Networking with Smart People
Networking, asking for help, delegating and knowing people who have different skills and talents than you do can infinitely add to your success. Business guru and author Harvey Mackay says if your house is on fire, don’t grab your wedding album or jewelry. Grab your Rolodex. He’s right. I’m all for the wedding album, but Harvey’s got a good point.
Actor Michael J. Fox was featured on the cover of the March issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine. In 1991, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. As a result of his illness, he started the Michael J. Fox Foundation which is working towards finding a cure for Parkinson’s. In the Good Housekeeping article, Fox speaks with humility about starting the organization:
“Now I look back at the foundation and what we’ve been able to do. We have certainly not met all our goals yet, but steps have been taken. When I started it, I thought, I’m not smart enough to do this. I had no experience in management, no experience in administration, no experience in nonprofit; but then this phrase came into my head: I only have to be smart enough to find people who are smarter than me; I only have to be smart enough to recognize who knows more than me.”
No one expects you to know everything. It’s important that we recognize this in our own lives. If your kitchen sink is leaking, you call a plumber. If your car breaks down, you find a mechanic. If your business is growing and you need professional bookkeeping services, you delegate to someone who knows accounting. As long as you are willing to admit that you need help in an area, you are on the path to success.
Surround yourself with people who have different talents, skills and experiences than you do. It leads to new learning opportunities and creativity. It’s written in the Bible that Solomon said, “Do not go it alone.”
