Reflection: As much as we might like to think that our success is entirely our own doing, the truth suggests otherwise.

None of us goes it completely alone. There are always others who have opened doors or offered opportunities and support along the way.

I recently had an opportunity to speak to Payroll Professionals in Atlantic Canada about cultivating connections and networking effectively.

In my message, I suggested we focus less on ‘getting the most from our networks’ and focus more on ‘giving the most to our networks’.

In my experience, when we focus on supporting others, good things also tend to flow in our direction.

Action: Here are five ways to actively support those in your circles of connection. Try one today.

• Share Your Expertise: Use your hard earned know-how to help someone figure out how to handle a problem or tackle a project.
• Share Your Resources: We all accumulate ‘how to’ stuff – books, articles, magazines, videos, web links. When you come across something particularly useful, ask yourself who else might be interested and pass it along.
• Share Your Ideas: When we’re stuck, getting another brain on our problem can make a big difference. If you’re good at dreaming up ideas and coming up with options, make that skill available to others.
• Share Your Experience: Don’t limit your sharing to your social media ‘highlights reel’. Be honest about challenges you’ve faced, and your struggles along the way. Learning about each others’ mis-steps and stumbles brings hope and encouragement.
• Share Your Connections – You probably know people who could be helpful to or of interest to other individuals in your network. Reach out and introduce them to each other by “X meet Y” email. Or invite X and Y to join you for lunch, or coffee, or an association meeting where you can make that introduction in person.

Quotes Of The Week: The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity. – Keith Ferrazzi

Networking is more about farming than it is about hunting. It’s about cultivating relationships. – Ivan Misner

Networking is an enrichment program, not an entitlement program. – Susan Roane

Resource Of The Week: Ivan Misner offers a few gems of wisdom in this article, ‘Don’t Stop Networking – Just Start Doing It Right’.

Readers Write: In response to the recent message, Expressions of Delight, Pause reader LL writes: I never miss an opportunity to be in awe of all the small surprises and gifts put on my path! Maybe not dead minnows though! Loved it – as usual.