30 Days And 30 Ways to Build Your Network

April 1. First day of 30 days of Build Your Dream Network network-building tips — inspired by the endless number of “special” days this month and my previous 30-Day Network Building Challenge. This time I’m challenging myself as much as you. Every day on social media, I’m posting a new idea, so this novel networking idea of mine is keeping me on my toes.

Now back to today. Today is National Walking Day. National Walking Day was created by the American Heart Association to remind people about the health benefits to walking. The goal of this special day is also used to encourage the healthy habit of regular walks.

What can we do with this networkers, since we’re social distancing, and all of us rushing out to go for a walk or hike is not the smartest move.

Can you take a virtual walk with someone? Could you call a friend and walk + talk around your home? I did this last week, and managed to clock in 3000+ steps in my small NYC apt! Could you call a friend and both talk through a virtual walk? Here’s a 4K virtual walk along the Hawaiian Kuliouou Ridge Trail to go on together.

If getting out is an option available to you, could you run an errand for a friend or neighbor who has less mobility than you?

On a less active note, did you take walking meetings with colleagues when you were at the office? Why not let your colleagues know that you’re looking forward to doing that again. Does a walk spark a memory or shared experience with someone in your network? If so, reach out to let them know you were thinking of them today.

What ideas do you have to connect, based on today, National Day of Walking?

I’m going to schedule in a walking meditation as I have 29 more days of ideas coming, I know days will be a stretch, but creativity (like networking) loves constraints.

Check in on my Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram accounts for daily suggestions.

Other network building ideas, tools and insights for you:

• Create Virtual Water Cooler Moments (Build Your Dream Network podcast)
• How To Build Your Network When You’re Working From Home (learning path on Cat Cat)
• How To Take Your Content Online (another learning path I put together for Cat Cat)

And visit me on YouTube for Planet Hoey, an interactive live streaming conversation whereI can address your pressing networking needs in real-time. Why Planet Hoey? Because of an email from a reader of Build Your Dream Network. Upcoming guests on Planet Hoey include software engineer Cassidy Williams (we’ll talk about where to learn tech skills online plus tech internships, mentorship and job hunting for tech jobs right now, as yes, she’s just had to do just that) and Sarah Feingold, first attorney and 17th employee at Etsy and boy, does she have a career story to that job plus Sarah is a fierce advocate for networking women on to corporate boards; and journalist Molly McCluskey has agreed to come to Planet Hoey to talk pitching the media as Lawd! the pitches are fast, and infuriating these days. Subscribe to my YouTube channel or key an eye on my social accounts for these future conversations.