Network Anyway!

Network is just that: work! So work at networking.

And you may HATE meeting new people. You may hate making small talk. Hate paying money to go to networking events. Hate to travel. Hate the high price of gas that it will take you to drive to a bunch of networking events.

You may be tired of going to event after event. You may be disappointed that you keep meeting the same old people. You may hate getting dressed up to go to networking events. You may hate being given the runaround after you meet someone important and busy. Hate that your phone calls and emails aren't being returned at all or as fast as you would like. Hate that you aren't being taken seriously. You may hate a lot of things about networking but the bottom line is this: you must network and build relationships! So network anyway! How do you network anyway when you don't feel like it:

1. When you hear yourself ask, "When is my big break going to come?" Just tell your mind, "Some things happen when we least expect them to." Tell yourself, "when it comes, it's going to be great!"

2. When you feel like quitting, tell yourself, "action is rewarded." Tell yourself, "keep it moving!" Tell yourself that you've come too far to quit now. Tell yourself that if you quit now, then all the work you've done will be in vain. Tell yourself that quitting is not an option!

3. When money becomes an issue, tell yourself, you really can't afford to not network. Tell yourself, "I am investing in myself. I am investing in my career. I'm investing in my dream."

4. When you hear yourself say you hate to network, tell yourself that you love what you do, regardless of its ups and downs, its advantages and disadvantages, its rights and its wrongs!

5. When you get tired of meeting new people, tell yourself that your big break may be just one person away.

6. When you feel like you are tired of traveling to network, tell yourself that you are making a name for yourself in different parts of the country. Tell yourself that at the very least you are seeing places you've never seen before.

You may get tired of the grind sometimes. But keep on grinding, mashing, pushing forward, seeking, expecting, anticipating, and loving what you do. Don't give up now! So network, network, network!

Thedy B