Have you ever had someone get promoted ahead of you?  Did they deserve it more?  Good for those who earned it.  If not, why did they coast past you?  How can you stop this from happening again?  Or are you seeking a job and keep getting turned away?

The sad reality is most people get promotions or jobs based on whom they know.  Everyday there are many people who stumble upon a sales lead or new business partner.  I actually have a friend who was offered to buy a very profitable business for a steal because he was in the right place at the right time.  Why couldn’t that have been you?!

Hearing stories like this make us curse the stars and envy the lucky punks who caught the break.  Before you get the voo-doo doll of your friend, continue reading.

A solution to help minimize all the anguish is to network.  There are physical and online forums perfect for this.  First, the physical.  Look for clubs or organizations you can join to rub elbows with possible clients.  Some good ones are ski clubs, Toastmasters, investment clubs, etc.  Here you don’t only make friends but you get salespeople…for FREE.  I have friends who constantly refer painters, landscapers, mechanics, (you name it), simply because they are in the same ski club.

Recently, I played cards with a relative’s CEO, and all of a sudden she is getting noticed more for her hard work.  Coincidence? I think not.

Don’t have the time or money for clubs?  Online forums are great, too.  You can do something as simple as leaving a comment to an article like this one with a link to your website.  I constantly read others’ comments on different sites and click the links when the writer interests me so I can learn more about the people.

Finally, sites like Linkedin.com, Myspace.com, Facebook.com and countless others are great ways to meet people.  Through Linkedin.com I have made numerous friends and have referred clients to people I have never even seen.

You can link with me at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/inspiretomorrow and/or http://www.myspace.com/joeylaw34

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