Business Casual

Networking hasn't been the buzzword since college. I know, those days so far in the past. During college I shrugged off the responsibility of networking with the proper business people to land me the "proper" job. Look where it has gotten me. Living in a foreign country. Learning something new almost daily. And for the most part- enjoying life. So why do I mention networking, if life is full of sunshine and cheer? Well, for starters, I finally learned the real importance of the word. My new-found definition of the word is much different than what I thought it was.

Going to social events to get to know someone. Not networking, that's brown-nosing. Befriending a couple that run a hotel here in Atacames. When I came in with a bad cough, they offered me cough syrup. Eating breakfast regulary at one place where they give you an extra piece of bread in the morning. Maybe that's just customer satisfaction, but it's part of networking in my book. I guess you could consider these all parts of relationship building, but that is what my perception of what networking has come to signify. Establishing a meaningful web of people that help you through the day to day instead of people who can help you get a job sometime in the future- that's "networking."

Even if you don't think this is networking, realize the importance of some of the less personal relationships in your life. The little extra you receive from these relationships is enough to put a smile on your face.