By Ken Tudhope, CPA

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I literally "bumped" into opportunity the other day while walking down the aisle at Best Buy!  After I accidentally bumped into someone, I then realized who she was.  Big smiles all around!  She and I had worked together at a large multinational specialized staffing firm more than three years ago, and we hadn't seen each other since.

When we worked together, she had given a hat as a gift to my youngest son John.  Recently, John wanted to use the hat for a costume but since it was a gift he was concerned what my friend would think.  Since I hadn't seen her in more than two years there was no way to find out, and I gave him permission.  As I recounted the story of the hat dilemma, we shared a good laugh.

I then found out that she was now working for one of the largest firms in the area controlling all the contractors the company uses.  This was fortunate, as I supply contractors in finance and accounting through my company Project Pro Search.  Opportunity, without a doubt.  With humor, I told her that we supply the best interim resources in finance and accounting in Orange County and with much better service than the huge company we used to work for, and in all sincerity, I asked her to consider working with us.

What surprised me next was that, without missing a beat, she said, "Ken, I can't ever forget you!  You always send me a birthday card."  Honestly, I send more than 5 birthday cards per day, 365 days per year and It's one of the most rewarding things I do to acknowledge people and stay in touch, and with no expectations for business.

What's funny is that the last time I sent her a birthday card I thought she was still a competitor!  It's just what I do, and besides, she'd once shared some of her grandmother's tamales in addition to the gift of the hat for my son, and I've never forgotten that generosity.  With no way at all to benefit me professionally, I sent the card anyway because it gives me such joy.

Networking is much more than groups, meetings and rubber chicken dinners.  It's really about hats, birthday cards, tamales and bumping into opportunity.