The Only Networking Tip That Matters

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πŸ‘‹πŸ» Jacob here.

Networking is simple. And I’m annoyed at how often executives screw it up and ask me to fix it.

It’s not about attending countless events or collecting business cardsβ€”or the long winded buzzword monologues of despair.

It’s about human psychology, building relationships, and habits.

You only need to consider one thing when networking.

How can I provide value to this person?

Here’s your decision tree.

  • If you have something valuable to give β€” give it.
  • If you don’t have something valuable to give β€” do more research.

That’s it.

  1. Offer value: Deliver on how you can help them and trigger reciprocity. Don’t expect anything in return.
  2. Follow-up: You are responsible for consistent follow-ups. If you offer value, you don’t have to worry about being annoying.
  3. Follow-up again: Networking isn’t a one-time event; it’s a committed habit of helping others. Three to six-month check-ins work wonders for a busy executive but jump in sooner if you can offer value.

Your networking mission this week:

Identify one person in your network who you genuinely want to help. It could be a colleague, a mentor, or someone you recently connected with.

Now, take action:

  1. Research their current projects, interests, or challenges.
  2. Brainstorm ways you can provide value to them. It could be sharing a relevant resource, making an introduction, or offering your expertise.
  3. Reach out with a personalized message and deliver on your offer to help.

Remember, the key to successful networking is consistently providing value and nurturing relationships.

Make it a habit, and watch your network grow stronger each week.

Stay fearless, friends. 

See you next week.

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