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Networking is Like Farming

"The Mother of all Metaphors"

by Dan Williams

Founder, CEO of The Networking Community

I am "Madder than the Hatter" in Alice in Wonderland when it comes to the overuse of metaphors.

But in this often misunderstood world of networking, metaphors are essential brushes to help me paint the landscape. There, I did it again. Stuck in the maze of metaphors. Which brings me to the "Mother of all Metaphors" when it comes to describing networking, Farming.

Being hog-wild over the similarities, I am very excited to share three ideas that, metaphorically speaking, might help cultivate your appreciation of networking.

1. Networking, like farming, is an ongoing process.

Farming consists of an ongoing process of activities from sowing to harvest. Networking consists of an ongoing process of activities starting with contacts that grow to contracts. Both networking and farming require time, perseverance and patience.

2. Networking, like farming, requires a leap of faith.

You never know which seeds will flourish, or how the elements outside your control will affect you. Not all seeds will produce. And not all of your contacts will produce contracts.

3. Networking, like farming, can not be done alone.

There are natural forces coming together that bring about the farmers success. The magic of the sun and rain. In networking, a principle of nature is also at work. It is called the law of reciprocity. "You can never help another person without ultimately helping yourself."

May begins the springtime ritual for us urban want-to-be farmers to weed, till the soil, and plant flowers, shrubs, and trees. I can't help myself. Let me leave you with one last metaphor.

Going to a networking event seeking instant results is about as realistic as expecting our weekend gardening efforts to sprout forth overnight. You can say you heard it here first. "Networking, like farming, is a Process not an Event."

Until next week.

To Your Networking Success!