Keith Ferrazzi Changed My Life

One of the reasons I didn’t network early in my job search was because I was afraid of n.e.t.w.o.r.k.i.n.g.

What an ugly word.

What does “hey, let’s go network!” mean to you?  Is it like “hey, let’s go sell used cars!”  Or, “hey, let’s go find the one awesome contact who is going to be surrounded by dozens of duds!” Or, “hey, let’s go schmooze with a bunch of people, collect their business cards, and never contact them again!”

I didn’t want to network because I didn’t understand what networking meant.

Not to spoil Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi’s book, but he completely redefined networking as “building intimate relationships.”  That’s right, intimate.

Never Eat Alone completely COMPLETELY changed how I went about my job search.  Subsequently, it had a significant impact on WHAT JibberJobber would become (in JibberJobber you can rank the strength of your relationship with your contacts, as well as each company and job), and HOW I interact with people today, as a business owner.

I’m comfortable saying that Keith Ferrazzi changed my life.  And it’s the #1 networking book I recommend.  (#2 is Thom Singer’s Some Assembly Required – it is a different, excellent book that complements Keith Ferrazzi’s book).

So, number one task for you is to GET and READ Never Eat Alone (my local library has three copies, which are usually checked out).

Number two, if you want to learn from Keith himself, is to register for the $50 Experts Connection teleseminar this Wednesday at 4 – 5pm EST.  Register here. This is the description of the telesememinar:

Building Relationships for Career Success in a Downturn Market:

Class Description: Today’s economic environment makes it easier for people to lose their sense of direction and more people are looking for solutions. The answer remains that all of life’s successes are about people.  No matter your goal in life, networking can help you achieve it. It is about knowing the right people for the right reasons – not just because you shook their hand at a corporate event.  When you base your networking on generosity and friendships, the doors you never knew were there will open. These relationships are driven by intimacy, transparency, generosity and accountability.

In this 60 minute session you will learn to:

• Identify people who can help you achieve career goals.
• Build and broadcast unique personal brands to stand out in the crowded marketplace.
• Ensure the people and resources in your own “back yard” are contributing to your success.
• Approach and engage mentors for guidance along the many paths of your career, culminating in a dynamic personal board of advisors.
• Develop a Relationship Action Plan to guide your actions and track progress.

I have not heard Keith Ferrazzi talk – I hope his presentation is as good as his book (regardless, read the book!).  If you attend, let me know what you think!

This blog post is brought to you by JibberJobber Partner and Career Connections sponsor Career Resumes.  Career Resumes specializes in writing professional and executive resumes, and has provided resume services for Monster, TheLadders, Netshare and more.  Career Resumes also provides LinkedIn Profile Makeover services.