Spend an afternoon with a 3-year-old child and you will be exposed to a number of “memorable” facts about life, applied here to networking. Keep in mind that play is a child’s “work.”
- Play with unbridled enthusiasm.
- Smile a lot.
- Let your passion show through.
- Wave when it strikes you.
- Make friends easily.
- Take on challenges without over thinking.
We all need to play. Even when we work. “Just do it” makes whatever you do that much more effortless. As she ran around the play yard, it was apparent that she dealt with things as she came upon them and wasn’t afraid to do something.
Smiles were automatic–and contagious. Even those of us adults around the kids that day talked with each other more easily and with lots of smiles. It is a universal language.
Passion? No kidding. She played with boundless energy and abandon. And she really didn’t want the day to end.
As she played, whenever she saw someone, she waved at them. It was interesting to see who responded to this friendly child. About 90% of the time, people smiled and waved back. Gives you hope for mankind.
Running and playing with people doing the same thing makes it easy to make friends. As with your networking circles, it is easy to make friends in a group–all you have to do is wave and smile.
When it comes to challenges–going into a room full of strangers, for example–take them on, without thinking if you can. You will be surprised how much you can accomplish when you let your guard down even a little bit.
So, thinking like a 3 year old can work. Think and act effortlessly.
Relentless
