The Hidden Key to Success: Networking
Someone once said that opportunity does not just float in the sky but rather, it may be attached to people, as long as you put yourself out there and reach for them.
Networking is all about making the world notice you! The way you network, is the way for you to make new friends while establishing a good name in the industry in which you belong.
Building a good name should always be your goal. How do I network? Well, start off by devoting one evening per week to attend networking events for starters. Your job when you are networking is to see how you can serve others and come up with ideas that will give them solutions.
The more you give the more you will get, as per the law of attraction.
And they will remember you!
Networking has three tiers which are all valuable in their own way!
First Tier:
Your Professional Network. The people you work with daily. These people sometimes go unnoticed, and these are the people you should explore because they may surprise you with what they have to offer. View every connection you have as an opportunity to help others.
Your profession, your career, your brand needs you to network so that the organization or company you represent can connect. Yes, it is that simple and doable!
Second Tier:
Your Personal Network. Those people who are part of your life, outside of your work, those people who are not your clients. It is important that you join this network as well and not have all your life revolve around your work network. Joining a charity, becoming part of a political party, starting a new fitness club, a new hobby etc. will open a new door to broaden your network and widen the chance of your success.
Third Tier:
Strategic Network. This one, you can build it online through the power of social media, and offline through your membership in clubs, like golf or tennis for example where your presence in key associations will lead you to get to know key people. See each and every connection here as a steppingstone taking you closer to your goals. Keep it up by joining business courses and training. Knowledge is everything and you get so much insight from industry events.
Most importantly, get out of your comfort zone and expand your horizons. You will not learn everything by sitting in your office all day waiting for that promotion to knock on your door. Try to always evolve!
Explore and join new associations that may have an exciting new network for you. Keep it personal and always follow up with a ‘thank you’ card after an invitation to an event. Dare to send ‘congratulations’ to the event organizer. They will certainly invite you to the next event, and the next event, where you will have gathered a lot of new opportunities to expand your network and your business!
