Watching the 2010 Vancouver Olympics reminds me of a news story I heard in 2000 during the Sydney Olympics, which can teach us a valuable lesson about networking.
There was a 13-year-old girl from one of the nearby island nations — I couldn’t even tell you which one — competing in the women’s swimming events. She was her country’s only athlete, the only delegate at all, in fact. No coaches, no parents, nobody to guide her through what’s already a nerve-wracking experience to most adults.
At 13 years old, she was her country’s best swimmer, because nobody else swam. They had a small pool in her hometown, but that was it.
When she showed up, the Australian coach took the girl under his wing, and started practicing with her. He gave her tips, coached her during several practices, and even gave her one of the sharkskin suits the world saw that year.
The girl didn’t even stand a chance of making it out of her first heat. She lost by a wide margin, and was the last one out of the pool. But she learned a lot.
The coach didn’t have to do anything. He didn’t need to coach the girl, or even give her one of the expensive sharkskin suits. But he did it because he understood the Olympic spirit: that this is the time the world comes together in the name of Sport. He didn’t do it for personal gain or recognition. He did it because a young girl needed a mentor, and he was able to give her the time.
Remember, networking is not always about what other people can do for you. And it’s not only about helping someone so you will get helped in return later on. This isn’t a story about the lion and the mouse. A young girl from a poor island nation will never be able to help the coach of one of the world’s swimming powerhouses.
Rather, this story reminds us that sometimes you just have to help people who are never going to be able to repay you. That we need to reach out to those who need a hand, even if it’s just for a little bit.
As you’re networking with people, whether it’s at At The Top, or at any of our city’s other networking events, change your outlook. Stop looking for people who can help you or can advance your career. Stop trying to find your next opportunity, your next sale. Because if everyone had that “who can help me?” attitude, then you won’t be given the time of day by the person you’re trying to meet.
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