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Follow these executives with their career aspirations and how they think they will be able to super charge their advancement. First, we have Peter Michaels who is interested in moving his career progress into top gear. He has decided to take up golfing. How cliché! He doesn’t think so. Also, he thinks from a long-term perspective it will really make a huge difference.
Peter Michaels
Located in Palm Beach Florida, Michaels couldn’t be in a better place. He is in the middle of golf country. Why, is the next question? Here is his perspective.
Whenever I move, my dad calls me up and asks how my game is going. He is ironically referring to my career but is teasing me about my golf. I really don’t think he is too far off the mark. He also is referring to my contacts. He has always told me that golf is the best way in. I was not too sure I understood. Now, I do. I have finally decided to take up the sport. It isn’t so much the sport as the club. The major reason for the move is the local membership. There are 4 CEOs at the Palm Beach Golf and Country Club. Is it worth it? You bet.
Sandra Hughes plays bridge. She has been playing for quite a while and she is no amateur. She is ranked and plays in international tournaments worldwide. Odd that she considers contacts and connections a bridge affair, except when you realize that she plays with Bill Gates.
It is not as though I decided to play bridge and low and behold Gates is on my team and we are playing against Warren Buffet. It has just turned out that way. We are a great team and we do well at the nationals. Well, not too bad for amateurs. I guess it is not a coincidence that we talk a lot about other things and that in the meantime I have been able to do some consulting with them. Also, I have been able to throw some ideas to them that genuinely interest them. I guess I have found myself in a few lucky situations. Consider it serendipity, or convergence. We work well together. It was not planned that way. Try bridge.
Stephen Aliorty is a member of the Young Democrats. He has been involved with politics although it has little correspondence with his career. He has a chance to meet with some of the senior shakers at the democratic head quarters. Here is what he has to say about it.
I work in nonprofit. I do fund raising. I have had a chance to meet some of the most interesting people through both my work and my extra curricular activities. I once met Bill Clinton. I was doing fund raising for a sustainable development organization, which interested him to the point where he helped as a reference to get a major federal grant. Does it make a difference? Sure, it does. If I need to contact people, it is always possible. It just seems to be easier. What is the best approach? Become involved. Volunteer. Do what you like. Being genuine and transparent is very important. People will see right through you.
Read about strategies in relationships and contacts in next month’s Fortune article It’s Not What You Know But Whom.