Chief Networking Officer Journal

There are lots of people right now who are in the middle of their career who believe there is no job security. These are surely challenging times. But I believe you can improve your job security in a world that needs authentic value.

The key is to be known for providing value and finding ways to broadcast that fact. Just like a company that is trying to foster a stellar reputation for success, an individual needs to do the same. I think the biggest mistake many of us have made in our career is not keeping a living journal of our successes. By the time someone gets in contact with us on an opportunity, our journal should read like a scorecard that is on fire.

New tools for professionals are general social sites like LinkedIn and specific new networking sites like BuyerSteps for marketing and sales professionals. A member can present their profile, foster relationships, discuss issues, share knowledge and show value which can lead to opportunities. You should visit these sites daily to see how you can contribute in short bursts that show you are engaged in the important discussions relevant to your industry or profession.

Twitter is rapidly evolving into a relationship tool that can open doors. Now is the time to get on to Twitter since there are still good names available. Add the tool TweetDeck and you can start posting to Twitter and your Facebook accounts simultaneously. I'm not going to tackle whether these social sites or Twitter will be here forever, but they are growing at a blistering pace and the price is free.

You are managing your own reputation allowing others to see not just what you have done, but how you think.
For the many people I have talked to over the last year, it was clear that some of their companies had stopped thinking but the professional hadn't. The reason you put yourself out there in the social media world is so organizations that are still thinking and need help can recognize you as one of them.

The day we stop believing the company we work for is going to take care of us, we can believe the truth which is that we were always accountable to ourselves. A journal helps us articulate our value while social media tools help us show the world.