"Do I really need to have a lot of friends?"
"Do I really need to be kind to everyone?"
"Can I be successful with just small circle of friends?"
"Is it worth spending my time and energy building connections?"
"Am I wasting a lot of opportunities for being a private person?"
As an introvert, I've been guilty of these thoughts when surrounded with a lot of people. I admit that my social battery is limited, so most of the time I only interact with people when needed. But deep inside, somehow, I want my craft to be discovered. It's a bit contradictory when I prefer to keep my privacy but wants to gain validation from audience at the same time. XD
I joined an online community and saw someone who had the same struggle as me. And turns out, most people recommend networking to be successful because they believe that "Your network is your net worth. Especially if we are in the sales industry, having a huge network is a key to success.
To be honest, I used to be a confident and approachable (still introvert) kid in school. It was so easy for me to accept anyone to be my friend. I had the best of friends in my childhood but as I grew up, some challenges in life caused me to be careful with my words and actions. I learned that some relationships or friendships can cause us trauma if things don't work out. Since then, all I ever wanted was just to have a simple life, no competitions, and free of drama. The intention was not to block some people out of my sight, but to prioritize or spend more time with my loved ones instead.
Fast forward, I reached a quarter-life crisis and began searching for my purpose. I wanted to pursue business but had a fear of failure and embarrassment. I already imagined myself failing in business because I knew I didn't have the charisma. So instead, I took everything one step at a time. I tried to read a lot of books and listened to people with words of wisdom. I always prayed to God to let go of my anxiety and to tell about my personal intentions. I tried to be more approachable whenever I meet new people. Well, some people were a bit difficult to approach but that's okay to me. I just told myself not to focus on who's missing but to be grateful to everyone that supported me.
There were ups and downs in networking, but I think these ways helped me to connect more with people:
1. Joining online groups or communities
Not the best way to network but, sometimes this is my first step to meet people with the same hobbies as me. It will be easier for me to say hello virtually as a shy person.
2. Dating
Whenever I talk or meet a new friend, I realize that there are more things that I should explore in life. And of course, I choose the man that has interesting talent and experiences.
3. Participating in workplace events
I really never show my crafts in the workplace, but participating in contests can serve to relieve stress from work. It also served as opportunity for me to know my co-workers personally.
4. Joining workshops.
I wish I can find free workshops in my place because most of them are a bit pricey. I always set a budget for workshops if I want to learn something. Anyway, every good deal has a catch so I don't mind meeting new people that inspire me to work hard as well.
5. Travelling solo
Don't get me wrong, I love travelling with friends! However, being a solo traveler pushed me also to get out from my comfort zone. I became confident talking to strangers when I started joining groups.
These were the little ways that helped me in networking. Note that everything written was based only from my experience and absolutely not intended to tell everyone to follow me. These ways became a reason for me to go out and build connections. It reminded me that there are a lot of good people in this world, and they do have passion projects of their own. I feel inspired whenever I hear their success stories.
Still a work in progress, but I am thankful with what I have so far. There are a lot of fishes in the ocean and I am open for more opportunities that can help me grow and build my passion projects.
I am surrendering all of my worries to Him who gives me strength.
Comments
Post a Comment