A Simple Strategy to Build a Fail-Proof System
Why complicate things? Use a simple 3-step formula to create the perfect system that works every time with strategic networking.
Read Time: 3 Minutes
A few years ago, as the world was emerging from the Covid pandemic, I was struggling with networking.
Networking became very complex and I was floundering.
My mind was bombarded with questions regarding this new world we were living in …
Was it ok to attend in-person networking events or not?
Was my time best spent networking with face-to-face meetings, on Zoom, or through social media?
What do I do with all these new networking services, tools, and apps that were springing up everywhere?
There were so many options and services to choose from.
So, I tried them all.
Strike One
I tried to do everything, meet everyone, and be everywhere.
I was busier than ever and my schedule was non-stop with networking activities.
But, I wasn’t making valuable connections nor engaging with my target audience.
My networking efforts floundered.
Soon, I realized the problem …
I didn’t have a system.
And the big, bad wolf came along and blew my straw house networking efforts down.
It was the last straw.
Strike Two
The second time around, I designed a system.
The system I designed had me consistently reaching out to new connections, post daily on LinkedIn and Twitter, and going to 2 - 3 networking events per week.
But I couldn’t sustain the pace of the system and soon gave up.
Once again, the big, bad wolf came along and blew my stick house system down.
The problem?
It didn’t stick.
Third Time's a Charm
I knew I was close.
This time, I designed a system that I believed was sustainable.
I started with small activities and focused on consistency.
Being consistent turned into routines.
And my new routines strengthened my system.
I tested the system vigorously:
Personality testing with my professional networking
Experimental testing with my business networking
A/B testing with my social networking
I closely and continuously reviewed my results.
I made adjustments.
It worked.
The Design, Test, and Stick-to-it strategy is my house built of brick.
The D+T+S Model
The system I designed was simple and practical:
DESIGN a system
TEST & make adjustments to your system
STICK to your system
A lot of us design or pick our system (that’s the fun part)
Only a few of us actually test the system or make adjustments (that takes work)
And virtually no one sticks to the system (think New Year’s resolutions)
A good system works.
It’s the people that fail.
I hope you enjoyed my storytelling for this week - my version of the Three Little Pigs.
Have a great weekend!
- Mike
LinkedIn Connections
Connecting is a two-way street on LinkedIn.
By connecting with someone on LinkedIn you'll both be able to see each other's shares and updates on your LinkedIn feed.
You will also be able to send them direct messages.
Following is a one-way street.
Following someone on LinkedIn allows you to see the person's posts and articles on your homepage without being connected to them. However, the person you're following won't see your posts.
You can have unlimited followers but you can only have a maximum of 30,000 connections on LinkedIn.
When connecting with people on LinkedIn, keep in mind …
LinkedIn Connection Request Message can be generic or personalized
They can be withdrawn from the My Network page
It’s recommended to “…only accept invitations to connect from people you know” - LINKEDIN
They expire after six months
Let’s take a look at the different ways people are connecting on LinkedIn today…
Want to learn more about networking on LinkedIn?
Check out my new LINKEDIN COURSE:
Strategic Networking on LinkedIn with a FREE Account
As I continue to explore how AI can help with strategic networking, I will occasionally share insights on some of the cool AI tools I come across.
Featured AI partner: Castmagic
Castmagic transcribes your files, removes filler words, and splits content by speakers.
Here are the 6 most popular use cases for Castmagic.
Coaching: Generate worksheets, plans, and summary reports for coaching sessions.
Customer Discovery: Learn from your customers and generate reports.
Podcast: Turn your podcast into an email, blog post, social media post, and more.
Sales Calls: Generate sales call summaries and follow-up emails in seconds.
Internal Meetings: Quickly pull themes, topics, and action items from meetings.
Youtube Videos: Find clips, hooks, and quotes from YouTube videos in seconds.
Do you know of any amazing AI tools that can help professionals with networking?
Please let me know!
Join us virtually!
Participate in our weekly networking event on Zoom where we discuss networking strategies, connect with professionals, and share valuable tips.
There is no cost to participate.
NEXT NETWORKING EVENT: May 15th, 2024, 12:00 - 1:00PM EST
Topic: Strategic Networking Tips & Strategies
Live Networking: We connect participants with Zoom Advanced Polls
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