The value of networking
How can you calculate the value of networking? I cannot put a dollar figure on this process, but I will surmise that the value is priceless. So much of what happens, especially the good stuff, is a result of networking. I could go on and on, but I will just highlight a few recent examples to make this point.
Networking is similar to gardening. Some networking is short term and some is long term. You need to be doing both and you also need to know which is which. If every crop you planted came to harvest at one time, could you possibly harvest and enjoy the bounty all at once? I suspect not, and that is why your networking should be strategic and well planned.
Before I had my own business I didn’t give this a lot of thought, but now I see the ramifications of differing activities playing out every day. I cannot always predict when the harvest will occur, but I do know that if i stop sowing the seeds that result from networking that a time of famine might occur sooner than I would like.
What is your networking plan? Are you sowing differing types of “seeds” or are you only planting one crop?
Be strategic in your process of networking and you will enjoy the results for many seasons to come.
Is it fair to say then, that you should keep in mind the outcomes of every contact? If so, how do you steer away from the danger of seeking constant approval from your contacts?
safinr
April 15, 2009 at 2:51 am
Dan: How right are your observations! And, how they resonate with me. I was slow to adopt the practice of networking until ‘time’ and necessity forced me to do it. in my first week I made 20 calls that have yielded 50 contacts and leads plus four job interviews. I achieved all this in only four weeks time. Your gardening analogy was a good one. The more seeds I plant – more calls made – the closer I get to the people who lead me to my new career. And, with each call and informational interview – confidence “sprouts” and multiplies. In my own experience I found it all started with old friends from home found through LinkedIn. They had businesses and jobs right here in Nashville. They were the best ones for practicing the networking script. I am still planting new seeds and ‘watering’ the plants! –Marymac
Marymac Cortner
April 15, 2009 at 5:04 am