Networking

I had breakfast with a dear friend and colleague this morning. We get together every couple of months just to reconnect and provide mutual support. We share frustrations, learn about latest joys and concerns, and give each other advice. The meeting reminded me of how important networking is to small business owners.

Networking is an over-used terms that instills in many people (including me) the fear of being thrown into a group of strangers, giving elevator pitches, and collecting business cards. Such group networking does have a place for expanding a range of contacts getting potential referrals.

But the more important network is the relatively small group of people you know and like, and whose counsel you savor and judgment you trust. Including the friend that I met with today, there are fewer than a dozen people that I  meet with frequently. We all have connections that are helpful to one another. When we meet we part company re-energized. We are able to share common concerns and walk away with fresh perspectives.