Look outside the Networking Box

I have been a huge proponent of getting out there and networking with folks in the community.  We tend to gravitate towards what we know or towards what is familiar.  This can get us into a rut and not where we need to be in regards to meeting NEW people and uncovering NEW opportunities where we can help.  Finding a new group or taking someone up on an invitation to a new meeting can help to alleviate or at least counter act the rut.

I am prove of this concept.  Since involving myself with networking and interacting with community members last summer, I have primarily only attended techie type gatherings/events.  Tech After 5, GSATC Learning Lunches, GIS FAUN meetings, GIS/Software Conferences and the list goes on, but one thing is obvious, they are all techie type events.  I enjoy the speakers at these events, I enjoy the subject matter discussed and I enjoy meeting all of the interesting people that attend these events; however, many faces become familiar and the pool of new opportunities can become smaller.  Don't get me wrong, developing relationships and having your face become familiar to others is a good thing and will benefit you in the future.  Look outside the proverbial box and other entire worlds of people and opportunities can appear.

An example of this just happened to me.  Last week I received a phone call from Randi Handshoe of Penrod Services and he wanted to get together to go over a few ideas.  Both of our weeks were busy, but he mentioned that he would be attending a meeting a Michelin Headquarters and asked if I could meet him there.  We would exchange some paperwork and ideas and then I was welcome to join the meeting.  It turns out that it was a Facilities Managers Meeting (IFMA) and I felt that it might be a waste of my time, but I stayed around anyway.  The meeting speaker talked about air handler systems and how they impact a building and I was beginning to feel that I had just wasted some valuable time when I noticed a familiar face.  It was a fellow that I had attended class with more than six years ago.  After the speaker wrapped up, I approached the familiar face, and after a few statements we were both reacquainted and talking.  It turned out that he was the facilities manager and IT director for a large Episcopal church in the Greenville Area.  After talking briefly and explaining that I was involved with social media for business, he told me that the church's Website Manger might be interested in my information.  Voilà,  a possible business connection was made and an old friendship was rekindled.

The point is to not be afraid to get out of your usual rounds of networking and see what other groups are doing.  There is always the possibility of meeting someone that you can really help.