Networking, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Lifelines

 Your network is kind of like the lifelines in the game show who wants to be a Millionaire. Life throws up questions and obstacles. You can reach out and connect with others for help and insight into unfamiliar arenas or areas where you might be unsure.

Your success in that reach out is the diversity of your network, to some extent the size of it, but most importantly on how willing the people on the other end of it are willing to pick up your call.

Unlike on TV that amazing ability to tap into others is available every single day. The more robust your lifeline bench is the better you can work through life’s obstacles. It is not usually as dramatic as the clock beating down on a final answer but the positive impact on your life can be even bigger over time.

Early in my career I spent zero time thinking about any of this but as you grow as a leader this becomes increasingly important. Especially the relationship side of it. You must understand the other person and what they are about. You must live and treat people in a way where they willingly will pick up your call.

I also find this lifeline thought helpful as frame of reference for the inbound requests and calls I receive. Although I get it wrong sometimes and my follow through is not always what I want it to be. When I think of it this way I have a different reverence for the request, I am grateful for the opportunity to help. I remember the inbound for what it is to the person on the other end… a lifeline.