Business Networking: Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk
September 23, 2011
Thank you to Lake Forest Graduate School of Management for a wonderful alumni networking event this evening. For those of you in the Chicago area considering an MBA with practical application to your careers, I highly recommend it. It has helped me beyond measure.
Talking to attendees there tonight got me thinking about being a good networking partner. With the launch of All Points Public Relations I’ve been doing a lot of networking. Relationships mean everything for business startups and my situation is no different. Someone knows someone who knows someone. This very scenario has helped me land some of my first few clients.
Only a month in, I know I need to start to give back. And, I’ve begun doing so. In previous jobs I always networked to meet new people, share ideas, make connections for others and often bring in new business to the company I was working for at the time. But as a business owner, networking really takes on new meaning.
It’s my livelihood now. Connecting colleagues in franchising; connecting fellow alumni with potential job opportunities; reaching out to strangers who I’ve been advised to connect with on the phone for new business lead purposes. The give and take of networking is 100 percent a necessary balance. Networking has been the single most important factor in gaining ground with All Points each day.
In my first month as All Points PR I’ve had the good fortune of connecting with a few folks who have been of great help. I’m now more focused on giving back. I kind of feel like it’s a game of pay it forward combined with pay it back, helping others you come into contact with as well as returning the favor to those that have helped you already.
Thank you to those who have made very meaningful connections. I am by your side in business and will do what I can to reciprocate. And, I pledge to connect others with my contacts whenever I see the benefit in it for both contacts of mine.
I hope this helps those of you reading the blog understand the importance of networking…so feel free to give me a buzz because I may already have a client waiting for you.
