Networking is not just for when you need something.

By Keith Sherman, Business Development at Swartz and Associates

Networking, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is “the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.” Simply put, networking is the process of making connections and building relationships.

My journey began in Little Rock, Arkansas, where I spent most of my childhood, my second job out of college, and married my wonderful wife, Melanie. I have lived in many places in my life – Munich, Germany, Taichung, Taiwan, and Iowa City- all of which shaped the person that I became as a young adult. Chicago, Denver, Santa Barbara, Dallas (2x), San Francisco (Mill Valley), and Minneapolis (Edina) encompassed my professional life, being happily married and raising two sons. Today I have lived in Plano, Texas, for 13 years.  These diverse cities were not just addresses but helped shape who I am today.

The Next Big Adventure

From a young age, I was always curious and on the lookout for the next adventure. This curiosity evolved into a keen interest in building and monetizing brands.  Networking has been a way of life for me, as I continually make connections and build relationships.

I discovered that networking is akin to hunting and farming. After 40 years in the marketing and advertising business, I realized the hunt was short. I have met many people and brands in a variety of industries. However, the real success came from farming. It takes effort, awareness, care, humility, courage, and patience only tempered by the fight, persistence.

In early February I traveled to Minneapolis for a week.

It was so cold, but the reception was extremely warm. In three days, I met with 17 people on behalf of Swartz + Associates, catching up on life, professional updates, wins and learnings. Minneapolis was a natural target as I had lived, worked, and coached youth sports there from 2002-2012. During that time, I worked for award winning ad agencies, including DaltonSherman where I was a partner and president. I was also deeply involved in two amazing children’s nonprofits, one as Vice Chairman for an international nonprofit and another national in scope. These connections built trust, creating an environment of mutual learning and contribution.

Networking is not just for when you need something, it helps us socialize and identify how much more we have in common. It provides a space where we can make a difference in someone’s day or our own, or something bigger.