Are You Networking Correctly?
We've all heard the saying, "It's not what you know. It's who you know."
Networking, and building a network, is vital for success. Notice how I separated the two?
Networking is meeting people, in person or digitally. But building a network is keeping in touch and adding value to those relationships.
I want to focus on the latter point, because I think it's becoming a lost art. So many of us think that when we meet people, they're suddenly supposed to do favors for us. That's the wrong way of approaching it.
The most effective way to network is to give and expect nothing in return. Whether it's a skill you have, a connection you can make, or the knowledge you can share, give it to the people you connect with and don't ask for anything in return.
Related: Why Spartan CEO Joe De Sena Fled Wall Street and Moved to a Farm
You'll find that the people you did a favor for will return that favor eventually, one way or another. And if they don't, that's OK. They will speak highly of you if anyone asks, and THAT is one of the best badges you can earn.
Networking is a catapult, and the more favors you do for people, the more effective it gets. Eventually, it will launch you to another level.
So remember: Have your hands out, not in.
