Key Strategies:
.
Be genuine. The only connections that work will be
the ones that you truly care about; the world will see through anything short
of that. If you don’t have a genuine interest in the person with whom you’re
trying to connect, then stop trying.
.
Provide massive help. Even the biggest and most powerful
people in the world have something they’d like help with. Too many people never
reach out to those above them due to the fear that they wouldn’t be able to
offer anything in return. But you have more to offer than you realize: write an
article or blog post about them, share their project with your community, offer
to spread their message through a video interview with them. Give real thought
to who you could connect them with to benefit their goals.
.
Pay ridiculous attention. It’s nearly impossible to genuinely
offer help if you don’t pay attention. Do your research by reading blog posts,
books and articles about the connection beforehand. Learn about their
backgrounds and passions. Invest genuine time in learning what really matters
to them and how you can help.
.
Connect with people close to them. Most job openings are filled through
networking and referrals, and making connections is no different. You
automatically arrive with credibility when referred to someone you want to meet
by a mutual friend. Spend more time connecting with your current network of
friends and colleagues and see where it leads.
.
Persistence wins most battles. The first attempt is just the very
beginning. Realize that the first try may get you nowhere, but the fifth
or the tenth tries are the ones that start to yield results. An unreturned
email or voicemail doesn’t mean they don’t want to connect with you. It’s your
job to be persistent!
.
Make real friends. Think about how you’ve made the
friends you have. That’s all this is. You only make friends with people
you genuinely want in your life.
. Remain
unforgettable. Send
birthday cards. Mail your favorite book with a signed personal note from you on
the inside flap. Send them your family Christmas card. Be genuinely helpful.
