Well, hello there and thanks for surfing my wave!
Now this one should separate the men from the boys, right? The bigger the better? Steroids for the non-working stiff?
When I was a kid, and in many respects I still am, my mindset was the fewer friends, the better. I have always favored quality over quantity. I got more benefit knowing that the 5 or 10 (close?) friends I did have were truly that – dependable. That begs the question, “Who said friends are dependable?” If my car broke down and I needed a lift to work (what’s work?) or I was sick and needed medicine or a quick market run, I was able to dial up a buddy and know they’d get the job done. People who had masses of entourages I never got…until now.
I can almost guarantee you that if you look on Facebook and see these folks with 1,228 friends or fans or whatever you call them, which one do you count on in a crisis? If you have a blood-stained situation or greased-down driveway, who-ya’-gonna-call? Bill Murray or Dan Aykroyd will NOT be coming to your rescue anytime soon.
This is all on a personal level; on a professional level, I’d want Bill, Dan AND Ivan Reitman in my Rolodex. But how do you do this???
Networking is one of those things that lives and breathes in a continuum. What I have gathered and learned is that everybody needs to know at least 3,685 people. One percent you can call on anytime; make sure you know who they are, because year-round they are your most treasured. The other 99% you need to meticulously categorize into groups. A social, once every three months group, a call me and we’ll catch up, but never see each other group, one that lives anywhere from 50 miles to half a world away…you get the picture. This is sad, but in this world it does take a village.
I‘ve been to networking seminars, workshops and dialogues; I’ve spent hours on the phone and emailing people I have known since birth and met yesterday. What you and I need is what I call Multipurpeeps. It ain’t a typo. How many friends do you know who can be everything? Do you know of anybody who has a ready-made list to call in a pinch? I’m horny, I need a job, my dog died; let’s go for a drink, a movie, a walk – a whatever? An all-in-one.
It’s unbelievably frustrating trying to find work. Period. A contact of mine put me in touch with a person who might have helped me; she got let go and moved out of state. People tell me to send my stuff, they really want to help – and, yea…they really mean it, they say. NOT! Is it I don’t know enough people or enough of the right people…or both? Follow?
Excuse me while I go hug my dog…
Let us know what’s up with your network; is it working for you? Not quite right? Please comment! Click above link – if it says “No Comment”, be the first! Thanks!
TheUnemployMENTOR – email@theunemploymentor.com
Why Just Look For A Job…Create One!
