POWER OF NETWORKS part 1

There are those whom, like I did until recently; boast of being a “self made man.” The notion of this ideology is rooted in the belief that there was no one present to assist or help in the development and promotion of one’s pursuit or accomplishments. I have come to realize however, there were many who were present and many people and things that were present in way of connections, networks and influences.
In understanding successful people, we have come to focus far too much on their intelligence and ambition and personality traits. Instead, Malcolm Gladwell argues in Outliers, we should look at the world that surrounds the successful, their culture, their family, their generation and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. (Gladwell, Outliers, 2008, Back Bay Books). Malcolm explains with scientific evidence that it is our networks – those in and around our own lives as well as our cultural and circumstantial surroundings that are more powerful at making and defining who and what we are than our talents alone.
With Gladwell’s works as well as much other research I have given myself to uncover, I have been able to believe whole heartedly in the Power of Networks. In simplicity, network (the use in my essay) is defined as a group of structure elements attached to each other at regular intervals. These said structure elements can be people, place or things that are uniquely intertwined at various intervals whether seen or unseen.
Let me explain: A “Family Network” is comprised of parents, grandparents and siblings. Woven from there are the aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other second and third blood ties. Coupled with those are their friends and families. With one family comes a Network of intimate family ties that number over 200 (by a standard average).
Allow me to take this a step further: For example, if one person in an average family dies and holds a funeral, there are about 200 people who are contacted or notified of the family member’s passing. Meaning, there can be upwards of 200 people attending the funeral or sending condolences. This “Social average” is used by virtually every kind of people business in America.
In more than 1000 University studies over the past 50 years, every people industry such as Insurance, Banking, Commerce, Retailing, Sales and others have used this “Network” model as their rule to market by. Meaning, every single person has the ability to “connect” to 200 friends and family members.
And each of these connecting family and friend networks unleashes a power that allows each of us to become and do far more than we could ever do by our self. Each of those 2 to 200 have likewise had experiences, beliefs, likes and dislikes that has shaped our perceptions as well as our convictions. The Power of Networks have consciously or unconsciously made us who we are and have given us the opportunities to accomplish what we have or have not done.
My summation is to not fall into the heresy of thinking you are a loner. Even the “Lone Ranger” was not alone. He had “Tonto.” As well, realize that you can and will do a multiplied amount more with a Network than you could without one. Tap into your Network in your family, at work, in school, at play or in your community. You have before you an untapped Power of Networks.

© 2012 by Dr Tim McClure