I have the distinct advantage of seeing people at every level of networking “savvyness”.
And the ones who struggle the most, are usually the ones who either think this way or even worse … say it outloud… “I’m not getting anything out of networking”. Which is usually followed by this sentence, “Networking is not working for me”.
Networking does not have to be work and it certainly won’t work if someone is approaching it with the idea that they have to “get” something for it to be worthwhile.
The best networkers don’t even trouble their minds with this sort of notion. They know that the seeds that they plant by being generous and giving to others will come back in big ways for them … often when they least expect it and from places or people that they never expected.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again … when you focus your energy on making sure that other people are connecting through your efforts, and that other people are having fabulous results in their lives because you set or helped to set something in motion for them … you will enjoy great results for yourself as well. It comes back to you through goodwill. It comes back to you through the law of reciprocation. It comes back. I’ve seen it happen over and over again in my own life and in the lives of those that I consider to be savvy networkers.
My words of advice – give first and often … give without keeping score and receive without forgetting. And enjoy your networking!