Is the Space Time Continuum Affecting Your Networking?


I used to think that the reason I'd see so many networking friends wherever I went was because I spent too much time networking. Or because Fresno and Clovis are part of a small world. But now I think it has more to do with the space time continuum. Specifically with the effects of massive objects on the space time continuum, which is where gravity comes from.

Illustration from Flickr by Rodrigo Senna

Since the math is incredibly complicated, the History Channel usually uses a sheet of rubber, a bowling ball, and a ping pong ball to explain how a large object (the bowling ball) distorts the fabric of space time (the rubber sheet). Then the smaller object (the ping pong ball) is introduced. If it's sent toward the bowling ball on an angle, it will orbit around until it runs out of energy and is irresistibly drawn into the bowling ball. Here's the video clip.

We (individuals) are the lighter objects. Our favorite groups (yes, even the Chamber) are like the larger objects. Their massive size has a greater effect on the fabric of space time (i.e. the community we are in). We're drawn in, where we meet many of the same people who are in the area and are attracted by the same gravity that affected us.

So networking outside of our regular groups is like fighting the forces of gravity. It takes extra effort to move further away from the massive objects that have a strong attraction. Look how much energy it takes to launch a space craft out of the Earth's gravity well.

Okay, maybe the analogy isn't perfect. But the next time your favorite networking adviser nags you to go somewhere different and get out of your comfort zone, you can blame it on the space time continuum. Who can fight that?

P.S. It's also a great excuse for being late. "Hey, space and time are the same thing, so really I've been here all along."

A Networking Fairy Tale Featuring Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty opened a new business selling walls. He found a retail space, spent a lot of money on inventory, and then threw the doors open one nice spring day.

Nobody came. He sat in the store and waited. Business was slow. He asked his neighbor, Miss Muffet if it was a bad neighborhood, but she didn't know because she had agoraphobia and never went outside. He asked his other neighbor, Jack Sprat (a physical trainer) what he should do. "Advertise," said Jack. But Humpty didn't have any money left.

Little Boy Blue told him to cold call, but Humpty didn't know how to craft a good message. The Old Lady who lived in the shoe down the street suggested direct mail, but Humpty didn't know where to get a list. Mary, Mary, the contrarian, told him to find a new target market, but Humpty didn't even know who was in his old target market.

Finally, one of the king's men told him about a networking event down at the castle that was being sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce. Humpty hemmed and hawed, but finally decided that at the very least, he'd get something to eat and he could leave if it wasn't any good.

Humpty Dumpty had a great time! He met a marketing expert who could help him find low-cost advertising. He was introduced to a sales specialist who told him where to find cold-calling scripts. He found out that the Chamber had a seminar on direct mailing strategies. The Chamber Membership Director suggested some good books on guerilla marketing and then invited him to become a member.

Humpty joined the Chamber and all summer long he enjoyed excellent networking events, learned a great deal about running a small business, and saved money through the Chamber advertising discounts. He told all his friends that they should join the Chamber, too, and together they developed terrific, long-term mutally beneficial relationships with everyone in town.

And as September, October and November rolled by, Humpty counted up the profits and realized he'd had a great fall!