My Journey into Networking — Getting Started

I’m sitting on my couch processing the past few days. I’ve just gotten home from a three day conference, and now sitting in front of me are a bunch of business cards and my phone with several LinkedIn notifications. “Okay, ” I think to myself, “I need to connect with these people, make sure this wasn’t all for not.” I begin with the LinkedIn messages, slowly going through sending messages with Lets chat later! and Let me know how that project turns out! I look at the business cards and immediately feel exhausted, so I tell myself it’s been a long day and I should take a break. The classic line of the procrastinator. I put off the cards for a day, and then a week, and before I know it it’s been a month and much to late to send a followup email.

Networking as a practical skill that if left unpracticed, becomes rusty quickly. So I start to think, how can I practice networking? How do I keep myself accountable? How do I grow my network? How do I create new connections?

Then it hits me. Set a goal to meet X number of people a year from now.


The Brainstorm

When networking the most important thing is the conversation. Debbie Madden wrote a wonderful piece on how focusing on the conversation can lead to better networking. My goal now, have meaningful conversations to improve myself and to meet new people.

The next hurdle: How many people? There are 52 weeks in a year and realistically, I can’t find someone new every week. Half that would be 26 people. The nicest number closest to that is 25.

25 people, 25 cups of coffee, $125 spent on coffee in a year.

Tapping into my Current Network

The best place to start any search is in the network you already have. Diving into my LinkedIn, looking to the connections I’ve made but never really connected with. Making a preliminary list of potential people I look it up and down. It’s at this point where I have the first moment of doubt.

Why would people be willing to meet with me? Why am I worth their time?

Truthfully, I don’t know the answers to these questions. But I do know that I have to try. That if I don’t ask, my answer is already no.

Before I can think anymore, I pick someone on the list and send a message. Breathing a sigh of relief I close my laptop and await a response.


25 Cups of Coffee

As of this initial post I’ve been able to meet with two people and am excited to connect with many more. If you are an individual looking to connect I would love to talk to you! Connect with me on Instagram @Kaitlin31415!

Kaitlin de Chastelain Finnigan

Written by

Computer science student and developer passionate about technological literacy. Connect with me on Instagram: @ Kaitlin31415

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