New Series: A Social Media How-To for Social Media Newbies
This book has been in the on-again/off-again development phase for a while. After mulling the many ways I could publish it, market it, and see where it takes me, I’ve decided to post it to my blog instead. In the end, it’s all about what you contribute I believe. Please share as you see fit with your friends and family who need a little nudge in the right direction.
A Bit of Background
The year 2009 was one of significant change for many people, myself included. Like millions of others, I lost my foothold on the American Dream when WaMu Bank (my employer) began to crumble. And like millions, I believed my unemployment was my fault, though I could not identify any one thing I could have done differently to change the outcome. And when I began to job search, I discovered it was a whole new ballgame with undefined rules, with way too many players, and not enough knowledgeable coaches.
This new ballgame was a tough lesson to learn. Seattle has a reputation for not being the easiest of cities to meet people and form meaningful connections. I had been here four years already by 2009, and had a small group of friends. But I knew I needed to get to know many, many more people to make my job search fruitful. Being a natural wallflower, I disliked the idea of networking – with all its attendant baggage – but I took the plunge.
What I Learned From Networking
Networking has an ugly connotation. It conjures images of desperate salesmen in bad suits, unemployed middle-aged middle managers who are overly eager to be your friend, and overpriced luncheons with bad service in hotel ballrooms. Did I really want to do this?
I researched some networking opportunities near my home, and went for a cocktail hour at a downtown bar. I promised myself all I had to do was meet at least two to three people, maybe get their cards, and see where it would lead. You never know who knows who.
That first evening out was mostly good. Aside from the oddball person you ALWAYS meet at these events, the people I connected with were authentic and tried to be helpful. The scariness receded, my confidence increased, and I resolved to attend more of these.
As I continued meeting people, building my network, and finding worthwhile connections, I began to see how deeply we were all in the same boat. I also was surprised by how many people were not using LinkedIn to build their networks. They said they didn’t understand it, or found it not useful. Knowing the value of what is offers with a little sleuthing, I could not believe what I heard.
And that’s how my book was born.
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