Kudzu Principle #3—Networking: A lot of us have grown up hearing cynical statements like “it’s all in who you know” as it relates to achieving great things in life. To counter these sentiments, the conversation shifted us from relying on the relationships we make to that of an ‘educated isolationism.’ We seemed to focus more so on ‘what we know’ instead of knowing the right people. There is much credit to this argument, but trends seem to be shifting to view relationships in a totally different light. Hence, the need for a concentrated effort to build our personal and professional network in addition to gaining knowledge. In his book Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi places the issue in priority by quoting “to achieve your goals in life, it matters less how smart you are, how much innate talent you were born with, or even where you came from or how much you started with. Sure, all of these things are important, but they mean little if you don’t understand one thing…you can’t get there alone. In fact, you can’t get very far at all.” Kudzu Principle #3, Networking, is the first of the Extrinsic Accomplishments where the seekers of success must move a little out of their comfort zone and dive into the tense world of mingling. In the Intrinsic Motivators (personal branding and goal setting), we established a catapult for success that can be done alone or with the involvement of very few people. Now, in order to soar like an eagle and build a wonderful career, we must learn to treasure, value, and savor the amazing benefits that a well-built network can bring.
Networking is an essential tool for a successful career journey and sustainability. As was discussed in the “Are you another brick in the wall” post, social responsibility is a trait that not only drives the greater good of our society, but also expands the network of opportunities for the ambitious soul. There was a study conducted a long time ago that basically took the qualities of some of the most successful people in history and tossed them into a bag. When the bag was shook up, and the qualities were poured out, three common denominators came out as shared attributes that contributed to their success. The first attribute was they were all early risers and never slept late. The second was that they read everything they got their hands on. Thirdly, they were all involved in some type of civic club or held a position in a community organization or cause. Everyone should consider involvement in a civic club. There are plenty of contacts and relationships to be made within the confounds of the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs and others. Although these organizations charge dues (tax-deductible, in most cases), the return you receive in ‘network capital’ is priceless. There are also many other networking opportunities to be found by serving on community committees like your United Way, Chamber of Commerce, and faith-based organizations and committees.
Ferrazzi also recommends that we don’t become ‘networking jerks’ by following a few simple courtesies when meeting new people and engaging in conversations.
- Build relationships, don’t just work the room!
- Maintain good Eye Contact, Un-cross your Arms, and SMILE!
- Be Genuine!
- Show Concern!
- Don’t Appear Shallow!
He reminds us that building a network involves ‘giving and taking’ and the advantages of a
genuine and consistently maintained network of contacts can have an enduring impact on a successful career.
So start today. Think about someone in your community or profession that you have respect for and who can offer you insights that you have never imagined. Invite them to lunch. Make ‘learning lunches’ a regular part of your schedule, and take risks when getting to know people who you normally don’t associate with. Get their perspectives, learn their histories, and immerse yourself in the experience and trials that have made them successful. Go to functions and work the room with genuine authenticity. Go visit a local civic club or professional network. When a potential employer looks at a resume, they love seeing Rotary, Kiwanis, and professional networking associations, because it tells them that you are bought-in to social responsibility and have the potential to be a great employee. It’s a small investment, but the rewards you will reap will help accelerate your career to heights that you can’t even imagine.