Using Networking for Good not Evil
Networking was something I always loathed. To me it always had a very negative connotation – “I’m only going to talk to the people in the room who can do something for me”. I hated it.
The people that ‘networked’ in my industry were the over-the-shoulder talkers. You know the ones who talk to you, constantly looking over your shoulder to see if there is someone more important they should ditch you for. Boring!
Then I moved to New York where networking is as much a daily part of life as subway delays and bad coffee. People here seem genuinely interested to help you out; at least that’s what I’ve found. New York is the business card-sway capital of the world! Everybody knows somebody that could potentially help you out.
However, for me I don’t care who a person is if they are an idiot, bigot and/or moron I’m not going to have a bar of them regardless of their current position of power and I must say it has never been detrimental to my success.
Talking to people that inspire me, that are generally good at what they do, has always attracted me far more than positions of power. If you make a connection on a level other than ‘what can you do for me’ you will sustain many more long lasting relationships.
Look for quality, not necessarily position when networking.
Remember all it takes is for one corporate shake up and all that brown nosing you’ve done to the Vice President, all the shit you’ve taken, the insults you’ve let pass are obsolete. Those left have seen your lack of integrity and won’t have a bar of you.
Don’t disregard anyone, ever. The amount of times I have seen someone cut off a conversation when they have found out the person they are talking to is the wife of someone important, is ridiculous. Not only is it pathetic as a human being but as a business person it can be suicide. If you find someone with whom you connect, regardless of position, make a connection.
Many times people have talked to me and we’ve become friends. Now they never knew what I could do for them. I never offered but let me tell you when an opportunity comes up I will push their products anyway I can because of our friendship.
On the flip side, stay away from hustlers and trouble makers in business. The last thing you want is to be judged guilty of business misconduct through association.
So the moral of the story is network, network, network! I am a reformed networker and now know when done properly it can be one of the most useful tools you’ll ever have.
One Comment
David Askaripour
October 25th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Totally agree. I’ll never discount someone when it comes to networking; you never know what that person can do for you or what you can do for them. Who knows, that same person who you think can’t do anything for you might be your future business partner 5 years down the line. It’s important to always keep an open mind no matter what — that’s what networking is really all about.
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