Every one of us needs other people to come alongside us and help us throughout our entrepreneurial journey. The Kaufman Foundation puts it this way: “Innovation thrives in dense networks.” 

But what exactly is it that we need to do to get beyond trying to do everything ourselves? How can we connect with the people who will help us?

Consider Loose Connections

Your connections don’t always have to be people you are directly connected with. Often, our connections are people who one of our connections knows and who can help us.

In all this, be intentional about how you make your connections, networks, and ecosystems but also be open to serendipity. I’ve found that many times connections come through happenstance. All that matters is that you find real value and people that can either help you or whom you can help. 

Go in With a Helpful Mindset

Being in a network isn’t all about what you can get from people. It's about how you can help. 

So, always focus on giving value first. Go in with the attitude of asking, “How can I provide value to you?” 

My good friend Mike Kim told me that he always likes to go into any network with the attitude of, “Who can I introduce you to?” He knows that he doesn't know everything and that even the people he is friends with don't know everything. However, he still gets joy and creates value by introducing people who can help each other. 

Map Out Your Connections

Simply take some time to sit down and think through the people you know. Which of these people can provide value for you and your business? Additionally, which of those people can you provide value for? 

Then, write all of these connections down in a list. You may also want to write down the connections you hope to have in the future.

There are many categories of connections and specific examples I can provide for you if you tune into last week’s episode. Join me on Leading the Factory Forward!