Build your Rolodex Fast - and for a good cause

On Thursday June 21, I am MC-ing the Diamonds and Dynamite Gala for Leadership Peel in Mississauga, Ontario.

$75 gets you in the door and a chance to rub shoulders with with influential people. (description below)

The thing about networking is that no one does it until they need to...and then you come off looking desperate. Put your suit on, sign up for a ticket and meet some people who may change your life. And let me know if you are coming, I'll introduce you around!

Speakers include: Art Lockhart, proponent of restorative justice, founder of The Gatehouse (a safe environment where abused children can talk) and CAVE (that re-directs graffiti artist talent to beautify neighbourhoods); Michael Clarke, recipient of the Order of Canada for his work with disenfranchised people, founder of The DAM Youth Drop-in in Mississauga (that dams the flow of youth to the predatory cities) and former Peel Police investigator; Mike Rosenberg - The Flexible Thinker and founder of Leadership Peel; Bonnie Crombie, Gala Chair for Credit Valley Hospital, past Vice-Chair of Mayor McCallion’s Task Force on the Arts and GTA Co-Chair of Michael Ignatieff's Leadership Campaign. Bonnie is running for MP in Mississauga-Streetsville in the next federal election.

Master of Ceremonies is: Dave Howlett, VP Corporate Development in Life sciences for MAGNES Group, former naval officer, distinguished toastmaster, commercial diver, scuba & marathon trainer. Dave has completed 12 marathons and 3 Ironman Triathlons and is host of the GTA’s celebrated KNOCKING DOWN SILOS networking seminars.

National anthem will be sung by Savithri Sastri and entertainment provided by dancing duo: Mercedes Bernardez (Argentinian ballet master and new Canadian) and visiting Cuban choreographer, Jose Carret, who will perform salsa.

Are "good guys" born or are they made?

"More men become good through practice than by nature"

Democritus of Abdera

Maintaining your Network and keeping it warm

Hi Dave:

It has been a little while since I have touched base with you. I hope everything is going well for you, personally and professionally. I am doing well, but having some difficulty trying to maintain my network, though I did put 2 former colleagues in touch with a head hunter. I continue to average 2 thank you cards a week, but sometime it is 4 one week and 0 the next.

Please let me know if there is anything that I can do. Otherwise, I will endeavour to stay in touch from time to time.

Doug

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Hey Doug - great to hear from you. In fact, this is such a great topic, I'll put you in my blog today. You're absolutely right to be convinced of the importance of maintaining your network.

There is a tendency to let your Rolodex "cool-off" until you need something (e.g. sales, a job etc) and then you are perceived as a "B" friend (people only hear from you when you need something). The trick is to touch (or "ping" as my friend Glen Davis says) folks occasionally and give them something of value.

If you think about it, people do this naturally by calling "just to say hi", emailing a joke, forwarding a clipping or inviting someone out to play golf.

May I offer one other way?

If you are reading this blog, you likely have attended one of my Knocking down Silo events.

I'm just planning a series of Knocking down Silos across Canada.

One way to keep your networking going is to invite them to come to one of these interactive evenings. If they come, you know they will receive huge value. meet lots of interesting people to expand their own network. Even if they can't make it, talking about KDS gives you an excuse to call if you haven't "pinged" them in a long time.

And Doug, good for you for keeping those cards going. That kind of thing makes you a better person and lets your friends, family and clients know you appreciate them. It's been 6 months since you and I met and I'm impressed you have made this part of your lifestyle.

You're definitely "a good guy."

Cheers,

Dave