In your "life bankbook," besides money and professional knowledge, how many connections do you have? How strong is your "network competitiveness"?
Stanford Research Center once published a survey report concluding: A person's earnings come 12.5% from knowledge and 87.5% from relationships. Does this data shock you?
In Taiwan's securities investment circle, Yang Yaoyu is a case of maximizing network competitiveness.
Having left the workplace a year ago, he serves as a financial advisor to friends and as a director of five electronics companies. It is estimated his net worth is nearly NT$100 million. How did a country boy from southern Taiwan who came north to work manage to accumulate wealth so quickly?
"Sometimes, one phone call is worth ten research reports," Yang says. "My network spans all fields, with thousands upon thousands of connections—too many to count."
Even a dark horse needs a talent scout
Many people think only insurance agents, salespeople, and journalists need to focus on networking, but in the 21st century, network competitiveness is an increasingly important topic in every field.
In Hollywood, a popular saying goes: "Success doesn't depend on what you know, but who you know."
American veteran actor Kirk Douglas was down and out in his youth. Once, while on a train, he struck up a conversation with a woman seated next to him. That chat turned out to be a turning point in his life. Within days, he was invited to a film studio; the woman was a well-known producer.
One effort, multiple returns
What exactly is "network competitiveness"?
Compared to competitiveness from professional knowledge, a person's advantage in interpersonal relationships and networks is what we define as network competitiveness.
Harvard scholars analyzed that when an average performer encounters a tough problem, they try to consult experts but often waste time waiting for replies. Top talents rarely face this issue because they have already built a rich resource network before they need it, so when they ask for advice, they get answers immediately.
Three keys to expanding your network
- Cultivate confidence and communication skills
There are many techniques to enhance network competitiveness, but the prerequisite is "confidence and communication skills." Regarding confidence, "how big is your comfort zone (the degree to which you feel at ease in different situations)?"
A person without confidence has a small comfort zone, fears rejection, and is unwilling to reach out to others, let alone expand their network.
At social gatherings, Westerners eat something before going and arrive early, because it's an opportunity to meet more strangers. In Chinese society, however, people are shy at such events; they arrive late, try to talk to people they know, or even arrange to sit with close friends to avoid strangers.
Communication ability is essentially the ability to understand others, including their needs, desires, abilities, and motivations, and to respond appropriately. How to understand? Listening is the best way.
Gao Yang described the "red-top merchant" Hu Xueyan like this:
"Actually, Hu Xueyan's tactics were simple. He was good at talking, but even better at listening. No matter how boring the speaker, he would listen attentively, looking straight at them as if deeply interested. At the same time, he truly listened, adding a word or two at critical moments, expanding on a point, making the speaker feel a deep connection, naturally leading to a close friendship."
- Learn to praise others at the right time
Timely praise is also a great communication technique.
American "Steel King" Andrew Carnegie paid an unprecedented salary of $1 million in 1921 to hire an executive, Charles Schwab. When reporters asked why, Carnegie said, "Because he is the best at praising others, and that is his most valuable skill."
Carnegie even wrote his own epitaph: "Here lies a man who knew how to enlist the service of better men than himself."
- Seize every opportunity to help others
Cheng Yaohui, vice president of Citibank, always upholds this belief: no matter the person's position, he tries to help others as much as possible. So everyone knows: "If you need help, just find Roman." When you help others from the heart, you'll find: the more you give, the richer you become.
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