One of the central themes of the Steadfast Spirit is proper self-management. Ultimately success will be based around your ability to build networks, but without proper self-management those relationships never grow, or worse can become destructive. Below is one of the several types of relationships you will need to develop and lean upon.
Contacts: Contact are people you know through networking. I have dozens of different contacts. They are people you met through different means but with career/professional intentions implied upfront. I have received incredible help from contacts/connections, but it would be awkward and potentially unprofessional to invite them to something social, because our relationship is primarily professional.
Sometimes you can become friends with your contacts/connections over time, but usually you do not. Obviously this group is vital, but they are not as valuable as references because they have never worked with you professionally. This is why the best contacts/connections often come through references or feedback friends. In this way the contact/connection has a certain level of assurance in you from your mutual contact.
I’ve had contacts/connections refer me for positions and simply state “I’ve met Tommy and he is a great guy. I also am a good friend with his former manager, who said he is a really hard worker.” That’s the kind of reference that will get you places because there is a level of trust and reliability in their support of you.
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