Every month on the first Tuesday (this is ample time to get over the Monday blues) you will find the TIP of the month. We do our best to pass on valuable info and the tip of the month is another extension of our mission to take over the world.
This month (among other things) I challenge you to expand your network and make more meaningful connections. Focus some of your attention on building your network.
Imagine that your network looks like the photo above except with people. It is a system of connections or contacts that are arranged such that members interact, exchange ideas, and maintain an association with each other. You are the nucleus and everyone else is connected by their association with you. Great things happen when you surround yourself with great people.
Imagine that your network looks like the photo above except with people. It is a system of connections or contacts that are arranged such that members interact, exchange ideas, and maintain an association with each other. You are the nucleus and everyone else is connected by their association with you. Great things happen when you surround yourself with great people.
The contacts in a successful network have diverse backgrounds and have the ability to contribute resources and ideas. It may sound fanatical, but every conversation you have is a potential opportunity to add a valuable person to your network. Every person can add value. Such value does not only involve the potential to make you more money, it also encompasses the potential to become an asset to your success. In turn, inaugurating new people into your network begets an opportunity for them to add valuable people from their network to yours.
Every person has the potential to contribute to your goals. It is simply a matter of making the right connection at the right time. Time and again, you will accomplish things because of who you know, not what you know. Your chances for a promotion are increased if you have networked with executives who are willing to advocate for you in the board room. Your chances for getting a job increase each time you network with someone from human resources. There is value in postal workers who will ensure your mail is delivered on time. There is value in a friend at the airport who can give you great deals on flights. A co-worker who can recommend the best places to take a vacation is also valuable. Your neighbor has value because they can collect your mail and water your lawn while you are on an extended vacation.
Set up your network with college roommates, fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, garbage men, janitors, hotel employees, librarians, IT personnel, tutors, airport employees, bus drivers, airplane passengers, mechanics, web developers, your cosmetologist and the guy sitting next to you on the train. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around, and a smart person has all kinds of people in their network. Any one of them could introduce you to your best and biggest client. Do not denigrate someone because of their profession, embrace what they do and treat them with dignity and respect. There are six degrees separating every person. Striving to make a positive impression on everyone will ensure that you remain connected with the best people. For tips on developing your networking skills, please see the tips that follow.
Breathe and Relax. Remember the experience is what you make it. Summon the strength of your thoughts and make use of the concept of mind over matter. If you think it will be a positive experience, that is what it will be. The inverse is also true. If at any point you become overwhelmed, excuse yourself for a few minutes. Take a few deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Count backwards from 10. Imagine everyone in chicken suits. Play a quick game on your phone. Sing your favorite song. Meditate. Wash your face with cold water. Do whatever works for you. If aren’t sure how you relieve stress, try a few things and see what works.
Smile. Leave any negative parts of your day behind and wear a smile. Keep your voice upbeat and your outlook positive. It will make you feel better about yourself and will give the impression that you are confident. People want to associate with positive people; a smile is a good way to present a positive attitude.
Be honest. If the conversation turns to a topic you are not familiar with, be honest and admit it. You will be respected for your honesty. Do not attempt to discuss or debate a topic you know nothing about, it will diminish your credibility. Acknowledging that you are unfamiliar with the topic may prompt others to share their knowledge with you. Also, if there is a topic you do not feel comfortable discussing, respectfully decline to discuss it. If you want to give a compliment, it should be sincere. A fake compliment is easy to detect. Honesty is always the best policy.
Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation. If alcoholic beverages are served, you should be proactive about controlling your consumption. Open bar does not mean empty the bar. The liquid libations may be plentiful, but carefully monitor your intake to ensure that you do not become inebriated. You want to steer clear of a reputation as a person who cannot control themselves. Drink responsibly.
Be yourself. Always stay true to who you are. No one else can do a better job of being you. Do not become a cheap copy of someone else; you may lose your true self in the process. Besides you don't want to pretend to be someone else and then forget who you pretended to be, that is a recipe for disaster. Its easier to remember if you're always yourself. Embrace your diversity and your flaws such that you can use them to your advantage. Your unique qualities are what will help you to stand out, let them shine. Remain positive about all of your qualities and let them shine through.
Remember practice makes perfect! Practice building rapport with random people (i.e.the security guards in your building, people in the elevator, the girl next to you on the treadmill, the people in the computer lab, customer service representatives and your classmates). It may seem awkward at first, but you will slowly improve your communication skills and it will become easier to spark conversations with complete strangers. Once you are comfortable with starting random conversations, networking will become more leisure and less work. You will learn which questions work for you and you will weed out the ones that don't.
Set up your network with college roommates, fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, garbage men, janitors, hotel employees, librarians, IT personnel, tutors, airport employees, bus drivers, airplane passengers, mechanics, web developers, your cosmetologist and the guy sitting next to you on the train. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around, and a smart person has all kinds of people in their network. Any one of them could introduce you to your best and biggest client. Do not denigrate someone because of their profession, embrace what they do and treat them with dignity and respect. There are six degrees separating every person. Striving to make a positive impression on everyone will ensure that you remain connected with the best people. For tips on developing your networking skills, please see the tips that follow.
Breathe and Relax. Remember the experience is what you make it. Summon the strength of your thoughts and make use of the concept of mind over matter. If you think it will be a positive experience, that is what it will be. The inverse is also true. If at any point you become overwhelmed, excuse yourself for a few minutes. Take a few deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Count backwards from 10. Imagine everyone in chicken suits. Play a quick game on your phone. Sing your favorite song. Meditate. Wash your face with cold water. Do whatever works for you. If aren’t sure how you relieve stress, try a few things and see what works.
Smile. Leave any negative parts of your day behind and wear a smile. Keep your voice upbeat and your outlook positive. It will make you feel better about yourself and will give the impression that you are confident. People want to associate with positive people; a smile is a good way to present a positive attitude.
Be honest. If the conversation turns to a topic you are not familiar with, be honest and admit it. You will be respected for your honesty. Do not attempt to discuss or debate a topic you know nothing about, it will diminish your credibility. Acknowledging that you are unfamiliar with the topic may prompt others to share their knowledge with you. Also, if there is a topic you do not feel comfortable discussing, respectfully decline to discuss it. If you want to give a compliment, it should be sincere. A fake compliment is easy to detect. Honesty is always the best policy.
Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation. If alcoholic beverages are served, you should be proactive about controlling your consumption. Open bar does not mean empty the bar. The liquid libations may be plentiful, but carefully monitor your intake to ensure that you do not become inebriated. You want to steer clear of a reputation as a person who cannot control themselves. Drink responsibly.
Be yourself. Always stay true to who you are. No one else can do a better job of being you. Do not become a cheap copy of someone else; you may lose your true self in the process. Besides you don't want to pretend to be someone else and then forget who you pretended to be, that is a recipe for disaster. Its easier to remember if you're always yourself. Embrace your diversity and your flaws such that you can use them to your advantage. Your unique qualities are what will help you to stand out, let them shine. Remain positive about all of your qualities and let them shine through.
Remember practice makes perfect! Practice building rapport with random people (i.e.the security guards in your building, people in the elevator, the girl next to you on the treadmill, the people in the computer lab, customer service representatives and your classmates). It may seem awkward at first, but you will slowly improve your communication skills and it will become easier to spark conversations with complete strangers. Once you are comfortable with starting random conversations, networking will become more leisure and less work. You will learn which questions work for you and you will weed out the ones that don't.
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