The Power of Networking

I don't think I would be as inspired as I am in life today, if it weren't for my ability to connect with new people. We all say networking is important, but it isn't something we always actively think about as we do it. I like to look at the process behind something at a high level and then I can really appreciate and understand whatever it is that I am doing or using or learning about a lot more.

I am one of those people who is interested in learning everything. I sometimes wish there was a chip I could just plug into my brain that carried every detail about every subject out there. Just imagine that. You want to learn Italian? Boom. Just plug in a chip and your next hiatus in Italy would make for a much more memorable experience. We might not be there yet, but the concept makes me curious about the possibility.

There is something about drawing from other people's experiences through networking that may just be close enough to that microchip that you can plug into. Imagine you're suddenly interested in coding, but you have no idea where to begin, and there are hundreds of places to learn from and thousands of videos online about many different types of languages. The problem with today's world however, is that it is almost like we have too much information available. It's hard to focus on singling out one particular area of learning with so many distractions online not to mention life in general. There is no organization to learning something new online.That's where networking can come into play as a remedy.

Now let's take the same scenario about your interest in coding.You come across a problem in your exploration, and there doesn't seem to be any resources that you can think of that will help you with your specific problem. Networking with an experienced developer might be the only solution you have to moving on from your existing dilemma.

Developers are a part of a large community and networking is key, just like with any other profession. Problems arise all the time with development and developers sometimes have to rely on their community to help them maneuver through tough problems. Through simple networking, someone can refer you to different resources online or introduce other people to collaborate with or who can generally give a guided approach to your problem.

Taking the extra step, reaching out and talking to another person in this way forces you to focus on finding a solution to your problem, without the distraction. Networking, in short, is just a piece of the formula that makes up a great problem-solver.

Whatever it is that you may have on your mind, whether it is a personal, creative, or professional thought, question or problem, try talking to someone who has dealt with what you are thinking about.

Try using social networking sites like LinkedIn or Weave, talk to co-workers, friends and family, or use Q&A services like Quora.

Connect with people and ask questions. Collaborate and share experiences. There is a good chance that, without the distractions of independent online exploration, you will find the special answer or advice that you are looking for. Such is the power of networking.