Get inspired. Stay current.

In corporate America, your rise to the top can be determined by a host of contributing factors such as your passion, drive, determination, intelligence, self-discipline, quick wit – just to name a few. Although these traits can significantly contribute to your overall success, not having a strong, well-rounded professional network can inadvertently stagger growth in your professional life. I know you’ve heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Well, it’s true. Having a strong professional network of like-minded individuals, with a shared interest, will dramatically improve your chances of success over time.

Recently, I attended a global networking event. Those in attendance were C-level executives from Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. It was only fitting that everyone was exchanging business cards in rapid-fire. While networking and mingling, I came across a number of individuals who either ran out of business cards or simply forgot to bring them. This made me ask myself a question; what is the real value of a business card? What if companies did away with paper business cards? Would employees still be able to network with potential customers and colleagues?