This former colleague of my wife's always used to say the same thing about networking: just one step away from notworking. I'm not really sure what that meant, but it is a hideously sticky saying, so I decided to infect share it with you.
I'm not going to sit here and pontificate about how you need to network. You already know that, you've heard it a million times, and you're either doing it or your not. The truth is, I hate it as much as anybody, and often have to be dragged kicking and screaming into being social, as one of my former law partners likes to point out. (Haven't seen her in a while, hmm.)
All I want to say about networking is two things. The first is that networking absolutely adheres to the old saying, "you've got to dig your well before you're thirsty." (Stuck in the middle of an historic drought here in North Carolina, that saying cuts a little close to the bone.) In fact, there is even a whole book about it by a guy named Harvey Mackay. The book is called, "Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty" and perhaps unsurprisingly, contains the solid advice that -- you guessed it -- you should DIG YOUR WELL BEFORE YOU'RE THIRSTY. There, you just saved yourself $12. Sorry, Harvey.
The other thing I want to bring up is that there are tools available to help you in networking. They're easy to use and remove a lot of the unpleasantness of networking -- that feeling that you are being slimy and just trying to sell your wares. All of these tools fall under the general heading of social networking (unless you have been locked in the biosphere, I'm sure you've heard that term) and includes offerings like MySpace, FaceBook, etc.
Before you groan about how those sites are for 13 year olds, I am NOT trying to talk you into building a MySpace page. No, the gateway drug for professionals into social networking (and the best place for you to start) is with LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a social networking site designed entirely for people with jobs who want to use the site for professional networking. You're not going to find it populated with 13 year olds and wannabe rockstars. Just a bunch (and it is a BIG bunch) of folks looking to network professionally.
The great thing about LinkedIn is that everyone who uses it is there for the same reason: professional networking. So, there is no feeling of slimy salesiness about connecting up with folks you know. It really does break down a huge barrier a lot of people (including myself) have with networking. The technology is easy to learn, and it is not one of those sites where you are too late to join the party. It's still in the upswing and there are new lawyers (and potential clients) joining everyday.
If you decide to join, you can find me here. I'll be your first connection. It's that easy. And it's only one step from notworking. Whatever that means.
