novamdomum

When I made my first comment there were only two other comments in here suggesting that Networkers were all a “bunch of assholes” who aren’t genuine and say things like “let’s connect” when they don’t mean it. Since then the conversation has become a lot more nuanced.

I don’t understand who is forcing people to network against their will. Do you mean that they feel they have to in order to grow their business?

Oh sorry yeah I should have clarified. There’s one global networking group who are notorious for putting members under huge pressure to deliver leads constantly. They developed a system based on traffic lights to assess your worth to the group on a monthly basis. It’s horrible and their excuse is that “it works”. Well… punching yourself in the face constantly will also help you handle punches but is there another choice? According to them… nope. That kind of networking is insanely toxic. How I discovered this was that I was forced by an employer once to go to this group’s meetings for a year and I hated it. Thankfully, I’ve found that there’s a ton of much nicer groups around (often started by ex-members of the super toxic one).

It’s fashionable to say that networking sucks apparently. Personally, networking has made it possible for me to start a business, help it grow and turn it into a success. Networking has put food on the table, it keeps a roof over my head and it’s given me a life I didn’t think I had a shot at. When I hear people say it doesn’t work it always makes me wonder if maybe networking isn’t the problem.

There are networking rules I live by though. No high pressure, power handshake, traffic light system, dog eat dog, alpha male BS. It’s about really getting to know a group of people and deciding if you like em and if you’re going to help em. It’s about being real, being genuinely helpful and open to suggestions. A good networking group will let you know your iceberg towing business is probably not going to work out that well. A great group will notice how quickly you were able to put together a team of tugboats, refrigerated trucks and distributors and suggest that actually you might want to start a supply chain management business instead.

But networking is so much more than just getting leads too. It’s a life university course for the price of breakfast. About 30 people in the same boat as you who want your help and have lots of help and advice to give you. Starting a business is lonely and confusing. A good networking group helps a lot with that.

Step 1 - Putin doesn’t like a thing.
Step 2 - Putin says that if you do the thing you’ll get nuked.
Step 3 - Putin’s little cyber puppets flood social media with posts “concerned” about the risks of him launching the mighty nukes. Oh noes!
Step 4 - Putin hopes you believe him.
Step 5 - Nobody believes him.

…some times passes…

aaand we’re back to Step 1…

You forget a thousand voice chatbots every day, how about you make sure this is one of them…

I like to shower in as dark a possible a bathroom. I find it enhances the creativity effect by a huge amount. Also the slight risk of an accidental, life altering fall from not being able to see keeps it spicy!