The idea for this article came from a simple discussion I was having with a few people at the HUB recently. There has been a lot of discussion on social media about NEPO vs LAPO babies and the several miles apart both of them are; having gone through a few of the comparisons myself and thinking on the issue, I realized that a common theme is networking. Let’s take a little detour to learn more about networking and its benefits.
Networking, according to the dictionary, is defined as the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. Networking is also defined as the process of exchanging information and ideas among professionals to expand their connections, discover job opportunities, and stay informed about industry developments.
Networking, at its core, is about building and maintaining relationships for mutual benefit, whether in a professional or social context. It involves exchanging information, ideas, and resources to expand one’s network and achieve personal or professional goals. In a computer context, networking refers to the connection of devices to enable communication and resource sharing.
The impact of networking can never be overemphasized, both in one’s professional and social life. Networking most often occurs spontaneously when two or more like-minded professionals cross paths. Most people generally network based on a common interest, and the most effective networking opportunities are presented during events, seminars, and conferences, which attract quite a number of like-minded professionals. Other places where networking occurs are places of fellowship like churches or mosques, social clubs, gyms, and even the market. Networking helps professionals keep up with current events in their field and build connections that have the potential to boost future businesses.
People generally join networking groups based on a single common point of interest that all members share. The most obvious is a professional affiliation, such as stockbrokers or social workers. Many find effective networking opportunities in a college alumni group, a church or synagogue social group, or a private club.
Networking helps a professional keep up with current events in the field and develop relationships that may boost future business or employment prospects. Business owners network to develop relationships with people and companies they may do business with in the future. These connections help them establish rapport and trust among people in their communities.
Networking opens up a lot of doors for people and brings opportunities that may have been quite difficult to access. In a recent meet and greet hosted at Meluora HUB, one of the participants cited the power of networking. As he explained how networking had opened doors for him, I realized that we often overlook the simplest things, like greeting your neighbors or offering necessary assistance to someone in need—most times to you, it may look like no one is watching, but unsurprisingly, there are silent people watching your almost every move.
During my university days, I remember when I went to a shop to make copies of my documents; I noticed the typist was having issues preparing a chart, and I kindly offered to help, not knowing that a simple gesture like that would open more doors for me than I could imagine. Because of that singular act, there were major breakthroughs in my life. I have landed jobs I never thought I would land as an undergraduate freelancer. I have also met people who have imparted great value in my life, and I may never have gotten those opportunities if I had decided to stay mute when I saw that typist having issues.
Now back to the initial point of this article. The major difference between the LAPO babies and the NEPO babies can be surmised to be the difference in the power of the network of their parents, which is then transferred to the kids. While a lot of NEPO babies get a lot of influence passed down to them from their parents, the same can be said for the LAPO babies, but those networks may not have the same influence. A few times you see some LAPO babies push past the barriers and lack of influence to connect and network with NEPO babies, which then opens up their world to a new way to see things, and they begin to build networks that are then also transferred to the next generation.
Networking can start by simply greeting someone in your neighborhood, attending social events, or even attending meet-and-greets like the one that was organized at the HUB recently or the just-concluded conference held at Meluora HUB.
So leave the house, take a walk around and take in that vitamin D, meet and greet new people, or ditch your home office and go to a co-working space, or you could come to Meluora HUB. You don’t know what idea you will find just by leaving your comfort zone and stepping into something new.
