Timely Insights on the Net

Do you keep others in mind when you network?

My first real encounter with a great networker came back in the 90’s when I switched jobs and spent a great deal of time with Fred. Fred knew something about anything that was going on, and with a little effort, could find out much more. He was a hub.

While I’ve never really been interested in “gossip”, I saw that passing along information and connecting people was a great help – and completely different than talking about the outfit that so-and-so wore the other day…

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Not a mom in sight…

It was the beginning of what promised to be another beautiful day. Parents chatting about the coming day, kids running around waiting for the bus. That’s when it hit me. There wasn’t a mother in sight.

For at least several days a week, every week of this school year, there’ll only be fathers waiting at the bus stop. Funny thing is – it didn’t strike me until this morning that this might be odd…

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Everybody’s got to get lunch, right?

Three years ago our group was looking for a new place to meet in the evening – one of our members made a suggestion and several of us decided to try it out for lunch. We liked that get together so much we decided to make it a new monthly attraction for our group – Lunch on the Loose!

The rules are simple – get out once a month with peers for a chance to talk and network over lunch at a new place. Follow our example and you’re liable to start down the path outlined by Keith Ferrazzi when he suggests you should Never Eat Alone!

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Steve’s ‘Three Conversation’ Rule for Networking Events

Even if you don’t follow temperament profiles, you probably understand that introverts can have a difficult time meeting people at a networking event … While I fall into the middle area of that spectrum, I have never found it easy to “work” those types of events.

Because networking is an essential component of any professional’s arsenal I came up with the “three conversations” rule to help me connect.

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You might find something to talk about

I grew up with block parties, and so they hold a very special place in my heart. Warm August nights with fun games, plenty to eat, and all my neighborhood friends. Travel and camping plans were arranged around the date, and it signaled the end of summer, and no other event brought every family around the block together like it did. My wife and I decided to resurrect this tradition in our current neighborhood, and you can too