Your network will not be worth much without an education, and your education will not be worth much without a network.

We’ve all heard it: “It’s not what you know, its who you know”. Huh? How does that make sense? Doesn’t that sort of invalidate my entire purpose for getting a college education? Could the business world really be that corrupted and dysfunctional? They would choose someone they know over someone academically qualified?

You’re asking ridiculous questions.

Who Do YOU Know?

Networking is possibly THE most important activity that you can be going about as a youth interested in money. Businessmen and women will almost always rely on those that they know personally and like as opposed to those that have become academically prepared for a job, position or assignment. They will even prefer to train and educate that person that they rather than hire a stranger ready to go.

Why? Why this inefficient madness?

Simple- Business People are People. People do favors for people they like. Always. Forever. A simple law of human mechanics.

What You Ought To Be Doing

So how can we take advantage of this? Networking.

Networking is simply connecting and developing contacts with those who share a common interest with you. This can be helpful when you find yourself in any sort of unfortunate situation, as those contacts can often come to your aid.

If you are a sales manager who has networked with sales managers and VP’s at dozens of other firms- you will probably have no issue finding a new job if your company begins downsizing.

Politicians network with fellow politicians to help pass their bills.

Countries network with other countries to aid in defense.

But How Do I Network?

This sounds pretty great. How do I go about doing it though? You must have some tips or methods?

Sure — We can come up with a few!

A person can network through countless different mediums. From Social Networking websites, to email, to telephone calls, to luncheons, to anything (or anywhere else) where more than one person can meet up.

I love using social networking sites: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are great ways to get to know people who are involved in similar things via the Internet.

It’s also About how you Use the Tools you’re Given.

My new favorite way to network with people that I thought were beyond my networking capabilities (For example: State Governors, City Federal Reserve Chairmen, Senators, Business Executives, Ministry Executives, etc.) is utilizing email.

I went on what I call an “Emailing Campaing” a little under a year ago and sent out emails to nearly fifty Politicians, Businessmen and women, and other important figures in both the State of Georgia and across the United States. I was incredibly surprised by the amount of responses and positive feedback I received from these nationally influential people. Many of them even agreed to meet with me in person over lunch! Something as simple as sending out an email resulted in the building of my own, personal network with nationally recognized figures.

It’s a Give-Take Relationship

A network is not something you simply take from. In order to keep up a positive network, you should be striving to serve the contacts that you have built up at every possible opportunity. People are not stupid. They realize very quickly if you want to take advantage of them. You must be willing to serve and come to their aid as well.

Who Do I Network With?

So who would I advise that you begin networking with? This varies widely depending on what you hope to accomplish through your network. Here are some safe bets though:

Email or call these people and invite them to lunch. Explain to them that you hope to learn about what they do and from their experience. And of course, pick up the tab (simple professionalism).

1. Your University President (College Students… obviously)
2. Your State Representative and Senator
3. Your US Representative and Senator
4. Your Local Major business leaders
5. Your Town or city mayor
6. Your State Governor and Lt. Governor
7. Any other influential people in your area
8. Anyone you have ever dreamed of meeting and getting to know!

Don’t let yourself be intimidated. An email can always be ignored. You can only flatter someone as long as you keep your emails polite. Shoot for the stars (literally I suppose) — You never know who you might get to sit down to lunch with!

And don’t skip over the little guys! You never know who is going to make it big one day! Help them in any way that you possibly can, because if anything ever works out for them later on, they will almost ALWAYS remember your charity.

What have you done to build your network?