What Role Does Mentoring Play in Your Networking?

By Terry Bean
Social Networking Editor

How did you learn how to network? Who helped you figure out which social networking websites are worth your time? Do you ever see someone committing networking "sins" and guide them to a better networking future?

It is said that “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”.

Networking comes very naturally to some. Others find it the most challenging portion of their business development activities. Let’s not overlook all of the flavors in between. The same phenomena exist in the online networking world too.

The better we all get at networking, the better all of our networking will be.

I recently sat in a referral marketing class as a student. It was interesting to be on the opposite side of the teacher/student relationship. I have been formally teaching networking skills for nine years. This was the first class I had taken on the subject in seven. I was there and open to learning some new things. Guess what? I actually learned.

I think for many of us it is harder to be the mentee as opposed to the mentor, especially once we have achieved some success. Have you ever met someone from whom you couldn’t learn anything new? (The correct answer is no).

If you are a face to face networking expert, please offer to help those who aren’t as good. Maybe setup a quick class, write a blog post or do some one on one time. We always talk about “givers gain”, this is but one more opportunity for you to give.

For those folks who spend most of their networking time online, this may be a great chance for you to connect more locally. Additionally, this may be a great way for you to share your online expertise with someone who will make good use of it.

As I look back at the evolution of my networking career there are several people I would like to thank. Fortunately, I am nice so I shall save you a lot of time and cull the list drastically. From a face to face perspective, Frank Agin of www.amspirit.com In Columbus, Ohio had the biggest impact on me. Thank you, Frank. On the online front, Vincent Wright has helped me see the path. Thank you, Vincent. It is because of the knowledge I have gained from these two men that I get to thank the 1900+ members of www.motorcityconnect.com. Thank you all.

So, I want to know, hopefully, we all want to know. Who shows you the path AND to whom are you showing it? This is your chance to help all of our networking efforts.
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Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free RSS feed, go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com.
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What Role Does Mentoring Play in Your Networking?

TNNW, September, 2008, Week 1: "Falling Forward"

The Fall Season has unofficially began and for all you offline, face-to-face networkers...'tis the season for a revitalized, refreshed networking season. Look to your local and regional Chambers of Commerce to hold their expos. Look for your BNIs, LeTips, Gold Stars, AmSpirits, PowerCores, Professional Network Connections strong-contact/exclusive networking groups to be actively looking for you because their members want want to pass referrals your way. Associations are making their push for new members as well as the need for innovation, knowledge sharing and best practices are never out of style.

This is truly an exciting time (oh yes...and the American Football Season started as well) as companies are leaving behind the season of vacations, scheduling nightmares and perceived slowdowns to make way for one last push for the year to make their quarterly earnings.

In this networking harvest time, we at TNNW encourage all our subscribers to get out there, continue to push outside your own comfort zones, talk to strangers, be of service to others and reap the rewards that follow!

At TNNW headquarters, we are gearing up for our own harvest and invite you to join us as there has never been a better time to receive The National Networker. Whether you continue to get our e-newsletter, find us on the web, subscriber to our RSS feed or carry our Blidget on your own website or blog, we have some great new writers to introduce this month, some great new extras for those RSS and Blidget folks and more networking hoopla to carry you through the rest of the year. Tell your friends...tell your family...we're only just getting started. Stay tuned.

As always, I look forward to networking with you...

- Adam
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TNNW, September, 2008, Week 1: "Falling Forward"