Summary of Sorts

I've written a lot about people networks. Maybe too much. So let's forget most of it for a minute.

If I had to boil everything down to a few things, here's what I'd say...

Put in the Effort

Relationships don't maintain themselves.

If staying connected isn't natural for you, find a way to remind yourself. Put something on your calendar. Make a note. Do whatever works.

There's nothing wrong with needing a reminder. I put birthdays in my calendar because I don't want to forget them.

You can build a network simply by meeting people as you go through life.

That's how most of us start.

But you can also be intentional about it. If there are people you would like to know, look for opportunities to meet them.

A little intentional effort can go a long way.

This may be the most important one.

If you think of people as opportunities, people will eventually feel like opportunities.

Instead, get curious about people.

Be interested in who they are, what they are doing, and what matters to them.

If you get your thinking right first, your words and actions will usually follow.

Help people when you can.

Make introductions.

Share what you know.

Give advice.

Celebrate someone's success.

Don't keep score.

A people network works both ways.

You help people. Sometimes they help you.

That's not a transaction.

That's a relationship.

That's about it.