I know the title is a little strange, but indulge me for a moment. Most of us really appreciate the freedom and lightness of flight. We are attracted to a stress-free environment that allows us to flow in our areas of genius and passion. We all realize that we are more productive, effective and empowered when we are work and passions are closely aligned. And when we are so aligned, we feel we are a bird in flight, floating on air, flowing where our genius takes us.
Even if 100% of our day isn’t in-flight like that; most of us have pockets. We often find ourselves in the ZONE or flowing.
Now — when we’re in those pockets or zone … are you a free bird or are you a butterfly or a combination?
Some definitions:
Free Bird: Has lots of experience and freely shares it. A bird is light, free and flowing. Consumes just enough to stay light; confident that more opportunities will become available exactly when you need it. The abundance mentality allows the bird to stay unencumbered and light. They soars, shares (drops) their experience on others and flies away. When their knowledge drops on the right flower or field, it fertilizes, feeds and energizes. When their knowledge lands on unexpected people, cars, benches; it annoys.
Butterfly: Has lots of experience and freely shares it. A butterfly is light, free and flowing. During the process of collecting nectar, some pollen sticks to their belly and legs. This allows them to continue to fly unencumbered (like a bird) but have more beneficial affect on those it touches and lands on. While they are going about their normal activity of gathering nectar, they deliberately focus on where they land; therefore, their knowledge and experience land on those that are asking.
Using this in the office:
How can we be the best of both? Maybe we want to be a hummingbird of such. Something that is a combination. What is the one thing we can do TODAY, that allows us to be an opportunity agent to others and ourselves? An Opportunity Agent collects appropriate contacts (pollen) as they go about their regular business (their nectar). Because they are building a network and contact database, they can cross-pollinate among their contacts at the appropriate time. Instead of only providing their singular experiences, they can connect their important contacts with other high-caliber contacts, resources, and networks. This provides an exponential benefit to those they land or connect with.
By deliberately and mindfully staying in contact with the significant people you cross paths with, you have the option to extend your wonderful network to others in the future.
Available free tools like Linkedin.com helps you do this almost automatically (like the butterfly or humming bird). I have a short free videos on how you can easily do this with the social media tools of your choice.
Check out http://lauraleerose.com/snapebook/ for the It’s a SNAP video
Check out http://lauraleerose.com/leveraginglinks/ for additional tips on leveraging the links you already have.
Send me your tips to staying in touch with your significant contacts.
And if you don’t already have a Business Networking Plan for 2013 — check out my Individual Networking Strategy Workbook. It is intended to help you create a networking strategy to supports and propels you toward your career goals. 
In my GoTo Academy: Soft Skill Tools for the GoTo Professional continuous online coaching series, I go into these things in detail.
If you are interested in more training in these areas, please sign-up for the continuing online coaching series.