TIN #079 - From Dumbbells to Handshakes: Building Muscle and Connections
Elevate Your Networking Game with Insights from the Gym
Hey, Greg here!
Hope you're doing splendidly.
As I'm drafting this week's edition of The Introverted Networker amidst clouds, flying from L.A. to Minneapolis, a thought struck me:
The discipline of maintaining a fitness routine has a lot in common with cultivating a robust professional network.
Let’s explore this idea further and how you can leverage these insights for better networking.
This issue takes about 4 minutes to read.
Before We Get Started:
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The Intersection of Fitness and Networking
My Fitness Routine: It’s a mix of weightlifting, jiu-jitsu, and power walks—tailored over the years to what I enjoy and what keeps me fit.
I want to be clear: I'm not here to impress you with my approach to fitness.
I work out six times per week when I keep my fitness schedule.
I lift weights three times each week.
I train jiu jitsu twice.
I walk one or two days a week. These aren't causal strolls. I walk for an hour, cover four miles, and usually wear a weighted vest.
It's something that works for me.
It's taken me years to find an approach that does.
It's also changed over time. I'm sure it will continue to change throughout my life.
To maintain this fitness schedule, I've embraced what I call my "Fitness Credo."
These are guiding principles I use to stay on track, AND they work just as well for networking as they do for working out:
1. Consistency Over Intensity
Fitness Insight: Just like starting with lighter weights and gradually increasing, networking thrives on steady, daily actions rather than sporadic bursts of effort.
Networking Action: Dedicate a few minutes each day to send a thoughtful email or a LinkedIn message. It’s about making networking a part of your daily routine, akin to a light daily workout that keeps the momentum going.
2. Pursue What You Enjoy
Fitness Insight: I’ve shifted from running marathons to activities I truly enjoy, like jiu-jitsu and weightlifting, which ensures I stick with it.
Networking Action: Reflect on the types of interactions you enjoy. Maybe it’s deep one-on-one conversations or engaging in online communities. Focus your networking efforts on these enjoyable activities to ensure you stay engaged and consistent.
3. Embrace Progressive Overload
Fitness Insight: In weightlifting, adding just a little more weight over time leads to significant strength gains. This principle of incremental progress applies to networking as well.
Networking Action: If you’re comfortable reaching out to one new person a week, aim for two the next week, or try engaging in a new way. Gradually increase your networking activities as you become more comfortable, ensuring sustainable growth.
4. Life Gives You Rest Days
Fitness Insight & Networking Parallel: Just as unexpected rest days are a part of any fitness journey, so too will there be days when networking plans fall through. Embrace these moments without guilt but be ready to jump back in.
Which leads to…
5. Avoid Missing Two Days in a Row
Fitness Insight: Following the advice of Sahil Bloom, If I miss a day or working out or networking, I make it a point to get back on track immediately to avoid losing momentum.
Networking Action: If a planned meeting gets canceled or a day goes by without any networking, make it a priority to take some action the next day. Keeping the streak alive is key to building a strong network.
6. Follow a Program
Fitness Insight: Having a structured plan simplifies my workouts. Similarly, a simple, structured approach to networking removes guesswork and boosts efficiency.
Networking Action: Start with small, manageable tasks:
Day 1: Send a personalized message to a 2nd-degree connection on LinkedIn.
Day 2: Reconnect with an old colleague via email.
Day 3: Arrange a virtual coffee chat with a connection.
Day 4: Engage with and follow a new professional on LinkedIn.
Day 5: Comment thoughtfully on a post in your field.
Day 6: Share your insights in a LinkedIn post, perhaps expanding on a comment you made earlier.
7. Track Your Progress
Fitness Insight: Tracking workouts helps me see progress and stay motivated. This is equally important in networking.
Networking Action: Keep a simple log of your daily networking activities. Whether it’s a checkmark for each day you connect with someone or a brief note on the interaction, tracking helps maintain focus and momentum.
Wrapping Up
Networking, much like a fitness routine, is about finding what works for you and sticking with it consistently.
By applying these fitness-inspired principles, you can make networking a more integral, enjoyable, and effective part of your professional development.
I’m eager to hear how these tips resonate with you. Which ones are you excited to try? Any successes or challenges you’d like to share? Let’s keep the conversation going.
Until next time, keep lifting—both weights and each other!
Thank you for this simple blueprint. I also have a fitness routine. Is there any tools out there that I can use to measure my networking? For example a dashboard to track your progress.