Networking for People Who Hate Networking

welcome to your field guide

Trust yourself. Then you will know how to live.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

People swear up and down that I m an extrovert.

This drives me nuts! I deny these accusations adamantly and then am subjected to a laundry list of supposed examples as to why I am mistaken. But you give seminars for a living! You give presentations to huge groups and seem to love it! Plus, you know how to work a room

Blah, blah, blah.

These people have no idea what it really means to be an introvert. Plus, they assume that being an introvert by definition implies that one cannot be a strong speaker or networker.

Together, we will dispute, disprove, and knock upside the head these assumptions.

Welcome to your indispensible networking field guide for introverts, the overwhelmed, and the underconnected.

Your Author and Tour Guide

As we embark through the uncharted terrain of networking for people who hate networking, you want to be certain you are in capable hands. Why am I qualified to lead you on this journey?

First of all, despite protests from well-intentioned, ill-advised naysayers, I am an off-the-chart introvert. I am also nearly always overwhelmed and decidedly underconnected. My idea of a good time is being all alone. I have conversations with people in my head that I think actually took place. I need time to process ideas thoroughly before responding or I get myself into trouble. The idea of a free-floating happy hour propels me into free-floating anxiety. A cacophony of external stimuli doesn t excite me; it drives me away. I easily and naturally pick up on nonverbal cues many others miss. I prefer a few deep relationships to a large group of friends.

None of these preferences is linked to my exceptionally high energy level, propensity for public speaking, or business success. That s because these attributes are not related to what defines introversion, a topic I have researched and taught about extensively

Devora Zack, president of Only Connect Consulting, Inc., provides expert consulting, coaching, and facilitation to more than 100 clients, including the U.S. Department of Education, Cornell University, Smithsonian Institution, and SAIC.

I hate networking and I loved this book! Devora Zack knows networking, and her mission to make it easy and fun for you comes through on every page.
David Bach, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Automatic Millionaire and The Latte Factor
 
Are you an introvert who cringes at the thought of small talk, an extrovert like me who has never met a stranger, or somewhere in between? Wherever you are on the spectrum, reading Networking for People Who Hate Networking should be on your to-do list! This is a delightful assortment of stories, tips, and techniques to help you develop the connections you need to succeed and learn more about yourself in the process.
Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level
 
Devora expertly weaves insightful wisdom with a sparkle of wit to address the jungle of business networking. I ve successfully applied many of her innovative strategies!
Hon. Walter McLean, former Secretary of State of Canada

You are going to love reading this book! Devora Zack connects with the reader like no other business author I have ever read.
P. J. Kuyper, President, Motion Picture Licensing Corporation
 
Devora understands the potential of the introverted networker. Her techniques will show you that what others may perceive as a weakness is actually your greatest strength.
Brian Tracy, author of Eat That Frog!
 
I highly recommend this lighthearted, eminently practical book by a type-A introvert. (No, that s not a typo!) It s like having a trusted friend there at each step of the way as you become a world-class networker.
Jeff Martin, former Vice President, Human Resources, AOL
 
Only buy this book if you want to improve your career, social, and family lives. If that doesn t sound like you, Justin Bieber s autobiography is two shelves over.