I met 54 people in 30 days....Here’s what it taught me about Networking.

Networking gets a bad name.

The perception is that networking is somehow disingenuous and that people who network are trying to ’get something’ for themselves.

This was certainly my perception when I set out to actively build my network in 2014. I felt uneasy about ‘networking’ and soon found that many other people felt the same.

But I needed a new job and I knew the best roles weren’t going to come through applying online. 

So I got active with networking. 

I met 54 people in 30 days. 

Here’s the 3 biggest things it taught me about networking:

1. Networking is NOT a zero sum game.

A zero sum game is where one person has to win and the other person has to lose. Networking is not this. If done right, networking should be mutually beneficial and both sides should enjoy it and see value in it

2. It’s about quality, not quantity. 

Don’t focus on the size of your network. Focus on building REAL relationships with people. Foster those relationships after you meet for the first time. It’s better to have 10 AMAZING people in your network who you know you can call on rather than 100 who don’t message you back.

3. Building your network requires asking just one question

Building your network requires you to ask just one question when you meet someone - ‘is there anyone else you think I should meet?’.

This one question unlocks soft introductions to more people, without the need for cold calling. And soft introductions feel so much nicer than going in cold. In fact, if you ask this one question, you should never have to cold call anyone ever again.

Don’t let the fear of networking hold you back. Networking is incredible. And unlocks so many opportunities for both sides. 

Just get started with one person TODAY. And build slowly from there.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint.