Some Notes on Networking

Ellsberg, in his book, The Education of Millionaires, provides some strong insights on networking.  Having received his book deal, a Forbes column, and speaking gigs through his ability to network, Ellsberg firmly believes that networking boils down to how you can add Value to other peoples lives. Here are some notes from this column:

1. Use your strengths to add value: Ellsberg is a great writer and marketer so, for people he wanted to add to his network, he would offer to write a 1-page clear and attractive description of their product or service. 
2. Value can come in different forms: Ellsberg would give people recommendations about nutrition, exercise, and relationships, among other things. 
3. Another way you can add significant value is by connecting two people (physically or electronically) that could be of help each other. (Note: Make sure this is valuable to both parties)

This, while novel and helpful advice, is incomplete by itself. Let's compare the practice of networking to the practice of marketing a product. Ellsberg had only focused on marketing (networking) after he had developed a valuable product (his writing and business savvy). This advice needs another step, or, more accurately, a pre-step: Don't develop your marketing abilities (networking) without developing your product (What skills you have//what you can bring to the table).  

This leads us into the world of Cal Newport and Study Hacks. His philosophy encourages us to go down the arduous and rewarding road of mastery (by practicing deliberately) so that you become So Good You Can't Be Ignored -- that is, become so valuable that people are taking networking courses to try to meet you. 

Ellsberg's (and general networking) advice for people who are already diligent, gregarious, and interesting (which is a small percentage of the population, I'm aware), begins to plateau at the point when we're not valuable enough to attract the people we want to meet. Then it's time to sharpen our product, that is, to become more valuable.