In business, it’s well known that your network is your net worth. The broader your network, the greater the opportunities that come your way. But did you know that even a small growth in your network can lead to a massive increase in opportunities? Let’s dive into a mathematical perspective on this and you will see that just a little change can dramatically boost your networking success.
Visualizing Your Network as a Sphere
Imagine your professional network as a sphere surrounding you. This is what is referred to as your “sphere of influence.” Here’s a mathematical way to visualize it:
Volume of Influence: V = 4/3 π r3
Here, “V” stands for the volume (your opportunities and connections), and “r” is the radius of your sphere of influence. With a radius of 1, your sphere’s volume is approximately 4.18.
But what happens if you double that reach to a radius of 2? Your new volume shoots up to 33.51—an 8-fold increase! And if you stretch it to a radius of 3, the volume becomes nearly 27 times bigger at 113.1.
What This Means for You and Networking Success
Just a minor stretch in your network—attending one extra networking event, reaching out to a new contact, or joining a new group—can dramatically expand your sphere of influence and the potential opportunities that come your way. Sometimes, all it takes is one more for the magic to happen.
Sometimes, it comes from the most unexpected places. I was visiting my dad when he caught meningitis 26 years ago. He was doing fine so we chatted, and he asked me how the business I just started was going. I admitted I needed to meet more people, and he recommended I check out Leadership Toledo. I didn’t know what LT was and he said he was on the Board of Directors! That year, I went through the program and for the next ten years, the majority of my business came through the connections I made in that program.
Go Forth and Engage!
- Quick Poll – Have you experienced a significant impact on your business from expanding your network? Yes or No!
- Comment Below – Share a story about how networking has opened doors for you. What’s the most valuable connection you’ve made so far?
- Challenge – Where are you connected to someone or some group that you haven’t connected with? If networking makes you cringe, there are an immense number of free resources online such as Harvard Business Review. You can also email me for our Networking Tutorial PDF for a quick read. Over the next month, aim to add just four new contacts to your network. One per week. Share your progress and experiences here!
- Share This Post – Know someone who could benefit from better networking? Share this post with them to give them a little nudge!
Expanding your network slightly can yield enormous benefits. It doesn’t take much. So, why wait? Dive into your next networking opportunities with this new perspective.
We Want to Hear from You
How do you plan to expand your network the rest of this year? Drop your strategies, questions, or insights in the comments below and let’s discuss and maybe help another reader along the way!
Rock on! – Coach Ernie
