Currently in America, large numbers of professionals are interested in networking for a variety of reasons. First, the days of spending all or even most of one's entire career with a single employer are over for most of us. Operating as a job-market free agent, as many individuals now do, requires strong networking skills. Second, professionals today possess a keen desire to "make a difference" through their work. This form of altruism makes networking a way of life as individuals continually look to add meaning to their lives not only through their work, but also in the ways they spend their non-working hours. Third, layoffs have become one of the harsh realities of American business over the last few decades. Even for those who are currently employed, layoffs are often a looming reality. Whether at work or out of work, we need to network.
Networking, Like Life, is a process not an event. A learned skill, true networking represents the summit of marketing know-how, whether one is marketing products or services, or even oneself as a prospective employee or business partner. By learning and utilizing key principles, individuals can systematically manage network contacts from the point of simple awareness, through a series of measurable milestones, to the achievement of an identified goal. These networking principles are adaptable to virtually any set of circumstances, making them beneficial to the pursuit of almost any professional goal.
