Network everywhere - you just never know what it will bring
I have learned that it's important to think of networking as an "all the time" thing. Don't just focus on networking as a business / sales task, and don't expect only sales prospects form your networking efforts. If you expand your activities to all possible networking opportunities, you never know what you'll get out of it.
My latest example: I joined the Recruiting District Advisory Council (RDAC) about 8 months ago. This is a group of civilians with Navy ties - mainly Navy veterans - who provide a link to the civilian community for the Navy Recruiting District of Michigan. I wanted to be involved because of my Navy background, but also realized networking could come from it.
Today, one of the officers at NRD offered to meet with my son over coffee to discuss becoming an airline pilot - career path, rigors of training, etc. My son is 17 and thinking about his career options, and hooked on flying. This officer is on active reserve duty but flies an Airbus A319 in his civilian life.
Just one of those networking things you can't anticipate when you start getting yourself out there and building relationships!
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It's true, Dave, you never do know what can come from networking - and it happens constantly, not just at "events."
I know of people who have found business in line at a drycleaners and drycleaners who have gotten new customers from networking events.
The simplest thing I can share with you all is that it is important to engage in conversations regardless of where you are. You never know how the person with whom you are speaking is connected to the things you want in life. Be interested, ask questions, find common ground and let the conversations take you away. Oh yeah, know how to ask for what you seek.
Great post Dave. Thanks.
Terry, I think you used the two most important words in networking: be interested. When I'm at a networking event or anywhere else and am interested in who I'm talking to, wonderful connections get made and amazing things happen. When I'm being interesting, I mostly don't talk to anyone. Or when I do, it's a pretty non-productive conversation.
A group of friends and I were talking one day about being curious, and one of them said she's always interested in people - she'll even strike up a conversation in the grocery checkout line about why they're buying some particular item! She loves to just find out things about people. That really stuck in my head, and I have really started noticing when and where I am and am not curious and interested in people, rather than in just myself and my own "drama" of the moment.
I have a stack of business cards in my locker at the country club and even keep a few in my golf bag. Many times, if I show up as a single, I will get grouped with guys (and gals) that I haven't met before. Just last week I met a physical therapist that was interested in maximizing his web presence. Come to find out, he is one of the officers of the organization and we have had discussions to offer club members a discount for those interested in custom web design/development as well as our e-Site Basic offering. Like Terry mentioned, you could even be on line somewhere and you never know who you will run into. Networking is like shaving; if you aren't doing it everyday, you end up looking like a bum.