It's Friday.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIttttttttttttttttt's Friiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy!! Networking, networking, networking, oh how important networking is. I have been blessed with the ability to comfortably communicate with just about anyone. It hasn't been until just the last couple of years that I've started to realize that maybe I have a gift. In growing into my newly discovered ability, I have begun to learn how much more resourceful, productive, and valuable one can be with a good network. When presented with a situation in which you are surrounded by people you don't already know, you should take advantage of the opportunity to meet as many people as you can, without seeming like a weirdo. Don't bounce around the metro station wide-eyed and excited about meeting everybody, talking about, "Who are you, and what do you do?" It might not turn out so well... Just introduce yourself to new people in somewhat of a casual way, always with a smile on your face, not a joker smile, just a smile. Be genuine, let people know through your body language and tone of your voice that you are being real, and not just being a smart$$.

Once you've begun to create new relationships and build your network, don't be afraid to take advantage of your new resources. Let people know also that if ever they need anything, you'll be more than happy to help out any way you can. One thing you may also start to find is that the more people that know you and what you do, the more potential you have to do some more business. You never know where business could come from, all you can do is advertise yourself as much as possible, in a classy way, and wait to see how the opportunities will arise.

Now, in the spirit of networking, and proving that it can always help to build a new network, I'd like to ask my new network for some creative ideas. I know a lot of you personally, and some I don't. I know that A Daily Dose of The Gerald sometimes gets forwarded to others; friends, family, etc. I work at an apartment community in Annandale, Virginia called The Parliaments. We have the best product in the area and I am completely confident with that. Now, we have had too many vacant apartments over the course of the last few months, not any more than our neighboring communities, but that is no excuse. It may be true that the vacancy in the area is high, but that doesn't mean that there's not business to be had, just means we have to come up with new ways to attack the beast. If you work for a competing property management institutes, please refrain from sharing secret company tactics, as you don't need to risk having issues at work because of it, but otherwise I would really appreciate a fresh perspective on ways to market our community more effectively. I appreciate your time, and look forward to hearing from you. Have a good weekend everybody.