Networking has been around for ages--and knowing someone to get a job, a lead, a referral is one of the best ways to build any business, relationship, etc. But in a slow economy, where payrolls have to be met, inventories paid for/adjusted and rents have to be paid--is networking all it's cracked up to be? I recently had the pleasure of attending a non-chamber of commerce, service organization luncheon whose sole purpose is business networking and providing each other referrals. While many networking groups are based on "profession" focused representation--this organization in the local chapter had forty members, each representing automotive repair, home improvement, chiropractic, etc. Based on members providing other members with "referrals" of people they know (average person knows 250 outside of the organization) with whom they might want a specific service or product represented--each weekly luncheon spends a good hour going around the room