Networking in life is critical and very important. In my opinion I’m a good networker, and is working to become a great one. However I’ve many times come across people who are clueless and out of the water. So I’ve come up three values that I think everyone should be looking for when networking.

  1. When first engaging with a person in a business setting -like networking at a trade show- see what you can get out of that person and how they can benefit you. Like Robert Kiyosaki said in what one of his seminars (and of course I’m paraphrasing) business is about collaborating and sharing information. You fail to live by this value, you won’t get too far.

  2. Sometimes in business however, there won’t be any immediate value between the persons involved when meeting somebody new. If you view this person as legitimate contact to put in your rider, follow up with that person every now or then. Building rapports are massively important, you might have an idea or a great opportunity and suddenly that person could be a great asset to your cause.

One interesting thing I read once in New York’s Best Seller ‘Never Eat Alone by Kieth Ferrazzi’ was about birthdays. The author suggested call people up on their birthdays…Birthdays matter to people no matter what they say. We’ve grown up in a world and society, that places emphasis on birthday’s. You’ll be much appreciated.

3. Do not hoard information, in my opinion it will get you no where. Keeping information to yourself is useless and selfish. You immediately close the door to further build respect and rapport with those who are seeking, when in future the same could be returned to you.

I’m no guru or expert, however I think we should be more focused goals “when networking.” This is just my humble opinion, what do you think?

Good night.