Why Is Now The Time To Work Together?
Reproduced with the permission of Joel Block below:
I was at the gym yesterday, talking to a long-time friend who had just finished a conversation with one of his friends. My friend said that he was quoting me when he told this friend that "everybody has to cooperate during these difficult times so that we can help one another be the best that we can be." The response from his friend was that every man is out for himself because that's human nature.
My theme — especially in these difficult times — is that we have to help each other. That means if you network with other people, now is the time to be looking out for their welfare. And now is the time to expect that they will look out for yours. We all need every opportunity to get a leg up that we can.It may be human nature to look out for yourself — and maybe most people will just look out for themselves — but the people who are going to get to the top of the ladder and get over this terrible economic hump that we're in right now are going to be the ones who pull each other up. Don't try to do it by yourself and don't make others do it by themselves. If we can all be the "Verizon Network" for each other and keep our eyes and ears open for each other, imagine how much assistance we can be to one another.
A big part of the reason that I share my thoughts with you in this column and why it's posted on blogs and in other places all over the Internet is because I want entrepreneurs to have every opportunity that they can have. I want them to be as strong as they can be and I want them to have every opportunity to succeed and be the best that they can be. There's too much to learn it all by yourself. There's only so much time in one's lifetime to learn everything by trial and error. Why learn by trial and error? When I was a youngster just out of college and I was interviewing for an accounting job at one of the Big Eight accounting firms, the partner asked me why I wanted to do tax returns in their tax department. I told the man that I wanted to see how people who had substantial amounts of money handled their money and how they made their money so that maybe I could learn from them. After looking me straight in the eye, the partner asked me, "don't you think you have to learn by trail and error?" My response even as a youngster was straightforward and shocking. I told him "only stupid people learn that way." He offered me the job on the spot. Don't try to learn everything by trial and error. Don't try to do everything by yourself.Cooperate with others, learn from one another, help one another, keep your eyes and ears open looking for opportunities and don't expect that in any kind of networking activity that it's a one for one. Just because you help someone doesn't mean that they have to help you. Networking is a pay-it-forward activity. Be on the lookout for people, keep their best interest in mind and expect that others do the same for you. And finally, don't be afraid to tell people exactly what it is that you want and what you're looking for. If you don't tell, you won't get.
Comments (2)
It is like running a relay race, cheer your teammates up and let them perform in their own part and the team will reach the finish line.
Account Closed, over 13 years ago
I agree that we work better as a team. If you try to do it all yourself you have the control but not the time or expertise. Networking is the best place to build your team. Team members move in and out of your group over time.
David Wedemire, over 13 years ago