Jump in among peers.

Jump around with them.

Or jump higher than them?

I call the last one “networking up.”

Not that anyone is better than you, no matter the experience they espouse or success they evoke. You come across so many richly talented people you grow to admire. They rub off on you. You rub off on them.

They are at a point in their own journey. They got there by associating with the best. They possess skills and vision you want to emulate and squeeze through your lens to add to your viewpoints.

You can be networked-up-to too.

A few ideas to collaborate for the best experience as you network up and make new cohorts part of your “tribe” as they also grow to admire you:

  • ask them to post a guest entry on your blog
  • ask them to speak with you at an educational organization in the industries you are targeting
  • ask them to co-present at a conference
  • encourage them to comment on your LinkedIn posts so their connections see you and you see theirs-create conversation
  • offer them some materials you come across to add to their knowledge
  • ask the questions that they may have a perspective to add to yours
  • offer them a connection from among your connections as a way of widening their circle from the best you associate with
  • and in addition to all of the above, be generous showing appreciation to them in all you do.

Jump. High.

If you don’t give of yourself, you are doomed to mediocrity. OK I said it.