| Networking is touted as the best resource for | | | | the weariness, the aggressiveness and the |
| professional success and personal growth. Whether | | | | connection collectors, but the organizers soon learn |
| you are looking for a job, professional development, | | | | that initially attracting people is far easier than |
| business opportunities or shared-interest socializing, | | | | retaining them. Some find innovative ways to |
| networking is said to be the key. But like any other | | | | encourage retention; others continue to look for the |
| key, it doesn't work unless it clicks. | | | | answers at the back of the book by sticking to |
| What clicks for an intellectually curious introvert like | | | | traditional topics without soliciting attendees' |
| me are organized interactions that engage through | | | | feedback to create more relevant content. |
| knowledge (real problem solving) and sincerity. In | | | | In spite of frustrations and the time commitment, |
| other words, if you want to engage me, your pitch | | | | networking is valuable and, ultimately, worth the |
| must make sense. You can't sell me dog food if I | | | | efforts to search for the right organization(s) and |
| don't have a dog. | | | | people that click with you. To that end, I encourage |
| When I first ventured into business networking, I felt | | | | diversifying your network to include: |
| like I was trying to light a wet match in a dark cave, | | | | Organizations in your current professional |
| because the journey was filled with some | | | | business industry |
| frustrations. While I did meet sincere people who | | | | Organizations in industries you would like to get |
| genuinely supported me and vice-versa, I wasn't | | | | to know better to broaden your perspective |
| prepared for: | | | | A group that focuses on fun around common |
| Aggressive people who push their product | | | | interests |
| services within 90 seconds of first contact and offer | | | | A community service group because in order to |
| evasive answers beyond their elevator pitch. They | | | | receive, giving is a prerequisite |
| demand your immediate trust and business card and | | | | My brother successfully demonstrated this when he |
| tell you they will call you soon about their product. To | | | | created a reciprocal network after leaving the military |
| aggressors, you don't need a dog to buy dog food; | | | | as an engineer and becoming a Realtor. Although he |
| you need to start with the food because that's what | | | | had an MBA, I had my doubts. His experience and |
| they've got. | | | | education was based in math and engineering-and to |
| "Back to me" people who try too hard to be | | | | me that was Swahili for not necessarily a |
| interesting without being interested in anyone else. | | | | people-person. He dispelled my doubts by building a |
| They talk excessively about themselves without | | | | network about the "home buying experience" rather |
| listening to anyone else, because they are fascinating | | | | than selling real estate, which resulted in record |
| to know so you need to get onboard. They brag | | | | breaking sales and service awards for him. He had a |
| about numbers-the number of events they attend, | | | | sincere desire to help people and not just sell to |
| the number of things they do and the number of | | | | them; his proclivity for service and relationship-building |
| people they know. Backers never ask if you have a | | | | earned him overwhelming referrals and repeat |
| dog; they just start spamming you about their dog | | | | business. |
| food. | | | | Great networks are built on a sincere reciprocal |
| "Weary networkers" who are over the | | | | infrastructure stemming from relationship first and |
| networking scene because they are meeting the | | | | business second, which cannot be created overnight. |
| same people most of the time. They recognize the | | | | Established networks are helpful, especially when you |
| value of networking, but have reached their peak; | | | | are experiencing challenges, because they can offer |
| they can't stop coming because they need to look | | | | support quicker than newer connections. |
| interested for business purposes. They can tell you | | | | With any worthwhile journey you will encounter |
| about numerous networking events and can | | | | frustrations along the way, but you shouldn't give up |
| accurately predict who will attend. If they hear | | | | entirely. Instead, continue to seek an organization |
| another dog food elevator pitch, they may howl. | | | | that clicks with you so, through your challenges, you |
| After attending several events, it started looking like | | | | won't have to experience the difference between |
| the same tune with a different singer. Most events | | | | people saying "Sure, I can help you," or just letting |
| offered the same format, information and people. | | | | their silence be more charitable than words. |
| Some of them try different approaches to remove | | | | |