This week, at the Wall Street protests in New York City, I met a very likable man named Eric Smith. Although trained as a chef, Eric has been unemployed for a year.
The next day, I read on Cynopsis TV (a publication about the television industry) that a New York City based show was casting for the role of an unemployed chef. Immediately, I thought of Eric and just how perfect he would be for the part, but regrettably I had no way of contacting him.
Lesson: You never know when someone might be helpful to you. It’s all about networking.
So often we meet new people in passing and have great one-off conversations. After leaving these conversations something often clicks or opportunities present themselves and you wish you had a way to contact that interesting person you met in the park last week…
Make it easy for people to find you! Have a business card to hand out at all times. They are cheap to create (you can do it at home), they don’t take up much space and can easily be stashed in a drawer or glove box.
Better yet, ask people for their card and send them a follow up email. It will prompt them to keep you in mind and will make it easy for them to contact you in the future.
It’s all about networking today—don’t miss a chance! Eric, if you are reading this, please call me.
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photo credit: H is for Home via photopin cc