It s a shame I've been sitting on this book for about two years now. A friend of mine gave me Never Eat Alone , by Keith Ferrazzi a couple years ago (thanks Rey), and it s been on my bookcase ever since. It was resting there not because I didn't want to read it, but because I already had so many others in the pipeline. I finally got around to reading it last month and I definitely recommend it. In very simple terms, Ferrazzi explains why networking is important and how to do it. From how to make call lists to planning dinners to personal branding to goal setting, it s all here. He also maintains a valuable blog .
Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
The Fox and The Grapes reminds me very much about how consumerism has placed us in a perpetual sense of dissatisfaction. In our constant effort to keep up with the Jones’ we forget to cherish the things we do have in front of us, whether it be material, spiritual, emotional, or community. My perfectionism is as much a weakness as it is one of my strengths. I have to thank a friend of mine who told me in the not-to-distant past that my desire to plan and execute everything so meticulously will prevent me from enjoying the process. True story. Always strive for better, but never forget to enjoy where you are and what you have now.
#10. Beg For Followers
Begging for followers is one of the easiest ways to turn people off. Twitter is a community, be part of it. It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality.
#9. Randomly Jump In Conversations
If you’re going to hop in a conversation, please make sure that what you’re saying is relevant
#8. Follow Everyone
Twitter can be exciting when you first get introduced to it, but don’t go following everybody. It makes it look like you are just searching for others to follow you.
#7. Tweet Everything
We don’t need to know every move you make.
#6. Forget About Direct Messages
When a conversation only involves two people, why make the entire dialogue public? Sometimes it’s better to send a direct message.
#5. Auto-Tweet
Many social media outlets allow you to auto-tweet everything you do. Between Facebook, Wordpress, Myspace (Does anybody still use Myspace?), Tumblr, Picasa, Flickr, etc., your Twitter profile will quickly approach SPAM status.
#4. Initiate SPAM
Simply not cool
#3. Forward SPAM
Apple does not need your help testing a product that’s already been out a year. They have a huge research department that conducts market research BEFORE a product launches. Stop telling me about how you got a “FREE iPad!!!!” Real copywriters rarely use that many exclamation points when writing copy.
#2. Choose A Weak Password
Makes #4 and #3 easier for those who don’t practice social media etiquette.
#1. Be Fake
Just like in real life, it’s just weird, and people will figure you out.