| Many people get a bit frustrated when they don't see | | | | give without thinking about receiving back. What was |
| the immediate results of networking. Hey, sometimes | | | | the result? Bingo! People started sending me private |
| networking is a slow process and takes a while. I | | | | messages telling me how much they liked the group |
| encourage all not give up, and keep plugging away | | | | and how much I was helping them. Other people |
| with your networking efforts; even if you don't think it is | | | | tweeted about the group and invited people to join. |
| going anywhere. When you least expect it, you will see | | | | One group member has mentioned the group on his |
| results. | | | | blog numerous times. It took a while but I learned that if |
| When you are networking, always think about how | | | | you give first and provide value, people will trust and |
| you can help others, and not so much what others can | | | | respect you. They might not tell you right away, and in |
| do for you. If you give more than you receive, | | | | some cases, they might never say a word; but it does |
| eventually good things will come your way. You really | | | | not mean that they don't like or appreciate what you |
| have to be patient because in some cases it can be a | | | | are doing. Today the group has grown to over 400 |
| long wait, or at least feels like it is. Networking is also | | | | members and is doing very well. |
| about building trust and that is not something that you | | | | Some benefits I have received as a result of |
| usually can do overnight. Keep providing value and | | | | networking. |
| doing good, and people will trust you. Once you gain | | | | Some time ago I had a business lunch with someone in |
| that trust, do all you can to maintain it; because it can | | | | my industry. This was a perfect stranger that I met |
| be lost in an instant if you make a false step. | | | | through networking. The meeting was very successful |
| Should you give up when it appears as if your | | | | and ended up lasting for 3 hours long. As result, I |
| networking efforts are going nowhere? | | | | received several new recommendations to follow up |
| Do you feel like giving up on networking because your | | | | with. I went into the meeting thinking about what value I |
| efforts seem to be ignored by others? Do you give, | | | | could provide to this network contact but in this case, I |
| give, and give, only to receive nothing in return? Do you | | | | received way more than I could imagine. |
| connect with new people only to find out that they are | | | | When I got home from my business lunch, someone |
| only trying to sell you products or services, and don't | | | | from my LinkedIn network sent me an e-mail asking |
| care to know you personally? Do you help people and | | | | for help. They asked if I would come to their company |
| never get a thank you in return? Do all of these | | | | and help out with an IT migration project. Of course I |
| questions sound familiar? Well, they are all a part of | | | | said yes! How and why did this person think of me? I |
| networking. These are the negative or downside of | | | | helped spread the word about their company, and I |
| networking. It can sometimes appear that only | | | | arranged to get them a spot on a Blog Talk Radio |
| negative results are received when you first start out | | | | show. I never looked for anything in return but it was |
| networking. Believe me; I have networking horror | | | | nice of them to think about me. |
| stories that can fill a book. But, if you just give up on | | | | Networking, and helping others has afforded me many |
| your networking efforts you will never get to see the | | | | other opportunities such as being invited to speak at |
| positive side of it. Remember, I told you it takes some | | | | venues, appearing in a major magazine, an exclusive |
| time so hang in there. There are times that I felt like | | | | interview on CNN, interviews on Internet Radio shows, |
| giving up because I came across unappreciative and | | | | new clients for my business, and job interviews. I also |
| "shady" people. However, I hung in there and eventually | | | | receive numerous gifts from people just to say thanks |
| met some really great people who are now in my | | | | for something that I helped them with, or advice that I |
| professional network. | | | | provided. I would not have experienced these |
| Last year I started a networking/job search group on | | | | wonderful things if I gave up in the early stages of |
| LinkedIn. When the group first started, we went | | | | professional networking. |
| through the awkward stages that most new groups | | | | All the things that I just mentioned did not come |
| go through. Being a new group manager, I also made a | | | | overnight. It took weeks, and months of networking to |
| lot of mistakes along the way too. At times I felt as if I | | | | get to that point. The key is to always provide value |
| was speaking to myself because I did not receive any | | | | when networking and think more about helping others |
| replies and could not get people to participate beyond | | | | than helping yourself. As you continue to network, your |
| an initial introduction. It was difficult but I kept trying | | | | needs will be taken care of as well. Sometimes it will |
| everything to get people to respond and participate. | | | | even come from unexpected sources. |
| Then I stopped worrying about people responding and | | | | My advice to you is, network, network, network, to |
| just tried to provide information of value. I started to | | | | your success! |