The Kind of Networking that Leads to Success...

Good Morning!

I have been watching the activity on a Professional Networking site...

My guess is that you are a member of this site...

What I discovered was that many, if not most people using it...are wasting their time!

More on this later...

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There are weeks that "The Update" is written well ahead of time...and then there are days like today!

I used to think that this disparity was caused by the weekly events...some weeks were insightful and others boring...

Then I realized that life's events are relatively consistent.  Things do not go from exciting to boring as much as I would like to believe that they do...

In reality...the classifications of boring, challenging, exciting, restful...and so on...are a matter of my perception...

One week...one event was exciting...an event very similar event weeks later...was boring...

It was then that I realized that I controlled my days!

From this I realized that "The Updates" depended on my ability to observe, assess and gain insights...

Every week is a gift that is full of insights....to those who have the discipline to stop and look for them...

My ability to write the update is the result of my power of observation and not at the whims of what life gave me!

If I lacked an "Update" at the end of the week...it was my fault!  and that situation itself acts as a reminder that I was distracted!

My advice for those who desire success...look for daily and weekly insights...(THEY ARE THERE!)

If you are not finding them...adjust and make finding insights...and the application of those insights to your journey an integral part of your routine!

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Question:  Why do people use professional networks?

Answer:  A majority of the time...they are building these networks to find employment or seek other opportunities...

Question:  How many people do you know who have been terminated or laid-off from a job...get hired back?

It happens...but it is rare!

Yet I see many people building professional networks based on co-workers...

Think about this...coworkers are of low value...

Networking is about expanding your horizons and possibilities...

Finding NEW opportunities...

Seriously...stop wasting your time connecting with friends on professional networks...

That is for Facebook...

If Professional networking is to be effective...your must expand...to people who you do not know!

ENOUGH SAID

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New Strategy for SUCCESS...

Stop wasting your time connecting with people you know...

Unless they serve as the gate through which your get closer to your goals!

First...determine what you want...

Second...determine who can help you obtain what you want...

Third...create paths (networks) that take you closer to what you want...

PURSUE those paths...

You'll find how infrequently those you know will play a apart in your future...

 If you are working to find your next step-up in your career...or setting the stage for your future (in case you find yourself laid-off)...what good is connecting to your coworkers doing to do for you?

If you are going to use networking to promote your career aspirations...then use it efficiently...otherwise...use Facebook!

Enough Said!

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Social media...

This is...(or can be) another great form of networking...

However...do not allow the pursuit of numbers distract you from reality...

Let me give you an example...

Twitter...

It is an excellent way to efficiently get your message out to a broad audience...

However it requires building a network of followers...

Many people go out a build thousands if not tens of thousands of followers!

What they do not realize is that there are human followers and then there are "robos!"

Twitter is recognized as the first step in an effective social media campaign...

It didn't take very long for creative people to come up with automated systems to "tweet!"

That is what a "robo" is...it is a "robotic tweet machine!"

Many people follow robos...not knowing that they are simply talking to a PC!

There is no impact or value related to having a PC talking to a PC!

500 human followers is much more valuable than 100,000 robos!

When you work to build a following...look for and find ways to ensure that you are communicating with a human...(yes there are systems available that you can purchase to do that too!)

Don't waste your time tweeting to machines!

That network will do nothing for you!

Enough Said!

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Have a great weekend!

Keep focused on your real goals!

Do not confuse your measures of success!

Getting diverted will do nothing but waste your time...and heaven knows...that is a limited resource!

Pura Vida!