It’s the beginning of a new year. We all have new goals and resolutions we’re working toward. It’s easy to get so focused on achieving your goals that you get over zealous. I know I’ve been there. So I wanted to give you all a friendly reminder about networking. I’ve learned over the last 9 months of living in LA that networking is simply intentionally building relationships.

You’re going to meet people this year as you go about your life, both intentionally and not intentionally, who have the contacts/resources you want and need to make it to the next step along your path. The temptation is to only see that person for what they can do for you.

I caution you to remember that the most effective way to network is to build relationships with sincerity. Dale Carnegie’s advice in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People is still applicable. A sure way to get people to like you is to take a sincere and genuine interest in the other person. Most people can sniff out a “user.” Don’t be an ass. Care about other people and see them as just that – a person. As I’ve said on this blog before, people will volunteer to help you if they like you and you’ve proven your sincerity.

Another part of not being an ass is to treat the people who appear to be less important with the same respect as you do everyone else. Not only is this the Christ-like way of doing things but it’s also important because you never know who that person might be or become. The most famous and successful (and only Oscar-winning) person I know drives a mid-size sedan made by Toyota and wears regular clothes. You’d never know he was a multi-millionaire.

Also, most successful men and women have a good relationship with their assistants. If you treat an assistant poorly, the assistant will mention it to their boss – and the reverse is true as well.

But if you do manage to become friends with someone and they don’t volunteer to give you access to their contacts/resources, don’t get offended. A person’s network is something they have cultivated over several years and it’s not something they should give you access to unless it is exactly the right time or right project. Don’t get offended. Just value their input and friendship – even if you never get access to what they have.

Mark Zoradi, former president of Walt Disney Motion Picture Group, said at a conference I was at this past year that the key to his success was to live his life based on Philippians 2.

³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Follow that advice and you’ll have no problem being sincere and genuine. And I bet your network will grow exponentially.

Have any other tips on networking? Post a comment.