So often, when we’re on stage or after, conference attendees ask how I manage a large network and if being so connected is really “all that”. Isn’t it better to know everyone you’re connected to?
Work with me here. Think back on your life and of all the most successful people you know. Weren’t the most successful also the best connected? I’m not talking online here, I’m talking real life!
If you’ve been reading my recent posts, you’ll notice a pattern where I’ve talked a lot about connectedness. Because winning–anywhere you win–is helped along by who you know, what resources you have access to, how much support you can muster. And it is not always about who you know, but who they know!
In February, my partner, Mike O’Neil, was researching my place in the world. It was Mike who discovered my standing on LinkedIn. A blog post had to happen, and to date, it is the most retweeted post we have published.
If being connected was not important, what would explain the popularity of the posts about building your network, connecting to other professionals, and finding the most connected people?
Here’s what happened and where we were and where we all stand now five months later:
| July 2010 | February 2010 | |
| 1. | Stacy Donovan Zapar #9 | Stacy Donovan Zapar #15 |
| 2. | Sheree Ruland #46 | Sheree Ruland #46 |
| 3. | Mukta Kanojia #59 | Jenny (Voigt) DeVaughn #64 |
| 4. | Judith Miller #63 | Judith Miller #69 |
| 5. | Mary Leeds #65 | Mukta Kanojia #77 |
| 6. | Jenny (Voigt) DeVaughn #66 | Jessica Max #84 |
| 7. | Vanessa Coussens #88 | Mary Leeds #85 |
| 8. | Jessica Max #90 | Vanessa Coussens #92 |
| 9. | Lori Ruff #122 | Lori Ruff #138 |
| 10. | Lisa Maria Mikkelsen #148 | Lisa Rokusek #141 (now #156) |
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You can see that there has been some shuffling of spaces and standings overall, and not just among the women. The point is, that if being connected wasn’t important, and if people didn’t find value in it, we wouldn’t continue to WORK to grow our networks.
Think about it.
Leave a comment below. How are you building your network?
Need advice? Check out my last post with solid advice to do just that.
