It matters – I didn’t think social networking (online) really had any power in real life until 2009. It is when I realized that people I meet online can not only become real friends, but can also be willing to help you get to where you want to be. This is a key part of social networking. Having mutually beneficial relationships with real people. It took me awhile to realize this, but I’m happy I did.
Take advantage of local meet-ups with people you don’t know – This is a good way to meet people with like interests. For me, this was first experienced through Twitter and through meetup. When I first moved to North Carolina I didn’t really know anyone besides my family and a few random people through networking. It wasn’t until I started networking for myself that I started to realize there are more people in the area that I had things in common with than I first though.
Get involved in local groups: Volunteer, play in community groups, and build meaningful relationships - Sometimes this is harder than it should be, but with almost every type of community group out there you can find something to be involved in. If you aren’t passionate about something, you need to fix that and find something that strives for you to be better in your life and make improvements. I truly believe that there is something we can all improve on, and the best way to improve your life is to focus on yourself and do some things that are “me-centric.” Your friends will understand that you need time for yourself.
