Types of Networkers

Sacred Cow Dung has created a typology of networking styles.
(I've made a few modifications).

There are 3 kinds of contacts:
1. Potential (New). 2. Current. 3. Old.

There are 8 kinds of networkers.

1. The Tony Soprano (Only Present focus)
Focus is on Current Contacts. Good for a mobster because you can only trust your gang. Outsiders, both new and old contacts, carry risks.

2. The Ghost-from-the-Past (Only Past focus)
A Hanger-on who pesters Old Contacts. An old colleague or friend you want to shake.

3. The Classic Salesman (Only Future focus)
Focus is on New Contacts. Lively and flattering. Looking to use you. Believes it's for your own good. Will drop you when he doesn't need you anymore. But can return out of the blue as if nothing ever happened. A souless psychopath in its purest form (The Telemarketer).

4. The Celebrity (No present)
This relationship is not direct but mediated through a product. Think of an author whose goal is to grow and maintain a huge network. Focus is on turning Potential Contacts into Old Contacts, skipping any current relationship.

5. The Don't-Look-Back (No past)
Abhors Old Contacts. If you have a disagreement or if you remind him of a past that is no longer useful, you’ll never hear from him again. (Prima Donnas, Social Climbers and Fugitives).

6. The Complacent Networker (No future)
Satisfied with Current and Old Contacts. Not looking for new inputs. Like retired grandparents who dote on their families and yak endlessly to those around them with no eye on the future.

7. The Balanced Networker
A personal network which is open to new relationships and full of high quality current relationships.

8. The Dead Contact
No longer in your life at all. Not a potentially-live, Old Contact.

Compressed View - In Terms of Focus
1. Soprano (Only Present)
2. Ghost (Only Past)
3. Salesman (Only Future)

4. Celebrity (No Present)
5. Don't-Look-Back (No Past)
6. Complacent (No Future)

7. Balanced (Well-rounded)
8. Dead (Well-rounded)

Source: Sacred Cow Dung. See also: Life cycle of a personal network