Getting Young People to Network

If there is one thing I wish I did better in my Youth, it’s Networking. If I truly understood the value of and leveraged Networking back in the day, I would probably would have done things differently. There would have been some interesting opportunities for growth.

HIGH SCHOOL

• Started several new clubs
• Gone on co-ops, exchanges, and conferences
• I would have won the election I ran in

UNIVERSITY

• Learned more about the opportunities in Engineering to go abroad and help developing countries
• Had an easier time of finding summer jobs
• Would have had the support from professors and T.A.’s to not fail some classes
• Used my role with the Savoy Society theatre company to plan a major event involving the drama club and the other musical theatre groups

SUMMER JOBS

• Found a better job rather than wasting my time for 1 day in a carpet factory, 9 days in a pulp and paper mill, 2 weeks in a lab, 1 summer as a waiter in a ghetto hotel
• Leverage my experiences to find a great full-time job after graduation

POST-GRADUATION

• Dabbled in film and television at an earlier age
• Looked into youth employment adventures across Canada and abroad
• Not wasted 7 months of my life just watching TV and playing computer games
• Found the right job with the right fit much sooner than 10 months
• Left my unfulfilling engineering job much sooner for something better
• Started my musical theatre company sooner

POST-MBA

• Pounded the pavement to get that job in Entertainment that I was really looking for
• Had more job offers or opportunities than the one I took 9 months later

Now it may seem negative, but I still had an amazing life and my youth was one of the best times of my life. But my point is that I never knew back then how important Networking is. The above are just missed opportunities. I have no regrets, just alot of things learned.

Today, Networking is fundamental to how I run my business, how I create relationships, and it has driven over 80% of my income the past 5 years since I started my company. I love Networking because it has given so many amazing opportunities to work with youth through Impact and Shad Valley, to meeting some incredibly inspiring and nurturing individuals with the advent of social media. I learn something each day with every connection.

Networking is something we all can use. Networking is something we all need. Networking is something we can all improve upon.

If only 20% of the world is getting over 80% of the opportunities through Networking, then what should you be doing?

Now get out there and make life happen! You gotta want it!!