Hello Going Expat people,
long time no talking but I am back to it! And I want to talk about the power of networking.
I got very busy in this last period and among all the things to do, I haven’t made time for the blog. It feels good to be back to my laptop with the purpose to write to you all, FOR you all!
Networking kept me busy, motivated and helped my self confidence in both social and working life. I see it a such a tool for expats as well and I am going to tell you why right now.
How networking helps expat life?
No matters what motivates you to join a group of people(as long is a legit reason), what matters is what impact you can have and them on you.
The power of networking is in the possibility to find friends, business partners, like-minded people, collaborators, you name it. And if you are honest and open, you’ll make an impact which won’t bee forgotten.
Especially during last year, but lso earlier than this, and until a week ago I realised how “going out there” made me create contacts that, also after long time, can still positively impact me.
Since I came back to the Netherlands, I have been busy with this blog and other ways to meet people in a professional or social way.
The first Networking experience that I had, was organized by me. In fact, I had organised a tour in Rotterdam thanks to De Rotterdam Tours (which I collaborate with after this tour, when it is about guided tour in Italian). The event ended with a coffee and therefore people could get to know each other better, someone talked about their businesses etc…
It was there, where I have met one of the people who today is in my group of friends, we realised we had things in common and wanted to keep in touch.
This led me to meet and befriend her friends and so on and so forward.
How nice?
Of course there more ways to make friends, I had been always of the idea that if you can get to know people starting from something that you all have in common, it is easily making you achieve the goal of expanding your circle.
Online networking and friendship
Surely a big importance in our social life is given by Social Medias, and guess what? Some strong relationships have started from there as well. Here I would have a too long list to make, but if you follow me on Instagram, you have seen how these connections became actual relationships, some more closer than others, but still.
In some case, with some people we met in person. I have been invited in their houses and I had them over. I had never thought that this could actually happen, just because we e-met on Instagram, shared some life experience (living abroad mainly) and supported each other projects. But it happened and feels so good.
In some cases, these relationships are easy because you live in the same city or country and then you have the chance to meet more often and having a kind of routine, nevertheless they all had an impact in me.
Business networking
The first idea that comes in mind talking about networking is the one related to business, and indeed it is quite right.
Especially if you just moved abroad maybe for your job, if you are trying to figure out what career path you want to take, or if you are an entrepreneur/solopreneur, joining business meetings is your source of gold.
You can check any, there are specific platforms only for that, or some which have a bit of everything, for example Eventbrite where you can also find me and my events.
Sometimes also the dear and old Facebook comes in hand. It was my case when I found Buzz Business Networking run by Julie.
Not only these meetings helped me during my burn out, to get out there, meet people, dare to speak up when my self-confidence was very low. It also gave me the chance to meet like-minded business owners, who are now collaborators.
Same goes for Rotterdam Partners, through which I met also bigger companies and I am now able to handle some requests from clients better, learning more about life in the Netherlands from different point of views, and, exchange ideas, dreams, visions and project with people who are willing to listen and can really help you.
If you check my collaboration and services pages you know who I m talking about.
Courses and trainings
Last point that I want to make to underline the power of networking and how impactful it can be, or better, you can be when meeting new people regards courses and training. Recently I have decided to look for a different path in my career, announcing it on LinkedIn clearly my exposure grew and some people who I haven’t talked to in a while reached out.
One in particular, who I have met during a Leadership and Coaching course in Rotterdam. We have worked together for some assignments, and after that we haven’t met and talked much anymore. But we remembered each other, and she remembered that I wanted to grow and work more with people, and my energy. The impact was so relevant that, after almost 2 years from those days, she saw my “open to work” she put me in contact with somebody who interviewed me for a job (wish me luck)!
Conclusion
My final point is, get out there, meet people, be honest and true to yourself, don’t be afraid of nothing. There are people who are looking for friends, business partners, collaborators or just somebody to who they can talk to exactly like you!
Do you have similar experiences? Share them in the comments!
Talk you soon
Rossella
