Welcome to the first entry for Erika Flora's blog site.  I started this blog because I have found that, over the years, I have acquired some knowledge on a number of topics (networking, branding, womens issues, nonprofit strategy, small business development, project managment, process improvement, etc.) and want to share this information with others.  So here is my first bit of information to share... 

Working as a recruiter many years ago, I learned an amazing lesson...it's all about who you know.  It is critical to be skilled at what you do, but it is even more important to ensure you develop relationships with lots of people in all different areas.  I meet tons of people in business that are great at what they do, but no one in the community knows it!  They are, in essence, keeping their talents a secret.  Great things happen when you know and develop relationships with lots of people.  

I have found that many people either have a misconception about what networking is or are introverted and hate so called "schmoozing".  I saw a question on LinkedIn the other day that got me thinking about this.  I am an introvert who has, over the years, learned to be an extrovert and expert networker. Here are a couple of ideas I have found to be helpful in developing my career:

• Writing articles and white papers on my expertise. People get to know your name and your work, and you don't have to "schmooze" with anyone to do these kinds of things.
• Volunteering for a professional/business organization - You meet a lot of great people in your industry/niche market, showcase your strengths and talents, and this does not feel like "schmoozing" either.
• Also, many years ago, I had the good fortune of picking up cassette tapes on "The Fine Art of Small Talk" from Debra Fine, and they were a tremendous help to me. You can buy the cds on her site as well as on Amazon.  They are fun to listen to and give practical tips on developing relationships with others.

What value have you found in networking?  What other ways have you used networking to build your career?  Check out my website for networking organizations and other ideas at www.erikaflora.com