NETWORKING 101

The following is an excerpt from “Confessions of an Introvert - The Shy Girl’s Guide to Business Success” by Meghan Wier. Preorders of Confessions of an Introvert will be taken starting in September 2005. For more information, write to meghanwier@meghanwier.com .

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. - Jane Howard

Depending on your background, profession, location and needs, “networking” will mean something unique to you. Whatever that is, you will ultimately find networking to be profoundly rewarding, professionally and personally.

As an introvert you have an advantage and natural strength in networking—yes, I said “advantage”! While introverts may not make as many contacts, they tend to make stronger relationships with the contacts you do have.

I would rather have 100 really great contacts, many of whom I consider friends, all of whom I could count on in a tough situation, than 1,000 names in card file, who wouldn’t recognize my name, or go out of their way to help me out. Wouldn’t you?