When we talk about networking, we instantly think in professional terms.
However, I believe we should reframe that to include our inner
circle and the people we hang out with the most. Adam Grant in his
book “Give and Take” and Keith Ferrazzi in his book “Never Eat Alone” both
reference the fact that our inner circles may be too close to us and too
similar to us for us to depend on them solely to land us the Big Job. We
often surround ourselves with people who have the same interests, have
like-minds, have an emotional connection, and live geographically close.
I found the same thing was true for me. However, that doesn’t mean we
should avoid social situations and stay in our cave until we find a job. If
we feel comfortable enough with those in our social circle, that translates
into more in-depth conversations that may give us valuable insight
into our situation going forward. In addition, our inner circle may not
give us direct contact to get us the job, but I truly believe in the “Six
Degrees of Kevin Bacon” theory, where a friend of a friend of a friend,
and so on, will finally connect the dots for us. These types of conversations
from within your social circle balance your approach and become a
good starting point for your job search, while simultaneously providing a
solid home base and support system, as needed.
Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):
- Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
- Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
- Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
- The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
- From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
- The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood
See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com. Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com