Networking is everywhere

by | Goals, Habits, Networking, Time

EntreGurus-Book-Build Your Dream Network-Kelly HoeyTODAY’S IDEA:

Networking is everywhere.
–From Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World by J. Kelly Hoey.

Nowadays, we all have a digital footprint, whether personal, professional or both. Think of it as your brand. Everything you do either confirms and reaffirms or questions and breaks your brand. Why not be intentional about building it every chance you get?

Kelly says that “networking is everywhere.” “Successful networking requires understanding the immense power of regular daily activities to connect with someone else” so as to build a meaning, powerful and mutually beneficial (personal or professional) relationship. This will cement your brand firmly in the other person’s mind.

From your email’s signature line and the voice mail that you leave for someone, to the headline that you use on LinkedIn and your headshot, as well as what you say when you participate on a Twitter chat, don’t let any opportunity escape where you can build a positive brand and a positive networking experience for you and for all involved! For instance, Kelly gives practical advice and focuses on the power of small actions as a way to make them count too (not all networking has to take endless hours), here are some examples of actions taken from the book.

“If you have…

  • 45 seconds: take the stairs as a way to lengthen your conversation and get to know a colleague or a client that came to your office.
  • 2 minutes: post a LinkedIn update that can lead to new business generation.
  • 5 minutes: draft an email and reconnect with a sales prospect.
  • 15 minutes: ride the subway or do a video chat with an investor.
  • 20 minutes: grab a cup of coffee while you do an informational job interview.
  • 60 minutes: write a weekly newsletter and update a social network.”

The book is a gem! It gives very practical advice on how to be intentional when it comes to networking; and on how to do it in a way that does not take away from your work and personal activities, but that, on the contrary, enhances those activities for your success.

ACTION:

TODAY: Set your intention for networking: Want new clients? A new job? Are you seeking a mentor/mentee? Select whatever you want and need to get done with the power of networking over the next 6-12 months (yes, human relationships take time to build…). Then, depending on the amount of time you have today, pick an action from the list of examples above, customize it to your needs and apply it to your intention. There’s no better time than NOW to get started, remember the Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

FUTURE: [I’m assuming that you are already setting time aside to network intentionally and with some frequency and regularity, if you are not, let me know and I’ll help you with some ideas.] The action that I recommend is to focus on creating a daily habit. Depending on how much time you have, schedule a little bit of time to network via small actions. Build the habit over a month or two and assess how much value it adds to your life, I’m sure it’ll be substantial! Imagine: if you touch base with one person per workday, that’s an average of 200-250 people a year whose relationship you’ve started to build, continue to strengthen, or rekindled the friendship or work relationship that existed in the past.

Give it a shot and let me know how it goes!

It’s the intention that counts

by | Goals, Networking, Planning, Productivity, Time

TODAY’S IDEA:

EntreGurus-Book-Build Your Dream Network-Kelly HoeyBe intentional with your networking efforts.
From Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World by J. Kelly Hoey.

Networking… an activity that most people dread. Yet networking does NOT have to be dreadful and, on the contrary, it can be wonderful if you focus on making it intentional, meaningful and purposeful. The rules of networking are generosity and trust and, if we follow them, we’ll create meaningful connections.

Give yourself the opportunity to really connect with the people who can help you, and you will find a way to help them too, preferably before they help you. Goes without saying, but it’s very important to treat everybody kindly and respectfully. Be of service to them, offer something of value, enjoy their company if you can, celebrate their wins, open doors and make introductions for them, point them to a resource they need, or simply give them the gift of your enthusiasm and gratitude. Remember Zig Ziglar’s quote:

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

Be intentional as to the people that you want to meet and “avoid random acts of networking.” Kelly Hoey advises to focus instead on “networking as a way to go about solving problems.” “People open doors, write checks, and extend opportunities—always have. Need something? Turn to your immediate, trusted network of friends for recommendations.”

Look back at a time when you first met the people who you now call friends, colleagues and acquaintances. How did you get to be where you are today in terms of a relationship with them? How long did it take? Solid relationships take time to build (months, years) and social media is no different. On the contrary, it’s where the principles of generosity and trust are of utmost importance nowadays as we tend to forget that behind every email and every social media account there is a person just like us.

ACTION:

Be intentional and make a plan for your networking efforts in the near future. Implement it and tweak as you go along until you are comfortable with it (and it becomes a win-win for both parties in the long run). Yes, your plan can be in the back of a napkin—it doesn’t have to be elaborate—the goal is to think this through so that you can take all the steps needed to make it happen. And by virtue of planning you’ll save lots of time and heartache. Here are some pointers:

  • Who do you want to meet to reach a particular goal?
  • What do you need to do to communicate and ultimately meet that person? (Meeting can be virtual.)
  • Or who can help open doors to get you closer, or introduce you directly to that person?
  • How can you show gratitude to the “door opener”?
  • How can you be helpful or of service to the person you want to meet?
  • When do you need to meet this person by? Is there enough time to build a relationship or do you need to take another route?
  • How much time and effort are you willing to put into meeting and forging a relationship with this new person? (The answer will dictate what kind of relationship you can have, ranging from an email, to a friendship, to a job, etc.)

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, I’ll be happy to answer them and help you with your plan. Best of luck with your networking!