Question: I’m building a new, from scratch network. Who do I put in? Leave out?
#BYDN Answer: What’s your goal? More friends? More business referrals? More connections who are New Yorkers? To meet writers? All of the above? Take an audit of your existing network to see where there are gaps in your network and where you want to add “more”. Building new networks around shared interests (volunteering, charity work, a hobby) or affinity (college, geography) are ways to start. I did a lot of volunteering through New York Cares when I moved to NYC back in 1998 and met a number of like-minded people with varied professional backgrounds from across the five boroughs. Look into alumni (college / university) and affinity groups (i.e. I’m a member of the Irish International Business Network). And make sure groups you used to belong to know where to find you now (by way of example, I’m a graduate of UBC and the dean of my law school now hosts an annual reception in New York City).
