As people get older they begin to appreciate the little things more than they do major gifts.  One of the best ways to build and sustain a network is to develop a passion for doing the little things that make a big difference to others.

What are the little things?  They come in many different forms.  Here are just a few:

• Sending a person a note when you want to recognize something they said or did.  Here’s an example “I want to tell you I really got a lot out of class today.  Your story of the student really hit home for me.”
• Ask if you can help someone who seems to be struggling. “You seem to be really having a hard time in math.  Could I help you preparing for the test?”
• Follow up on a prior conversation to see how an issue turned out. “I hope you were able to make an appointment with my advisor.  I’m sure that he will help you.  Would you let me know if this works out?”
• Provide information that someone might not know. “I just found this website that was very helpful to me.  You might want to try it.”
• Volunteer to help someone before they ask. “Would you like me to water your plants while you are gone for Thanksgiving break?”

You’ll notice that these little things don’t involve tangible gifts.  They don’t cost money.  Rather they are acts of kindness that you extend to another..