Networking – the idea that it is not what you know but who you know that moves the world.
If you have been alive for any period of time, you have heard the expression “it’s not what you know but who you know.” The idea is that you don’t have to know everything, you have simply have to know people and the world will be your oyster. As an entrepreneur, it is important to develop a good professional network. At the same time , it is important to develop a good personal network. Of course, from time to time, those networks cross paths and the personal helps the professional or the professional helps the personal.
I am spearheading an after-school program for children in our area. The children come to our church, get a drink and a snack and then get help with their homework. The program is open to all school students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. We are in the first week of operating the program and have two teachers and one retired teacher who signed on as volunteers this week.
Recently, I attended a community celebration. Entrepreneurs from all over the small village where I live gathered to show off their businesses. Among those in attendance was a representative from the local Rotary Club. Did you know that among other things, the Rotary Club gives out dictionaries to school children? I did not know this.
I spoke with the Rotary Club member about my after-school program. The Rotary Club member invited me to speak with the club at their upcoming lunch. I gave a short talk to the club members and asked them to provide dictionaries to the students in the program. I am so happy to announce that on the spot the members voted to give us the dictionaries and offered to get more for us if the need arises! One of the members had a friend who is a retired school teacher. She asked if I needed extra volunteers. Of course, we could use more volunteers. I do not have a large network of school teachers and those qualified to help school students. This Rotary Club member gave my phone number to her retired teacher friend who called me and then showed up to volunteer with all the appropriate clearances in hand.
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