6) We unknowingly make important connections while just “being”
Last year, I had the honor of attending a very small Marine Corps ball hosted by Messina Hof Winery in Bryan, Texas. By very small, I mean there were roughly 100 guests. The guest of honor was none other than former Commandant General Hagee himself. His wife was also in attendance. Of the other guests in attendance, only ten were active duty along with their ten wives. Guess who was immediately singled out by General Hagee and his wife? Mrs. Hagee, making conversation, casually asked me,
“What do you do?” I lightly chuckled and replied, “Oh, I’m just a wife. I take care of the kids, and I write books.” Her eyes got wide and she told me, “You’re never just a wife. Next time, lead with the books.” Now, I don’t know if it was her or not, but that night I sold two books online. (Two books is a big deal to a starving writer!) Aside from the fact that she was so right- we are never JUST spouses- the fact that she, the wife of a former commandant, acknowledged that I am a writer was an eye opener to me.
If we would just “be” who we are instead of what our title is, we might find that people around us- people with keys to bigger things- are noticing what we have to offer.
Networking- real, hands on networking- is more than just online work. While online networking can, and does, help significantly, it generally takes more. We’ve got this down. We can chat with the brass just as easily as we drink with the boots, and networking in your community isn’t any different than that.
