What is networking anyway?

When I went to choir practice yesterday I took some business cards with me.  I was hoping to connect with the person who helped me out during the elevator incident. (see earlier blog about belonging)  Luckily she was at the rehearsal. We had talked about doing a disability sensitivity workshop with staff and students with disabilities  She would do the Americans with Disabilities Act stuff and I would do the advocacy stuff.  I don't really know if it will come to pass.  She did say she would have me speak to her intro to education classes.

She told me she just got done speaking at a conference at Rutgers where the student who was a homosexual killed himself.  Since she was doing more public speaking than I, I asked her if I was on the right track with this speaking and consulting thing.  She thought it was a good idea and that I should definitely go for it. "So how do I get speaking engagements?"  Her answer was to network.  Basically that means talking to anybody that may be interested in disability stuff or motivational speaking give them my info, tell them what I do, and hope for the best.  It's a little like professional begging I think but what have I got to lose?  You network any and every place you can.  As the lady told me you never know who will call.  Here's hoping.