I had a powerful ah-ha moment last
week. I discovered that successful
people aren’t necessarily the ones who work the hardest or are the best in
their fields. Yes, those things help,
but they’re not enough. Don’t you know
hard-working people who are really good at what they do, but are just barely
making ends meet? Successful people are
the ones who are willing to persist, even when they’re uncomfortable. Here’s what I experienced.
I was at a networking event with a
group of people I didn’t know. They knew
each other pretty well, though, or so it seemed, because everybody was in small
groups chatting away. I tried my best to
work the room, but two different conversations I’d struck up with people were
interrupted mid-sentence by another person breaking in. No “excuse me,” just a turning away to speak
with someone they knew while I stood there awkwardly. Other times I’d spot an individual I wanted
to approach but before I could make my way through the narrow, crowded space,
someone had beaten me to them. As my
confidence plummeted, I became very uncomfortable and seriously contemplated
leaving. I stood there for a few minutes
feeling the knot in my stomach and the tightness in my shoulders, scanning the
room for someone to talk to. Eventually
I found someone to connect with, who led me to another, and then to
another. Ultimately I met at least six
people I followed up with later, exceeding my expectations for the event.
The purpose of networking is to build
relationships that can be mutually beneficial.
If I had left when my discomfort mounted, I would never have met the
people I did. No one would be blessed by
my leaving. Because I was willing to
endure my discomfort, I had the opportunity to give and receive. One woman I spoke with had three points of
connection with me, and I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon. Receiving something you’ve never had before
will likely mean being in unfamiliar situations. Be willing to be uncomfortable and see what
you receive!
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