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Networking Information |
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You Can't Spell Networking Without Serendipity
"Fear not to entertain strangers for by so doing some have entertained angels unaware." This quotation is from the book of Hebrews, which means it probably has nothing to do with networking. Or does it? Networking is the process of sharing knowledge, helping others, and developing mutually beneficial relationships. Serendipity is the lucky tendency to find interesting or valuable things by chance. Mix the two forces, and you've got a sure-fire formula to boost your business. Now, I understand the Catch-22: if it's serendipity, how can you plan it? Well, you're right - you can't. But you can do a few things to be more aware of it and prepare yourself to leverage it. What is Serendipity Networking? Secondly, being at the right place at the right time is good; but being at the wrong place at the wrong time can be better. I once attended a small group discussion under the impression that the speaker was a certain author, only to realize I had read the flyer incorrectly - the author wasn't coming at all. When I learned who the actual facilitator was, I was initially disappointed. I then realized how much she and I had in common, and now I'm happy to say we're great friends and colleagues who share information and ideas on a frequent basis! Next, serendipity networking is powerful. I mean REALLY powerful. How many times have you met a valuable contact and said, "Wow! The planets must have been aligned tonight!" "The Gods have smiled down upon me!" or "What are the odds of meeting someone as perfect as her?" World renowned speaker, author, and my friend Carol Weisman experienced the power of serendipity networking years ago. She was giving a speech at a conference that unfortunately conflicted with a concurrent session by Dr. Steven Covey. Obviously, attendance was low, but Carol didn't care. She did her absolute best and blew the audience away - all six of them. At the end of her speech she announced, "And now, I'm going to do something that Steven Covey would NEVER do - I'm going to take my entire audience out to lunch!" Little did she know that a member of her audience worked for PBS. Five seasons of a hit program and a Telle Award later, Carol understood the power of serendipity networking. Warning Signs That Networking is in the Air 7 Serendipity Networking Tips 1. Talk to everybody. We are conditioned not to talk to strangers, but some people enter our lives and change them forever. 2. Be nice and help people. Reciprocity is an inherent human need. Go out of your way to extend kindness, friendliness, and assistance to everyone - they are likely to pay you back. Possibly by giving you millions of dollars. 3. Keep a list of your "People Collection." (In an non-crawl-space-under-the-deck kind of way) Whether you use a journal, database software, or bar napkins, make sure you write down the names of every person you meet - not just business contacts. You never know when, 6 months down the road, an idea will pop into your head and you'll need to call someone. 4. Get out there. Make a weekly/monthly networking plan. Serendipity networking has a lot to do with being at the right place at the right time. And although you can't create serendipity, you can certainly put yourself in a position to grab it when it crosses your path. 5. Always have business cards. Always. Most of your networking won't occur between Monday and Friday from 9-5. So remove the following phrase from your vocabulary: "I don't have any of my business cards with me right now." No excuses. Unexpected conversations are the stuff serendipity networking is made of. 6. Always have something free to give away. People like free stuff. They also like to show it to other people. 7. Wear your nametag. A person's name is the single context of human memory most apt to be forgotten. So, at a meeting or event when you're given the chance to remind someone who you are - do it. They'll thank you by approaching you. And possibly by giving you millions of dollars. Luck is Not a Word For effective serendipity networking, remember the three L's: Listen, Localize, and Leverage. Serendipity networking takes time. As the definition says, it means a lucky tendency to find interesting or valuable things by chance. Now, you can't make it happen. But you CAN make yourself more aware of the warning signs and more accessible to that which fortuitously affects you. And even if you really DO think it's all about luck, remember: L.U.C.K is an acronym for Laboring Under Correct Knowledge. © 2005 All Rights Reserved. Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.
MORE RESOURCES: Networking During The Pandemic: How People Who Barely Know You Can Help Accelerate Your Career Forbes Juniper Networks Announces Close of Apstra Acquisition Business Wire Virocom Selects Sierra Wireless AirLink End-to-End Networking Solution for Smart Locker Applications IoT Business News Advanced System Groups Provides Dante Audio Networking to San Francisco Conservatory of Music for Socially Distant Performances Sports Video Group Networking: Be curious - Bizwomen The Business Journals Commercial Real Estate Brokers Talk Networking Tactics During COVID Commercial Observer Bartleby - The science of networking | Business The Economist ACG selects Tejas Networks to build Afghanistan's high-capacity National Optical Transport Network PR Newswire India Lavelle Networks is the CIO's choice for the WAN Edge Infrastructure for the third year in a row PR Newswire India India's Tejas to supply networking products to Afghanistan Developing Telecoms Global Virtual Networking Market 2021 With Prime Countries Knowledge : World Trade Share, Size, Revenue, Latest Trends by 2025 – KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper What Is Your Social Networking Style? - Greater Good Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley Global Telecom and Networking Racks Market 2020 Company Profile, Import/Export Scenario, Business Strategies and Emerging Market Segments to 2025 – KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper Juniper Networks closes acquisition of Apstra Seeking Alpha Global SDx and Networking Technologies Market 2020 Size, Share, Trends, Growth Business-newsupdate.com Sinclair offers first peek at rebranding for Bally's Sports networks Baltimore Business Journal Extreme Networks rises 17% on preliminary FQ2 figures Seeking Alpha Better Buy: Arista Networks vs. Cisco Motley Fool Wi-Fi Vantage enhances the user experience in managed networks RCR Wireless News The future of social networks might be audio MIT Technology Review Extreme Networks Reports Preliminary Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results Monterey County Weekly COVID helped teach Army how to build classified networks, both on and off bases Federal News Network Earnings Preview for Juniper Networks Yahoo Finance Why AMC Networks Stock Is Soaring Today The Motley Fool F5 Networks (FFIV) Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates Yahoo Finance Google adds a Restricted Networking Mode in Android 12 XDA Developers Get the most out of networking during BREW this week Greater Baton Rouge Business Report Men's Basketball Learns Two More Tip Times and TV Networks GoCreighton.com CBWN networking lunch in February Central Coast Community News Stock Alert: Gilat Satellite Networks Touches New High After Successful ESA Technology Testing Nasdaq Exclusive Networks signs Alcatel Lucent for Asia-Pacific CRN Australia Versa Networks rolls out more formal channel approach ComputerWeekly.com HFR Networks and Fujitsu Announce Industry's First 25G Smart Tunable Optics for 5G Transport Business Wire Palo Alto Networks Pumps Up Prisma Cloud SDxCentral CBR: Next-Gen Networks / SDWAN | TV News Check TV News Check Enhanced Internet + Wi-Fi For Peru From ColinaNet + SES Networks – SatNews SatNews Publishers Software Defined Networking (SDN) Market Analysis, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, Threats, Trends, Applications, And Growth Forecast To 2027 – KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper Outgoing FCC Chief Says Government Laid Groundwork for Faster Networks The Wall Street Journal Paramount+ Marketing Push Will Rely Heavily on ViacomCBS Networks The Wall Street Journal F5 Networks will buy Volterra cloud computing startup for $500M in latest major acquisition GeekWire Palo Alto Networks opens Australia cloud location ComputerWeekly.com Broadcast networks barely mention post-Biden inauguration Antifa riots in Portland, Seattle Fox News Why Ceragon Networks Stock Rocketed 54% Friday Motley Fool How to prioritize networks on Android TechRepublic Ceragon Networks® Announces Date For Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2020 Financial Results Yahoo Finance |
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