In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks. Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business. A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future. Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose. My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.
Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.
Rule 2 – Do what you say. Your integrity, your word, is the true measure or your character. What you say and ultimately do will evolve into your reputation in the community. Once you are “branded”, either good or bad, it will be almost impossible to change. Think about what brand you are developing, ask for feedback from your advocates and make your actions speak for themselves.
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