People Networks - Key to Opportunity

The most important long term skill you can develop is the ability to expand, strengthen and maintain your network of contacts. These days, it's easier than ever to do that -- but because it's easy, it's also important not to cheapen the contact (more on that in a bit).

Your schoolmates are a great place to start, even ones from middle school that you may have lost track of.

WHY MAKE NETWORKING A PRIORITY?
Woody Allen once said that 80% of success was showing up -- and being at the right place at the right time IS critical. Knowing where the right place is and what the right time is often comes from tips or insights you gain from your network of contacts.

Simply put, the more contacts you have and maintain, the more you are likely to become aware, from their comments and tips, of opportunities -- either for other members of your network or for yourself.

Most people focus almost exclusively on maintaining their network of friends, but particularly when you are entrepreneurial or pursing artistic ventures, multiple types of networks are critical. The members of each network will overlap, but I suggest concentrating on creating networks of the following types:

• people you like to be around;
• people exploring new ideas, techniques, science, art -- the cutting edge;
• people at high levels in big organizations -- banks, law firms, advertising, retail, politics, etc;
• people with large networks of their own;
• people who have massively different points of view than yourself; and,
• people who are undiscovered and can benefit from your networks.

That seems like a lot, but there will be lots of overlap and once its part of your normal acitivities, you won't give it a second thought.

Read this "Ten Secrets of a Master Networker". Now admittedly, that guy is overkill,but I hope you'll get the point. Also check on his blog occasionally: Never Eat Alone.

Build the networks and relationships well before you need them. If you realize you lost track of someone, or it's been too long since you've contacted them, make the effort to track them down via the internet (like whitepages.com). Again, do it before you feel like you need to contact them. Don't be embarassed -- a contact out of the blue who "just wanted to get back in touch and was interested in what you're doing and how you're doing these days" is flattering to anyone when there's no request for a favor attached.

I know you haven't read it yet, but read, or listen to the book on tape / CD or read the 'Cliff Notes' equivalent on the internet, and understand the concepts in the book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". Especially the parts about building the 'emotional bank account'. That concept is important in networking and even more critical in intimate personal relationships.

Do it.

Start today.

Set a goal to add "X" people to your networks each week (3? 5?). Touch base with "Y %" of your networks each week via call, IM, email, note, postcard, meal, drink, etc. Make it challenging. Do it.

Your future opportunities depend on it.