If you’ve been around MOMpire even briefly, you likely know what a huge advocate I am for building a legit network. Not the cringey kind that is superficial and one-sided. The kind that fills you up energetically, connects you in business and life, and is mutually beneficial. The kind where you literally make true and long lasting friendships. But one thing that many people continually fail to recognize is how your professional network benefits you personally just as much as it does on a business level.
How Your Professional Network Benefits You Personally
I had two very recent experiences where the professional network that my husband and I have both built came through BIG TIME. I want to share so that you can see in real life exactly what I mean…
First, we decided to book a trip out of the states…yay! One problem…I needed an expedited passport for my littlest ASAP, and I could NOT figure out how to get it done! I was running into roadblocks with no appointment times available for months, everyone telling me it was impossible, and no one answering the phones to tell me what to do. So I started stressing big-time. Knowing that my network is the best out there, I put out a post on Facebook. Within hours, I got a direct connection to someone who could help me. Two days later I was in the car driving 1.5 hours with my daughter to get the expedited passports.
It was magic!
Second, within the same week, I had another amazing connection come through for me. I was injured in a car accident not too long ago, and the pain in my back was starting to debilitate me. I couldn’t sleep, it was hard to focus, and I was in so much pain that it was getting harder and harder to care for my baby. To make matters worse, my doctors were NOT LISTENING to me. I couldn’t get a consistent treatment plan or even pain medication to save my life.
My husband and I reached out to a doctor that we often use in the personal injury cases at our law firm. We called him and asked if he could evaluate my injury for a second opinion – he saw me for an appointment, listened to me, empathized with me, diagnosed my injury, prescribed medication to temporarily relieve the pain, and put together an effective treatment plan to bring healing!!! Thank the Lord! I felt like a new person!
Thankful for My Network of Amazing People!
This is why I am constantly shouting from the rooftops how important it is to create true connection- not just spammy relationships that are short-lived.
I have been blessed beyond measure when it comes to my professional life, but it’s not because I’m lucky. It’s because I seek out the right relationships, I cultivate and nurture those relationships, and I treat those people like family. And because of that, my network serves me not just in my professional life, but in my personal life as well. Serve, give, cultivate, repeat…and it will come back to you.
