Often I get to a point where I just don’t have the resources to complete a project that I’ve started and find myself looking for a hand to help me out. This comes to my point; it is valuable to have a network of contacts at your disposal. Whether these contacts are past clients, real life friends or on-line acquaintances they all can come in handy when you’re in need.

Past Clients May Have the Solution
To give you an example, earlier this month I was looking for a WordPress skin coder, I was willing to pay but really didn’t want to dish out the bucks to have it professionally done. I happened to be using my favorite instant messaging program, talking with friends and so-on when I decided: “Hey, there must be someone I know that can give me a hand”. This was true. Later that day a friend, which happened to be a past client — David, messaged me asking me about my announcement regarding looking for a WordPress theme coder. I explained my situation and how I couldn’t find anyone to help me out. Knowing me, through a few past transactions, he offered to help me out as he had a lot of experience using and skinning WordPress. It all worked out and in a couple days I received a coded WordPress theme nicely packaged in a single compressed file.

Don’t Be a Freeloader
Now I’m not saying it is good to have contacts so that you can be a freeloader and rely on them to do every little thing, but it is nice to know there is a cushion there that can bail you out in these certain situations. I did not leave David with the bill, in return he asked if I could write a few articles for him and of course I immediately obliged. As long as you pay your debts, and give our favors in return, this cushion will be there whenever you need it. As for building such resources, that will have to come in a future article.

Tags: business, contacts, communication