Netliving 101: Networking Life's Journey
by
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While serving as Chairman of the New Careers for Older Americans Committee (the function of which was to find positions for displaced older workers) in the early 1980s the idea to write a book outlining the keys to successful living dawned on me. In the Spring of 1983 with the help of a colleague, Dr. Mel Allerhand, a survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to a relatively small sample of what was considered "successful people." One of the questions on the survey was: Did you feel you had a group of associates, family or friends (network) whom you could call on for support or in some cases did you use them as a sounding board for ideas? Could they be used in time of an emergency for help and resources? For example, if your hot water tank went out and you did not have the money to buy a new one, did you have a family member, friend or neighbor you could call and as for help and/or advice? It went on to state that Webster's New American Dictionary defines "network" as a fabric or structure of crossed threads, cords or wires. The networks covered in this question are made up of human beings who are similar to woven fabric in the frequency of transactions and interactions. The response to that question was the genesis of my coining the word Netliving . Netliving, the concept of expanding the definition of networking to include all aspects of life, through all phases of life; hence replacing the word working with living. This self-help book deals with the process of establishing support networks with others: from the womb to the tomb, in all aspects of life. The concept of "netliving" is explored as one of the secrets to successful living. NETLIVING 101, Networking Life's Journey offers thought provoking ideas, interesting examples and practical suggestions for "netliving." These are developed through brief vignettes based on the lives of real people. Chapter One introduces the two key characters who appear throughout the book. Roberta and Richard are used alternately, from chapter to chapter, to provide different perspectives. The fabric of friendships are woven through the stages of life and applied to various life experiences from overcoming the fear of public speaking to preparing for retirement. The key to finding a job, especially during rough economic times is netliving. Some call it "interviewing for information" but it is making contacts and using these contacts to open doors for interviews, job offers and eventually employment. The old Success story in the job market is "it isn't what you know, but who you know." National surveys conducted by Drake Beam Morin, Inc. (a large outplacement organization), networking fills 70 percent of professional positions. NETLIVING 101, Networking Life's Journey is designed for the 75 million "Baby Boomers" who are career oriented, sophisticated, thoughtful people. "Boomers" are concerned about their future and are taking steps to afford themselves successful, happy and prosperous "mature years." According to a recent survey commissioned by Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York, Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are saving more aggressively than ever. The majority of baby boomers (82%) are saving toward retirement, their children's education and their home according to the study conducted by Kane, Parson & Associates and it includes 600 baby boomers. Only a tiny portion (13%) believe they can depend on Social Security payments to Support their retirement. Personal financial planning and many other topics are covered in this book that will help the baby boomers as well as the following generations live fuller, more successful lives.
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About the Book
"It is not what you know, but who you know that counts." This old cliche is as true today as it was when it was first uttered. According to a recent survey conducted by Drake Beam Morin, Inc. (a large outplacement organization), networking fills 70 percent of professional positions. Networking for a job is the best way to tap into the unpublished job market. NETLIVING 101, Networking Life's Journey reaches beyond the job market into all aspects of life from the womb to the tomb. Hence the word networking is replaced by my newly coined word netliving . There is currently no book, as indicated by reviewing Books in Print ,that shows people how to take advantage of networking techniques used in job hunting to enhance other facets of their lives. NETLIVING 101, Networking Life's Journey fills that gap by providing all the tools and information readers need to establish networks and have more enjoyable and successful lives. One of the reasons for choosing the title NETLIVING 101, Networking Life's Journey was because, to the best of my knowledge, no college or university offers a course as part of a curriculum on the subject. In earlier, simpler times when most of the world's population lived in small villages where everyone knew their neighbor, there was no need to build networks for they were already in place. The local church or pub was usually the hub of the network. With the complexity of today's society it has become necessary to make a concerted effort to establish support networks in order to be successful and happy. In this self-help book, ideas, examples and suggestions for netliving are developed through short vignettes based on the lives of real people. Names and places will be changed to protect the innocent. NETLIVING 101, Networking Life's Journey is written using the concept known as faction. Essentially, faction refers to the inclusion of certain details which, although they may not have occurred exactly as described in point of fact, give the reader a clear image of the scene in his or her imagination. Rather than telling the reader what netliving is all about, this book demonstrates through the words and actions of the characters. Chapter One introduces the two key characters that appear throughout the book. Roberta and Richard are used alternately, from chapter to chapter, to provide different perspectives. The fabric of friendships is woven through the stages of life and applied to various life experiences from overcoming the fear of public speaking to preparing for retirement. Netliving 101, Networking Life's Journey is designed for individuals who are career oriented, sophisticated, and thoughtful. Most people are concerned about their future and are taking steps to afford themselves successful, happy and prosperous "mature years."
About the Author
John Cuthbert Durkin, better known to his friends as "Jack," was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. He has been a practicing "netliver" since age ten when he purchased a daily newspaper route for ten dollars. Netliving the paper route's customer base developed into lawn mowing and baby-sitting opportunities. The local country club's caddymaster lived on his paper route and assisted him with choice job assignments on weekends, giving him his first significant view of netliving in action. As a human resource executive for more than thirty-five years, he successfully utilized netliving principles and practices to fill job openings and obtain other critical benchmark data. During this time period, he also facilitated dozens of workshops both within his employer's organization and outside it on a voluntary basis for various causes. The "Alumni Career Network" at his alma mater was developed and chaired by him. He also chaired "New Careers for Older Americans," the function of which was to find positions for displaced order workers using the netliving approach in the job search. A navy veteran, his formal education consists of a BS degree in Sociology from John Carroll University and an MBA from Kent State University. John Carroll University, where he taught a human resource overview course for twelve years as an adjunct professor, awarded him its highest honor, the Alumni Medal, in 1992. In 1995, he was chosen as the Outstanding member of the Cleveland Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. Currently, he operates a successful Human Resource Consulting business utilizing netliving techniques.