Networking - it's the new normal

As we prepare to attend the Toronto Entrepreneurs Conference this Saturday in Mississauga, I can't help but get excited at the prospect of meeting like-minded professionals who are eager to increase their business intellect and broaden their network. There's that word again - NETWORK! I must confess that until recently, I always perceived networking as a necessary evil, something which "has to be done" if you want to get ahead or get anywhere in the modern business world!

Then I read a synopsis of a podcast called "Professional Networking and Mentors" (Patty Azzarello). In brief, these 3 points stick out:

- Network when you don’t need anything.
- Give more than you take – always.
- Successful people get help.

Although simple, these 3 points carry with them deep wisdom on how to merge one's professional life with one's personal world view. Suddenly, I saw networking as an opportunity to learn about needs that might exist, find ways in which I could provide support by using my professional talents and grow the business (after all, we all must eat!) and meet extraordinary men and women who can teach me a thing or two! This weekend is a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

In a sense, we are all entrepreneurs, even if we work for an organization and report to someone. By that I mean that we are all responsible for creating our own career paths, for increasing our knowledge and for exposing ourselves to well-established professionals who can mentor (both directly and indirectly)our career goals!

So, I'm off to the conference to learn about how to improve my entrepreneurial skill-set and to connect with other professionals who believe that work is not a four-letter word but rather an opportunity to enrich one's own and others' lives!

It's going to be excellent! Hope to see you there........

Candice, Challenge Factory Community Manager