Your network can be a real lifesaver |
One of the many benefits of having a strong network is that, no matter what challenges you might currently be experiencing, there is a remarkably high chance that someone in your network somewhere has experienced something similar and figured out a solution. Again, a high percentage of the time, they are more than willing to share that solution. All you have to do is ask.
Master Mind groups thrive on this particular concept. The group I belong to has helped me out with numerous quandaries in both of my businesses and even some issues that have come up in my personal life. Of course, for such a group to work, the members of the group have to be at a “trust” level with each other. Once the members have established that connection, though, the sky’s the limit.
If you need another example of this power of networks, just look at the phenomenon of the Internet in general and the Web in particular. This evening, when we returned from our family holiday gathering in Manistee, I discovered that I couldn’t access the Internet from any computer in my home. Using my cell phone, I did a quick search on “Comcast outage” which connected me to an article written by one of Ann Arbor’s mega-networkers, Ed Vielmetti. Following the instructions in it, I was able to get everything in our household back up and running in jig time.
Whether your problem is a clothes dryer that’s on the fritz, a search for a reputable mechanic, or a recommendation on the best local source for maple syrup, a great place to start is with your networks. You’ll be amazed at how much information is stored out there in someone else’s head.
Photo credit: Sheila VooDoo