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Most people understand the power of a network in today’s world. The right network can lead to a better job (or co-founder for a new business), a girlfriend, a nicer car (or bike) and any number of truly impactful life situations. However, I see a real lack of urgency among many of my peers. Quite simply, time is wasting.

Perhaps the complacency is due to the fact that the internet allows for so many digital connections that the personal aspect is forgotten. It could be that many of my peers are focused on their first and second jobs. Whatever it may be I want to advocate and strongly recommend investing in networking. What does that mean?

1. Get involved in organizations (community groups / non-profits / sports leagues) outside of your immediate circle of friends and co-workers.
2. Ask yourself if you have made a personal or professional connection for someone you know; this will grow your trusted network exponentially.
3. Host an event, at your home, a bar or somewhere entirely different

Finally, spend real money on networking. This means taking a potential friend or business partner (really someone who strikes you as engaging) out for a drink or dinner and pay for it. Combine your vacation or travels with real networking.

I am going to highlight several organizations that I view as particularly fruitful for networking. These are the groups I admire or aspire to be apart of because they are filled with smart, driven, and optimistic people who will be changing the world in any number of ways over their lifetimes.

Summit Series

The community we serve – a collection of artists, entrepreneurs, activists, philanthropists and musicians – is at the heart of everything we do. Through an annual conference, community-based digital platform, and year-round events, we set the stage for these people to forge lifelong friendships, spawn new business ideas, tackle global issues, and in turn, make our world a better place.

StartingBloc

Through the StartingBloc Fellowship, we select the brightest young leaders and provide them with access to the resources they need to address the most pressing global challenges of our time. The most critical resource that our Fellows gain access to is a tight-knit community of social innovators based across the country and the world.

Echoing Green

To accelerate social change, Echoing Green invests in and supports outstanding emerging social entrepreneurs to launch new organizations that deliver bold, high-impact solutions. Through a two-year fellowship program, we help our network of visionaries develop new solutions to society’s most difficult problems.

TiE

TiE’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, and education. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE’s focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs.