I was having lunch with my aunt Sandy the other day and she told me about a life-changing experience she had when she first moved to the charming town of Sonoma, California. She´d been living in Sonoma for about 5 months when one day, she bumped into a lady on her street and introduced herself. My aunt mentioned the fact that she really didn´t know anybody in the town, despite the fact that she´d been there 5 months. And the woman, whom she had just met a minute earlier, looked her straight in the eye and asked, "Well, what is it that makes you worth knowing?" My aunt was taken aback by that question and the woman went further. She said, "What is it that you have to offer that would make folks around here want to know you? What a powerful question to ask ourselves! Tim Sanders says in his book Love is the Killer App that there are 3 things that we need to cultivate and give away to as many people as we can if we want to be worth knowing. Those three things are our Knowledge, our Networks and our Compassion.
I interviewed Tim on our Thought Leaders program awhile back.
Knowledge - Tim recommends becoming a voracious reader and then finding opportunities to recommend books you´ve read to others who may benefit. He writes notes on the inside of each book he reads to remember its key ideas. I´ve started doing that and it has been very helpful.
Networks - Tim draws the connection between your network and your net worth. Today, more than ever, success is related to whom you know as much as what you know. He recommends developing your network of contacts and then sharing those contacts with others, where appropriate. Personal introductions can be powerful in expanding your personal and professional horizons.
Compassion - Work is personal. Relationships are personal. We spend more time at work than anywhere else. Why not take advantage of the work environment to hone your skills at being the best person you can be? Active listening, empathy and caring are available to each of us in our daily interactions. And, they are the gifts that keep on giving. Contribute to a positive energy experience at work by demonstrating your compassion today.
If we take Tim´s advice - cultivating and sharing our knowledge, our networks and our compassion - we´ll have answers at the ready in the event someone asks, "What makes you worth knowing?"
