WHY DO WE INTRODUCE RANGERS TO OTHER RANGERS IN THE AREA THEY ARE GOING TO?
Rangers often look at the local Ranger Network Mentor bios and don’t see why they should reach out to them as their Experience doesn’t match what the Ranger is looking for.
The following is a local Ranger's response to an incoming Ranger: “My basic bio was sent to you. I have a fairly deep rolodex for businesses and executives in the Twin Cities and am happy to assist you in any way I can add value. It might be connecting you with the right folks or getting you past the gatekeepers within organizations you are attempting to get through. I am always open for a call or feel free to drop me a line via email.”
Of course, the biggest reason is networks, and most networks, even with the biggest corporations, are local! It’s not what you know, it’s usually not even who you know, but it’s who you get to know! There is a difference when it comes to opportunities. Guys get opportunities through the network of networks, I call it the Al Qaeda, spider web model. Most of us don’t appreciate that after the military our network is not mostly guys we work with day to day. It’s much, much broader, and the longer we are out, the more diverse our network. Most of the Rangers we assist get hooked up through the network of networks, not directly through a Ranger, but through a Ranger’s network.
Two, we all miss Rangers, and developing new Ranger buddies is pretty important. The most common storyline of guys who struggle is, “I disconnected from Ranger Buddies.” You will disconnect from many of the guys you served with. Those who stay in after you transition will have a different focus and develop new Ranger Buddies. Reaching out to the mentor/network list will lead to new Ranger buddies that have common interest and focus.
Three, is an informal welcoming committee on where to live, schools, places to eat, good real estate agents, lawyers, handymen, etc.
Four, you may meet new Ranger Buddies, and after understanding what they do, you may decide that’s something you are really interested in.
It’s a combination of a bunch of little things that make transition smooth, and a lot of that, more than you think, will come from getting to know Rangers in your new area. You can never have too many Ranger Buddies, and they are MORE important after you transition. Your network can never be too big. This IS where your next opportunity will come from!
RLTW!
mike