Comments on: How to be Cool with Your Network Contacts

By: You Don’t Need Skills to do Business | Men With Pens

You Don’t Need Skills to do Business | Men With Pens — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:01:32 +0000

[...] love. We can all have what we want, even if we don’t have the skills. All we have to do is find the right people to work with [...]

By: CatherineL

CatherineL — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:59:12 +0000

@ Nez – With those taglines you’ve created – I can see someone setting up one of those spoof sites like John Cow Did To John Chow. Maybe it could be Men With Hens or something?

@ Ellen – That is so funny and so true.

@ James – I think what you say is true – we do tend to gravitate towards people who are more like us and have the same aspirations. And you are naturally going to think of ways to help people you know and recommend people you know.

Also, if you want advice on something – you’d obviously ask someone you’d already had some sort of contact with.

But, what I’m meaning is, I would never network with any gain in mind. I just like to help people and I’ve always been lucky in getting help when I need it, but it always comes from places I’m not expecting. But, remember – the way I do things is not necessarily right for everyone – it’s just what seems to work for me.

CatherineL’s last blog post..5 Business Writing Tips You Can Profit From

By: Brett Legree

Brett Legree — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:11:06 +0000

@ James – wow, that is just too weird – yeah, you do have to wonder who would say yes to those questions. And how long it would take police to arrive to your house if you did.

Hmm. I have read that a good portion of successful management types profile on the edge of psychosis. Perhaps they said yes?

(Apologies to any management reading this. Or not…)

Brett Legree’s last blog post..rapid prototyping life 2.0

By: James

James — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:34:42 +0000

@ Allison – The best strategy I’ve found to network effectively is to first decide what I want and from whom. Then, before I ever approach the person, I figure out what I can give them. It isn’t about me. When I do give, it’s with the hope that something good may one day happen and also with the complete expectation and understanding that this person owes me absolutely nothing in return.

On a side note, I hate pushy people.

@ Brett – There’s a psychological profile test that is something like 500 questions and 15 million pages long. It’s rather interesting, asking questions like, “Do you hurt animals for fun?” and “Do you feel a tendency to kill people when you hold a knife?” You gotta wonder about how many people said yes.

@ Ellen – I love psychology. By the time I get my degree, I’ll probably need a doctorate to practice in Quebec. Sheesh.

By: Allison

Allison — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:26:09 +0000

I’m like Ellen… I tend to be too friendly at times. Of course, at other times (particularly when I’m not very comfortable in the situation… I’m ridiculously shy) I’m polite to a fault, and come off as cold.

It does really frustrate me when people are so focused on “what can you do for ME? ME ME ME!” I was at a seminar last week that had a “networking” Q&A session afterwards and it was almost funny watching one guy push his way to the front of every line to talk to the professionals, and then he wasn’t very friendly… more distant and professional-like. I understand that people have to promote themselves to a certain extent, but the professionals seemed to react a lot better to those of us who were friendly, and even go out of their way a little to help those of us who were a little more friendly.

Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 5

By: Brett Legree

Brett Legree — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:19:53 +0000

@ Ellen – yes, it is fascinating. I was an INFP. I think I may have taken this same test back at university, but I am not sure of the result then. I guess we change as we mature so I’m sure it would be different across the span of 15 years (probably having four children would do it!)

It is kind of neat to see the famous people who are like you, and I agree with you as well. I have friends who would probably be diametrically opposed to me according to these personality tests, but it really doesn’t matter – we are still friends. It is just a test. If people are willing to get along, just about any difference can be put aside…

Brett Legree’s last blog post..rapid prototyping life 2.0

By: Ellen Wilson

Ellen Wilson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:39:41 +0000

@ James – It is good to stick together. You never know when someone can help you. Or you, them. It is an inherent need we have as social beings. But yes, I suppose some people can be more Machiavellian than others.
@ Brett – Psychology is fascinating, I took the Myers Briggs and I’m a EFT – something. I will have to look it up. It was the same as Oprah and Ralph Nader. I like them very much and could hang with them. Politics! But a person can be conservative and I could still like them. Just depends on personality.
I think it is kind of surreal networking online. Realistically, we probably won’t ever meet eachother.
@ Happiness- Yeah, it does force us to be very clear and concise in our writiing.
@ Catherine – Pricks are pricks. Nothing short of a miracle will change one..into something else. Ha!

Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Promo for Me and You

By: Brett Legree

Brett Legree — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:25:25 +0000

@ Nez – ah, Transformers I love it that my oldest is getting into that, because that means I get to play with them again (off-topic, I know, but couldn’t resist…)

Brett Legree’s last blog post..rapid prototyping life 2.0

By: James

James — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:15:54 +0000

@ Catherine – I’m not necessarily meaning networking simply to gain, but we all tend to gravitate towards the people we think, know, or hope can help us. Many of us are all friends first, but many of these friends – in the backs of their minds – file away what we can do and offer (now or later) just as we do the same to them.

True, though. Work and referrals do come from places we don’t expect. But when you’re talking to someone, do you not feel you mentally file ideas or points or references that might be handy to you later without specifically making a point of doing so?

I do see what you mean, don’t get me wrong. I think you have the right of it. You treat people like people first and leverage like leverage second. Many don’t, unfortunately.

For the prick thing… Ha, good for you. And white/grey or black, if you must know. No swingin’ in the wind here.

By: Nez

Nez — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:14:47 +0000

@ Harry: It was either that or “We write better than we look”.

@ James and Brett: You’re right about injecting geniality into email communications, especially with clients or potential clients. Plus, there’s always the “smile in your voice” we all are taught to use when talking over the phone. There’s also the ever-loving emoticons — not to be confused with Decepticons and Autobots, though.

@ Catherine: I agree about being selective — not everyone’s out to be your friend, or is worth being a friend to — in an ideal world, yes.

But, I do believe in practicing the Golden Rule, and yes that does mean I’d want someone to tell me if I was doing something wrong.

Nez’s last blog post..PLR Articles, the Microstock of Written Content