My Network Fell Apart!!!

My Network Fell Apart!!! Yesterday I started the day meeting with some great friends and bloggers for breakfast at 7am (thats 6am my time). Then it was meetings and presentations all day long, and we finally rolled into our driveway at 9:30. There was an armadillo in the backyard so of course I had to chase it around in my nice clothes and new shoes and a little bit of rain but I didnt catch it. What a way to end a Texas winter day! This morning I had an outstanding presentation in downtown Houston, and now Im headed to Austin for a very fun dinner with some very cool bloggers. Im looking forward to it but going to take some Motrin right now ?? I do have something on-topic today, and its interesting because I heard it one of my meetings yesterday and the meeting this morning. The question/issue that came up was essentially: I have a network of working professionals. When they lose their jobs, then my network falls apart and is not valuable! Wow! Where have I been this last year to not have heard this before?? Here are my thoughts: the value of each person in your network is not dependent on their job status one guy got laid off with his entire division (35 people) so he thought that his 35 contacts there werent going to be able to help him I said now you know 35 people that should be out meeting prospective employers, meeting new people, etc. What a powerful group of people that can help eachother, make introductions and share leads! networking is not a short-term thing its long-term. What the give/take in the networking relationship changes as people and positions change (right now you may help me get a job, but tomorrow you may be my vendor/customer) thoughts? My Network Fell Apart!!! Yesterday I started the day meeting with some great friends and bloggers for breakfast at 7am (thats 6am my time). Then it was meetings and presentations all day long, and we finally rolled into our driveway at 9:30. There was an armadillo in the backyard so of course I had to chase it around in my nice clothes and new shoes and a little bit of rain but I didnt catch it. What a way to end a Texas winter day! This morning I had an outstanding presentation in downtown Houston, and now Im headed to Austin for a very fun dinner with some very cool bloggers. Im looking forward to it but going to take some Motrin right now ?? I do have something on-topic today, and its interesting because I heard it one of my meetings yesterday and the meeting this morning. The question/issue that came up was essentially: I have a network of working professionals. When they lose their jobs, then my network falls apart and is not valuable! Wow! Where have I been this last year to not have heard this before?? Here are my thoughts: the value of each person in your network is not dependent on their job status one guy got laid off with his entire division (35 people) so he thought that his 35 contacts there werent going to be able to help him I said now you know 35 people that should be out meeting prospective employers, meeting new people, etc. What a powerful group of people that can help eachother, make introductions and share leads! networking is not a short-term thing its long-term. What the give/take in the networking relationship changes as people and positions change (right now you may help me get a job, but tomorrow you may be my vendor/customer) thoughts?