I don’t know about you, but if I were one of those high-wire act guys, I wouldn’t be working without a net. While it’s cool and ballsy to be up there tempting fate, I’d rather know I could bounce back up to the wire should I fall and get to try the walk all over again.
Working without a net(work) is just as foolish. Because working with and relying on your net(work) is far more realistic and fun. And it beats Hell out of being alone.
I heard another one of those “I found my next job in the supermarket aisle” stories the other day. My friend, Julie, told me when she left her last job after a number of years, she took her severance package and walked out the door to do some traveling. Seriously, as she was out and about one day, a banker friend suggested she call a mutual acquaintance at a newly formed company (a spinoff of her just-left company). After a few phone calls and some face-to-face interviews she had two offers inside the company. The elapsed time from layoff to hire on that one was pretty short. And all because she kept in touch with key people in her network. Julie realized that:
- If you stay in touch in your industry, people remember you.
- Being known keeps you being wanted.
- The circle of influence in most any industry is small–and it pays to be in that circle on a regular basis.
Be known within your company and in the industry. Socialize with your peers and industry insiders. Know your subject matter. Write, speak or comment. The more visible you are on a REGULAR BASIS, the less downtime you will have between gigs.
Relentless
