Good morning, good afternoon and good evening everybody.
And welcome to today's episode of the Never Peak Project
podcast.
I'm your host, Coach Ranger.
And in today's episode, we're going
to be talking about networking events.
I'm going to be talking a little bit about the things
that have worked for me, the things that haven't worked
for me, and just the lessons that I've
learned over the last few months, years, whatever
you want to call it, going to networking events,
and how to really make the most out of them.
So go ahead and sit back, relax, and enjoy
as I go over some of my top tips for networking events.
Now, the very first thing that I want to say that is to just
show up.
Being in spaces is more important than looking for them.
One of my coach friends, Marcus, has said recently to me
was, don't look for places.
Be in places.
I think that is something that is extremely valuable.
I feel like more often than not, a lot of people
can kind of get caught in the, you know,
they're worried about showing up to these places.
They might be concerned about how they might look.
They might be concerned that they might not
find the right people there, or they kind of come
with all these excuses to kind of keep them on the couch.
Right?
And I think that really when it comes down
to these networking events, there really isn't any detriment
to just showing up.
Worst case scenario, if you get there,
and it's not what you thought it was,
you could always leave.
Right?
But the best case is you make connections,
you meet new people, you learn something,
you can teach someone something, you can help someone.
I don't think I've ever been to a networking event
that I was able to just look back and say
that that was a complete waste of time.
There have been some networking events
where I didn't leave with a single business card,
where I didn't give out a single card.
I didn't meet anyone, I didn't talk to anyone.
I just sat in the corner all by my will
and some kind of scared, right?
And I feel like that's even just not even just
networking events, but like parties and events, right?
Like there's like, for some of us,
there is that tendency to kind of just like,
silk off to the side and be paralyzed
by those stories that we tell ourselves.
But I would really say that at the end of the day,
the only way that you're gonna be able to get out
of that shell, you're gonna be able to get out there,
shake some hands, talk to some people,
is to show up in the first place.
You have to get your reps in.
Something that I like to say is you can read
every single book you want about growing tomatoes.
You could, I don't know, study it for years in college,
you could write the book on it,
but you won't really know how to do it
until you actually get out into the field,
get out into your garden, get your hands dirty,
and actually grow the tomato.
This is about produce and this is not about produce.
Really the only way to get out of your comfort zone
is to physically get out of it.
So that would probably be tip number one,
is to just get out of your comfort zone
and show up to these events.
Put yourself in the spaces where you are forced to grow,
where you're forced to learn.
So if step number one is to just show up and be present,
I would say that step number two
is clearly defining the reason why you are there.
Now, your why is going to be able to carry you
and help you define and figure out exactly
what decisions you're gonna make,
what people you're gonna try to meet,
how you're gonna interact in these social situations.
And I feel like typically when it comes to having a why,
that is gonna be what keeps you there
even when conversations get awkward,
even when you walk in a room
and there is nobody there that you know,
you just can't seem to hold a conversation.
It's gonna be the thing that helps you kind of metaphorically
pull yourself off of the ground,
brush your shoulders off and keep trying.
And really, I think that a lot of that,
the thing that helps me especially,
like my why for showing to these events
is to meet new people and make new connections.
Especially since I am new to the area,
I moved from Modesto, I did my walk, came back,
I moved to the Bay Area.
That's several hundred miles away from all the people,
all the connections that I made
while I was actually in Modesto.
Kind of starting over over here
in the San Carlos, San Bruno area.
Some of the other advice that I got
at another networking event was don't be salesy.
You're not at these events to make sales.
You're at them to make connections.
You're here to meet people, not necessarily make money.
There is an aspect of that where everybody there
does have that as the underlining factor.
I'm not blind to that.
I know that the overall for a business to be successful,
you need to turn a profit, you need to make money.
However, it can be kind of a turnoff to people
if all you do is try to sell them something,
if you're trying to pitch them your services.
There is a difference between somebody asking you about it
in the way of they're interested in learning more
or they're interested in buying from you right now
or they're just interested in learning about you
as a person.
And that kind of conversation I'll talk about a little bit more
in just a second in tip number three.
But when it comes to having a purpose and a reason
that you're there, I would say that having something
along the lines of I am here to meet new people,
I'm here to make new connections
and kind of adding a number to that, right?
Like I'm here to meet 10 people
and I'm looking for people in this specific industry,
that people in this specific area
and this is what I'm gonna be talking about today.
I feel like I've gone to events
and I kind of just do the shotgun approach
where I just talk to anyone
and I don't really know what I'm trying to focus on
or what I'm trying to talk about.
But at this last event that I went to in San Francisco,
a big focus of what I was talking about
was my one-to-one coaching and my workshops.
So I knew that I was gonna be talking about that
primarily with people.
I wasn't gonna be focusing on my future goal of groups
or the school community or this or that.
All I was gonna be talking about is my one-to-one
and workshops, that was it.
And that's all I talked about
and I feel like people were able to get a better idea
of who I was and what I was offering them
as a potential customer, as a potential partner
and really just as somebody else that is in their network.
So be clear on the reason that you're there,
be clear on your purpose
and kind of set up a little bit of a goal for yourself
so that you can focus on achieving that mission
and kind of walking in that why and purpose,
defining who you're talking to, what you're talking about
and the overarching reason or goal.
And in terms of tip number three,
I also got this advice at the Small Business Expo
in San Francisco, but it's just like a general format
for having conversations with folks.
Once you start talking with people,
you know, it's kind of hard to know exactly where to go.
If you have a hard time breaking the ice,
if you have a hard time interacting with folks,
I have found this to be very useful
and leads into more and more and more conversation.
So it's present, past, future.
When you're talking to someone, you know,
you introduce yourself, ask them what they do.
They'll usually tell you, you know,
I work as a blank for X, Y, Z company,
I started my company.
You can ask them some questions about that
and be genuinely curious, be present and curious
in this conversation.
I feel like that's a tip on its own,
but when it comes to this,
actually interact and have a conversation,
give them your full attention,
because they're gonna say some things
that align with you or you might have questions on.
Either you can relate or you can ask questions.
There really is no going wrong here.
And then the next step after they're done
talking a little bit about what they're doing now
in the present, take a step back
and ask them about what they used to do,
what got them into this.
You know, it's, because usually you find some
really fascinating stories there, or, you know,
they started off, I don't know,
as a otter scientist working on the Mississippi River,
but now they have their own tech company
in Silicon Valley, right?
Like that's an insane story.
Like how did that happen, right?
So you talk about the present, what they're doing now,
you take a step back and then you say,
okay, so tie that into where you are now.
Like what is your outlook for the future?
What goals do you have on the horizon?
What are you working towards now?
And that really gives them that aspect
of really talk about their business,
talk about themselves, and for you to ask questions
and be a part of that conversation.
And hopefully, of course, they will ask you questions.
This isn't just a way for you to only hear
other people talk all night, but really,
when it comes to having conversations with people,
giving someone that space and being genuinely curious
is something that I do truly feel is missing from society.
A lot of people don't have someone
that they can have these conversations with
that don't ask below the surface level questions, right?
So there's a general format, there's tip number three.
Before moving to tip number four,
another thing that I've been doing
after the conversation has kind of run its course,
after it's near the end, if you are at an event
where there is an established community
or people already know themselves,
this is something that has been very, very useful.
When you're done having that conversation with them,
talk about their present, their past, their future,
whatever else comes up in that,
before you guys leave, say,
hey, is there anybody else here that I should talk to?
Be very upfront, like, hey, I'm kind of new,
like I'm trying to learn who everybody is.
Who else here should I talk to?
And every time that I've used that,
they go, oh, you should talk to insert random name.
And then typically, they'll help you make that introduction.
They'll be a little bit more aggressive
in terms of kind of getting you in on the next conversation
because inserting yourself into a group
or when two or three people are talking
can be a little bit intimidating.
So having someone else there that knows the other person
that can kind of break past that social cue
is very helpful.
And when I did that at the senior round table,
I was able to bounce from person to person to person to person
and that helped me maximize the amount of time
I was able to actually be in front of someone and talk.
And I thought that that was just so cool and valuable.
So that would be tip number three.
And I'm moving into tip number four.
I would say that this is really about the followup.
When it comes to following up with people after the event,
what I would do is use that as an opportunity
to get to know them even better.
Now, you've probably had a 30 second to four, five,
maybe 10, 15, whatever minute conversation,
but it was around a whole bunch of other people.
Things might have gotten lost in translation.
Typically these events do have drinking and alcohol
as a part of it.
So who knows what really got passed
and what got through during that conversation.
So I would say that the next tip would be to follow up
and set up a one to one meeting.
This has been something that I've been doing
at the last few events and it's been so great for my business.
I have been able to meet new people.
I've been invited to different organizations.
I've been invited to different networking opportunities.
And really this is something that has put me
in front of even more people.
So all I do after I go to a networking event,
you can type in all the business cards into a Google Doc
or an Excel file.
You can upload the pictures of the business cards
in the chat GBT and it can make a table for you.
When I tried that last one, it didn't work quite well.
So I think I need to kind of finagle with it
and see what was going on.
But follow up with every single person that you talk to.
Just say, hey, it was great meeting you.
And if you remember something from your conversation,
I really enjoyed hearing about X, Y and Z.
I'd love to hear even more.
Here's my Calendly link.
Let's set up a time to chat over Zoom for a little bit.
I'd love to hear more about what you're doing
and see if there's any ways that I can support you.
Hit send and that's it.
Now, I haven't had a lot of success in terms of response.
I have had to follow up with people
and typically after you follow up once or twice,
then they schedule something.
But off that first go around,
you'll probably only set up a few meetings,
which honestly, these 30 minute meetings,
all of them for me have turned into at least an hour.
So keep that in mind that sometimes the conversation
just keeps going and you guys really do connect
on a personal level.
And for me, this is a great way to meet with someone
one-on-one, it's less intimidating,
it's a really nice way to get to know people more
and you get to really build up that no-like-and-trust factor
with them.
Like I also trust people now.
I know the professionals in the area, right?
Again, really focus on them, focus on their business,
see what they have to offer and find ways for you
to support them and connect them with other people.
I think that that is something that is really impactful
in terms of these one-to-one meetings
that you have with them.
And really, that's all I got today.
I hope that those four tips really kind of help you
out in your business and your organization.
Let me know what you guys think of them,
let me know if anything doesn't make sense
and be sure to check out the school community,
Never Peak, the first steps.
I'll be making a few posts in there
about these different tips and really kind of cultivating
a dialogue in the group.
So be sure that you hit the link in the description.
My community is just school.com forward slash never peak.
Be sure to join, check out the community.
I hope to see you guys there.
And until next week, remember to never settle,
never quit and never peak.