Page 2 • Hometown News •Thursday, May 5, 2022
Hometown News
Get ready to network in person again -By Harvey Mackay One of the things I’ve missed most during the pandemic is getting together and networking. Networking is part of my DNA. No cocktail parties, fundraisers, association meetings and so on for the last couple years has been troubling for me and I’m sure
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many of you as well. The number one line from my networking book, “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty,” is: “If I had to name the single characteristic shared by all the truly successful people I’ve met over a lifetime, I’d say it is the ability to create and nurture a network of contacts.” Networking is that important for business. In my entire career I have never once heard a successful person say he or she regretted putting time and energy into their network. Author Porter Gale said, “Your network is your net worth.” Networking is not a numbers game. The idea is not to see how many people you can meet; the idea is to compile a network of people you can count on. For most people networking is a learned behavior, like learning to swim. It is a gradual process of trial and error, small incremental steps and finally a few breakthroughs. If you want to practice, start with your family and extended family and then their extended families. Your network is potentially the size of your contacts, plus all your relatives’ contacts, your friends’ contacts, your business associates’ contacts and so on. I like to say when two people exchange dollar bills, each has only one dollar. However, when two people exchange networks, they each have two networks. Four of the best groups I know for networking are alumni clubs, industry associations, social clubs and hobby groups.
Some universities have better alumni networks than others, but every school – even high schools – have an alumni club. Relationships are not assigned based on profession, gender or race. Trade groups are happy hunting grounds for networking in all kinds of ways. In fact, I recently was at the spring meeting of the Envelope Manufacturers Association in my role as chairman of MackayMitchell Envelope Company. Golf clubs, social clubs and athletic clubs are extremely important parts of a person’s network. More deals probably are closed in these places than in all the offices in the country combined. (Well, maybe not quite as many, but how else to justify the time and expense to our spouses and bosses?) And hobbies have always been a terrific way to make contacts across a broad and diverse spectrum because buffs often are scattered all over the map and can be found in all income, age and social groups. And if you haven’t mastered the incredible reach of the Internet, using sites like LinkedIn, you are missing out on an enormous opportunity. Of course, there’s a Facebook group for every interest, including all aspects of business. I’ve established international contacts that used to be accessible only through well-timed phone calls or overseas travel. As the pandemic continues to recede, there are more opportunities for in-person networking. If you’re out of practice, or new to the whole networking thing, remember these basic tips for making a positive impression: • Be your authentic self. Don’t try to put on an act when you first meet someone. Smile,
Brian’s Painting
be friendly, and most of all, be yourself. Other people will respond to an open attitude. • Develop your story. Produce a short narrative for yourself, describing who you are and what you want to accomplish in life. Keep it short and simple—you don’t want to overwhelm a new acquaintance with your life story, just give them a glimpse into your personality. • Target the right people. Don’t try to establish a relationship with everyone you meet. Identify people in your industry who can help you with knowledge and insight—and who you can help as well. • Do some homework. Before going to a networking event like a happy hour or industry conference, find out who is going to be there so you can plan your approach. Do you know anyone already? Can a friend help you connect with someone new? Be prepared. • Stay open. Although you may have an idea of what kind of people you want to connect with, don’t write anyone off too quickly. Sometimes a person from a different industry has experiences or insights that can be valuable to you. Get to know people to assess whether they merit staying in contact with. Mackay’s Moral: The more you exercise your networking muscles, the stronger they get – and the easier networking becomes. Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” “We Got Fired!...And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us,” “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World,” and “Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door.”
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Brian Middendorf 40 Years Experience 320-293-9939
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Upcoming Events
THURSDAY, MAY 5 • Upsala High School 50 Year Class Reunion Meeting at 6 p.m. at St. Mary's Church, Upsala. SATURDAY, MAY 7 • The Shepherd is Calling from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Mike & Alice Westrich Farm, Burtrum. TUESDAY, MAY 10 • Melrose Legion Post & Auxiliary Meeting at 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 • Smart Driver Class from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Word of Life Church, Upsala. See ad on page 3. FRI. & SAT., MAY 13-14 • American Legion Auxiliary of Melrose will be distributing Poppy's in Melrose and Freeport. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 • Grey Eagle Senior Center Meeting at 10:45 a.m. at the center. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 • Folk & Old-Time Music & Potluck starting from 1-3 p.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. SATURDAY, JUNE 4 • 24th Annual Freeport Family Fishing Tournament on Kings Lake, Freeport.
ALBANY TOWNSHIP • Meets the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall. • Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany City Hall. BURNHAMVILLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum City Hall. BURTRUM CITY COUNCIL • Meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. FEET FIRST CLINIC • Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Holdingford City Hall. FOOD DISTRIBUTION • Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution first Saturday of the Month from 10-11 a.m. at River of Live Church, Sauk Centre. FREEPORT CITY COUNCIL • Meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. FREEPORT SENIOR MEETING • Meets the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. with cards/Bingo/coffee/dessert. GREY EAGLE CITY COUNCIL • Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. GREY EAGLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the first Monday of the month at
8 p.m.
MELROSE TOWNSHIP • Meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the town hall. MELROSE VFW #7050 POST/AUX. • Meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Melrose American Legion Clubrooms. STEARNS CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY • Meets at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of the month at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albany. SUNSHINE CLUB • Meets every Monday, weigh in starts at 8; meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Village View Apartments, Grey Eagle. ST. ROSA CITY COUNCIL • Meets the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Community Park building. SWANVILLE CITY COUNCIL • First Tuesday after the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP • Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 8:30 p.m. at the Swanville Fire Hall. UPSALA CITY COUNCIL • Meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
If you have an upcoming event or meeting, please let us know by email: htnews@icloud.com or call 320-285-2323.
Temperatures Date 4/27 4/28 4/29 4/30 5/1 5/2 5/3
High 46 46 54 48 43 48 55
Low 27 30 41 41 36 34 36
Friday
Mostly sunny. High: 64 Low: 45
Weekend Weather Saturday
Partly cloudy. High: 65 Low: 53
Sunday
Rain. High: 59 Low: 54
