When Tricia Crisafulli tells me to meet,
email or call someone, I don’t think. I don’t
question. I just do it. Because something good
always comes from it.
It used to really tick me off when she would brag, “I
never network” while I was tromping out to yet
another “finding your inner navel” seminar in hopes of
making some new connections.
But in truth, Tricia networks every day. She just
doesn’t realize it because it is such a part of who she
is.
Whenever Tricia takes on a new client (she’s a
professional writer) or makes a new friend (both of
which she’s been known to do on a commuter train)
her mind automatically goes three places:
- Do I know anyone who could help this person?
- Do I know anyone this person could help?
- Who should I introduce this person to just
because they would really like each other?
It is a sort of radar she has. She gets these hits.
And whether we know it or not, we all get those
same hits. It’s just that Tricia acts on them
regularly.
She does this on faith – faith in her own intuition,
faith that some good will come of it and faith that
she doesn’t have to know precisely what that good
will be. Perhaps that's why her website is called
faithhopeandfiction.com, where, by the way,
she accepts submissions from all you budding poets,
essayists and fiction writers.
Through this process, Tricia's circle widens as people
she knows and introduces to others in turn introduce
her to people they know.
I’m not knocking getting out there and meeting new
people. I still do it on a regular basis. But lately I’ve
been sticking to events and groups that are fun and
that interest me. I’m done with belly button
lint. I found my inner bitch years ago.
Instead, I recently joined the board of River
North Chicago Dance Company and now invite
my friends to stunning performances.
The other day, I accepted an invitation to speak
September 19th at a networking event titled "Get
Your Mojo Working"
at Bill's Blues
Bar (1029 Davis St.,
Evanston, IL) from 5:30-8:00 PM. How could I say no
to that? Wanna come? If so, contact Becky Brett at
312-286-8248 or
becky@beckybrett.com.
My new theory is this: networking only works for me
when it feels like I'm not working.
Oh, dear. Will you look at the time? I’m late for
my “Zen of Chocolate” lecture. Now there’s
a place I’ll surely find some kindred spirits.
