non-networker and all.
Eighteen years later, I have my own business and I still don't enjoy networking events. The 30-second commercial, the schmoozing, the people not listening to you even though you paid dire attention to their lousy 30-second commercial. So I've had to re-write my scripts about networking, including the real objective around networking. For me, it's to connect with people who have mutual interest in sharing what we can to help each other and each other's businesses to grow and affect the world positively. Obviously, I'm not going to connect with everyone, because not everyone sees opportunity the same as I do. But the point is that you could write your own script around networking too - something that's more true to you and your goals than what you've traditionally thought or seen.
This opens the opportunity to network wherever you are, and it becomes remarkably easier if you are somewhere doing something that you want to be doing! In other words, networking is easier when you're happy, when you're excited. And that means enjoying grocery shopping, attending your kids' soccer games, hitting the free ArtWalk downtown, etc. Go places that you like, and you'll find people there that you'd like to meet.
At this point, I have to mention Keith Ferrazzi's blog article, which was the inspiration for me to write my own blog article on networking.
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I love looking at networking this way. I think that I have recently started reframing the whole "chatting" concept. I'm finding that it's easier to mention that I have just published a book when I remember that I did it to help people. Self promotion hasn't been my strong suit yet, but with articles like this I have faith that it will get better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice!
~ Kim
You have a real GIFT: the desire to help other people! So share it, and keep replenishing yourself so you can reach more people!
ReplyDeleteYou wrote a book to help others. Not being "salesy" myself, I think of the peeps we're here to help. So stop selling and START SHARING: tools, solutions, information! You know it!
Thanks for reading, and all the best!
- JPD