Week 2 Of Thirty Days of Network Building

30 days hath the month of April, and I’ve been challenging myself to create a new network-building post every day. Why am I doing this? While a lot of life is on pause, building connections are not — and as old modes of networking aren’t happening, network-building efforts need a some creative inspiration. The intent of these posts it to encourage you to continue to connect, in consistent, daily, ways with people in your life.

Below is a rundown of the second week of my 30 days of network-building suggestions.

Welcome to Day 6 of my #BYDN #30daysofnetworkbuilding. Have you ever been rejected? Perhaps it was by a love interest. Or, in a a job application? Or declined a promotion? Or turned down by a co-op board? Think about it. Of course you have! We have all experienced rejection! More times than any of us want to admit or own up to!

Today is our day to network that universal experience: rejection.

Sorry Charlie Day is a day to raise a glass, fist or finger to all the times we’ve been kicked to the curb, spurned, and yet somehow survived it.

Take a minute today and reflect upon a past dejection. Then, lip-sync to Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive, realize that poop happens….to all of us — — and contact someone in your network who you know is having a tough time, lend them an ear and a shoulder, as one day, you’ll likely need the same in return.

Day 7 of my #30DaysofNetworkBuilding. Today, April 7 is No Housework Day. No Housework Day is your chance to do anything, except housework. You still have to wash your hands, keep a social distance and I’d recommend keeping common surfaces disinfected but wiping a counter down with Lysol isn’t really housework now is it? Go crazy, don’t make your bed.

And today? How about recognizing those in your wider network who make your households run smoothly. From the cleaning lady to the postal workers to lawn care and dry cleaning services, doormen, plumbers, electricians, interior designers — it’s an extensive list, so hop to it now that you’re freed from housework today.

Note: if someone close to you does the majority of the housework in your home, thank them — let’s not overlook our nearest + dearest when it comes to networking.

If the person keeping your household running smoothly is YOU — — put your feet up AND reach out to connect with a friend or neighbor who has given you a great stain cleaning tip or helped you haul a load of junk to the dump.

Day 8 of my #30DaysofNetworkBuilding and this is a bit of a challenge…today is Draw a Picture of a Bird Day. When I embarked on this 30 days project, I took the special days for the month as I found them, so no, not making this day up.

Beyond drawing birds, the real intention of the day is to express joy in the very simplest of things in life — and isn’t that right on point right now? Reflect on some of the little, everyday, (mundane?) things you now miss or frankly, appreciate more. What were those — and who do you associate them with? Use today to acknowledge the importance of all those little moments — as simple, acts done repeatedly lead to great networks.

Or you could just draw a bird.

Happy network building on draw a bird day.

Day 9 of the #30DaysofNetworkBuilding and it’s Name Yourself Day. As someone who has had their name changed a few times (that story another day), I am already partial to this special day in April. What’s the point of Name Yourself Day (according to my sources) it’s your chance to give yourself whatever name you’d like…for the day.

How’s this for a network building twist on Name Yourself Day…and I’m flipping to page 69 where I say:

“Since my career has zigged and zagged, my connections have watched me switch a number of professional hats (or wear several at the same time). It is not unusual for me to receive “what are you up to now?” e-mails. Based on what I’ve shared online and my IRL interactions, I’ve been referred to over the years as a:”

■ Catalyst
■ Serial #connector
■ Master #networker
■ Online reputation builder
■ Twitter aficionado
■ Network activator
■ Relationship builder
■ Strategic thinker and doer
■ #Mentor
■ Force of nature

So today, on Name Yourself Day, as you think about your #career or #business, look through the eyes of your #network. What name or title or skill set do they refer to you by? Is it the name you want? Is the name associated with the career you’re pursuing or perhaps one you haven’t imagined, until today.

And Day 10 of my #30DaysofNetworkBuilding is #Golfer’s Day. A day to give thanks that someone invented this addictive sport or frustrating hobby. Today is also referred to as “Golf Day”, and no, you can enjoy this day without being on the #golf course or even playing golf. Oh, and I do have a #networking insight because this sport is centered on relationships — and I’m pulling straight from #BYDN here:

“The game essentially begins with an invitation. Golf is typically not a sport you take up on your own. Ask someone who plays golf how they got started in the game. Invariably someone invited them the first time they went to the course or practice range…There are not many other sports where you can spend hours with your playing partners and carry on meaningful personal and professional conversations at the same time.” — Sandy Cross, Chief People Officer, PGA of America

Today, on #golfday, give thought to all of the skills, hobbies, knowledge you have mastered because of the time you have spent with someone else. Who has invested significant time in you? Is there a mentor, boss, advisor, coach, guru or guide you should reach out to? Alternatively, who can you “invite” into your field of work by offering to mentor, advise, instruct or guide them?

Day 11 of the #BYDN #30DaysOfNetworkBuilding and it’s Eight Track Tape Day. WTW for those of you who don’t know what that is, it was (quoting from Wikipedia) “a magnetic-tape sound-recording technology that was popular in the United States from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s”.

But here’s the cool thing about this early, now obsolete technology: it was created by a consortium led by businessman and inventor Bill Lear, of Lear Jet Corporation, along with Ampex, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Motorola, and RCA Victor Records (RCA — Radio Corporation of America).

Bill Lear obviously had a curious and collaborative mind. Ah, now you should be guessing where today’s #BYDN #30DaysOfNetworkBuilding is going.

Are you trying to go it alone? Right, not the best path to invention when you’re entrepreneurial or reinvention if you’re career focused. Who can you collaborate with? Where can you form your own consortium to make something new happen together, or to help each other out individually?

Happy Eight Track Tape Day.

Day 12 of the #BYDN #30DaysofNetworkBuilding and it’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. Gathering around a dining room table, sharing a meal — these have always been favorite networking memories for me.

What can we do to network on Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day at this particular moment in history?

How about breaking bread virtually with someone? Or sharing some “how to” instructions on baking homemade bread?

What about watching one of the virtual cooking or baking segments with a chef, cookbook author or celebrity baker on IG Live with a friend?

Or calling to reminisce over a past culinary adventure?

Perhaps, simply giving thanks for the opportunities you’ve had to break bread with friends and family is a perfect way to celebrate this year.

Happy Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. Keep healthy and stay connected.

For more #BYDN network building tips (and yes, a few networking tips too), check out the weekly Build Your Dream Network podcast. New 10-minute episode every Tuesday.