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Networking in the New Year

Submitted by Mitch Seigel on Wed, 1/02/2013

Are you planning to work your net in the New Year? The same fantastic opportunities to maintain and increase your sphere of influence are right at your fingertips. Unfortunately it won’t just happen; you’ve got to work to improve your net.

Whether it’s for new business development, finding vendors, learning applications within your industry, sharpening your leadership skills or obtaining that next exciting job, networking is, and will always be, your number one resource. Be selective, be wise in your time management, and make it happen.

The secret to feeling comfortable about the time invested in networking is to make it part of what you do, not over and above what you do. Yes, it is the same amount of time allotted, yet it’s this psychological barrier that most people need to break through in order to relax and get the most out of their networking efforts.

Ask your friends and co-workers what they do to network. You will be surprised to find out the various combinations of organizations they belong to and to which they contribute. Then learn the pay-forward process so that the returns come back to you sooner rather than later.

The people you meet through networking may never buy from you-it’s their network that will. If you always keep that in mind it will take the pressure off of having to make that sale immediately and enhance the chance of developing life-long relationships.

Mostly, have fun when networking. After all, it is generally done with food, drinks and interesting people!

What are your challenges when it comes to networking? I look forward to hearing your comments. Until next time…