I know it sounds cheesy, but I think that your networking philosophy parallels “How to make friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie. Written in the 30s, it’s a damn classic.

And regarding networking: what about thinking of it as bringing rock-stars into your social circle, not necessarily an exploitative relationship?

Sure, it might work better–and yet it’s rather hollow–I don’t want to be a transactional machine… I’d rather be a guy who knows a few select people who are really hard working, really responsible, and in diversely different areas… that way they’re my friends, not just acquaintances…

(and this from a guy you’ve called one of the best networkers you know ;)

And yeah–if someone tracks favors–that’s a sure sign of a bad networker. If I can’t trust you to put others first, I don’t want you in my network ’cause I can’t trust you’ll put other people I intro you to first…

It all seemed like a backwards speed dating event thus I found it awesome. The place was abound with socially retarded people and the type of people that watch every communication step they make. You know those type of people that try so hard to press a facade of professionalism on to you in hopes of making it look like they have value.

I realized that outside of this setting regardless of their business ‘rank’ i wouldnt want to meet most of these people.

You can learn by doing, through trial and error…or if and when it’s possible, you can learn from someone else — and one way is to read.

A business frat bro might read the book, looking for “secrets” to squeezing the most out of people. But someone who’s coming from a good place would read it in hopes that they could enrich their relationships even more. As with everything, it depends on the reader’s interpretation. Just because a few idiots have read a book doesn’t mean it should be dismissed as a book for idiots.

In fact, I guarantee the people in the business fraternity are all big fans of it.

Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone, wrote:

“I didn’t think of it as cold and impersonal, the way I thought of networking. I was, instead, connecting — sharing my knowledge and resources, time and energy, friends and associates, and empathy and compassion in a continual effort to provide values to others, while coincidentally increasing my own.”

That is how people should approach “networking,” but not many people do… “connecting.”

Great post!

Keep up the good thoughts, I look forward to more.