Social Networking

social Networking 

                             SOCIAL NETWORKING

I have realised that reward is one in every of the motivations of man. whereas growing up, we have a tendency to were usually educated that success is that the reward of diligence. So, we have a tendency to found ourselves operating thus laborious to realize success. identical holds true for laziness and complacence. They too have their rewards. the general public, at some purpose in their lives, realise that they may are happier if that they had taken time earlier to weigh the rewards of excelling in their chosen fields. several expected success to fall on them in their maturity. however it hardly will.

The world solely pays back in direct proportion to what you set in. Weak networking efforts end in a below-average network of contacts, whereas calculated and aggressive networking activities yield tremendous payoff in a very powerful network. i'm certain we have a tendency to all want the latter. Most times the rewards square measure on the far side you, spilling over to your youngsters and preferred ones.

Most staff of organizations square measure usually demotivated once the rewards of the duty aren't corresponding with the efforts exhausted. Surveys have usually disclosed that top playacting institutions have a gift system in situ for his or her staff. Ironically, most staff don't take time to contemplate the rewards of excelling at their work. They, thus, fail to stay in sight the image of the reward. Consequently, there's no inspiration to drive them to perform higher than average or do the extraordinary.
Networking may be a valuable talent for folks across all cadres - from the protection personnel to the Chief officer. I keep in mind usually being power-assisted by a specific security officer to urge an honest car parking zone in one amongst the banks in port. each time I visited the bank, he quickly stepped up with a smile and gave a assist. One day, he with boldness walked up to American state and aforesaid, "Sir, please pardon my disturbance. My son studied business and has simply finished his National Youth Service. i'd be happy if you'll be able to facilitate him get employment."

I was surprised. I told him I failed to have any vacancy for his son then. however I gave him my card and told him to inform his son to drop his CV at my workplace. He did. regarding period later, i used to be with an exponent WHO required associate bourgeois during a new firm he simply created. Guess WHO came to my mind? in fact, the son of that security man! that's the reward of networking in action.

Please note that i'm not implying that it works like this all the time. however i'm bound that your possibilities of obtaining a quicker payoff in life are additional brightened by effective networking.

The same holds true for vision-based networking. Once you have got a vivid image of what you stand to realize if you network effectively, your angle towards networking are a lot of proactive. keep in mind the biblical story of David WHO singlehandedly brought down Goliath, the giant. Before David left for the front line to face Goliath, he had gone round the Israelites' camp to inquire regarding what the rewards for killing Goliath would be. and therefore the rewards were ok to inspire him to travel for the kill. Same way, you would like to visualize the reward in your mind. There should be a private stock. it's to become a private passion.



Many years agone, I wrote down the rewards of networking, and that i have ever since inscribed them in my heart to function motivation on behalf of me whenever a networking moment arises. I clearly keep in mind a gag in my list that states, 'Ferdinand, networking would take you to an area higher than wherever you're.' So, once a networking chance arises, I hear a voice screaming from inside American state, "Ferdinand, there's an area higher than wherever you're, larger than wherever you're, larger than you. you have got the possibility to maneuver ahead. Take it, take it, and take it!" I decision this my networking action-booster.

In my data transfer sessions, I usually tell participants that {they should|they ought to|they should} avoid self-complacency in networking and must be smitten by building their networking account. Act as if your networking account is one amongst your bank accounts, as a result of it really is. continually improve your networking ability; the fatter the account, {the higher|the higher} for you and therefore the better the rewards.

Just as the money in your checking account pays your bills, that the quality of your network creates the opportunities that guarantee you consistent business and financial gain. an equivalent approach you guarantee your account does not come in debit is that the same approach you guarantee your network account doesn't go dormant. you have got to stay building your account. The dividends will be a lifesaver.

I understand that one key strategy for obtaining ahead quicker in life is to leverage on your contacts and your contacts' contacts. what percentage folks does one know? what percentage quality and important folks does one know? remember to your days in class, what percentage of your friends does one still have in your network?

It is wonderful to seek out that there area unit {people WHO|people that|folks that|those that|those who} attended that very same establishment however who recede from alumni conferences. Perhaps, they are doing not realise the ability of such networks. The rewards of active participation therein quite association can not be overemphasized. there have been job seekers WHO became utilized, whereas those as yet utilized have gotten higher appointments. The sensible networkers have swollen their networks. The thinking networker is aware of that such associations area unit required for advancement in career and business.

It is appalling to seek out folks wandering all year long while not one networking platform that is supposed to be a stream wherever they fish for business, for opportunities, and for folks. I agree that some folks have the capability to fish in many places, however what percentage does one have? I usually raise participants at my seminars what percentage networking platforms they fish from. you'll got to raise yourself that very same question frequently.

I keep in mind having lunch with a really aggressive networker in some unspecified time in the future, and he aforesaid to American state, "Sir, you'll realize this funny, however I even have 3 straightforward networking platforms from that I even have continually reaped large rewards. they're receptions, lifts and sustenance restaurants. I visit these places a day and that i realised that a good deal of fine contacts will be harvested there." I smiled. I told him however affected i used to be along with his smartness, as a result of we tend to all visit those places too however while not the attitude of a savvy networker. perhaps subsequent time you discover yourself in those places, you'll be able to consider doing a little networking.

Reward 1: Knowledge and experiences of other people

The first benefit or reward for business and social networking is that networking exposes you to the knowledge and experiences of other people. Because of networking, you are connected to people and groups with diverse backgrounds and experiences. So here you are with just a few years in your career connecting to people who have invested three quarters of their lifetime acquiring education and working in diverse places.

You can plug in and draw from those years of experience by just connecting with them. You are also able to share your own experiences with those who can benefit from them. Ideas flow freely during networking. Information is freely given during business and social networking. You are able to learn from other people's success stories and mistakes. Others are also able to learn from yours.

Networking creates a large pool of human resources you can share your ideas, your dreams, plans and aspirations with. Two good heads they say are better than one. Imagine where you have access to hundreds or thousands of good heads.

Reward 2: Massive opportunities are opened

Networking exposes you to potential opportunities. You find yourself centered in the midst of potential opportunities that would ordinarily not have come your way at this point in your life. You have the privilege of joining associations, clubs, gyms, resident associations, religious groups and so on with men and women old enough to be your parents. Peter Drucker once said that more business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than any other place, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject of business and social networking.

You are more likely to know about job and business opportunities if you have a large and robust network. Some companies in Nigeria do not advertise job openings and contracts. Only those who work in those companies get to know. Guess what, only those who know the people that work in those companies also get to know. It is called knowing by knowing those who know. So you can increase your chances of knowing by increasing the number of people who know that you know. That is what networking is all about.

I am of the belief that the more you grow in your careers and business the more the openings and deals you get should come from referrals and advocacy; not from blind prospecting.

Reward 3. Less hard work

The third benefit of networking is that networking is about less hard work. If you are a sales person and you have a target to meet, you have two options. One option is for you to adopt the cold call technique; which is to knock on as many doors as possible or blindly call as many people as possible, attempt to see the decision makers, book appointments, make sales presentations, start following up and hope that some of them will eventually buy from you. But that's a very laborious way of prospecting and selling. That is called working hard, but hardly working.

The other option open to you as a sales person is to use the contacts of the people you know to secure appointments. In other words, you are exploiting the contacts that people have made over the years. It is called using close contacts to gain access to distant contacts.

 4: Strength in number

The fourth reward of business and social networking is that a good network will replace the weakness of an individual with the strength of a group. Alone, I can only achieve little; but with others practically anything is possible. We are all familiar with the story of the tower of babel.

People struggle to achieve lofty dreams and aspirations because of a limited network. Even in physical exercises, you are more likely to stretch yourself when exercising with others than when you are exercising alone. In the gym, you are more likely to lift an extra KG, run five more minutes on the thread mill because of the motivation and challenge from others.



While people spend all their lives visiting banks for loans to actualize their dreams, the never-say-die networker simply sends out letters to key people in his or her network, sells the idea to them and the funds come rolling in.

Reward 5: Be a blessing to others

The fifth benefit of networking is that a good network can help you help others. How many of your siblings have you helped secure employment because of whom you know? What have you attracted to your community because of people in your network?

How long your younger ones or relatives stay at home after graduating with good grades is to a large extent a function of the quality of your network. How long it takes you to get another job when you lose your job is a function of your network. What have you attracted to your community on account of your network?

Reward 6: Platforms for making quality friends




Networking helps you increase your chances of meeting people who take responsibility for their situation; who look for solutions, not problems and who are ambitious and determined. People, who face the same challenges that you face, but have a positive mindset. When you meet such people, they will challenge you to drop the self-limiting beliefs that your negative friends have bombarded your mind with. The more you network, the more you meet people of different idiosyncrasies, beliefs, values and ambition. They help you evaluate yourself and circle of friends. Those who limit themselves to few friends and groups loose this benefit of networking.

If most of your friends have not built or bought their own houses, you would think it's okay not have built yours. If most of your friends are having issues in their relationships, you would think it's the norm to have issues; if most of your friends are not meeting their targets at work, you would think that it's a pervasive situation. But when you begin to expand your network, you will start meeting people of your age or younger who have acquired their own houses; you will meet people who are enjoying their relationships; people in the same industry with you who are meeting and exceeding their targets. Please take critical note of this point. Wood destroys wood. .


Reward 7: Do you like the man in the mirror?



You see, if you spend most of your time with people that you are better than, when you look in the mirror the tendency is to think that you are doing well. When you spend most of your time with people at the same level with you, you would think everybody is facing the same challenges that you are facing. You would think everybody is like you.

However, when you spend more time with people that are better than you, when you look in the mirror, what you will see is what you can become. And that's because people better than you will directly or indirectly challenge and motivate you. When you spend time with people better than you, you will begin to see how human they are and yet how successful they have become. You begin to learn the principles of success.

Reward 8: The power to be bigger than yourself

I remember some years ago when I got referred to a millionaire financial expert who became fond of me. I kept in touch, ensuring I sent him weekly text messages. Surprisingly, one day, he invited me to lunch alongside his millionaire friends. I did not take the invitation for granted. I was prepared. I was dressed for the occasion. My business card was there with me. I did not have money, but I had plans. When we arrived at the lunch venue (wow! what a place!) and sat down, he did an introduction. To my utmost surprise, he announced, "Guys, meet my millionaire friend, Ferdinand." I was not a millionaire yet. I was just a man with a millionaire's mindset. I shook hands with these people and we exchanged cards. That event made me bigger than myself. Since then, we have remained friends and I have done deals worth millions with them.



Reward 9: Helps you monitor and assess the direction of your life



Networking helps you increase your chances of meeting people who take responsibility for their situation; who look for solutions, not problems and who are ambitious and determined. People, who face the same challenges that you face, but have a positive mindset. When you meet such people, they will challenge you to drop the self-limiting beliefs that your negative friends have bombarded your mind with. The more you network, the more you meet people of different idiosyncrasies, beliefs, values and ambition. They help you evaluate yourself and circle of friends. Those who limit themselves to few friends and groups loose this benefit of networking.

If most of your friends have not built or bought their own houses, you would think it's okay not have built yours. If most of your friends are having issues in their relationships, you would think it's the norm to have issues; if most of your friends are not meeting their targets at work, you would think that it's a pervasive situation. But when you begin to expand your network, you will start meeting people of your age or younger who have acquired their own houses; you will meet people who are enjoying their relationships; people in the same industry with you who are meeting and exceeding their targets. Please take critical note of this point. Wood destroys wood. Only iron sharpens a ready iron.

No wonder Sandra Renaux stated, "motivated minds networking together can be a powerful force creating desirable outcomes. So, surround yourself with the best possible influences while you strive to bring out the best of each other in your quest for constant and never ending improvement".


You see, if you spend most of your time with people that you are better than, when you look in the mirror the tendency is to think that you are doing well. When you spend most of your time with people at the same level with you, you would think everybody is facing the same challenges that you are facing. You would think everybody is like you.

However, when you spend more time with people that are better than you, when you look in the mirror, what you will see is what you can become. And that's because people better than you will directly or indirectly challenge and motivate you. When you spend time with people better than you, you will begin to see how human they are and yet how successful they have become. You begin to learn the principles of success. You see how and why they excel. So you can say to yourself, if these people can do it, I can also succeed if I am willing to pay the price. Before long, you will acquire the traits and habits of people who succeed.



Reward 10. A good network can provide you real job security

Some years ago, working in the bank was the in-thing and bankers felt they had job security. Today, many people who relied on such ''prestigious'' jobs have lost their positions on the payroll, while those who used the platform of their workplace to network have resumed work in new places.So,one thing that the right network can do for you is that it can provide you real job security.