TIN #055 - From 'Later' to Linked Up: How Networking Became My Secret Superpower
How To Start Networking If You Don't Know Where To Start
Hey, Greg here!
This week, I had to do one of those adult things.
I met with an attorney to rewrite my Last Will And Testament.
Don't worry, nothing’s wrong with me.
About 20 years ago, my wife and I had our wills done.
Now our kids are older, we thought it was time to update those documents.
You know what's strange? Nobody really likes thinking about wills.
It's one of those things you know you're supposed to do but somehow keep putting off.
We all do it.
We tell ourselves, "I'll do it later."
But you know what? There are more things in life we tend to put off, and it got me thinking...
The Lie of "I'll Do It Later"
You ever tell yourself, "I'll do it later."
We all do! It's a universal saying.
But there's something big we tend to put off, just like updating our wills:
Networking!
You knew that was coming, right?
Networking is a thing we always say we should do, but we find excuses to avoid it.
I used to say,
“I’ll do it later,” or
“I don’t have time,” or
“I don’t know where to start”
I thought networking meant going to boring events, shaking hands with strangers, and making small talk.
As an introvert, I thought that was my worst nightmare.
But, I've learned a thing or two since then.
The Networking Revelation
Fast forward to 2012, and I found myself without a job.
Yep, got fired.
You know what?
It turned out to be a good thing because it finally made me realize how important networking is.
Plus, I discovered a different way to do it.
Imagine that! Networking doesn't have to be all awkward handshakes and small talk.
So now, I'm on a mission to share this knowledge with all of you.
I'm here to show you that networking doesn't have to be this big scary thing you put off forever.
It's like making friends, but with a purpose!
Let's Get Started!
You're probably wondering, "How do I even start networking?"
Well, I've got you covered.
Remember that "I'll do it later" mentality?
Whenever I struggle to get started on a task, I ask myself,
“What’s the very first step I need to take?”
For networking, the very first step is figuring out WHO you need to connect with.
Once I know the first step, I then ask myself,
“How can I make this step easier?”
How can you make figuring out who to connect with easier?
My go to answer to this question is:
Start with people you already know!
You've got a bunch of them in your life.
Here are three ways to make a list of people you already know:
First Five: Think about the first five people you'd tell if you lost your job today (not counting immediate family). They know you, and they won't be like, "Who's this stranger emailing me?" It's like a safety net for networking.
Resume and Profile Review: Check out your resume or your LinkedIn profile (if you have one). Look at the places you have worked. Who did you work with at those places? Those co-workers are part of your network too!
Everyday People: Don't forget about people you bump into in your everyday life – neighbors, family friends, folks from your community hangouts.
Why Start with Who You Know?
You might be thinking, "Wait, why talk to people I already know?"
These familiar faces are low-risk connections.
They're not gonna ignore you or say, "Who are you again?"
Plus, you don't have to build trust from scratch. It's already there.
This is the easiest first step you can take.
Challenge Accepted!
Your challenge for this week is to start simple.
Pick three to five people you could chat with.
Dust off that "I'll do it later" mindset and get in touch.
It's like saying, "Hey, remember me? Let's catch up!”
If you want more tips and tricks, check out my other newsletters, my YouTube Channel or my posts on LinkedIn.
But remember, don't overwhelm yourself.
Focus on this first step for now.
High-Five and See You Soon!
Thanks for joining me on this adventure to conquer the world of networking.
Remember, we're in this together, and you're never alone on this journey.
Keep making connections, and stay tuned for more networking wisdom coming your way in the next issue.
Until then, keep smiling, keep learning, and keep spreading those positive vibes.
You've got this!