The Kindness Conversations - #121 (+playlist)

Your network determines your networth

Dear friends, today we shall be discussing a powerful and resourceful tool in the hands of a progressive minded folk - Your network determines your net worth. Before we proceed in this discussion, let's see the relativity of the term network and net worth. Permit me to use the accounting and tax concepts to analyse the relativity of network and net worth Network can be liken to a group ors system of interconnected people or things, while net worth can be liken to the sum total of a person's wealth. In accounting and tax in order to know the net pay any person is entitled to, you must take off the taxes from the gross pay which he/she has worked for. In that same vein, in determining your net worth via your network, one has to apply the words of Benjamin Franklin "Be civil to all, be social to many and familiar to few" By applying the "elimination" method, you have to decide who are the most productive of your friends/associates. By doing this, you will know how rich and viable your network is. Therefore, your gross pay is the total money you worked for- (everybody in your network), while your net pay belongs to your (resource bosom buddies) after the taxes(bandwagon) have been applied or taken out.

In determining your network we shall be looking at various quotes and sayings, because these are the yardstick that can be used to access a person's "value". It is no longer news that, most folks are been judged by the kind of company they keep. In discussing this word network and network, we shall be discussing the component parts of network with aim of seeing how we can use it for our benefit and in turn making us more resourceful.

Networking: In this present age and century, you can never underestimate the power of networking. This is because research has shown that most folks do get jobs, opportunities, favors etc via networking. Networking can be seen and used in various ways. In this context, we shall be using it to enrich our knowledge and wealth. For example, research has shown that, folks who use LinkedIn when seeking job have been more favorable than folks who merely applied for the job. This is because LinkedIn folks who have an online presence/contacts on their list have been able to create a familiar relationship with folks of interest, thereby creating a prospective opportunity for job opportunities.  Again, LinkedIn helps headhunters to reach out to their desired and preferred candidates for available job openings within their area of interest. It is generally said, it is who you know that gets you the job, yes I agree to some extent, however, I feel,  that is a step closer to the job, more work needs to be done. I say this because networking has really gone viral the norm is longer who you know, but who knows you. Yes, you know about Bill gates, President Obama, etc the question then is, do they know you". Who you know might get you to the door, but who knows you will not only let you in, but will in addition give you a seat. Networking does not really entail meeting people at events, it also means using the resourceful social media tools like Facebook, twitter, google plus etc to reach out to folks. Its quite unfortunate most folks use social media for fun, yes it can be fun, however most folks have used it as learning and informational tools. It may interest you to know that, while writing this blog I received a call from a very prominent man in Nigeria - Dele Momodu- a former presidential aspirant, an international journalist/publisher .The question now is how did I meet him. I met him on social medial, and ever since them, we have best of  friends. The events you attend goes a long way to show your interest and passion in addition to how successful you will be in life. This is because, you are investing your time and resources into the right place. Most folks are not comfortable paying for events which will take them to the next stage of their career, but will be comfortable paying for movies, parties, having fun etc. Make no mistake, such activities are good, but they should be moderated and balanced because whatsoever is good for the geese is also good for the gander.

In order for you to enrich your network, you must first of all identify what you want and how to go about it, Networking does not really entail going to events, you must be specific on what kind of events you want to attend and the kind of folks you would like to meet. According to  Alfred Montapert  "To accomplish great things, we must first dream, then visualize, and then believe and act".It should be noted that great things don't really happen to ordinary people who sit down and expect things to happen, hell no! They must start up and make it real, this they can  do by taking the early morning worms, networking with the right set of people . Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi rightly captured it when he said " for better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real. Having said that, it should be noted that, you can't be doing the same thing everyday and expect a different result. Therefore it is highly advisable, we leave our comfort zones and do the needful. Life has not promised us an easy road, but it definitely promises us at the end its worth the efforts invested.

Reading Books:  We cannot underestimate the power of reading books in this 21st century. Networking is not only limited to attending events and exchanging business cards. Research has shown that folks who spend at least two thirds of their time reading about successful people, doing research, and making efforts to get knowledge are more likely to be accepted and valued in the society in addition to having an increasing net worth both in terms of finance and otherwise than folks who attended events and a had the opportunity to acquaint with relevant stakeholders in the sector. This is because, they are voracious readers who have read about their company, their policies and what they stand for. In order for you to increase your net worth and acceptability in the society, your level of information/knowledge must be put to test. This is because, before you know about a particular field or person, you must be well informed and acquainted with the relevant information or matter.The saying, knowledge is power is no gimmick. According to Francis Bacon, Writing maketh an exact man, conference maketh a ready man, but reading maketh a full man. It should be noted that you cannot increase your net worth and network without having the resourceful information which will distinguish you from the ordinary folks. According to Samuel Johnson, "Knowledge is of two kinds, it is either you know the answer or you know where to find it". And finally,  we cannot underestimate the power of information. Information increases the net worth and fortune of a person. Information is indeed power, because if you are not informed, you are deformed and once you are deformed, you can't perform, because information leads to reformation and transformation. Charlie Tremendous had this to say,  "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things the people you meet and the books you read". We can conclusively deduce that a person cannot have a successful net worth without a balancing information or academic knowledge on a subject matter  of interest.

Resourceful friends:  There is a popular society saying, show me your friends and I tell you who you  are. Am inclined to believe this saying. This is because you can identify a bird by the company it keeps.  A person's worth can be increased or decreased due to the caliber of people in his/her circle. Having productive friends who are not only knowledgeable and well informed on a subject matter but are also  mentally and financially stable helps to increase the net worth of  a person. Having resourceful friends will no doubt shape the future and net worth of a person. This is because, your friends will either make or mar you Relying on the quote by Charlie Tremendous  "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things the people you meet and the books you read " You need more than a productive network of friends who will not refer  you to potential opportunities, but assist in making sure you have the right information and guidance needed to execute a task successfully. As you may know, its no longer a news that stories abound of folks who have attained success and failed just because of  the company they keep. If you want to increase your net worth via your network, you must ask yourself do I have resourceful friends that can help you realize this feat.                                                                                                                            
 Online presence/Events/Volunteer service: Finally, but not the least here on increasing your net worth. Any person who truly wants to move  on to the next stage of live must not only have an online presence, he/she must be willingly to attend events, and offer himself/herself for volunteering opportunities.  Having an online presence has really helped to connect many people in addition to boosting  their professional and network and net worth.In this 21st century, social media is one sure way you can have an online presence. I mean a productive online presence. E.g LinkedIn, Facebook, twitter, blogs, website just to mention the basic  ones.  It will be very easy to connect/partner with any available network of interest in addition to increasing the fortune of  any person through having an online presence. Its sad most folks use the social medium for purposes not suitable for productivity. The value and importance of social media is to enhance one's status, being abreast with information and reaching out to the world through voice and deeds. To the extent you have online presence which has a lot of traffic, there is is a high tendency that your net worth will definitely increase due to the request,questions, visitation, information, message, etc which helps to promote your message.

Attending Events and Volunteering : There is an adage by the Igbo's a major tribe in Nigeria, which  says, you can't be at your home and at the sametime know the price/value o f any commodity. This literally means in order for a person to connect, enrich his/her  network and know about contemporary issues prevailing in  the society, he/she must attend events, especially events of interest.By so doing, he/she has opened the door to numerous opportunities due to the contacts he/she is more likely to meet at the event, which might in turn lead productive net worth  all things being equal.

Volunteering :The last but not the list in the power of networking is volunteering when an opportunity pops out, especially in an area of interest. Volunteering/offering yourself for service is one of the viable means most folks get job. Volunteering for pro bono activities has a lot of opportunities inherent in it.When folks volunteer for community development service, they do that in group or with like- minded folks who share the same belief. And so, to the extent the goal/objective which they have is achieved, there is a high tendency the group may form a network for a project and which may in turn, turn out to be productive to each and everyone of them.

Having given a holistic overview and an in depth analysis of the above subject matter. It is important to note that the net work of every living creature will go a long way to determine acceptability,reputation, recognition and above all his worth within the community. In other to know to how to choose the right set of people you have to have to know yourself inclusive of what you're passionate about. Then you decide to pay the dues by joining the relevant organizations, association, club, group etc.  By so doing, you are availing yourself the opportunity of enhancing your network and net worth. Also for effective networking, adopting the steps mentioned above will go a long way to enhancing your net worth. In doing these the words of of Francis Bacon will go a long way to put you in the right direction. Per Sir Francis Bacon Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.In understanding this quote, lets see it from accounting and perspective. The gross income which is the total money earned by an individual can be liken to some books which should be tasted, which means the general folks you met in life,- accept them;  some devoured can be liken to taxes been taken out  or allowable deductions which means try them and only a few should be chewed and digested and thoroughly should be liken to your inner caucus which can be liken to your net worth after sieving the unwanted products. Alternatively, we can see it from another perspective, "be civil to all, social to many and familiar to few".

Finally, as we breath daily, let's ask ourselves these questions: are you in the right environment ? Are you in the right place? Are you doing what  you are supposed in order to be where you want to be be? Do you have have right network? As you ponder through these questions, put at the back of your mind, your network is your net worth. Be positive, be energized, and be fruitful .