Personal Vs. Professional Relationships

If you have valuable connections within your network then you need to be in constant communication them. Your network does not have to be large for it to be valuable, often times the best connections are unexpected and small. How do you know that you have a valuable network? It's when you don't have to ask repeatedly for support. 

Negative Outcomes of reaching out to your network:

Hosting an event:

If you are one to host events often and your events play a major role in how you market your business but no one in your network shows, how are they valuable connection?

Selling or offering a product or service:

You suggest or ask for individuals to share your product even it they are not interested. If no one even shares the product or services that you have, then they are not a valuable connection?

Starting a new business or venture:

You request that your connections, give a advice, give suggestions, feedback or referrals. You could ask family or friends and receive little to absolutely no responses at all. Your family and friends are exactly just that. They are not apart of your networking circle.

Keep in mind that each example that I shared does not eliminate those individuals from becoming a valuable connection it just means that they are not a valuable connection at the moment.

As a professional in general, we must be able to understand that a personal relationship and a professional relationship are different. I'm learning that you can have a personal relationship with individuals and it can be merely just that. I've also learned that if you have a professional relationship with the people who you are connected with then there is a certain level of respect given. When you have a personal and professional relationship with people that you are connected with, those people are your most valuable connections. You can accomplish so much with people when you have their respect and their friendship.

Be Blessed,

Mrs. N.B.S