networKING

How Can I Meet More People?

A great way to strengthen your network is to start a group.  Many of us already belong to networking groups or attend events such as Meetups, but why not develop one yourself?  As many of the articles on the subject of networking state, it becomes easier to network when you act like a host and get involved.

So, if you’d like an alternative to the popular networking organizations like BNI, create yours.  Here’s 3 things you should do first:

Find a few more like minded colleagues to help run the group with you. No need to do it by yourself.  Plus, you will be expanding your pool by bringing in people who will then bring in more people.

Pick a theme/agenda. What is the purpose of this group?  Why are you dragging people here every week, month, or quarter?  My SuperNodes group (which I do with four others) is centered around wine.  And that seems to bring the people every month.

Build your audience, not your bank account. Keep it free and simple in the beginning.  Get folks in the door and keep them coming.  Make it worth their while. Once you work out all the kinks and get a good flow to the meetings/events, then you can wonder how to turn it into a money maker.  And maybe money doesn’t enter the picture for some groups.  If you’re a good networker, you will always find a way to turn connections into something of value…be it money, knowledge, or friendship.

If you think you know enough people, connect with ten more.  Then lather, rinse, repeat.

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Bring That Leftover BBQ To SuperNodes 7/6

After you have enjoyed your 4th of July weekend, come on over to Ara Wine Bar on Monday and hang out with the SuperNodes crew.  Bring in some ribs, chicken, and potato salad and wash it down with some Sangria.

$7 drink specials until 7pm.

@Supernodes is @bondgyrl, @lionelane, @showboat92, @raquelrsanchez, @mrroarke

The Kool-Aid Kronicles 6.24

In 2008, I called my irregular BNI journal reports, “Notes From The Matrix.” We all saw the film and we know that the matrix is supposed to be a network. You had to take a pill to tap into it. Many of my friends (and especially my wife) think that I took a pill at one of my networks/cults. I won’t argue with you that I may have fallen down the rabbit-hole.

In 2009, my notes from the BNI meetings, are now the Kool-Aid Kronicles. BNI is an acquired taste. It’s very regimented and orderly. It’s also 7am every week. If you are going to do this 45+ times a year, you have to be very devoted to networking or crazy. So yes, I am sippin’ that Kool-Aid.

For the last eleven years, I have been a member of BNI. This networking tool and word of mouth marketing has kept my company afloat. Many of the professionals in my chapter have dispensed weekly nuggets of wisdom for years on how to be a better entrepreneur. Right now it looks a little rough out there, so it’s good to hear about everyday people who are keeping their heads and making things happen. Here are a few things I heard and learned on Wednesday from my colleagues:

The messenger delivered 75 Magnolia cupcakes (and a daughter) to Yankee Stadium for a party in corporate box.

The writing coach informed us on the power of words by pointing us to the short film, Story of a Sign.

The telephone bill reduction consultant was able to get a client’s $5K+ monthly phone bill down to a third of that, but the client went with the major phone company’s offer (which was double his offer), because of scare tactics.

The IT guy told a story about a company hiring him after their novice in-house IT person destroyed their server (they lost all of their data).  Wow.

The database guy is looking for people suffering from carpal tunnel, from all the “cutting and pasting” they do in their cobbled together lists.

The Send Out Cards salesperson touted the company making the cover of Success From Home magazine.

The corporate real estate broker was mentioned in the New York Law Journal for his part in a major deal.

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Waiter! Check, Please.

Three years ago I was invited to a Morton’s steakhouse for a networking event sponsored by UBS in White Plains.  There was a room set up with free wine and appetizers.  I’m talking all the lamb chops you could eat.  But that is besides the point.  After the initial mingling session, we were asked to go around the room and introduce ourselves.  Many of these folks were members of other networking groups, so the commercials were very good and succinct…I am such and such, I do this and that for these types of clients, and I’m looking to connect with these types of companies or individuals.  When I gave my elevator pitch about handling publicity for folks in entertainment, the server in the room thrust his biz card in my hand.

You know the drill.  He was working at the restaurant between gigs.  But this guy was a feature film director and well-respected 1st AD on various television shows.   Soon after meeting him, he was back in Los Angeles working on more projects.   We have stayed in contact with each other via email, phone, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  This year looks like the year that we will work together.  He has some great projects coming up.

So the moral of the story is not only should you never look down at those who serve your table, but also that you should stay in contact with people, even those that don’t hire you right away. First off, you don’t know who they know.  You don’t know who they really are or who they are about to become.    Being an entrepreneur is not about sprinting, it’s about preparing for the long marathon.  Heck, this year it may be more appropriate to call it a triathlon.

photo credit: sea turtle

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.

Pictured:  My dad and my son at Christmas 2008.

(I would also like to send a special shout out to my friend Lester Jack, who lost his 13 year old son, Yahwanathan to cancer on June 16.  Peace be with you, my brother.)

My Networking Life, In Pictures (2007)

Why do I have to be the shrimp in this picture? Anyway, this is from World Of Money’s 2nd Annual Fundraiser in 2007. This one took place at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar on West 72nd Street in Manhattan.

I’m hanging ex-Buffalo Bills/Atlanta Falcons player, Corey Louchiey and former Fieldston football All-State, Terrence Alexander.  But I know these guys as Account Executives in the Design/Construction biz.

I continue to network with these guys, because they have introduced me to numerous people that have helped me or my circle of colleagues.

CV’s Are Cold Calls, Internships Are Warm Referrals (IMHO)

I just realized that I got my first full-time gig as a result of networking.  It wasn’t about the bright young recent college graduate with the spectacular C.V.  What’s funny is that in 1990, I didn’t understand what networking was all about. I don’t even think I used the term.

Here’s the story:

A friend of mine called me and said that the indie hip-hop label Tommy Boy was looking to hire an administrative assistant in the Media Relations department.   The year prior, we were not friends. I did not know him.  I was in a PR class and our assignment was to produce a music symposium and handle all the publicity campaigns in order to pack the house and get media there.  I was reading the Music Paper and he was the only guy writing about hip-hop in the paper.  I invited him to be a panelist.  I also booked Doug E. Fresh to be a panelist, which was the big draw.

Ever since my friend arrived on CW Post’s sprawling campus to impart his wisdom to an auditorium full of eager students, we have been great friends ever since.

So let me get back to the story. My friend was good friends with the VP of Media Relations at Tommy Boy.  She needed to hire someone yesterday, as she was going to Japan with Queen Latifah and Digital Underground.  I got the job.  And it was all about who I knew.  And who that person knew.

And let me not forget to add that when she checked my references, she realized that another one of her really good friends was one of my supervisors at my first internship.  That guy is my mentor.  That really sealed the deal.

Folks have to realize that compiling great contacts along the way is essential to staying in the game.  Soon-to-be-college-graduates should not only focus on GPA, but make sure they grab as many internships as possible.  I really believe that internships are the first networking groups that young adults join, but I didn’t know it at the time I did my first one in 1988.

When you move up the ladder in whatever industry you are in, you will see a pattern.  People are getting the titles and positions they crave because of spending time on the golf links with Ted.  Or going to dinner with Susan.  Or being on the same not-for-profit board as Geoff.  Your work experience definitely matters, but there’s nothing wrong with having good relationships with people in a position to help you achieve your career goals.  Is it nepotism?

It’s called Networking, and there’s nothing wrong with it.  I would not have had this career, if I hadn’t gotten coffee for some good people.

(photo credit: explanatorium)

Get My College Kid Off The Couch

A close friend of my wife called to chat and the talk quickly focused on his son.  “He’s home after completing his freshman year and he’s sitting on the couch,” he told my wife.

She told me and I asked what his major and his interests are.  I knew I could call some people and get him an internship.

The soon to be soph called me and thanked me for whatever help I may be able to extend.  One email later, he was on the phone with the person who runs the office for prestigious music organization.

He will be interning there for a short period this summer.

Networking.

My friend at the organization needed help, because she has a big event coming up and already has a crazy schedule.  The college kid needed something to do that interested him.

Win-win for everyone.

And that is the essence of good networking.  We all win.  And we all benefit…even the person doing the connecting.

(photo credit: travelbex)

Meet Amita Tewari

A financial services pal of mine introduced me to Amita Tewari a few weeks ago.  She was recently laid off from UBS.  When she called me, I immediately invited her to my BNI Chapter.  She came (from South Jersey) and didn’t complain of the 7am start time.  She met a lot of people and was an instant hit.   Folks like Amita really need to be back in the workforce sooner than later.

The networKING Q&A.

Q: What is your career and how long have you been in this field?
A: My career in financial services started in 1997 when I was hired by Deutsche Bank to run the Euro Programme across the Corporate Investment Bank.  That was followed by a three-year assignment in London as Regional CIO in support of the Commodities/Derivatives trading business unit. Upon my return to the US, I performed a similar role for a couple of years.
My next major role was as COO for Americas Operations for UBS Securities LLC, where I was responsible for management of daily operational issues, planning and execution of strategic objections, regional financials and ensurance of operational risk and regulatory compliance.
Prior to financial services I worked in the pharma sector for almost seven years. I started as an intern in 1990 and moved on to do various roles.

Q: Why are you unemployed?
A: Due to the sub-prime crisis, our bank suffered huge write-downs leading to several rounds of lay-offs, firm wide.

Q: To be looking for another job in this economy is rough, what things are you doing or will do to get a foot in the door?
A: Needless to say in today’s environment one has to pretty much throw the traditional job search methods out the window. In the past, I had worked exclusively with executive/retained search firms, now they are no longer at the top of my list.
I have found networking to be most helpful. I have not only reached out to my immediate network of colleagues and friends but have made it a point to have them, in turn connect me to a few of their contacts, thereby extending my network of connections.
I’ve also been attending networking events hosted by member organizations that I belong to, in addition to attending several events/meetings as a guest of my contacts.
While I have not yet landed a job; as a result of networking I have had meetings with several senior hiring managers at various financial institutions, who now have a better understanding of what I have to offer them.
Lastly I’ve found LinkedIn to be of tremendous value – whether it is simply for me to connect with a former colleague or to make a new contact through introductions or to just browse online discussions and scout for jobs, it has been an immense help.

Amita Tewari can be found/contacted at http://www.linkedin.com/pub/amita-tewari/5/315/1a

Meet Antonia M. Green, Class of 2009

Please meet recent CW Post graduate (my alma mater) Antonia M. Green.  I met her in April at Post’s “Networking Your Way To Career Advancement” event.  I was surprised by her schmoozing skills.  Much more advanced than mine at that age.   I asked her if she was prepared for job hunting in this economy.  I was impressed by her realistic answers and her upbeat manner.  She knows the stakes, but is not daunted by it.

The networKING Q&A.

Q: What career would you like to have?
A:  The type of career I would like to have is one of great success and something I will truly enjoy doing.  I want to start out in production just to get my foot in the door.  You  know, basic production assistant work and entry level positions that will allow me to have hands-on experience and further my networking.  Eventually I would like to become an On-Air personality in sports, entertainment, or documentary type specials.  I feel like Sports would be a great field because it’s fast-paced, there’s never a dull moment, and the sports field is lacking women of color and I would like to embark on that market.

Q: What have you done to prepare for this career?
A:  Since I graduated this past May from Long Island University C.W. Post,  the job search has been pretty low, but I prepared myself in school by working with the campus television station, obtaining internships, and attending different networking events.  I am a member of IRTS (International Radio and Television Society) and have attended their Minority Career Workshop (highly recommend) and some of their panel discussions.  I have also attended a number of Career Fairs at school.  My two internships were really great experiences and taught me a lot about working behind the scenes.  I interned at ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly as a production intern and WPIX-11 in NY as a producer that created four PSA’s for the station.  I have also kept in contact with a lot of great people in this industry and plan to continue networking.  Informational Interviews have also been a big help to me.

Q: To be looking for your first job in this economy is rough, what things are you doing or will do to get a foot in the door?
A: I have requested informational interviews and I am  signed up with a production company in NY as a freelance production assistant.  I also have sent my resume to previous employers and individuals who I have met at networking events.  I am also going to create a page with my work that I have done for the past four years and create business cards with links to this page.  Keeping in touch with my career counselor from Post has also helped as she has sent me links to different websites to visit to send my resume and check out.  I am signed up with LinkedIn and have also set up my resume on CareerBuilder.com, MediaBistro.com, and Mandy.com.

Antonia can be reached via antoniamgreen (at) gmail (dotcom), please network with her.