People confuse networking with lead generation. Networking is about helping other people – not trading leads. Networking is about building a system to get referrals. But to give you have to get. I network to learn things and to meet people. Much of my business comes because people perceive me as the answer man with a nice rolodex. It’s not about an immediate revenue, but a long-term strategy. It’s more IRA than day trading.

Jeffrey Gitomer has 17.5 Strategies, Guidelines and Rules for Connecting here.