"I don't have a network, how do I start?"
Here's a simple 3 step guide
Updates since last post:
I’m going to try to write more regularly here - thank you to Howard Lindzon for his daily inspiration and my first paid subscriber for reminding me that I haven’t written in a long time
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A 3 step guide to jump-starting your network:
Happy Sunday!
Let’s jump into it:
Step 1: Get comfortable reaching out to people.
I hated doing this in college because "networking" felt like a taking activity.
Then, I realized that in every interaction I can find something to help with - more on this in a previous post.
Think you can't? Here are some examples:
College student feeling like you can't help?
You can help employers with their talent pool (think internship programs!)
Junior analyst and can't help?
You probably know of technologies that the person you're speaking with hasn't heard of
The examples go on and on - you can always find something to help the other party.
So, to recap: Get comfortable reaching out to people.
When you do, forget about yourself and focus on the other persons needs.
Step 2: Track your progress
Whip out a Google Spreadsheet and track your progress!
Keep track of:
Name of person you reached out to
Firm
Email
Phone number
Date of last reach out
How did you reach out?
Notes
This will become your life's rolodex - START EARLY, you’ll thank me later!
Why is this keeping track of relationships important?
Because no matter how good your memory is:
You can't remember every conversation
As discussed above, the goal is to forget about yourself and help others - how can you help others if you don't remember what they need?!
Step 3: Let your network compound
View every interactions as a way to "seed invest" into a person by giving.
Some seed investments won't work out, but some will return 1000x!
You will notice incredible things over 5+ years of this behavior, more on this in a previous post.
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