Networking can be defined as the practice of building relationships and exchanging information with others to create mutually beneficial connections. I recognized the value of networking at a young age and have tried to instill that understanding in my children as well.
Many have reminded me that who you know can get you in the door, and what you know will keep you there. I have seen evidence of this in my career.
Thank you, 4-H
I credit much of this skill of networking to my years in 4-H and being on our county horse judging team. Our coach would take us across my home state of Kansas to compete, and we would travel to national contests in Texas and Oklahoma. I was building relationships with my peers and adults within the industry.
My first college adviser was one of those people I met while being on the judging team. Decades later in Idaho, I was having my horse shod and the farrier was good friends with that adviser when they lived in Manhattan. Talk about a small world. Making connections like this happens a lot within the agriculture industry.
It goes both ways
While I have benefited from building relationships, I also want to be able to reciprocate. As I’ve gotten older and further in my career, I find it just as satisfying to reach into my network and share that knowledge with others. It’s gratifying to see someone with a need and be able to guide them to a resource. Recently, I saw an announcement for contract video work and reached out to someone whose work I follow and admire. I thought he would be a good fit for the position and sent him the notice.
The road to success
It’s the ability to introduce yourself and meet other people and their willingness to build those relationships as well that keep the world moving forward in a positive direction.
None of us operate in this industry as an island, and learning how to collaborate, communicate and exchange ideas respectfully are the skills needed to maintain good relationships that lead to success for all of us.
As you look to the final weeks of the year and into 2025, think about your personal and professional network. How can you use it to meet your individual goals, and how can you be a relationship builder for others?
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