Building a Solid Network

A client who has a fine arts degree wanted to move out of his successful career in advertising and into the real estate development business. He had already enrolled in a top notch MBA program to learn more about the field. In addition he had found work with a bank doing real estate appraisals.

With another year to go in the MBA program he came to me to work on creating a plan for becoming a real estate developer.

It is not unusual for someone to study one thing in college, try it for a while and then decide that there is another field that is more appealing. This dramatic change however brought up all kinds of fears for my client.

His first concern was that potential employers would look at his resume and see nothing on it that would indicate he had the skills necessary for his new career. He wasn't sure that he really knew exactly what a career in real estate development entailed or even if it was the right choice for him. Finally he was worried because all his connections were in advertising.

Those questions could easily be answered by someone already in the field. Where could he find some names and an entre? One place that many of my clients overlook when they are looking to make new connections is their college alumnae office. Most alums truly want to be helpful to students and fellow alumnae. My client could easily make use of the alumni office at his current business school. The best way to make a new connection is to have a common interest (your college) or a mutual friend that connects you.

My client was still a bit reticent. "Do you think they will really talk to me?" he asked. I asked him to think back in his advertising career to a time when someone he didn't know well called him out of the blue to ask for something. How did he feel about it? Did he help?

Often the person being called is flattered by the attention and is eager to help. Ten years ago a young man who had been a student of mine 25 years prior to that called me to reconnect. He actually called to tell me what an impact my teaching had made on his life. I was flattered and delighted to hear from him.

The young man who called me wasn't looking for help at that moment. Keeping in touch with your network even when you don't have questions to ask makes it easier to reconnect when you need help or information. Those people who willingly help others will find many helping hands when they need help themselves. Be sure to be that helping person yourself! J

Professors and teachers from your school days can be powerful sources of information too if you stay in touch with them. If you are currently in school, nurture those relationships. If you are out of school it is never too late to rekindle them. (My former student waited 25 years!!)

Building a solid network of people is important and can be fun. Get started early on it and be systematic about keeping track of the people, information about them, and the frequency with which you contact them. Be prepared however to help those in your network too. To build a thriving network the communications and support has to go both ways!

Take Action:

1. Make a list of people you know and who you want to remain in touch with. Select someone you haven't spoken to in a while and make the connection.

2. Call your college or graduate school alumni office for names and telephone numbers of people in a field you are exploring. Call one of the names on the list.

3. Find a way to track your contacts. A spread sheet or contact management software are two ways to manage this information.

4.To keep track of your contacts personal information take a look at the 66 questions that Harvey MacKay suggests in Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive.

About Alvah Parker

Alvah Parker is a Business and Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. To subscribe send an email to join-roadtosuccess@go.netatlantic.com.

Parker's Value Program© enables clients to find a way to work that is more fulfilling and profitable. She is both a Practice Advisor and Coach to attorneys, business managers, business owners, sole practioners, and people in transition. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com. She may also be reached at 781-598-0388.

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Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:50:53 GMT YouTube to play full TV episodes with ads - Afterdawn.com Vancouver Sun YouTube to play full TV episodes with ads Afterdawn.com - 2 hours ago Google has announced that it will begin offering full-length TV episodes through its YouTube platform beginning this week, thanks to a content deal with CBS. YouTube to Offer TV Shows With Ads Strewn Through New York Times YouTube beams up Star Trek for long-form video, prominent new ads CNET News Wall Street Journal - eFluxMedia - Silicon Alley Insider - Bizjournals.com all 109 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:13:12 GMT World is united to tackle financial crisis, IMF says - MarketWatch BBC News World is united to tackle financial crisis, IMF says MarketWatch - 2 hours ago By Rex Nutting WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Financial policymakers from 180 nations around the world are united in their resolve to tackle the financial crisis, Youssef Boutros-Ghali, head of the International Monetary Fund's policy committee, ... G7 nations face going cap in hand to China guardian.co.uk Finance officials comments at IMF meetings Reuters AFP - BBC News - Bloomberg - New York Times all 579 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:23:46 GMT Gay Marriage Is Ruled Legal in Connecticut - New York Times Boston Globe Gay Marriage Is Ruled Legal in Connecticut New York Times - 5 hours ago In Hartford, Crystal Pretzman of Willimantic, Conn., celebrated the State Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Video: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage AssociatedPress Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. The Associated Press Newsday - Washington Post - Reuters - NECN all 1,711 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:13:08 GMT Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young - International Herald Tribune Times Online Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young International Herald Tribune - 10 hours ago AP HELSINKI, Finland: Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari said Saturday that finding jobs for more than 1 billion young people in the Middle East and Asia will be a major challenge to peacebuilding in the next decade. Video: Ex-Finland President Wins Nobel Peace Prize AssociatedPress Nobel Finn Wall Street Journal Voice of America - Times Online - Burlington Hawk Eye all 1,453 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:12:07 GMT US space tourist set for blast-off - Reuters Canada.com US space tourist set for blast-off Reuters - 40 minutes ago By Maria Golovnina BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - US video game magnate Richard Garriott will blast off into space aboard a Russian spaceship on Sunday watched by his father, a NASA astronaut who went into space at the height of the Cold War. US space tourist set for launch BBC News Russian space chief reassures US partners The Associated Press Times Online - USA Today - Spaceflight Now - RedOrbit all 287 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:10:50 GMT Got $700 Billion? Sweat the Details - New York Times Telegraph.co.uk Got $700 Billion? Sweat the Details New York Times - 3 hours ago The bailout plan gives Henry M. Paulson Jr., the Treasury secretary, three broad choices in buying assets. By ALAN S. BLINDER THE House of Representatives was against the bailout bill before it was for it. US firms up plan to buy into banks to stem crisis Reuters Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' Bloomberg Los Angeles Times - Washington Post - The Miami Herald - International Herald Tribune all 2,358 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:39:07 GMT GOP Officials Hope for Stability From McCain - New York Times Voice of America GOP Officials Hope for Stability From McCain New York Times - 1 hour ago By ADAM NAGOURNEY and ELISABETH BUMILLER Republican leaders across the country said Saturday that they were worried that Senator John McCain was heading for defeat unless he brought stability to his presidential candidacy and settled on a clear message ... Antiwar Protestor Disrupts McCain Iowa Rally Washington Post Obama needs 75 percent turnout in Philadelphia, says Rendell CNN Political Ticker The Weekly Standard - Summit Daily News - USA Today - WNCT all 1,087 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:23:47 GMT Clickbank How to Earn Money At Home

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