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Forming Your Own Board of Directors 113

ship. It’s having an end result in mind when you call or walk in to see
them, that you can easily communicate and one so you can both get
the most out of your time together.

Authenticity

Authenticity means being true to yourself, of course, but also appear-
ing to be exactly who you are and having your thoughts, words, and
actions sync up naturally. You are being authentic when the way you
appear to others is aligned with your intentions regarding them.
In short, having integrity, intention, and authenticity is about
being yourself when you initiate and cultivate relationships.

Six Degrees of Separation

Strategic relationships are not just one-on-one; in a way they’re
network-to-network, and understanding this should provide extra
motivation for pursuing them.
By network-to-network, I mean that when you connect with a per-
son, you are also connecting within their entire network, and vice
versa. When you understand this, it’s easy to see how a little proactive
networking will open all sorts of doors in ways you never anticipated.
Everyone has a network, so it’s always worthwhile to ask a per-
son you’re talking with if they can suggest anyone else for you to
talk with for help or a different perspective on whatever it is you’ve
been talking about. You’re expanding your network by asking some-
one to be a connector for you. But it works both ways and this is
where you can reciprocate. Even if you don’t think you have insights
or expertise the other person will need, consider all the people in
your network who could be valuable resources for others in all kinds
of situations.
Just remember that sharing networks is like buying rounds on
Wednesday beer night. If you always take but never offer, sooner or