15 Simple Networking Tricks | Wise Bread

This article is about Business Networking, but it is also good advice for those sharing the gospel!  Good job WiseBread!

15 Simple Networking Tricks | Wise Bread:

'via Blog this'

15 Simple Networking Tricks

by Thursday Bram on 29 November 2011

1. Set Goals for Your Networking EffortsNetworking is an absolutely necessary skill — it can make all the difference in landing a job, launching a new company, or bringing in a new client. But while networking is something that comes naturally to some people, most of us have to work at it to get good. These simple tricks can make the process easier. (See also:Networking Basics for Regular People)

Networking can be a relatively time-consuming process. It may sound cynical to say that you need to focus your efforts on the people most likely to help you, but the truth is that you need to know what you’re getting out of networking and find the opportunities that really help you the most.

2. Make Networking a Habit

In order to really get the most out of your network, you need to be doing more than just going to the occasional networking event. You need to make a regular habit of reaching out to new people and connecting with them, even if you can’t find that many events to attend in your area. There’s always email, phone calls, and one-on-one meetings.

3. Think About How You’re Different From Everyone Else

You don’t need to have a full-on existential crisis, but you do need to understand why someone would (or wouldn’t) want to network with you at this point. Consider how you can help your connections and how you stand out from your industry. If you need to, write out a few points so that you can get some ideas for conversation topics.

4. Get a Better Address Book, Preferably Software-Based

There are dozens of different address book tools out there these days that can do all sorts of tricks. Some can even fill in websites and other public information about a new contact based on just a few details you can add. If you’re trying to build deep connections, you shouldn’t be spending time alphabetizing your Rolodex.

5. Always Set a Way to Follow Up

No matter who you’re networking with or what your goal is, you should make sure that you have already arranged to follow up before the conversation ends. It can be something as simple as promising to email a copy of an interesting article — you just want to skip that awkward phase of wanting to contact someone but not have a reason to do it.

6. Carry Business Cards With You Constantly

With today’s technology, the information on a business card isn’t particularly important. But it does provide a physical reminder to your new contact that he or she did meet you, making it easier for you to build on the connection.

7. Look for People You Want to Network With Ahead of Time

It’s common to be able to look at the expected attendees for many events these days, and social networking can provide you added insight on who will be attending a given event with a little searching. Identify the best people to network with and make a point of introducing yourself at the event.

8. Make Your Connections Deeper

Just meeting someone in passing at an event (or even online) is just a shallow connection. It’s a great starting point, but if you can take the time to make that connection deeper — say with meeting up for lunch or passing a few lengthy emails back and forth — you can make build a much deeper relationship. It can be as simple as telling yourself that you want to make one connection deeper every week and make a point of acting on that commitment.

9. Listen More Than You Talk, at Least at First

We all like to talk about ourselves, but a good networker spends a conversation learning as much about her new connection as possible. Ask questions, listen, and generally pay attention. Then, when you talk, you can talk about the reason for your networking within your contact’s frame of reference, like what you can do to help her. This approach is much more effective than going in and trying to sell at a networking event.

10. Develop a Thick Skin

It’s easy enough for a new connection to ease himself out of a conversation or turn you down during the follow up. It’s important to be able to let such situations go. There are just some people who you will never click with, and that’s fine.

11. Don’t Shy Away From People Who Don’t Seem Useful

You never know what the future may bring: You could change industries, strike out on your own, or generally need to know very different people down the line than you do today. Don’t brush off anyone who doesn’t fit in with your current networking needs just for that reason.

12. Go Outside of Your Industry or Niche

It’s very tempting to build most of your connections within your own industry — especially if your goals focus on sales or business. But by going further afield, you can build a more useful network. It’s rare that any of us only need sales connections, after all. Vendors, media, and other potential contacts are crucial to a healthy network, even if they don’t directly work in your industry.

13. Connect Your Connections

Take the time to make helpful introductions within your own network. The more interconnected your network is, the easier it is to get your contacts to take action. It doesn’t hurt if you can build the reputation as the person always able to make a useful introduction.

14. Follow-Up Is Always Your Responsibility

It’s easy enough to go to an event and hand out a stack of business cards — but the odds are that only 10-20% of the people that you connect with will follow up with you, even if you give them a great reason to do so. If you want to create connections that will actually be useful to you in the long run, you have to take responsibility for following up.

15. Don’t Forget Your Existing Network in Your Hurry to Add to It

Going back and regularly strengthening your ties to your existing network — friends, family, coworkers and so on — is just as important as building new connections. That’s because your deepest connections are the ones most likely to help you.

HOW DO YOU LOVE?

 Beloved friends, let us love one another; 

because love is from God; and everyone 

who loves has God as his Father and knows God.

                                                                                                                  1 John 4:7

Love is a simple, yet complicated virtue.  It is a skill that must be learned, and NOT just necessarily what I learn from parents. Unfortunately, most people never learn how to love or how to actually how to relate to other people. We draw into ourselves, enclose ourselves within our houses and routines and never expose ourselves to having to initiate a relationship with someone I don't know. We become content with getting acquainted, but leave it there - so we do not have to become involved. 

Wouldn’t you like to become known as a person of extraordinary love? When people speak of you they might say: “He doesn’t care who you are or what you look like” or “She doesn’t care where you’ve been or what you’ve done or where you’re from.” The only way you get skilled at something is to practice. You do it over and over. The first time you do it, it feels awkward, but the more you do it, the better you become. The same is true with love (1 John 4:7). 

Let’s practice love even and especially when it is difficult. As Paul told Timothy, "Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress." 1Tim 4:15   Jesus said, "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt.5:44,45   

For some, love is something I show, only when it is shown to me. For some, love is something that is never shown in public. For some, love is a sign of weakness.For some, love is rigid, disciplinarian, stoic to be sliced with a knife.  For some, love is something they show because it is something they were never shown.  How do you love?

Let's love as God does!

Jim

Herod the Great didn’t do it all | Ferrell's Travel Blog

Herod the Great didn’t do it all | Ferrell's Travel Blog:

'via Blog this'

Herod the Great didn’t do it all

Posted on November 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

Archaeologists in Jerusalem announced yesterday a new discovery that changes popular thinking about the building of the walls around the Temple Mount. It is not much of a surprise. We already knew that the Roman Street found at the SW corner of the wall dates to the period just before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. The last paragraph of the press release mentions that what was found was in harmony with the account of Josephus.

I have understood John 2:20 to be saying that work on the temple precinct was continuing as late as A.D. 26/27. That is a major reason this is not a surprise.

Then the Jewish leaders said to him, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and are you going to raise it up in three days?” (John 2:20 NET)

The press release mentions that Josephus

Here is a portion of the press release issued by the Israel Antiquities Authority. I am leaving it full width for easier reading.

— • —

Professor Ronny Reich of the University of Haifa and Eli Shukron of the Israel Antiquities Authority: A ritual bath exposed beneath the Western Wall of the Temple Mount shows that the construction of that wall was not completed during King Herod’s lifetime.

Who built the Temple Mount walls? Every tour guide and every student grounded in the history of Jerusalem will immediately reply that it was Herod. However, in the archaeological excavations alongside the ancient drainage channel of Jerusalem a very old ritual bath (miqwe [mikve]) was recently discovered that challenges the conventional archaeological perception which regards Herod as being solely responsible for its construction.…

In an excavation beneath the paved street near Robinson’s Arch, sections of the Western Wall’s foundation were revealed that is set on the bedrock — which is also the western foundation of Robinson’s Arch — an enormous arch that bore a staircase that led from Jerusalem’s main street to the entrance of the Temple Mount compound.

According to Professor Reich, “It became apparent during the course of the work that there are rock-hewn remains of different installations on the natural bedrock, including cisterns, ritual baths and cellars. These belonged to the dwellings of a residential neighborhood that existed there before King Herod decided to enlarge the Temple Mount compound. The Jewish historian Josephus, a contemporary of that period, writes that Herod embarked on the project of enlarging the compound in the eighteenth year of his reign (that is in 22 BCE) and described it as “the largest project the world has ever heard of.”

When it was decided to expand the compound, the area was confiscated and the walls of the buildings were demolished down to the bedrock. The rock-cut installations were filled with earth and stones so as to be able to build on them. When the locations of the Temple Mount corners were determined and work was begun setting the first course of stone in place, it became apparent that one of the ritual baths was situated directly in line with the Western Wall. The builders filled in the bath with earth, placed three large flat stones on the soil and built the first course of the wall on top of this blockage.

While sifting the soil removed from inside the sealed ritual bath, three clay oil lamps were discovered of a type that was common in the first century CE. In addition, the sifting also yielded seventeen bronze coins that can be identified. Dr. Donald Ariel, curator of the numismatic collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority, determined that the latest coins (4 in all) were struck by the Roman procurator of Judea, Valerius Gratus, in the year 17/18 CE. This means that Robinson’s Arch, and possibly a longer part of the Western Wall, were constructed after this year – that is to say: at least twenty years after Herod’s death (which is commonly thought to have occurred in the year 4 BCE).

This bit of archaeological information illustrates the fact that the construction of the Temple Mount walls and Robinson’s Arch was an enormous project that lasted decades and was not completed during Herod’s lifetime.

This dramatic find confirms Josephus’ descriptions which state that it was only during the reign of King Agrippa II (Herod’s great-grandson) that the work was finished, and upon its completion there were eight to ten thousand unemployed in Jerusalem.

— • —

If you wish to see the complete press release click here.

Below are a few of the photos provided by the IAA. The first shows the lowest course of the wall resting on bedrock.

The first course of the wall resting on the bedrock. Photograph: Vladimir Naykhin.

The next photo shows one of the coins dating to the time of Roman Procurator Valerius Gratus in the year A.D. 17/18. He was procurator A.D. 15-26, and followed by the better known Pontius Pilate (A.D. 26-36).

A coin of the Roman procurator Valerius Gratus, which helped in dating the construction of Robinson’s Arch. Courtesy IAA.

The third photo shows some of the workers excavating the area.

Archaeologists working at bedrock below Robinson's Arch. Photo: IAA.

After writing my post, I see that Todd Bolen accuses the IAA of being “desperate for headlines.” See his comments here.

Condemned to Mine Copper – Bible History Daily

Condemned to Mine Copper – Bible History Daily:

'via Blog this'

Condemned to Mine Copper

Early Christian persecution at Faynan, Jordan

Biblical Archaeology Society Staff • 11/14/2011

Sending condemned prisoners to mine copper in the Faynan, Jordan, was a popular form of early Christian persecution in the Roman Empire. It was grueling work, and in the horrible conditions of the Faynan, Jordan mines, it was essentially a death sentence for all who were sent here.

Early Christian persecution often calls to mind the martyrs who were tortured, crucified, burned or even killed by wild animals in the gladiatorial arenas of the Roman Empire. But it sometimes took another form, as explained by archaeologists Thomas Levy and Mohammad Najjar in their article“Condemned to the Mines.” Damnatio ad metalla, or condemnation to the mines, meant that the convicted would be forced to mine copper, often in the copper-rich region of the Faynan, Jordan. With the grueling work that it took to mine copper in the oppressive conditions of the Faynan (Jordan), the laborers were often worked to death, making this form of early Christian persecution tantamount to a death sentence.

People began to mine copper—or at least collect and work it—by the end of the Neolithic period (7500–5700 B.C.E.), and the process of copper smelting arose around 4500–4000 B.C.E. in the Chalcolithic period. Regions in Israel and south of the Dead Sea, such as the Faynan, Jordan, are home to some of the world’s earliest copper production sites.

Other than Israel, no country has as many Biblical sites and associations as Jordan: Mount Nebo, from where Moses gazed at the Promised Land; Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John baptized Jesus; Lot’s Cave, where Lot and his daughters sought refuge after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; and many more. Travel with us on our journey into the past in our free eBook Exploring Jordan.

The Faynan (Jordan) district proved to be a productive region to mine copper, as was done at several points by the local rulers throughout ancient history. The Biblical king Solomon may even have exploited the copper here for the kingdom of Israel and sent laborers to mine copper ore and smelt it for use by metalsmiths and for trade.

It is clear that the Romans also took advantage of these natural resources when they gained control of the Faynan. Jordan became a destination for forced labor comprised of convicted criminals and slaves.

A few different methods were employed to mine copper during this period, including a shaft-and-gallery technique, as well as a room-and-pillar technique. Both required back-breaking work in almost total darkness around the clock, often with the miners struggling to breathe in the terrible air quality.

The pagan Roman emperors weren’t the only ones to condemn Christians to mine copper in the Faynan, Jordan, however. Even after the Christians became rulers of the Roman Empire, this form of early Christian persecution continued in use to punish condemned heretics and adherents of rival sects.

---

Read more about early Christian persecution and the ancient process to mine copper in the Faynan (Jordan) in Thomas Levy and Mohammad Najjar’s “Condemned to the Mines,” Biblical Archaeology Review, November/December 2011.

Pisidian Antioch was the site of an important announcement | Ferrell's Travel Blog

Pisidian Antioch was the site of an important announcement | Ferrell's Travel Blog:

'via Blog this'

Pisidian Antioch was the site of an important announcement

Posted on November 20, 2011 | Leave a comment

One of the important cities visited by Paul and Barnabas on the first preaching journey was Pisidian Antioch.

Moving from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, “Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it.” (Acts 13:14-15 NET)

Don’t confuse this Antioch in Pisidia, about 100 miles north of Perga, with Antioch in Syria where Barnabas and Saul began their journey (Acts 13:1-4).

Pisidian Antioch had been founded about 350 B.C. by either Seleucus Nicator or his son Antiochus I in ancient Phrygia, near Pisidia. About two thousand Jewish families were brought to Phrygia from Babylon about 200 B.C. (Josephus Ant.xii.3.4). This explains the presence of Jews and the synagogue.

Our photo shows one of the Roman streets at Antioch. The modern Turkish town of Yalvac can be seen in the distance.

Roman Street in Pisidian Antioch. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Acts 13 should be remembered as the chapter in which Luke records Paul’s sermon on the history of Israel to both Jews and God fearing Gentiles. The sermon recounted here is similar to the sermon Paul heard from the martyr Stephen (Acts 7).

The events at Pisidian Antioch are significant because it is here that we have many Jews and devout god-fearing proselytes accepting the message of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:43). When the Jews began contradicting the gospel we hear the announcement of a more concentrated effort to reach the Gentiles with the Gospel.

Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously, “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed. So the word of the Lord was spreading through the entire region. (Acts 13:46-49 NET)