4 X 4 Networking Challenge March Update

4 X 4 Networking Challenge March Update Time for my monthly update where YOU keep me accountable and I get to hear how you are doing with the 4 X 4 Networking Challenge  (read here for my Jan and  Feb updates).   Have you asked someone to go on an informational interview or called up a friend you havent spoken to in awhile for lunch?   If you have, I would love to hear about it! As always, I learned a LOT this month.   I always thought that the first month of this challenge would be the easiest because I would eventually run out of people to interview.   Exactly the OPPOSITE!   Everyone I interview has other people that they want me to talk to.   This has led to many more informational interviews and people that I can learn from.   I have begun to really look forward to conversations and no longer  rely on  my trusty list of questions to ask.   My conversations are much easier and I am much more relaxed.    And it is  now  much easier to leave for a quick lunch or coffee or escape for 15 minutes for a quick phone informational interview. This month I caught up with a high school friend and three college friends that I havent seen in  many months  due to my crazy MBA school schedule.   I also caught up with 4 people  who were  referred from other people.   I met with a recruiter,  2 people at my current company and a woman who started her own training company.   I also did something that I have been planning to do for many months now.   I attended an  American Society For Training Development (ASTD) meeting and really enjoyed the speakers and people who I met.   I exchanged business cards with three people who I am now going to be meeting for lunch  in April! I hope this update makes you see how easy networking can really be.   After three months, it has now become a habit to ask people to go to lunch and it doesnt seem like a pain to juggle my schedule.   I know that these interviews will only lead me to new and exciting adventures in the future and I am excited to find out what those may be. Do you think networking is easy?   What scares you about reaching out? (photo found here)