Are You Referral Ready?

Failing to plan is planning to fail. …you’ve heard that before, but it applies to networking as well. There are many different networking groups and activities to choose from. The best ones for you are the ones that are in alignment with your goals.

People who network without a plan can still get positive results, but those results are random, finite, and impossible to plan for. Referral Ready means taking responsibility for achieving your goals and making strategic choices about what it takes to get there.

Make a list of networking organizations that might interest you. Include a healthy mix of social, business, and community service groups and professional associations. From that list, explore the possibility of joining two or three different kinds of groups.

Just as an investment broker might advise you to diversify your financial portfolio, a networking plan that consists of different types of organizations will strengthen your social capital. Choose wisely, and get involved based on where your skills, interests, and goals intersect.