His father stated:
"You'd think all kinds of marketing guys were behind it, but it's just Joe being Joe. He's a good kid and he likes to have fun. He's done a better job than any marketing firm could."
I was pretty impressed. Based on this article and other stories I had heard, Haden had established himself as a good role model for networking in business and social settings. When I worked in a sales and marketing job a couple years ago, I kept a printed copy of this article at my desk and reread it regularly.
What networking lessons can we learn from Joe Haden?
1) Be open to networking.
Haden: "I say yes a lot more than I say no. I like interacting with people. Sometimes it can be overwhelming with everyone coming up all the time. It can be a little much. But you still do it. You've got to take the bad with the good."
2) Be active.
Haden: "What else would I be doing -- sitting at home by myself? It's all about giving back, and at the same time, it's so much fun."
3) Be committed.
Haden: "It's really easy to do, honestly. Even if I didn't play football, I'd be doing all this stuff. I'm just trying to have a good time and make sure everyone knows I care about this city and appreciate the fans."
4) Be authentic.
Haden's father: "He hasn't had to be prepped on any of this. This is him. What you see is what you get."