Stand Your Ground

(Author’s Note:  Today’s post is inspired by Tom Petty’s, “I Won’t Back Down.”)

Well, I won’t back down

No, I won’t back down

You can stand me up at the gates of hell

But I won’t back down

Networking can be tough.  They don’t call it net-WORKING for nothing.  This is time you won’t get back.  It can be daunting.  Many a professional fears rejection and being ignored and failing at connecting with people who matter.

But, it’s worth it.

I’d say that 99.9% of all of the networking interactions I have ever had have been positive experiences.  Sure, I could tell you about that 0.1% that were less positive, but why dwell on them?  Whenever an interaction feels like it’s gone poorly, it’s a learning opportunity.  The best thing to do is to get up, dust off, and get back out there! For me, the positive experiences have led to career opportunities, community opportunities and social opportunities that I would never have had access to had I not first availed myself of networking opportunities.

Is there someone you’ve been interested in connecting with?  Go after it!  No need to stalk them.  Find a mutual connection… ask for a warm introduction. Don’t have a way “in?”  Think of other approaches to connecting:

  • Attend events.  Plan to attend an event at which your prospective contact will also be in attendance or will be a featured speaker or guest.
  • Reach out through LinkedIn.  Connect to the individual through a social media outlet such as LinkedIn.  Instead of using the canned connection language provided by LinkedIn, be sure to personalize your note.
  • Connect with others in the same organization. If you can’t readily get to the person you are interested in meeting, reach out to some others in the organization.  Get to know the company and its associates – in time, you may be able to access the person in question.

So, don’t back down.  Hold your ground.  Don’t let this world push you around.  You know what’s right.  You got just one life.  Don’t back down.  Happy Networking!

No, I’ll stand my ground

Won’t be turned around

And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down

Gonna stand my ground

And I won’t back down

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