I was recently at a gun range with some friends, which is what you do when you spend time in Florida. Although not required by State law, I took a couple of safety and certification classes for my own knowledge and well-being.
Here are the 5 standard rules of gun safety which can’t be emphasized enough.
- Always keep firearm pointed in a safe direction.
- Treat all guns as though they are loaded.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
- Always be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.
- Store firearms securely to prevent unauthorized access.
Rules are important—they set a standard for safety, fair play, performance, results, and fun. Almost anything worth doing or any place worth going has rules. Public swimming pools, sports, driving, diets, classrooms, theaters, escape rooms, trivia nights, restaurants, languages, the gym, and of course, the law.
Networking has its own “unwritten” (until now!) rules to follow. Here are some of my networking rules to get you locked and loaded!
No Selling
Networking is about learning, helping, connecting, and referring one another. That’s it!
Ask Questions
Start conversations with open-ended questions designed to learn more and engage.
Listen
Process what others are saying rather than thinking about your next question.
Get Personal
Ask about vacations, local restaurants, activities, current events, hobbies.
Focus on Relationships
Rapport and connections don’t often happen overnight. Shoot for the long game.
Be Collaborative
Remember, networking is a two-way street. Think we, not me!
Follow Up
Not always needed. When there is a next step, present it and see it through.
Stay in Touch
Again, not always needed. As appropriate, what will be your strategy to stay connected?
There are more rules that I often write about, speak about, and coach about but these are a great start to get you firing away and hitting the target.
Follow these rules and gain more confidence, more connections, more opportunities, more momentum, more friends, and more fun!
Bang!
