Remember To Water Your Network

Aloha everyone,
As I read this conversation there is this feeling of warmth that reaches into my core, for I am remembering so many instances of connection we've shared over the last eleven months I've come to know all of you. And you all are absolutely right, it is about the giving and the abundance mentality that flows from it.
"One of life's greatest laws is that you cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening your own as well." --- wish I knew who said this!
However I do know you all demonstrate it so so well.
Rosa

Great post!

Networking for business alone misses much of the value. We survive better as part of a group. Our group survives because of our efforts to help each other.

Good luck with your new job.

Do you believe in synchronicity Christopher? I wrote a Give Value article yesterday for another network in which I am involved. It is primarily aimed at salespeople calling on commercial establishments. At the end of the piece I ask those who are interested in a free Give Value idea to e-mail me. My idea in turn, is to send a link out to Rosa's Change This Manifesto. I am also going to encourage these folks to go to Talking Story and scroll through the Categories list. Then print out three posts that they think would be of interest to their prospects / customers. Finally, place a nice cover on these pages and give them out.

So this morning I am trolling around Rosa's site and taking in the beauty of her words to help me with this project. For no reason other than a strong gut feeling, I clicked on your site and read this post.

And that's not all -- I am unemployed now as you so recently were. I am going through a partial process of job interviewing and informational interviewing here in Tampa. By the way, informational interviewing is a superb network building system!!! This all sorta came full circle for me this morning, but I intend to hand out Rosa's Change This Manifesto to my interviewers - establishing right from the start that I am a person who gives first.

Also for those interested and in keeping with this spirit, I suggest giving out a copy of Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Red Book of Selling. This little book absolutely radiates with the give first philosophy.

Excellent advice!

Eric, well said. I'll admit that I'm guilty of viewing the network through too often through a professional lens. What you hit on is the network as support. Folks around us who can help with timely information, caring understanding, and the benefit of their spirit. I'm blessed to have these folks in my life. The best are my network, but they're also good friends and reliable aquaintances.

Needing "help" is a lot broader than finding a new job. Sometimes, we bounce ideas off people. Sometimes (like my family now), we could use the name of a good doctor and dentist (new in town). And sometimes, we just need support of someone who understands.

We're not likely to find the help we need from strangers. Quality assistance will come from those we have relationshops with (or will have - see "new in the neighborhood"). So, if we expect to harvest when we truly need the crops, we need to plant, weed and water today (to use your analogy).

And, to continue the gardening metaphor, you never know what "volunteers" (things that spring up that you didn't plant) will crop up. But you're less likely to get them if you don't tend to the garden.

Maybe it will be a business contact. Maybe it will be a cool vacation spot. Heck, maybe it will be a pair of tickets to tonight's game (or concert, or hot play) that your friend can't use. But, if you're not out there... 'nuff said.