My first Meet-Up...in 2017

After an year of not attending any meet-up or networking event, i got the chance to attend one today, the Steemit Kenya Meet-Up (Guys we need a better name) anyway, it was awesome and enlightening to be around a group of individuals that are passionate about stuff am passionate about and other unique passions that well i could learn a lot from and also share my other passions with them.

This got me thinking about the power of networking, be it online or in person. Personally, I can narrow it down to four principles that have worked for me before and they are still relevant years down the line, so here goes:

Four Principles of Building Networks

Principle 1: Give First
The main aim of the meet-up was what can I as an individual brings to the table well since Steemit is a social network based on blockchain technology, I know a few things about blockchain technology that I can share with the group.
One amongst us I a professional blogger @jeanwandimi and has been instrumental in how one can create rich content and don't get me started on the IT Guru @Mutitum in the group, all I can say she has a lot of tricks up her sleeve.
In short, what can I do first before I receive?

Principle 2: Use their name
Don't you feel good when someone calls you by your name? I have seen it go a long way by just referring someone by their name especially online instead of using their pseudo name. It makes the connection personal, it communicates you care and are courteous. Like @jeanwandimi took time to ask us our names and refer to use frequently using our names when referring to anyone amongst us.

Principle 3: Focus on the person
It's not about you (Pink's song comes to mind...) try as much as possible to really pay attention when the person you are connecting with is talking, you can nod your head as they speak, use the three A's (ah, awww and haha) when appropriate, you will find something common to both of you that can spark a great conversation.

Principle 4: Maintain Contact
If you really took time to focus on the person then definately there is a thing or two you picked from them, I got to know @jeanwandimi writes about wine whom better to talk too when I want to know about wine, @Mutitum is knowledgable in IT, Blockchain, Crypots whom better to talk too when something IT pops up.
From that interaction i have 'starter topics' that I can use next time we meet-up or I bump into one of them somewhere. Send a message, tweet, email just to say hi, let's say a week after the meeting, your discussion(s) will still be fresh and you can continue from there, always remember Principle number 1.

So there goes my four principles to building networks and am looking forward to building on this principles both online and in in-person networking opportunities.

Thank you team @jeanwamdimi, @Mutitum, @wachera, @deniskj it was an honour meeting you guys and lets make Steemit Kenya great.

As always I choose to remain SteemdUp.