I recently reconnected with a former colleague. Through no fault of anyone’s, we just hadn’t spoken in a long time.
This was someone I’d had an excellent working relationship with back in my AMP days, and not surprisingly. They were incredibly social, always connecting people from different walks of life and had a gigantic network of people who had the same kind of positive connection
Reaching out after years and reigniting was a bit of a reawakening.
The value of networking. How could I ever forget how important it was?
Then I remembered.
Three years ago, at the onset of the pandemic, maintaining a vibrant professional network was never truly at the forefront of my mind. Like many others, I felt overwhelmed by maintaining a semblance of normality in business operations and personal life.
Once a proactive part of my strategy, networking gradually took a back seat.
When presented as a chore, networking feels like a quantity game – making calls, going to events, collecting business cards.
But not when it’s about genuinely connecting, like dogs making friends, being vulnerable and honest, creating value, and going the extra mile to help others without expecting anything in return.
๐ I’m grateful for the small practice I’ve re-established, reaching out to two to three people weekly from my network, (trying) to foster authentic connections.
If youโre wondering, why the fuss about networking, Stu?
Many books I’ve recently revisited, like Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardyโsย Who Not How,ย repeatedly emphasize the following: First, look for the people who can help and ask.
And itโs so true.
A single introduction, a golden piece of advice, or a timely resource can completely change the trajectory of an outcome.
Thatโs the essence right there.
