I had the good fortune of meeting with some very forward thinking educators at DeVry University here in Orlando, FL just this past week. A colleague referred me to the college as they are looking for someone to speak to the students about the importance of social networking in job seeking and establishing professional credentials online. The entire campus is warm, friendly, and welcoming. As I walked in, I was greeted with big posters with my name and company logo on directing me where to go for the initial meeting!

I was so unbelievably impressed by the people I met at DeVry. Many of the students are in their young twenties, even younger. I remember my first professional experience while in college and I recall being intimidated by senior management and employees who were older than I was. The thought of actually networking made my palms sweat! Regardless to say, traditional college did not prepare me all that wonderfully for this aspect of the working world.

Well, DeVry is not your average college! They are setting up mock professional meetings to teach their students on how to network. Now if only I had that in school! There will be a registration, buffet lunch, ten minute opening speech (me), and then role playing with the faculty and professionals in the local area on networking techniques. This definitely goes beyond the books.

So I want to send this blog post out to the educators at DeVry in Orlando, FL that I had the pleasure of meeting. Were you taught how to network? Please feel free to leave a comment with any tips and techniques you may have!

We’ve all heard the six degrees of separation theory. Of course, there is the movie that made this concept famous. I absolutely believe that we are all connected within six people we know and how funny or ironic it is when you find those exact connections that link you to someone. People in my circles tease me that I either a) know someone from somewhere through association, b) can raise my network channels to find who or what I need to, or c) somehow reconnect with someone by pure coincidence. Whenever we are in professional meetings or events, I think those friends of mine are taking bets on which of those three will transpire.

As a recent example of reconnecting, I met a former colleague face to face for the first time under completely coincidental circumstances. This individual was my superior by about three levels when I worked for First Data as an Instructional Technologist. We had some meetings together, worked on common project and I even got some nice thank you notes from her (which I still have). I never met her in person until last week, which is five years later from our shared work experience.

The ASTD (American Society of Training & Development) National Executive Board was having their annual meeting here in Orlando, FL and wanted to meet with the local chapter’s leadership team. As the VP of Marketing for the Central FL Chapter of ASTD, I was invited to meet at a cocktail reception along with the rest of my colleagues. As we are socializing, I am reading the name tags of my fellow networkers and starting conversations accordingly. One woman joined a conversation I was having with a few gentlemen. I immediately recognized her name and inquired to her previous employment. Low and behold, it is my former CLO!

We instantly hit it off. What a wonderful lady! I so enjoyed our conversation and opportunity to reconnect on a completely different level. This is not the kind of connection I could have made being three levels down in a corporate setting. It amazes me how your past can present itself in such funny ways! Your reputation is everything and I am happy that I have had the experience that strengthens mine.

Long story short, you have no clue who will resurface in your life. When you are talking to someone, you have no idea who they know that you know or what type of connections lie undiscovered. It’s amazing how your past can so quickly become your present or even future. Live in six degrees of separation!