In Episode 16, here's what's on the agenda:

💡 Insight: Netwroking is not a pitch, its a process.

📰 Unpopular Opinion: Don't connect with everyone – choose your network wisely.

🧰 Expert Interview: How to network with confidence, even when it feels uncomfortable | Precious Ile | TEDxSFU

✨Food For Thought: 5 essential benefits of Networking

Insights:

Think of networking as building a garden, not just planting seeds.

It's not about tossing out your business card and hoping for instant results.

Instead, it's like tending to a garden - you plant the seeds, nurture them, water them, and patiently watch them grow over time.

The key here is patience and commitment.

When you engage in networking, you're investing in relationships. And just like any worthwhile relationship, it takes time to build trust, understanding, and depth.

You want those connections to grow and evolve over time.

When you approach networking with this mindset, it becomes more about genuine engagement.

You're not just in it for what you can get, you're also there to support and uplift others.

It's a two-way street where both parties benefit.

This process-oriented approach to networking isn't just a current trend. It's a timeless skill that will remain crucial in our personal and professional lives.

It's like a tool that helps us navigate an ever-changing world, opening doors to opportunities, insights, and meaningful connections

Unpopular Opinion

Don't connect with everyone – choose your network wisely.

While many folks are out there hustling to collect as many business cards as they can, I'm more in the camp of quality over quantity.

I mean, think about it - we've all been to those events where it feels like a race to see who can hand out the most cards in the shortest time.

It's like a game of business card bingo, and I'm not sure if I'm winning or losing!

Research actually backs this up. There's this thing called Dunbar's Number that suggests we can only maintain about 150 stable relationships. It's like our brains have a contact limit.

So, I've come to the conclusion that fewer, deeper connections are the real gems in the networking world.

Even in the digital realm, the principle remains the same.

Those online connections should be meaningful, not just numbers on your profile.

You've probably seen those LinkedIn profiles with thousands of connections, but let's be real – how many of those connections do they truly know or interact with?

I'd say it's better to have a few online connections who engage with your content, provide valuable insights, or share a good online chat than a LinkedIn list longer than a CVS receipt.

Whether it's in person or online, it's about quality over quantity.

Building genuine connections that have your back is what really matters.

Quantity might be great for a buffet, but when it comes to networking, quality is where it's at.

Do you agree or disagree? Let us know on social media by sharing this post.

Expert Interview:

How to network with confidence, even when it feels uncomfortable | Precious Ile | TEDxSFU

Precious Ile is a community builder, storyteller, and management consultant.

In her talk, Precious discusses five unique ways to have conversations that she learned from special dinners. She also shares three practical tips for being yourself when networking, even when it feels scary or new. It's all about shifting our mindset about what networking means.

Networking is about how we communicate and build genuine relationships, and it's not confined to specific events.

It happens in our everyday lives, often without us realizing it. We naturally connect with people and exchange ideas because we're wired to do so.

So, let's remove the fear and approach networking with confidence.

Food For Thought:

5 essential benefits of Networking

Networking is all about advancing your career, but entrepreneurs see it as a tool for long-term business growth.

It brings unique opportunities, fosters community, promotes innovation, and boosts confidence.

We've listed five essential benefits for any business, big or small.

1. Drive Community Growth: Building a strong community network leads to referrals, thought leadership, and key insights, promoting business growth.

2. Opportunities: Networking creates opportunities for partnerships, funding, and collaborations, driving business expansion.

3. Positive Influences: Surrounding yourself with positive, uplifting influences in your network can help you stay on track, develop business plans, and provide encouragement.

4. New Ideas and Perspectives: Staying connected with industry insiders and thought leaders keeps your business on the cutting edge by providing insights, feedback, and innovative ideas.

5. Confidence: Effective networking builds self-confidence over time, empowering entrepreneurs to make confident decisions and take calculated risks for business success.

We are Hiring!

Job Title: Executive Assistant with Entrepreneurship Experience

About Client: The client is a Personal branding & authority coach that offers high-touch and tailored coaching services to help business owners attract higher quality clients.

Job Description: The client is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Executive Assistant with a strong background in online entrepreneurship to join our team. In this role, you will play a crucial part in streamlining workflows, managing calendars, and helping our business owner attract high-quality clients. The role is a mix of being an executive assistant and a client success manager.

Send us your resume at [email protected] with a 3-4 liner description on your experience working as an EA.

Closing Thoughts: 

Scoring a new job is a good reason to network, but it's not the only one.

When I invest time in building and nurturing my network, I gain access to a wealth of knowledge and experience.

It's like having a whole community of people I can turn to for advice on various topics.

Plus, there's the satisfaction of helping others and having them reach out to me for advice. The more I contribute to my network, the more I benefit from it.

Subscribe, Share, Connect: Don't forget to share it with your fellow entrepreneurs, and connect with us on social media for daily updates.

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That's it for this week's edition.

We'll be back in your inbox next week with more curated content on the future of work.

Best regards,

Hira Saeed

CEO Koi.work