| My family moved to Sandusky, Ohio, when I was | | | | with networking. Well, I look at networking as |
| 10. Now living on the shores of Lake Erie, my dad | | | | fishing for the right catch. There are whole |
| thought I should learn to fish. So one Saturday | | | | oceans, lakes, rivers and ponds full of fish. Which |
| morning we bought a new fishing rod and reel and | | | | ones will you catch? Which ones will you keep? |
| headed to the dock on Sandusky Bay. Dad | | | | Which ones will you toss back in? Meeting people |
| carried my new fishing gear and I tagged along, | | | | at networking events is random. You introduce |
| with minnow bucket in hand. | | | | yourself, ask what they do, you say what you |
| I stood by patiently (which isn't normal) while he | | | | do, and you decide if they are a "keeper" while |
| open the package and began to affix the rod to | | | | they decide the same thing about you. The |
| the reel. There were 4 holes and only 3 screws. I | | | | keepers are the one you choose to learn more |
| told him it would hold well enough; I didn't want to | | | | about, with the ultimate catch being a great |
| wait for something that minor. | | | | referral source or repeat customer. |
| Not a happy man at this point, he told me to wait | | | | If you have just one favorite fishing hole, and |
| there while he went to the car to get his tool | | | | always go there, what happens when the fish |
| box, which hopefully had a screw that would fit. | | | | supply becomes low? You leave without a new |
| As I stated earlier, I'm not very patient, and he | | | | catch. Then you find a new fishing hole until that |
| seemed to be gone for such a long time. | | | | one runs dry. Why not have a few places so you |
| Watching the others fishing, I decided the rod was | | | | can have a variety of fish to fry, so to speak? |
| on plenty tight, and decided to try my hand at | | | | You don't always want to eat perch; why not fish |
| casting a line. | | | | where you can catch a trout once in a while, too? |
| I stretched my arm back as far as it could go, | | | | A plethora of networking associations provide you |
| swung it forward with as much force as a | | | | with a variety of opportunities. And continuing to |
| 10-year-old girl could, let go of the little button, | | | | invite guests brings a new school of fish into your |
| and out went the line, making a whirr sound! I | | | | pond. You need both. Are you restocking your |
| was so excited! But then I heard a plop. The rod | | | | pond? Are you providing opportunities for others |
| was not attached as well as I thought it was. The | | | | to fish? Invite customers, vendors, neighbors, |
| pit in my stomach got much bigger when I looked | | | | members of other networking groups to go with |
| up and saw my dad coming up next to me, with | | | | you to the next event. Ask other members to |
| a screw that I must assume was the perfect | | | | do the same. That will help breathe new life into |
| size. Two words were spoken. "Let's go." He | | | | the organization, bring new fish into your favorite |
| picked up the rod and we went home. | | | | fishing spots, and all will have plenty to catch. |
| You're probably wondering what this has to do | | | | |