5, 4, 3, 2, 1: Getting By With A Little Help From Your Network

Five suggestions, actions step, items for your networking to-do list this week, all based on Chapter 2 (Networks: Who Resolves Around Your Ambitions?) from my next book The Social Billionaire.

1. One goal.
2. Two action steps.
3. Three networking interactions.
4. Four F's.
5. Five at your side.

One Goal

What's your number one? What is it that matters? What's are you're striving for? Sure you're likely have many goals - but what really is the number one priority?

Goal setting suggestion, read over: Why Staying Focused Is Your Networking Superpower before writing down your goal.

Two Action Steps

Action steps give goals momentum. And checking a goal off your to-do list surely means you've taken many many action steps - which can be overwhelming to think about, so let's keep it simple, and strategic: What are two action steps can you take this week towards your one goal?

Need motivation to see how small steps add up? Read: The Size Of The Next Step Doesn't Matter

Three Networking Interactions

We get things done with the help of other people. Who will you touch base with this week? Where will you introduce yourself? How can you help others - and yourself?

If the thought of networking terrifies you, then I suggest reading Networking Is Dead. Long Live Networking!

Give Four F's

✅ Fine tune (glance over your networking commitments, which of your networking choices need a refresh or revamp?)

✅ Foll0w-up (who have you met or corresponded with recently, and based on these interactions, who should you check-in or circle back, with?)

✅ Follow-thru (who do you need to keep in the loop? who's been left dangling after providing an intro or lead or opportunity?)

✅ Forecast (who in the coming week(s) do you need to reach out to with a follow-up or follow-thru. Make a list and mark-it down as one of your 3 networking interactions for next week...)

Five At Your Side

Who are the 5 people you have on speed-dial (or speed-text)? When you need professional advice, career guidance, a missed-step pick-me-up or business hard truth, who comes to mind.

Write down your 5.

Then ask yourself...how can these 5 help with the one goal I've set for this week? Do they have relevant experience? Are they a wise mentor with a unique perspective or a highly connected friend who will take action to make those connections?

Do you have the right 5 at your side or is there some fine tuning of the 5 that needs to happen?

Give each network (and each networking connection) the right job to do. Read Strong Networks Have Layers.

Get Clear On Your Network

Download Chapter 2 (Networks: Who Revolves Around Your Ambitions?) and complete the exercises in the chapter. Don't get intimidated - the chapter is 11 pages long, 1.5 pages of text and the rest is reflective exercises, where the only wrong answer is not completing the exercises.

Need more?

There’s real value in being able to pick up the phone and say, “This is what I’m dealing with. Have you been here before? How did you handle it?”

🗝️ The Importance Of Supportive Networks For Women In Hospitality (Forbes)

🗝️ Seen, Heard, Promoted: Breaking the Double-Bind (Psychology Today)

🗝️ How Healthy Is Your ‘Social Biome’? Take the quiz! (NYT)