Join your local user group

Finding and attending the local user group pertaining to your industry or interest, is one of the keys to business success. That was one of the first things I did when deciding to branch out and see how my information technology skills and education could work together with my knowledge and experience with land surveying.

The first thing that came to mind was GIS. How do I find out more about GIS and then get more involved with GIS? The first thing I did was utilize my LinkedIn account and searched for GIS Groups within LinkedIn. Many GIS groups were available and I choose to join some of those groups. Shortly after joining, I receive a weekly LinkedIn GIS Group update via email. In the email one of the group members poses the question "How do I find a GIS job in my area?", one of the responses was "...join your local GIS user group." So that is what I did. I Google'd "GIS Greenville, SC" and one of the first things to be returned was Foothills Arc User Network or FAUN. Utilizing the FAUN website, I was able to find out when the next meeting was being held and I was able to attend. While at the meeting, I got reacquainted with an old colleague who has come down basically the same path that I have, but is 4-5 years further along. What a great opportunity to talk with someone that has had similar experiences and you already know. Just by attending a user group meeting, I was able to rekindle an old friendship and gain a valuable asset when looking at more GIS ideas.

My point is to get out and network. Start slow, via the Internet perhaps and grow into actual interaction with other people and groups. This might take you out of your comfort zone, but the feelings of uneasiness will not out weigh the benefits to you and your business.