Weekly Exercise: The Core Of Networking

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Good at networking?  Bad at networking?  Either way, you're gonna have to network in your career, and frankly, it's lot of fun.

This Weekly Challenge is to start taking a look at how people connect with you.

How they connect with you?  Yep, forget you connecting with them.  We're going to look at why people connect with you.  We're going to look at why people WANT to connect with you.

Good networking is fun, friendly, and win-win.  If you realize that you have something to offer then you can find it easier to connect with others – because you're thinking about them.  No one wants to connect with someone who's selfish.

So here's your challenge:
Write down all the reasons that people would want to connect with you and get to know you.  There may be:

  • Skills you can help with.
  • People you know.
  • A cheery demeanor that perks people up.
  • Etc.

Go on and don't be modest.  After all this is about other people isn't it?

Now look over this list.  Remember in the future when networking, you have something to offer other people.

– Steven Savage

The Wall Goes Up

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When my IT career first got really going, way back in 1995-1996, I had applied the "modern" tools of job searching.  These were advanced things like online job ads, fax modems, and so forth.  Yes, there was a time when people not only used faxes a lot, doing it from your computer was impressive.

So as my career progressed in 1996, I was speculating on my career and noting the role of technology in the job search.  I met people who were keeping up with technology in their job searches, and I sensed something happening, a division among people in how they used technology in their careers.  Technology was an "enhancer" and people using it would get more and better connected, and it would produce a cultural shift.

I christened it "The Wall."  As technology advanced, some people would be more on the "inside", connected by technology and social understanding to career opportunities, some would not keep up on the technical changes to the job search and career building and loose out.

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Geek Pride: Giant Robots, Inspiration, and You

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So there I was, taking a break from being, well, busy, and giant robots helped me get my working mojo back.

I know, you may need to reread that line again.

Essentially I was watching Gurren Lagann, an unusual anime that is hard to describe.  It's a giant robot show, a space show, a drama, parts of a comedy, strangely sincere yet with winking nods and references.  A big part of the show is the power of fighting spirit and people's emotions to drive them on and empower them.  This is an anime that people who don't watch anime won't get.

It was actually quite inspiring, and it struck me that's something we geeks and fans need to keep in mind – we can find inspiration in seemingly mundane things, and that can push us on.

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