How do we form the best relationships; bring our best to them; build environments that nurture them; and measure our success?
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Liz Strauss
Liz is a social web strategist and community builder. Coming from a background of publishing, business, and instructional design, Liz understands how people perceive a blog, a product, and an experience — how the head and heart engage to make a fiercely loyal customer. She can articulate what makes things irresistible — what keeps people coming back — from literacy, editorial, design, and marketing sensitivities. Liz will tell you that brands and social media are the same in that “You gotta live it, walking ever word you speak.”
Today Liz is here to talk about how to build a personal development network of support and growth. Some ideas and talking points might include:
Building a Personal Development Network
1. Start with a personal foundation built on concrete not sand.
- Qualitative Observations
- Quantitative Assessment
- Personal Reflection
Know what you know and never discount its value.
2. Know Your Context — Pick your path.
3. Enlist Developers — Choose unique and valuable guides.
- People who know you.
- People who know what you what to learn.
- People who will tell you when you falter.
4. Regularly Reassess — Seek opportunities to learn what you’re learning.
5. Develop Others — Return the favor and pay it forward.
6. AND THE ONE THAT WAS MISSING — Communicate. Let your network
Let’s let the questions start rolling. I’ll offer the first one!
Liz Strauss writes about branding, social media and how businesses can use the entrepreneurial spirit to understand and build successful relationships and communities on the Internet. You’ll find her at Successful-blog.
Follow @lizstrauss at Twitter.
How do you surround yourself with people who keep you growing?
For me, the purpose of a Personal Developmental Network is to offer guidance in becoming the best I can be inside and outside the world of business. My approach to building my network is life focused — I want a network that helps me grow as a human meant to achieve something and I believe that a network that grows with me offers depth and insight that are priceless.
I always place respect at the top of a relationship, because if I don’t respect their opinion, I’ll never trust their opinion.
From there, I discover wonderful things about them as an individual
Hi Vicky!
What sort of people do you have in your personal development network?
It’s such a variety of ppl, I can’t even begin to classify them in a group.
I am a life long learner and love diversity
I would say people that are passionate, dedicated, and interested in personal growth.
A friend and mentor of mine said any good idea should be vetted by a friend, an “enemy” and someone who doesn’t know you. Ever tried doing someething like?
I think I see in each of them a little piece of myself.
Even if I have different priorities and values from someone, I still try and figure out what I’m meant to learn from that person. Can they teach me to step outside of fear, or love more freely, or consider a different way of looking at a situation?
Second, I keep my RSS reader filled with wonderful writers like Liz. That way I can dip in and read when I need a fresh dose of motivation or inspiration.
Thanks for kicking this off Liz!
I am a researcher, I research something for months.
I don’t like talking if I don’t know enough about a topic to hold a conversation. So usually I’ve researched something pretty thoroughly before I state my idea or opinion.
I would like to meet more social networkers in my area. I never thought of that before meeting you Liz. What do you suggest besides contacting people through Twitter? I checked a few social group, but they aren’t that active here. I might just need to research more.
I think that’s a great observation. We can’t meet to talk or learn, unless we find the places where we’re alike.
Hey Marcia!
Do you have a strategy for picking out who you bring around you? Or do you do intuitively?
Exactly, that usually starts with knowing someone is trustworthy and honest.
I don’t like trying to figure out someone’s motives. I don’t want to disect their intentions, I want to have a conversation.
Hey Amy!
I made it a point to watch for folks who followed me that were here in Chicago. I also looked for opportunities to go out to meet them in the concrete world. Coffee dates and network events were a once a week thing for almost a year.
Vicky,
How do you decide who to talk to?
I am trying to move my design business from less print work to web and social media work. I felt intimidated by that aspect, being a small firm. I hope to meet many more contacts in this industry to help with the transition. I do have some great programmers and I know that is a super asset.
I like people that make me think. If someone asks a question or states an opinion and I say “I never thought of that?”…
People that are opinionated but have good reason’s behind their beliefs. They don’t have to be the same beliefs, but they must make sense to me why they feel that way.
Amy,
Getting to know who knows things and who knows people is good. Doing what you just did — letting people know what you know is even better.
Check out @marblehead on Twitter. He’s in Dallas.
Liz,
That’s great advice. I love coffee and I love talking. Gotta just get out there and find people in my area. The print world and internet world are so far from each other. I’m slowly getting my feet wet. Thanks! Looking forward to coming back to hear all the other great people on your panel!
Vicky,
Oh, I like that People that are opinionated but have good reason’s behind their beliefs. They don’t have to be the same beliefs, but they must make sense to me why they feel that way.
So how do you get the word out that you want to learn something new, need a new teacher?
Amy,
My web designer for http://RemarkableParents.com was @RandaClay. You should follow her and subscribe to her blog. She knows a lot about WP and technology which I loved as well as her being a great designer!
Amy,
I’m so looking forward to seeing how fast your base in Dallas grows!
What I have found, by attending conferences like SOBCon, is that people are very open to helping you. You just have to ask! Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Amy,
Check out Twitter Local. Google it, I’m not sure of the URL
This is great, Liz! That was nice to hear about you having coffee with new acquaintances until they became friends. I live in a rural area, but I guess the phone is the next best option.
Hey Mary-Lynn!
I’ve been thinking about you, even before this event. How’s your development and growth network going?
I usually first have my interest sparked… I favorite a lot of tweets that are interesting, then I do some research, then I ask some ‘hopefully intelligent’ questions.
Most people are so friendly and helpful, especially bloggers.
Hey Todd,
Turn those internet contacts into phone friends. Yep that’s a way to do it. 🙂
In a network, I look for people that listen. Have you ever been in networking situations where you can’t get a word in edgewise? Or even while you speak, you can see the other person leveraging for their next pitch instead of listening to those around them?
I have, on too many occasions. That is usually my clue to exit stage left!
It is can be seductively easy to get so caught up in our latest great idea that we get tunnel vision. For me a successful network has opportunities to really listen and learn as well as spread my own gospel.
OK, I’m convinced and this is a no brainer. I consider you part of my network of learning and growing.
Dan
Todd,
Another thing that’s fun, if you use Gmail and the Gmail chat feature you can see if someone’s online in Gmail and chat. Facebook has the same thing. I like to just pop by and say hi. Twitter is the ultimate for live conversations tho.
Bean,
Great point. I need to listen more 🙁
Hi Mary-lynn!
Hey Bean,
Those listeners are often the people who think before they talk, too. 🙂
Dan,
The beauty of that is I learn every time I come here. You’re part of my group too.
Liz, it is overwhelming sometimes! I will have to send you an email with an update. But I have to say, we have built great relationships that have led to mutually beneficial opportunities. That’s the beauty of nurturing the relationships we make in our networks…looking for win/win!
Liz is a great listener. One of her best qualities I think.
@Mary-lynn I like to say win-win-win because if we have a blog or audience they win too!
Hi back, Vicky! You are a perfect example of building a personal development network. We met at SOBCon, and have continued to stay in touch. I have observed how you interact on Twitter, Facebook, and in helping out with Liz on this bigg event! Sometimes we can learn from each other simply by watching each other.
These are great ideas. I like VickyH’s suggestion, researching favorite Tweets.
Much of my networking is done by e-mail (so Web 1.0). I’m also trying to build up a community valuable relationships on Facebook.
Mary-Lynn,
One of the hardest parts of a personal network is when it starts scaling up. It’s like a twitter list gone wild.
It’s hard to sit on the same side of the table and align goals with good people when so many people have interesting ideas.
That’s when a small network of people around me help me to keep focused on where I really want to go.
Liz, VERY good point.
Hey Nick,
Nothing wrong with starting on solid ground. No need to do what anyone else is doing until you see it’s usefulness to you. 🙂
When I went to SOBCon I never blogged before and just started on twitter.
What a difference 6 months makes…
#45
Vicky I wish I had your clock. The next SOBCon is only 3 months from now. 🙂
Nick,
You might want to check out Jott, it’s a voice to text service. You call them, leave a message, they translate to text and send to you via email. It’s a huge time saver 🙂
I have my iPhone voicemail automatically transcribed to text. Works well for me.
@Todd @Vicki
I have a speech impediment that can make face to face networking a challenge so I rely heavily on instant messaging services like Instant Messenger, Facebook and Gmail. Instant Messenger has a group function so you can communicate with more than one person. I use a lot of skype too. If I am having a bad speech day, I can type responses and I can hear the individual or group that I am interacting with. We can give each other links on projects we are working on and get immediate feedback.
@Bean Do what works best for you… That sounds like it works great, so I wouldn’t change a thing. Spend a little time trying new products, but keep the old stand by’s until your sure you want to change something.
Thanks, Vicky!
Jott brings connections closer.
Anything that keeps us talking about what we want to learn is a saver.
Bean,
That’s one of the things I like most about technology. When it’s used with thought, people become more accessible.
Time has flown bye… See what I mean 🙂
Vicky,
Thanks for the tip. I tried Jott a year or so ago, but I’m mostly at my computer all day. So I didn’t find it too helpful. You’ve encouraged me to check it out again.
Just visited your site. You’ve only been doing this six months? Looks great.
Interestingly, you can Jott now from your desktop, Twitter, Facebook, I like it when I have a quick idea… I used to have a post it note habit, til I started loosing the post it notes… hehe
@Nick Thanks so much. I met such great friends at SOBCon who are bloggers, they keep me learning and interested.
I still talk to 90 percent of them. Very cool
We’ve found a group of folks who can talk honestly.
Now we need to get talking about goals that move us forward.
Pick handful of close advisors — people you trust to tell you the truth — and share your goals with them.
Then use them as your network to build a future.
Excellent advice! I heard writing down your goals has a higher rate of success.
Liz,
Thanks for the Marblehead contact. They just re-designed the Dallas Society of Visual Communications site and I never clued into who worked on it. I’ve been a part of that group for years. Hope to meet them at the next meeting. I’m sure I know someone that works there:-)
Good meeting everyone else here in the comments. I’m @livinglocurto if anyone wants to stop by to say hi!
Amy,
@marblehead (Jay Ramirez) is on Twitter. Bet he knows. 🙂
I’m @eeUS. @Amy I’ll definatly follow you and say hi soon
Vicky, Bean – I love that we have so many ways to communicate at our disposal now.
I think Liz has really raised an important point, as she has stressed a close network of honest advisors/colleagues who will provide you with concrete and critical commentary and advice.
Not everyone will have the confidence and diplomacy to do that effectively. When you find and connect those that do, treasure them like gold
Thank you Liz for leading such a great discussion!
@Bean So true, you are right on with that last statement.
Thank you all for coming over to talk. Stay as long as you like!
This is interesting but I’m not sure where to fit it in–Nick’s “Web 1.0” comment comes to mind. 🙂 I’m interesting in developing a network but it’s somewhat specialized—stock/option traders. I blog about investing topics that most people want nothing to do with. There are a select few, however, who make the craft their life. How might this all apply to me?