Network,Network and Network!

With modern business practices into play, I have come to realize how effective it is to have a large network and a social following. To build a large social or a business network one has to effectively communicate and converse. The Persian poet Hafiz in describing conversation once said,"Most speaking really say, I am hungry to know you”. That little exchange in the lunch room, those fine pleasantry exchanges on the alleys adds much value and gives me the much needed zest to kickstart my day.

Sometimes I feel really down on days when I have been bogged down by study and not had that chance conversation with someone. I believe it is the inert nature of humans to connect with each other as social beings that makes them tick. This is also empirically and statistically backed by results that show the happiest man is one who is socially supported by both his family and circle of friends.

My life in Sydney for the last few years has certainly nurtured in me the importance of strong business networks to thrive in corporate life. In a corporate life it takes tremendous guts to walk up to a stranger and strike a conversation.What if this conversation opens doors to a brighter future or to a pathway for a business proposition?

It is really hard to break off that comfort zone, but out of the circle is where opportunities exist. If one is not an extrovert by nature, networking and conversations can be certainly graced by sheer practice. There is nothing in this world that cannot be learnt by application and effort.

Often plain conversation over coffee on a lazy weekend is an amazing experience where you simply swap pleasantries with the other person over much laughter and intense listening. I am reminded of the ad which is centered on the theme “Much can happen over coffee”. People have this potent to simply reciprocate the way you treat and give it to them. When you expose yourself with fine details over conversation that is when you simply connect with the other person, in turn inducing her to reciprocate. One of my friends in depicting conversation wrote in the Columbia University student rag “Conversation is not about the prefunctory hello, but that sparkle with teeth shown and eyes lit up”.
ISB is certainly the place to build this massive network and I firmly believe thats the reason we are here at a B-school. A picture insert here of my team at the Dumb-C last weekend-man it was so much fun and laughter we shared-Thanks Guys!