My Networking Stories

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A man’s measure of true success as I have come to know is proportional to the relationships he is able to establish and successfully sustain.

I had my first education on networking skills from my mother who always seemed to know someone in every establishment or industry despite being only a secondary school teacher. Well, I cant say I have done better but I learned the importance of this great life skill that I have applied and still applying to my life.

Upon graduation from the university, I moved in with my mum in Abuja - Nigeria's capital city, Nigeria. I worked with a civil engineering consulting firm on a Federal Government project at the time as an Assistant Resident Engineer, where I built a large professional network base who I still keep in touch with till date. Worthy of note is that for the eighteen (18) months I was at this firm, I executed twenty-three (23) design side jobs (of course outside official work hours) which amazingly, originated largely outside my work location. These leads were majorly from Lagos; family relations; respondents from adverts on my social media handles, and my work location. If you want to know the how? Read till the end, there is a link I have placed to show you what to do.

The internet has made networking very easy I must admit. One of such platforms on the internet I have leveraged on since as I joined in 2010 is LinkedIn. Some of the interest groups of which I am actively a part of include: University of Benin Alumni Association, Subsea Oil & Gas, Civil Engineering Professional Network & Opportunity, Structural Engineers, Africa Business etc. I have gotten direct contacts off this platform that has helped me at one time or the other in solving problems and providing guidance through some murky waters.

However, Africa is yet to fully dive into the potentials that platforms like LinkedIn has to offer. I wish I can network with a larger variety of potential vendors and suppliers within my locality on LinkedIn before scheduling a physical meeting or requesting for their service. I think LinkedIn's ProFinder aims to solve that problem, I will suggest to Jeff Weiner to look at the African professional services market as opportunities abound here. Offering rewards in the form of monthly to annual LinkedIn Premium access in return for bringing businesses on the LinkedIn platform might be a great strategy.

Being on LinkedIn affords one the opportunity of meeting leaders across different backgrounds and cultures, establish relationships, and expand one's existing network base. As we advance in life, career and business, the extent of success we will record will be largely due to the relationships we are able to build today.

For more info on how to network effectively, I recommend this article.