Eddie’s first entry is a nice segue way to comment on networking. We all grasp the basic concept of networking and its importance in both the business and social realms. It is, in fact, somewhat an unnatural encounter when you think about it: generally, you approach someone whom was just moments ago a complete stranger, introduce yourself, perhaps exchange name cards, and at that moment (if not prior to), conscientiously or not, judge the individual standing before you. I say that this is somewhat unnatural, simply because we tend to judge people before there is even an exchange, whether it be eye contact, words, or a name card. Changing gears for a moment…

Before the formation and ultimate launch of NextStep, Eddie and Joe approached me about the concept, beautifully explained by Eddie, with the understanding that my role would be to leverage my personal network, along with other outlets that were used, so that we would have an existing and solid foundation with which to grow upon. Everything went according to “plan”: our first event was a success, and fortunately, the platform was strong enough to facilitate the rapid growth of NS.

At the very least, this is another testament to the power of networking and understanding how to apply your network. I have been asked numerous times over the past few months: So, how does this work? (when referring to the actual NS event); and even more often: How do you meet so many people? How it works, was briefly touched upon at the beginning of this blog, but how I meet people may be more enlightening. I sometimes answer the latter question by using the clichéd phrase; it’s not quantity that matters, but quality. Of course, the truth in the matter is that in forming a strong network, both quantity and quality have equal importance creating balance within the network. It is also very important to note that by using the term “Quality”, I do not mean the quality of the contact (he/she is a CEO, so he/she is of better “quality” than Sales Rep), but rather the quality of the connection between yourself and your contact.

At the end of the day, whether our life is about making money, improving society, becoming famous, becoming enlightened, etc, we are all individuals whom have very interesting stories and come from special backgrounds, and have suffered as well as achieved. If you do not judge another, or at the very least, do not judge another until you’ve learned enough about her / him, most likely, you will have found yourself making a connection with that person, strong or not. In the case that it is a strong connection, then when you decide to leverage your relationship with this person, whether it is for business or social purposes, you’ll find that you are no longer “using” each other, but creating opportunities to strengthen the relationship, which I can almost guarantee is the more fulfilling experience that also yields better results.