FXStreet is a big forex portal. They have a large audience, many contributors and many business partners. Their CEO, Franscesc Riverola has a blog that is updated almost daily. This is an excellent tool to communicate with readers and business partners.

Riverola takes networking through his blogs one step further: he frequently publishes detailed statistics for the site. While he currently has good numbers to show off, this approach isn’t common in the forex industry and isn’t common at all.

Being too closed and secret has its prices. You would find it hard to communicate with someone that has a lot to hide, and that shows suspicion. Speaking with someone who is constantly looking over his shoulder will also make you suspicious and nervous.

So, I find openness to be a good thing. A positive, open attitude usually prompts the same reaction, and makes networking easier – more trust is earned when you are positive.

Still, Riverola’s approach is quite unique. In most businesses, there are a few secrets, a few things that you won’t expose at all or at least not immediately. Companies that have a website as their main asset usually hold the stats close to them, and will only expose them only to trusted business partners. If they do expose them to the public, they’ll cherry-pick specific numbers and be very creative about it.

Riverola’s numbers fascinate me, as I’m also in the forex publishing business, through Forex Crunch. While I salute his approach, I don’t show all my cards. Am I wise to have some secrets, or is my attitude too conservative for the 21st century?

The first thing to remember and to understand is you must be active and consistent about your growing network. This means that connections in most cases won’t built up by themselves. Let’s review the possibilities:

How active are you physically? Do you work out? jog? swim or cycle? If not, you should, and for more than the one reason. Put a side the obvious health advantages  of being fit and the pleasure of it, taking part of any sport is a great way of getting to know people. In other words – establishing connections.

Jogging, swimming and cycling  are becoming more and more group sports. People train in small groups and get better results with the group support. It means that probably somewhere near you there are various people who could become a part of your network, people who meet up more than once a week and have sport as a common ground for connections. Just for example, last week I found a web designer I needed swimming in the lane next to me.

Are you active politically? It doesn’t matter if it’s on a local scale, state or nation wide, many people choose to be involved in politics for many reasons.  Whether if its for making a change or self-fulfillment you’ll probably enjoy the the action that comes with politics, and meet all kinds of people with different backgrounds, professions ant interests. Some of these people could easily become friends and connections. Just be careful not to get hurt-

These were just two examples of ways and places to grow your network of connections and friends outside your natural surroundings. These ideas can easily be implemented on various circles such as PTA, volunteering organizations and different kinds of clubs. The basic idea is to be active socially in places and organizations you haven’t encountered before. This way, you’ll grow your chain of connections, friends and network.