Entrepreneurs: How High is Networking ROI?
by Miki Saxon
Hey entrepreneurs, you heard it here from a founder a year before another founder said it in Fast Company.
“It” is the time you waste at so many of the events dedicated to startups and the personalities that populate the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Networking is presented as the great equalizer; providing situations that are supposed to bridge the chasm faced by new founders and those with well-connected Rolodexes.
But believing that is in the same league as believing in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy or the Silicon Valley Meritocracy.
There is no way to minimize the intensity and energy—mental, physical and psychical—involved in founding and building a company; the most likely result of adding networking to the schedule is faster burnout and more damage to your other relationships.
One of the most important skills a founder (or anyone) needs is the ability to prioritize.
To that end, skip the networking and at least 70% of the time you spend on social media and spend it on high ROI actions, including time with family and friends.
You’ll be glad you did.
Flickr image credit: David Orban
