Are your friends' friend your friend?

Just started a new business or thinking of starting one? Planning to switch your job and looking out for better opportunities? Or simply looking for a good tailor in town? It helps to know as many people as you can. Dont give the excuse that you are too shy or you dont need anybody. The truth is you do. To be successful you need to network.

Amway, QuestNet and other network franchises have become billion dollor companies by implementing the concept of network in their business model. Unfortunately over the years, these companies have focused on generating income by adding new members rather than on selling their products. This has brought a repulsive reputation to the concept of networking and is often viewed with suspicion.

To me, a network is a direct or indirect connection of friendship of individual to every other individual with the objective of helping each other out, which is also the meaning of friendship. The more connections two individuals have the more trust they have in each other. Hence the objective of a network is to make as many connections and and keeping in touch with as many people as you can in your daily life.

You can network anywhere any everywhere. It may be online on sites like facebook or Orkut. It may be offline when you attend parties and events. You dont always need a friend to introduce yourself to new people and make friends, although and intro from a mutual friend does give some credibility. In any case, you have to have a good introduction line and have even better delivery. With this, you can just walk up to anybody and make friends.

You shouldn't ignore anybody. Your gardener, milkman, shopkeeper, ex-girlfriends etc at times are respected people who know a lot of people(say their clients). Keeping good relationship with them could prove valuable in the future.

So the next time, you are on facebook and there is a friend suggestions or a "Do you know?" alert, just add them as your friend without thinking twice.