3 Rules for Relationship Building at Networking Events, Becoming META, Going HARD

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”
— Dale Carnegie

Good morning, beautiful people; today is the end of our sober run; I’m thinking about 4:32 p.m. I will have my first drink in 29 days, and although I have enjoyed the sober journey, I’m ready for a cocktail!  Cheers!  I shall now be known as META for no damn good reason.

I woke up thinking about all the young professionals that go to networking meetings and struggle to connect with others.  As a young man, I built a business through networking, replicated the model 1187 miles away from home, and so I think I can shine some light on how to build relationships with strangers effectively.

I try and limit this activity at my age; occasionally, I’ll attend an event, but gone are the days of daily networking, thank God.  I learned it’s a young person’s sport, at my age I have other things I enjoy, but if you are a young person and your job is to build relationships with strangers, here are some tips.

1. People do not care what you do for money.  They are programmed to ask; they think they want to know, but this is a big lie; people care more about who you are than what you do.

2. Be yourself. Everyone else is taken (Oscar Wilde); you are indeed like a snowflake, there is no other one like you, be YOU.

3. Don’t share what you do, be a little coy, a little humorous.  For example, when asked what you do, my go-to reply is that I’m a writer.  I am a writer, but suppose you are not.  You might want to say, “I make a mean cheesecake” or “I like to jump rope.”  Whatever you like to do or once did, share that; it’s called a pattern interrupt and can change the conversation’s trajectory.

That’s it, three simple rules to use the next time you go to an event to talk to strangers.  Now, I promise, some people will reply with their vocation, and when this happens, I slink away to find another human to engage.  Only when I see a genuine human connection do I care what one does for money.

I’ve a busy day planned; I’ll work here this morning; we are meeting with our management team to talk about 2022, our vision, things we need to get done as this year winds down. Then, after that, we have some carrier meetings, I’ve got lunch with a friend to catch up, and then we are heading to wrap up our week. So, it’s been a great week, bring on the weekend.

I received a photo from a friend that asked my mother to read to her kindergarten class.  My mother is 82, is a former librarian, and she likes to go to elementary schools and read books to the kids.  It’s an old-school move, but the kids like it, and most don’t see value in giving their time to kids.  My mother retired at 55 and is now busier than she was when she had a full-time job.  Between church, helping others, and reading to school kids, she has a full-time gig. 

My father is equally busy; he gets up most days and walks 5 miles around Beautiful Parker City, Indiana.  He’s got a couple of commercial properties he tinkers with and runs auto parts for a local mechanic.  My father also retired at 55 but never stopped working; both of my parents are inspiring humans.

I am inching closer to publishing my next book.  The final proof of the cover was approved; now, the question is, do I offer a hardback version of my book?  I’ve always used paperbacks, but this might be a good time to offer a hardback option.  It’s a big book, a little pricey, even for the softback, but I think I might go hard for the first time (drum snare).  I’m sorry, I’m a 14-year-old living in the body of a 52-year-old man.

Enough of this, I’m going to get in the shower, maybe wrestle with my wife; I’ve got a new move I picked up in UFC this week; I think I can pin her pretty quick.  I hope these words find you in a beautiful place; I hope my tips make sense, and you can begin meeting people that you would not have connected using the traditional means of networking.  I hope you have someone to wrestle with and that you win half the time; winning every time is not fun!

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”
— Dale Carnegie