Have you thanked your network recently?

A network is only as good as you make it.  Have you thanked anyone in your network recently?
Thanksgiving seems like a great time to show my gratefulness to a few people in my network.  I have so many people to thank that I have decided to start today with five somewhat random people in my network and simply thank them for being a part of my network.

A couple of years ago, I read a blog titled “Four Easy Network Tips fro 2011” by Shoya (see link below) that encouraged people to do four things each month to keep your network current.  These pop up on my calendar each month as a reminder I am not alone in my profession.

1. Choose five people in my network to reconnect with (sometimes it is only 1 or 2, but I still do it)
2. Plan forward by looking at what projects I have to do, and then ask for specific help from people in my network.
3.  Offer to help others in my network…. before they ask me.
4.  Express appreciation.

Today, I want to thank the following people publicly for all they have done for me.

Barry Davis, thank you for rekindling my love for reading all books.  Barry introduced me to Daniel Pink and many other authors who help me understand career counseling better.  He has also spurred me on to read ALL kinds of books and then share my thoughts on these books with others. (See my LinkedIn Reading list which he inspired me to do after checking out his Reading List a few years ago).

Leigh Mundhenk, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to Skype with me today.  As a huge extrovert, working from home can be “interesting,” and our conversation about professional development was so enjoyable. I look forward to future skypes with you.

Susan Campbell, thank you for introducing me to academic advising and encouraging me to get involved with NACADA and learn more about the importance of the advising relationship with students.  Oh yeh, and how to have fun while doing it!

Rees Hughes, thank you for all your support in me “taking the leap” into leaving my full-time job and diving into Peak-Careers Consulting last February.  It already has been a wonderful “ride”.

Cathy Van Dyke, thank you for all the years co-teaching the CDF class with me.  I have learned so much from you and truly appreciate all the things you do to make the CDF class as great as it is.

There are many more people I can thank.  And I plan to.

Have you thanked your network recently?

(Inspiration for this blog comes from  “Four Easy Networking Tips fro 2011” by Shoya.

Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a monthly newsletter for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

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