Our customer base is pretty evenly split (46% men, 42% women and the remainder companies).
It's the old preoccupation, questions from our male customers tend to center on the size of their network, those from women on techniques for deepening their relationships.
By way of example, here's a typical support request from "Mike":
"I've just downloaded your free trial of Cortege and was wondering how best to organize my network. I have 2400 close contacts and about 3200 others - what would you recommend?"
My immediate reaction was to reply:
"5600 contacts is not a network, it's a mailing list... What do you do, see each of your "close contacts" every six years or so?"
Needless to say, I didn't actually send this, but it was tempting...
Part of the blame for this preoccupation with size lies at the door of online business sites like Ecademy and LinkedIn, which encourage their members to add as many connections as possible in order to increase revenues.
With LinkedIn, the value of the site for individual members is directly "linked" to the number of connections you have. I know of one member with over two thousand connections, who simply sends invitations to three members (connections of his connections) every single day: "about two-thirds accept my invitation", he claims.
Aside from "working the system" on sites like these, are connections like this really part of your network? The answer is simple...
No they are not.
Research clearly demonstrates what most women seem to know intuitively: that a large network of weak links is far less valuable (in personal, career or economic terms) than a much smaller network of strong ones. Note that I'm referring to your own personal network here, not customers, mailing lists, etc. that you might employ in the course of your business (perfectly legitimately).
Or, to put it more simply, supposing your boss walked into your office one day and said:
"John, our marketing VP, will be leaving next month. Is there anyone you could recommend for the position?"
Would you really recommend someone you didn't know personally? Remember, it's your reputation on the line as much as the person you recommend.
Effective networking is about quality, not quantity.
In Mike's case, he'd be better off limiting the size of his network to 240 "close contacts", and spending the time he wastes trying to manage a large network into developing more meaningful relationships with a smaller one.
If he's not sure how to do this, he could always ask his wife.
Why Women Are Better
It’s undeniable that pretty women have certain advantages over women who are considered to be ‘not as pretty’. Pretty women are often times treated better overall because of their appearance, especially by men. It could be in a retail shop, a restaurant, bar and it’s even said that attractive people are more likely to win out over a less attractive candidate for a promotion or even an initial job opening. And the lucky pretty ones can sometimes even talk their way out of a speeding ticket, but that also entails a degree of acting ability. Pretty women can even enter careers that are based solely on looks, such as modeling, that less attractive people can’t ever consider as an employment option.
But there is also a downside to being a pretty woman. Pretty women have the same problems as everyone else. They often also have a harder time attracting a mate. Not a date, a mate. Many men are too intimated to even approach pretty women, no matter how badly they’d like to meet one. And the men that are secure enough to strike up a conversation with a pretty woman often times see her as nothing more than a trophy. Hence the date, not mate statement.
Its been said that many pretty women have self-esteem issues and do not see themselves as ‘pretty’ even though they are told that they are on a regular basis. When they don’t get a sign of interest from a man they see out in a social atmosphere because he is intimidated by her, that is a blow to her ego. Rejection, in general, is a blow to anyone’s ego, however not even being able to even make that initial contact might be an even worse scenario. There are plenty of women who are not only beautiful on the outside, but are also beautiful on the inside, who have yet to be married, have children or find that lasting relationship. Look around at the people you know and see how many couples are made up of men with average looking women. It will probably be more than the couples made up of men with beautiful women.
There are those pretty women who use their looks to their advantage, and a lot of times, take advantage. They may be egotistical and even arrogant. But to be honest, there are egotistical and arrogant people of every stature, not just the attractive ones. And a self-confident, pretty woman does not necessarily equal a conceited, pretty woman. We should all try to keep that in mind.
Both Peter Astley-sparke & Nathan Lynch are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Peter Astley-sparke has sinced written about articles on various topics from Beauty Tips, Adwords. Peter Astley-Sparke is CEO of , a pioneer in the development of graphical relationship management software. Founded in 2003, Software Magic's success. Peter Astley-sparke's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
Nathan Lynch has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Bull Terrier Dogs and Education. articles, pics and more links to some of the most beautiful women in the the world.. Nathan Lynch's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
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