I had lunch the other day with Steven Smolinsky, a business strategy consultant and one of the two principals of Conversation On Networking. Steve had found me through my PHL Networking directory project, a community-driven directory of Philadelphia networking groups and events. Steve convinced me that the directory should have a "resources" section and that it should list his book. I convinced Steve that the directory was a community-driven and fully editable wiki and that he should feel welcome to add a resource directory listing himself.
Steve and Kay Keenan have built a substantial little side business for themselves, leading seminars on professional networking for groups all around the country. I like how the business evolved out of sheer serendipity: someone asked Kay to chair a panel on networking, and Steve volunteered to be on the panel. All the other panelists cancelled, so Kay and Steve ended up having a conversation on networking. The conversation was a hit, and the rest, as they say, was history.
Serendipity indeed. Steve and I agreed that you never know where your networking will take you or what doors in will open for you. Steve is leading a mini-seminar next week on Networking 101, which I plan to attend. It is hosted by Innovation Philadelphia and being held at the Lucky Strikes bowling alley in Center City.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Conversation on Networking
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2 comments:
Well Oliver, it was great fun to have Google Alerts send me a note about this nice little posting about....me. The thing I find most interesting about networking is how when you take advantage of random meetings you never know where it will lead. Just this past week I received book orders from Australia that happened because of a nice book review in Lilipoh Magazine. And this happened because I'm Board President of Camphill Village Kimberton Hills which happens to get Lilipoh. I wound up talking to the editor about something and next thing I know...great book review.
So I suggest to all your readers the most important thing to remember about networking: everyone is connected. Steve
Thanks, Steve. One of my previous posts (July 26 -- "Successful Networking Involves People, Ideas, and Goals") sparked a discussion on the value of "random networking". I can definitely see that this is an area worth revisiting in the future.
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