Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 2 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: Skills alone won’t make you a success
— From Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World by J. Kelly Hoey.
The Internet is a fantastic resource that has made the world smaller, larger, wider, flatter, more connected… or however you prefer to see it. As more people have access to more resources, products and services, we must reexamine how we go about making our ideas and skills known.
Kelly Hoey*, author of Build Your Dream Network, says “these truths might make you either uncomfortable or really excited:
- Everyone is an expert.
- College degrees can be bypassed.
- Anyone can start a company—anywhere.
- Meritocracy is [bogus].”
Because if this, there is more competition at all levels and in all areas, and skills alone do not make us marketable anymore. That is why building and keeping a network is of utmost importance: “it’s the ideas without a network that don’t launch, scale or sell.”
Hoey goes on to say that “the new question is not what you know but Who knows what you know?” It’s important to clarify that this question is not about who your competition is, as in who knows the same information and has your same skills. Not at all. The question is “Who knows that you do what you do better than anyone else? Who has heard your unique point of view? Who knows what product you’re developing or passion project you are pursuing?” Another way to phrase it would be, who knows what your ideas and skills are, and what you are doing with them?
All of this is to say “your skills and expertise need an audience. […] Great ideas, and great opportunities, have networks behind them. Active networks of champions, fans, enthusiasts, early adopters, influencers—people interested in the success of the ideas’ creators.”
“New ideas don’t come to life at arm’s distance; they emerge from an embrace.”
In sum, “when you know people, and those people know what you do, success knows how to find you.”
ACTION
TODAY: Do people know what you do, what your skills are and what you are doing with them? What project of yours needs an audience? And who is that audience? Don’t be afraid to ask for help among your circles. Connect with someone to that effect today. This may be a good opportunity to reconnect with someone who can help or to ask for someone’s personal or professional opinion. People always welcome requests for help and make them happen if they can. Never underestimate the joy that helping someone else brings, I’m sure you’ve felt it, and it’s the same feeling for the people that care for you and are willing to help. Let them!
FUTURE: Make a habit of scheduling time in your calendar for networking. Whether it’s in person, by phone, or by yourself devoting the time to sending emails to say hi or sharing info that can be of interest to your contacts. Let them update you on what they’re up to, and don’t forget to update them about you! It’s important that they know what you are doing, what you’re interests are, what you’re looking for and where you need help, so that your network can work to your benefit. I’m sure you would do the same for them, wouldn’t you? With each visit, call, email or other touch points you are planting seeds of goodwill that will grow and be mutually beneficial.
Know someone who needs to build an audience for his/her skills? Please share this post with them via email, Facebook or Twitter, thank you!
* Here are other related posts from J. Kelly Hoey’s book: Networking is everywhere and It’s the intention that counts. Also, I had the honor of interviewing Kelly last year, here’s the video.