Is Anyone Else Getting Social-Networked Out?

By Jason Alba, TNNW Career Transition Editor

I’m the first to admit, I’m social-networked-out. It happened sometime last year when I got an invitation to a different network each week. Now I get about three invitations a week, and I haven’t changed my mind about joining them.

I have a MySpace page, which I created just to see what it was all about and haven’t logged in for at least a year.

I have a Facebook account, and I do appreciate some of the features there (I love the birthday notifications – I have found out about my friends’ birthdays that I would have never known about. But, choosing applications to add to my account is a little confusing. Some are a waste of time, very few are valuable to me, and I have a small concern about what access I’m giving to others if I load an application.

I have a LinkedIn account, of course (I better, I just wrote a book titled "I’m on LinkedIn – Now What???"). I’m most comfortable in this space since I’ve spent the most time there. I’ve heard others say that LinkedIn is too old, obsolete, and left in the dust by newer networks (like Facebook), but the truth is, it still "does the job," and it does it well.

Aside from that, I really don’t accept invitations for other networks. The funny thing is, one of the hottest internet companies around allows YOU to create your own social network in about two minutes, for free! Just go to Ning.com and you can have a social network based around your family, business, industry, city or whatever else you can think of!

But don’t invite me to your social network, because I’ve already got my hands full. Nonetheless, I’d like to share 7 things to help you get the most out of whatever social networking you choose to do:

Have a purpose: Why are you on the social network? Is it to expand your network, keep track of their changes, or remind yourself to nurture the relationship? Some networks are going to be better than others for each of these purposes – but one of the keys is that other people join and connect with you.

Keep the proper perspective: these websites are just tools. They aren’t your networking silver bullet, and they won’t make all your wildest dreams come true. They are just tools… if nothing else, remember to go offline and network in person!

Realize you don’t need to be an early adopter: If you want to be an early adopter you’ll spend a lot of time setting up profiles on new networks, poking around, figuring out value… are you a software evaluator, or are you using these tools or a reason??

Don’t get sucked into the noise and hype: It’s easy to add new widgets, and poke around different features, and spend way too much time in your social network without really networking. Again, another time waster, in my opinion.

Fix your preferences: Do you want to log into the social network every day? Me neither. Check out the preferences to see if you can set up e-mail notifications for certain things. For example, in LinkedIn, you can set your account to send an e-mail to you when someone asks a question in Answers, but not send an e-mail when someone updates their profile.

Quit and decline: It’s okay if you stop using a social network, or if you delete your account and move on. And it’s okay if you ignore invitation requests, or don’t load the coolest new application. If your social network accounts become mental clutter, it’s probably best to just move on and network in a different manner. I give you permission.

Be in the right place, at the right time: You really need to have some kind of online presence. If you are in transition, or moving in that direction, you should have a complete account on LinkedIn (it’s free!), and an account on Facebook. Just by accepting connections you increase your visibility, and the chance that a recruiter or hiring manager will find you.

Are you social-networked-out? More importantly, what networks are you on, and where do you find real value? Shoot me and e-mail (don’t twitter me, don’t leave me a message on my wall, … I live out of my e-mail, not my social network).

Jason Alba is the job seeker's advocate (and aren't we all job seekers?). He got laid off in January 2006, just a few weeks after Christmas. Even though he had great credentials and it was a job-seeker’s market, Jason could hardly get a job interview. Finally he decided to step back and figure out the job search process, including trying to understand all of the available resources. Within a few months he had designed a personal job search tool, JibberJobber.com, which helps professionals manage career and job search activities the same way a salesman manages prospects and customer data. Get a free account at www.JibberJobber.com and begin managing your career right now. Jason blogs at www.JibberJobber.com/blog, recently celebrated his first blog birthday and a book called "I'm on LinkedIn -- Now What??" You can learn more about his book by clicking here.

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Is Anyone Else Getting Social-Networked Out?

Empowering Entrepreneurs

Kathy and Louis Emond, TNNW New England Bureau Chiefs

October's article...

This month we thought we’d share a networking experience that we have; actually, that we have created: The Empowering Entrepreneurs Speakers Series.

In May 2006, at a networking event, we heard from a colleague that he had joined with others in his local Texas network to present monthly business speakers. He and the others would have the opportunity to meet with prospects, and this would lead to new clients. Sounded like a good idea to us.

So we called several of our colleagues: a client who owns a WSI franchise, a CPA we met through BNI, and banker we met through the Nashua Chamber. Adding our expertise as Executive Coaches, we thought we had a good foundation to make useful presentations. We decided to hold these free events on the 2nd Thursday of every month, serve lunch, and provide networking time before and after the talks.

We would offer sponsorships to vendors who would provide discounts or freebies. We agreed to use local vendors as much as possible. We also agreed to allow non-sponsors to present speeches as long as: 1. they educated, but did not sell, and 2. they paid cost of the expenses of the session.

We shared the costs, created a website (www.nhbizspeakers.com'), approached Southern New Hampshire University to rent a room, developed a calendar of events, created a newsletter, and sent notices to our respective networks, and took advantage of the Chamber’s weekly newsletter to include the series once a month under the "Member Mentions." We have also sent notices to the local newspapers; however, we have not seen anyone come because of those announcements. We immediately had about 2000 names in our databases.

The Empowering Entrepreneurs Speakers Series was born. Our Mission is to educate, empower, and promote new and growing businesses in New Hampshire.

One of the more difficult things to judge is how many people would be interested, and this was no different. At our first session, we had 15 people, 3 more than we had predicted. We now attract at least 20, our maximum number was 50. We have new people at every session, who have spread the word to their networks. We now reach out to an estimated 3000 people every month.
The topics?

As for topics, we have covered: Marketing on the Internet, Cash Flow Management, Small Business Loans, Building Customer Loyalty, Improve Your Sales, and Strategic Planning. In the future, we will present Web 2.0, 'Nuts and Bolts' of Brand, and Office 2007...So Why All the Hype?

The results?

We know that attendees have enjoyed the networking; we sponsors, of course, have expanded our own networks; we have helped local vendors demonstrate their products and services to the business community. We consider the program a success. If you are nearby, join us!

The future?
We are planning an expansion of the Empowering Entrepreneurs Speakers Series to include evening sessions that will provide topics of interest to leaders in larger businesses.

The moral of the story? Educating, empowering, and promoting others’ businesses leads to educating, empowering, and promoting your own business.
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Empowering Entrepreneurs

The Laws of Relationship Capital, Part I: The First Law

By Adam J. Kovitz, CEO, Editor-in-Chief

Many of our readers may be wondering why this article is not entitled "Navigating on the Relationship Economy Sea, Part 2", considering last month’s article was Navigating on the Relationship Economy Sea, Part 1. I have made the executive decision to postpone this worthwhile discussion for a later issue as I have received much positive feedback (and questions) about my previous article Can Relationship Capital Solve the World’s Problems? I have to admit that the topic of Relationship Capital is one on which I spend much of my research and introspective time these days, especially based upon my work with RNIA. Therefore, I have decided to introduce the Laws of Relationship Capital - there are currently ten in all and I plan to discuss a different one each month. It is my hope through this series of articles to encourage discussion and debate amongst business leaders, academia, thought leaders and the socially and environmentally conscious who wish to benefit from networking. It is also my intention to discuss this at the "flying at 80,000 feet" as there is much more to each law than presented here.



Why Relationship Capital?

The reason more profits are all too often made at the expense of nature and humankind is the same reason dogs lick their privates…because they can! Relationship Capital (or Social Capital, as it is sometimes referred) has been getting more buzz as it addresses the need to link a profit-based system to personal accountability and integrity as well as corporate responsibility. Proponents of Relationship Capital feel that the current economic system cannot continue to be maintained and must therefore be constrained by mutually agreeable standards as well as personal and cultural value systems. In a truly-networked world, Relationship Capital provides the foundation of a healthy Relationship Economy.



The Good News

If the idea of Relationship Capital sounds a bit subversive, anti-establishment or even a bit too utopian you’re probably under the impression that an alternate economic system like Relationship Capital doesn’t already exist. The truth is that early forms of Relationship Capital are already here and under your very nose. Consider the frequent flyer mileage programs of every major airline as well as credit card rewards programs. Points = Products and Services = Relationship Capital; they can be exchanged. Still not convinced? Take a look at online social network Second Life, a virtual world where its citizens can earn "Linden Dollars" to buy property, start a virtual business, etc.



The First Law of Relationship Capital

Despite the fact that these alternative economic systems exist and serve as early models, the switch to Relationship Capital, if not done correctly, can be highly disruptive. This switch also requires an understanding of the Laws of Relationship Capital. We will cover the First Law this month:

All entities that are alive (or have ever lived) possess Relationship Capital.

Some Definitions

RNIA has defined Relationship Capital as "A measurement index based on RNIA[‘s Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK)] used to value an individual’s or an organization’s networking effectiveness." I define it more as a measurement of capacity, defining the ability to establish a relationship with others. I look at RNIA’s definition as more of the definition of Relationship Capital Value (RCV) in which, like with dollars, can be positive or negative.



The Implications

The First Law of Relationship Capital starts with biology. In biological taxonomy, the highest grouping of organisms is called a "kingdom". According to the First Law, no matter what kingdom you’re from (if you’re reading this, I hope you’re from the animal kingdom), you possess Relationship Capital: animal, plant, fungus, bacteria, etc.



For example, I recently shared the First Law with my wife, Wendy, and she asked, "Does that mean I have a relationship with my salad?" I answered her with an emphatic "yes" in that we develop relationships with all combinations of living organisms and each one brings value to us through Relationship Capital (in this case, food brings us sustenance, and therefore has value). Another example might include bacteria establishing a relationship with us, either positively as the cultures in yogurt are good for digestion or negatively as certain strains will make us sick.



What’s more is that entities can possess Relationship Capital even long after they’ve left this Earth. We’re not just talking the "I see dead people", esoteric kind of stuff, because it tends to be experiential and there is very little scientific proof of such things, although I suppose it is valid in certain circles. I am referring to the knowledge one can receive from reading up on the history of a particular individual’s mark on society, such as with Benjamin Franklin. Without ever having to know him, his works, deeds and actions bring a form of Relationship Capital in that we have gained insight and knowledge. Another example is the value we receive from burning fossil fuels which are the remains of plants and animals long gone so we can have power. If something possesses Relationship Capital, it can be valued.



When we look at the countless examples and permutations of human to human, human to animal, plant to animal, bacterial to fungal, etc., we can see many of our current sciences studying these relationship pairs, by setting up an Entity Relationship Matrix. It’s fascinating to me when I see that it’s no wonder we have sciences like sociology, psychology, paleontology, biology, archeology, anthropology, ecology and botany; they help explain our relationships between us and various organisms! Why? Because each brings value to us through the relationships we have with them. So the next time you sit down to lunch with a business colleague, you are not just networking with them, you’re networking with the fruits, vegetables and fungus that made up your salad, the animal(s), vegetables and various grains that make up your sandwich and a hopefully a minimal amount of bacteria (just to add color).



Summary

To reiterate, the purpose of this article is to give readers a top-level view of The First Law of Relationship Capital. There is, of course much more to this, including potential new research (or at least continuations of old research with a new perspective), new books, countless articles and perhaps a new academic field of study. The First Law of Relationship Capital suggests a world that is currently quite different from ours – one where fools and their money aren’t mutually exclusive and do not have to part, but where having money is about being human. Next month, we will take a look at the Second Law of Relationship Capital and its impact on a Relationship Economy. Stay tuned!

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The Laws of Relationship Capital, Part I: The First Law