Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.

—Michele Jennae

The Power of Great Minds Coming Together

A university campus is not exactly the place you would think billion-dollar ideas are created. But, when you place a group of gifted Harvard students in one room, innovations like Meta (formerly known as Facebook) are born.

Mark Zuckerberg showed a passion for computer programming from a very young age. When he was only 12 years old, he developed an interoffice communication system called Zucknet for his father to use in his dental practice. His parents enrolled him at Phillips Exeter Academy (a private prep school for gifted children), and graduating from there, he applied and got accepted into Harvard University.

Zuckerberg didn’t waste any time building a name for himself in Harvard. After a short while, he was known as the go-to computer programmer students would call on if they had any computer issues. By the second year of university, he had developed two computer programs, FaceMash and CourseMatch, which became popular among students.

His reputation on campus caused other tech-minded students to be drawn to him. On one particular occasion, he was approached by some friends to partner in developing a social networking site where Harvard students could connect with each other. The site was called Facebook, and for the first few months, Zuckerberg ran it from his dorm room.

The concept exploded, and within a year, Facebook caught the attention of venture capitalists who were willing to invest millions into making the platform a global social networking site. Over the years, Facebook’s market share has grown exponentially. From boasting a few hundred users in 2004 to having 2.8 billion users worldwide in 2021, the story of Facebook is a true testament to how networking can lead to the spread of ideas and business opportunities (Tarver, 2021).

Finding the Right People

How many people does it take to make a successful business transaction? The answer is at least two. One person is the seller, and the other is the buyer. There cannot be a successful exchange of goods or services without at least two people coming together. When you think about succeeding in business, your business network can either open doors for you or keep them shut.

Knowing a lot of businesspeople won’t necessarily expose you to million-dollar ideas and opportunities. This is because not everyone in your network can be considered a valuable connection. In his book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey lists creating synergy as the sixth habit of highly effective people (Covey, n.d.) According to him, you can be inspired to come up with innovative ideas when you surround yourself with people who are just as passionate about ideas as you are! In essence, you feed off of the positive and ambitious energy of those around you, which causes you to expand your mind and think creatively.

Synergy is defined as the combined power of a group of individuals when they work together toward a common goal. Effective networking is all about finding people who you can collaborate with on ideas, share knowledge, and transfer skills. This means that the nature of your business relationship should be reciprocal, where both you and the other person feel like you are getting something out of the exchange. To synergize with someone else, both of you must share the following qualities:

●     Common goals

●     Strong sense of self (knowing who you are)

●     Openness, particularly to new ideas

●     Willingness to collaborate

●     Willingness to take risks

●     Effective communication and negotiation skills

When seeking to attract the right people, you need to be honest and ask yourself: Am I someone that others would like to know? The Law of Attraction states that “like attracts like,” which means that things or people that are similar to one another are naturally drawn to each other. For example, if you want to attract problem-solvers, you must place yourself in environments where there are problems to solve. Or, if you want to build relationships with a certain group of people, like tech-savvy entrepreneurs, you will need to develop an interest in technology, attend tech conferences, and immerse yourself in the tech culture.

If I hadn’t read a random blog, I might never have come across the business idea that became a multimillion-dollar business. I realized that if I wanted to be the next Mark Zuckerberg, I needed to expose myself to new content online so that I could explore new business ideas. Was it easy exposing myself to new information? Honestly speaking, most times, I didn’t know what exactly I was looking for when browsing the internet; however, I had faith that I would intuitively know when I came across a brilliant idea. The same applied when I went out to business seminars and talks. I didn’t really know who I would potentially meet in those environments, but I trusted that being around other entrepreneurial minds meant that I would walk away with some sort of value, which would allow me to become a person of value.

How to Identify Opportunities

Surrounding yourself with the right people, in the right environments, is the ideal way to find new opportunities. However, since you are only starting out in the business world, it may be difficult for you to meet the right people or be invited to certain events or boardroom meetings.

Instead of relying on certain people to open doors for you, you will need to push doors open for yourself. To do this, you need to consider the resources available to you and find ways of using what you have at your disposal to get you ahead and help you find opportunities. Reflecting back on my journey, the internet was a valuable resource I had access to that allowed me to access knowledge. There was no limit to the number of sites I could visit or the online courses I could take that could broaden my thinking. Even though reading online articles cannot replace having a lunch meeting with an expert or mentor, it was enough to help me refine my business idea.

Another free tool that many individuals have at their disposal is social media. Over the past decade, social media has become a hot spot for business networking, especially among start-up businesses seeking to build awareness of their products or services. Not only can social media platforms give you insights on your ideal customers, but they can also help you build a strong brand and manage your reputation online. There are also social media groups or clubs for business owners operating in specific industries that offer guidance, free resources, and support through the journey of growing a business. You can use social media groups for connecting with other like-minded entrepreneurs; marketing your products or services; or getting advice from experts.

As a start-up entrepreneur with a relatively small network, you will need to train your mind to look for opportunities in everyday life situations. For example, on the way to the store to buy milk, you could drive past a billboard with a catchy slogan that triggers your imagination or be inspired after having a meaningful conversation with the cashier. In other words, any experience can potentially lead to an opportunity when you are consciously looking for opportunities.

Training yourself to have an eye for opportunities requires a lot of practice. Here are some of the exercises you can practice on a regular basis to help you identify opportunities in everyday occurrences:

● If you work a nine-to-five job, start paying attention to the business processes used at work and think of ways you would improve upon those processes if you ran the company.

●     When having casual conversations with friends, family, or colleagues, try to identify the pain points or unmet needs expressed in their communication.

●     Watch the news or read a business newspaper and think about some of the major challenges facing your neighborhood, town, state, or country.

●     Look at the customer reviews of some of the local businesses in your area and consider what these businesses can do to improve the customers’ experiences.

●     Research some of the innovative products or services developed in a foreign country and think of ways you could adapt them to fit the local market.

●     Consider the ways you could improve the business model of a certain industry, like transportation or tourism, by adding certain technologies.

Networking Your Way to the CEO

As a leader, there will come a point where you will need to network with other business leaders to establish partnerships or build long-term relationships. When you are acquainted with other CEOs, you are able to stay up to date with industry trends, gain access to new opportunities, and have people you can turn to for business support.

But here’s the dilemma that many start-up entrepreneurs face: How do you network with business leaders who are just as busy as you are?

Indeed, networking with any high-level executive isn’t easy because, as you may know, the higher your position, the less accessible you become. You might be fortunate to attend the same networking event as another business leader, but try scheduling an hour meeting with them, and you’ll be told they are unavailable.

So what can you do? The best way to network with other business leaders is to reach out to a few connectors rather than directly going to the source. Connectors are people who have a large network of business contacts and are able to help you make introductions and get in front of the businesspeople you desire to connect with. Note that connectors may be people you already know, such as an uncle or cousin who has experience in a particular industry, used to work at a particular company, or is part of a particular social club or group.

If you are familiar with the business networking site, LinkedIn, you will understand how valuable connectors can be in expanding your network and connecting with the right people. Your network on LinkedIn consists of first-, second-, and third-degree connectors. Your first-degree connectors are people, mostly colleagues and friends, who you know on a personal level. Your second-degree connectors are people who are connected to your first-degree connector. In other words, both you and your second-degree connector have a mutual acquaintance. Your third-degree connectors are people who are connected to your second-degree connector. Here, there is no mutual connection established; however, your third-degree connector still falls in as part of your larger network.

You can apply the same concept when networking your way to the CEO. Consider the company or industry the targeted CEO works at. Next, think of the first-degree connectors you know within that company or industry who can get you in the door. If you are fortunate enough, you might have a friend or former work colleague who has indirect access to the CEO you seek to connect with.

Set up a meeting with your first-degree connector and ask them to introduce you to your second-degree connector (the individual who they are connected with who can get you one step closer to the CEO). The second-degree connector might not have direct access to the CEO, but they at least know someone who does—in other words, they know your third-degree connector who may be in an even better position to introduce you to the CEO. The networking chain would continue until you eventually connect with someone, like the personal assistant or company director, who can help you schedule a meeting with the CEO.

Now that you have a strategy for reaching the top man or woman in any organization, you will need a few tips to help you approach them with confidence and make your request. Here are five tips to remember when connecting with CEOs:

Be Clear About What You Want

It’s worth mentioning again that any individual in an executive position doesn’t have a lot of time to spare. Therefore, you need to be clear and direct about the purpose for reaching out to them. Before scheduling the meeting, think about your desired outcome for your new business relationship. Do you want to partner with them on a business idea? Do you need a referral or mentorship? Write down all of the reasons you are interested in connecting with them and make you present them early on in your discussion or in a formal email.

Build Your Professional Reputation

When growing your network, many people will be interested to know who you are and what you are about. Instead of coming directly to you, the first place people will search for your name is on the internet. Having a professional LinkedIn profile can make it easier for people to find you and learn more about your business. You can also gain more credibility by having a business website or blog that can be found through a quick Google search. Even though you can’t control what others think of you, you can at least manage your personal brand as a leader so that what others see or read about you represents your values, goals, and mission.

Study Other Leaders

If you want to know how successful leaders handle themselves online and offline, why not read an autobiography, watch some of their interviews, or follow them on social media? They say that imitation is the best kind of compliment you can pay someone, and I certainly have to agree. You can learn a lot of valuable tricks on how to communicate with other leaders by observing how successful leaders communicate and carry themselves in conversations. If you follow them on social media, you can also learn tips on how to build your personal brand as a leader and the type of content to post. By following in the footsteps of the greatest orators, negotiators, and leaders of our time, you can develop the necessary skills to walk into any room and speak confidently to anyone.

Avoid Acting Like an Underdog

As a leader, you want to be respected by your peers in your chosen field. To earn the respect of other business leaders, you need to present yourself as an equal. This means avoiding acting like an underdog. Yes, of course, you are new to the business world, and there is still much for you to learn. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a seat at the boardroom table or to be around entrepreneurs who are more successful and experienced than you. When you come across other leaders who are not willing or interested to help you with your requests, simply move on and approach other leaders. You never have to beg anyone for an opportunity or compromise your values or principles to be accepted into certain circles. Surround yourself with people who respect you and acknowledge the value you bring to the table.

Remember That It’s Just Business

There is nothing more disappointing than being rejected by an individual you had hopes of working with or getting to know on a personal level. However, to survive on your journey of networking, it’s important not to take rejection personally. Remember that at the end of the day, business is a game, and the leaders who play well end up winning. If you come across a CEO who isn’t interested in getting to know you, chances are they don’t believe you have anything to offer them. Instead of trying to win them over, you can work on developing yourself as a leader and growing your business so that the same person who rejected you requests an hour of your time. In the business world, decisions aren’t made based on emotions but rather on logic. If the networking opportunity isn’t a win-win for both parties, there is a low chance that a business relationship will be formed.