The best way to find members of your team is by personal reference.  It’s important to network and continually refresh your circle of acquaintances because of this.  There are pitfalls as well (see acquaintances blog), but on the whole it can be your most powerful tool in growing your business or meeting your goals.

Figuring out your network strategy goes hand in hand with figuring out who you are as a person.   There are a few types of networks:

1)      Natural Networks:  Malcolm Gladwell has noted that natural networks are one of the key reasons successful people succeed: they have a natural support system of new resources, new business opportunities, and new customers – and, to boot, it’s a constantly replenishing pool.  So what is your natural network?  For many it is their family, community, or their religious or spiritual group.  The bonds of these networks are pre-established from early on in your life (usually) and are inherent – you do not have to work to forge them.

2)      Forged Networks: These are a kind of natural network you paid good money to establish such as your college.  Keep them alive by using social media to link to your old friends and acquaintances – synergies can come from these links in surprising ways, and you have to do little effort but keep an eye on them.  Also – go to your college’s dinners and annual meet ups. Also, make friends with YOUR friends’ networks – half the work is already done!

3)      Professional Interest Networks:  Based on the work you do, you will have access to certain professional communities based on your industry.   You’ll need a discerning eye to find the most useful networks within your profession.   Some will be trying to make you pay for the network they provide – are they worth it?

4)      Geographical Networks:   You’re land-locked into a geographical network, you might as well use it for what it has to offer.  Spend some time signing up for websites that feature local events and talks; visit every area of your city, see the tourist spots and know them, learn about your town’s history, it’s shop owners.  There’s an energy in your town and if you live there, you are part of that fabric.

Now to my favorite topic,

5)      Personal Interest Networks:   From your gym membership, the restaurants and clubs you visit, the museum talks you go to, the concerts you attend, the clubs you wish you had time to be more active in, your hobbies (from star-gazing to gardening..) and the tv shows you watch, the video games you play, the books you read:  each one of these interests has a large group of people interested in the same thing.   The things you like and enjoy are part of you, and if you are lucky and smart, they can feed into your goals and your ventures.  I am fascinated by entrepreneurs who figure out how to merge their interests with their entrepreneurial work, or personal goals.    In later posts I will case study some of these fascinating individuals and companies!