To Network Effectively is to Work Publicly

To networking effectively is to work publicly

Some of the biggest advances I’ve made, personally and professionally, have been due to the people I met over the internet. These are people who were either interested in the work I did as a teacher or the impact I currently make leading a nonprofit in education.

The people I've met over the internet - on LinkedIn or Instagram have - propelled my personal development x10.

The internet has disrupted most things, including the idea of networking.

In the traditional model, you have to pay or be invited to a high level networking event. When you get there, you have to strategize and map out the people in the room - those who will have a positive influence to your career and those who wouldn’t.

Next step: you have to actually approach them and pray they are interested in you or what you do. Even when you receive a business card, it’s not yet a done deal. You still have to email them and hope they remember you. Even if they remember you, they may not just be interested anymore.

This is stressful, isn’t it?

Why not just write here on the internet - tell your story here - talk about your visions for the world - tell us about your processes and life mission. Those who resonate with your story will find you and connect with you and open up opportunities to help become even better at what you do. And, consequently, accelerate your mission.

Today, one of my biggest supporters is a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and a former Nigerian Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili. I would not have connected with such a great woman in a traditional networking conference - the sheer number of people seeking for the same attention makes everything less remarkable.

But if you can show up every day telling your authentic stories here on the internet, anyone will see it and if it resonates they will connect with you.

I’ve gone to some of the biggest conferences in the country and I’ll tell you this for free: I’ve met more people telling my stories on the internet than from attending those conferences.

What will you do with this information?