2020 has definitely altered several norms. We now rely on speaking to people via screens a lot more than we ever did before. This has brought some conveniences in the form of allowing you to wear a blazer on top and casuals below, but it has also removed a certain ease that comes with a face to face interaction. This was referenced in an article within the Financial Times, which talks about how, as a result of remote working, consultants around the globe were experiencing separation anxiety, wherein “working remotely makes it harder for consultants to build trust with clients“. And this has definitely been a challenge for me as well in my quest for securing a job in the midst of a pandemic.
One of the most inspiring books I’ve read during these trying times has been The Third Door by Alex Banayan. In the book, Banayan delves into how he set out on a quest to interview some of the most successful people in the world, like Bill Gates, Larry King and Lady Gaga. Banayan also talks about the three doors to success in a fantastic quote mentioned in the picture below.
Banayan says that one of the most common traits of successful people is that they’ve always accessed the third door. Accessing the third door requires a healthy combination of persistence, hard work and resilience. One of the key messages from the book that helps me to stay put on the networking track is persistence. Over the last year, I’ve realised how difficult it is to make meaningful connections in the midst of a pandemic. The networking grind requires a strong sense of determination, tenacity and grit.
Networking was never my forte. But my MBA has definitely helped me become more adept at becoming an effective networker. It requires courage to ‘reach out’, especially for a private person like me. But over time, I’ve realised that yes there is the initial flinch that I feel when writing these emails, but once I do speak to people on the other side of an email, there’s just so much that people like to talk about. Whether it’s about the company they work for, the job they do in their day-to-day lives or the industry that they’re a part of. I always leave these calls with bundles of notes and actionable bullet points. Some of these connections have been meaningful in a lot of ways as well. For instance, connecting with alumni helps in bringing up stories from university, which each of us resonates with and results in creating genuine bonds. The practice of communicating with people on a regular basis has catapulted my confidence and skill within the domain of effective networking. I do hope that it materialises into a job soon. Fingers crossed.
So yes, I resonated with the struggles that Banayan goes through when he has to get access to and to interview the most successful people in the world. I also like the fact that he did end up meeting his goals, especially when he did get a ‘Yes’ from Tim Ferris, the author of the 4-Hour Work Week, he shouted ‘PERSISTENCE!’ which gives me a lot of hope and the energy to be persistent with my networking. He does point out the negatives of over-persisting as it put him on the blacklist of Warren Buffet and even Bill Gates couldn’t help him with it. That to me was an important message to create a balance when it comes to my networking approach.