Social Capitalist

The other day a new friend and true champion of people called me a "Social Capitalist" to which I asked "Is that good or bad?" His reply was it is good. Whew!!!!

You are all social capitalist right now. Some more than others. Your ability to connect to others for your own good is useful in your search. More important is your ability to help others connect. The more you connect and the more your connections connect makes you exponentially bigger every day. If you watch your third level connections you can see the results of others in your group.

Networking and connecting reach far beyond our sights.

At what price?

At what price do you spend time networking ? At what price do you spend time blogging? At what price do you rest on your laurels? ...and on and on.

As Harvey Mackay discusses in his book "Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty " it is best to be prepared as you are living your life. Sort of like driving defensively. One must be on the alert for potential danger then take appropriate action to prevent a crash.

As my friend Sean keeps telling me "you're not blogging enough". My reasoning is I am so busy I just don't have the time. The truth be known none of us ever has the time for anything, we make the time.

The price one pays for inaction may be more expensive that doing nothing at all.

Words from others

Over two years ago a gentleman attended the Support Group. Being a CFO he wasn't very used to networking except in a few select venues. As I traveled and attended meetings I would spot him. Within a few short months he became re-employed.

Please feel free to read his words and let them ruminate in your mind.

Coffee

How about coffee Sean, could we meet and have a cup of java and just talk? Why would you ever do this? Why Not!

Meeting people to talk and share, learning about them will lead you to new places. We don't always want to have a specific goal in mind, like a "job". As has been professed here before go ahead and have fun. meet people and learn something. When we show interest in others, genuinely we learn about them. They feel good that we care. Have you ever felt good when someone asks you about you, or what you like etc?

Whether you are seeking a "job" or an opportunity, new business or sales it is always good to meet new people.

Meeting over a cup O'Joe or water and just talking will be fun and interesting.

Value of networking

"I'm Energized", she said! Several weeks ago a new attendee to the Job Finders Support Group, in Portland, was listening and watching. At first she wasn't sure she even wanted to attend. As it turned out a former attendee had recommended she attend. She voiced that she saw no value in such a group.

During her first attendance she heard a recommendation to attend a local entrepreneurial meeting , that meets monthly. She decided to go the next week and did attend.

This past week she returned to the group and exclaimed how energized she was. She was glad she stepped out and git back to networking. She voiced the fact that not only did she meet some new people, learn something new, she also felt anew.

People like people-

Bumper Stickers- Savvy networking

Networking has always been around. For a long time we never called it networking. Building personal relationships is what matters. The networking will follow. Liz Ryan put out an article on Savvy Networking, you should find it worth reading. Networking is changing as we write.

LinkedIn revisited

Why should you spend your valuable time partaking in social networking (LinkedIn in this case)? The world is changing and social networking is a valuable tool. Not just a fad but a usable tool. Take it one step at a time, filling your profile then poke around. You needn't fill the profile all at once. Take your time and look at others, they will give you some great ideas. Look for your friends and business associates and connect with them. Don't worry about your count, just work on one at a time.

LinkedIn continues to add new features all the time. Your ability to search and connect gets better all the time. Forwarding profiles to another is a useful feature. Be sure and make use of the recommendations. Don't ask others to recommend you, you recommend others you feel are deserving of your personal words. Amazing what will happen in a short time.

How about ten reasons why you should consider LinkedIn by Guy Kawasaki.

LinkedIn

Networking!!! Everybody is talking about it. Some are doing it. You've actually been doing it since you were a child. We just never called it networking.

LinkedIn has been written about in many of the business magazines, business section of most major newspapers and with over 16 million folks joined in why aren't you checking it out? LinkedIn is an excellent tool for keeping track of your connections, finding old contacts, friends, work associates. You can search and find potential contacts.

If you are already in LinkedIn please feel free to invite me to join your network, include a note that you ran across me on this blog.

If you are new and want to linkup please feel free to do so and let me know where you found me.

Mackay on networking

Mackay Maxims

Words to build a network -- and a life by...

Mackay Maxim -- People aren’t strangers if you’ve already met them. The trick is to meet them Before you need their help.

Mackay Maxim -- If everyone in your network is the same as you, it’s not a network, it’s an anthill.

Mackay Maxim -- In networking, you’re only as good as what you give away.

Mackay Maxim -- Cream doesn’t rise to the top, it works its way up.

Mackay Maxim -- 2am is a lousy time to try to make new friends.

Mackay Maxim -- Your network is the best, most empathic, and most credible reflection of your success and your talents.

Mackay Maxim -- If you network hard for thirty-five years and build pivotal contacts in strategic areas of business, you can become an overnight success.

Mackay Maxim -- Most people think they can get by on charm alone. I wouldn’t advise it.

Mackay Maxim --Networking is not a numbers game. The idea is not to see how many people you can meet. The idea is to compile a list of people you can count on.

Mackay Maxim -- The wise person isn’t the one who makes the fewest mistakes. It’s the one who learns the most from them.

Mackay Maxim -- When God closes a door, somewhere God always opens a window.

Mackay Maxim -- You can’t always be an expert. You can’t always know an expert. But you can always hire an expert.

Mackay Maxim -- Your best network will develop from what you do best.

Mackay Maxim -- Prepare to win -- Then prepare to dazzle.

Reprinted from...
Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty
The Only Networking Book You’ll Ever Need
by
Harvey Mackay