Networking is the ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ way to land your dream jobโฆ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ itโs often eitherโฆ ๐ Underutilized (e.g. networking only when youโre looking for a new job) OR โ๏ธ Approached without a strategy or clarity on what you want & need โฆwhich often feels inauthentic, leads to endless dead ends, & doesnโt open up the opportunities that excite you & move your career forward. ๐ So hereโs what I want you to know: Just because youโre having conversations with people, doesnโt mean youโre moving forward. The most important asset you have in life is not your job, money, or title; it's people. Your network is your net worth! the biggest mistake people make with networking is waiting until they need something, which makes it so transactional and off-putting. ongoing networking is invaluable. setting yourself up for success in current roles and potential future opportunities. Lifelong Learner aspect! Your network is your net worth ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ happens when you set both yourself AND your connections up for success byโฆ ๐ Networking on a REGULAR basis, not just when you need help ๐ Getting CLEAR on what you want & need in a future opportunity ๐ COMPELLINGLY communicating your secret skillsโข, how you drive results & your highest value โฆso that when youโre networking, your connections have the tools & information they need to actually help you. These are the KEYS to the ART & SCIENCE of networking. Do it well & you will build a spider web of people championing for you inside the companies & industry you want to move into. Do it poorly, & you risk hurting your reputation, closing doors, & making it more challenging to get the assistance you need. This is probably one of the most IMPORTANT skills to learn, not just for a job search but to truly CONTROL your career. Protect Your Reputation. - Reputation is not just ethics. It's also treating everyone with respect, working hard, being creative, and being diligent. People will remember those traits about you years after you stopped working with them. Those memories can have a lasting impact without you even knowing it. SOCIAL CAPITAL There is something in life called "Social Capital." The people you know; the people who know you and how they know you. Unfortunately, people think or behave like social capital is only needed at weddings and burials. That is why you see someone will not have contacted you in ten years but out of the blue, they are sending you a message, "Hello so and so, long time. Btw, next Sunday is my pre-wedding. I need your support."! Social capital is not built overnight; it is reciprocal and does not need money (especially in this virtually connected world) to build. It just needs to be sensitive that people have emotions and that you can't sneak into their lives only when you need help. Social capital is massively important and when built and used correctly, it can make a big difference to one's quality of life. It can save you money, make you money, get you a better job, make things easier and safer, it can save you from prison, or save your life: it can save you time and effort, and make life more enjoyable and productive. As we progress through the year, please learn to connect with people in your circles. Check on people, send someone a birthday message, check their timelines and comment something positive and inspirational. Pick your phone and call someone, or text them. It could be your relative, your colleague, your former schoolmate, a former or current boss, your CEO, your parents, etc. Creating a connection with people is important for building your social capital. And even if they don't respond, at least keep in touch and don't just reach out when you are in need. Most importantly, respect everyone no matter their status in life, and be there when others need you. Be a solution, an encouragement, and an inspiration. Avoid being a leech, a user, or a nagger. Just be a nice person, who in a calculated way stays in touch with people and
