Sunday, April 19, 2020
FAMILY AFFAIR
As you are networking don't forget to utilize the network of your family to assist you in opening doors and gaining opportunities that will assist you throughout life. I am including in this blog a link where my son Connor talks about how his network assisted him in securing his current position with Abernathy & MacGregor. Upon his arrival at JU his father through a mutual connection introduced Connor to Vice President for Student Affairs Kristie Gover who mentored Connor throughout his undergraduate and graduate experience. His preparation to get to D.C. involved a number of connections that his father had but then Connor took the initiative to follow-up. It started with a summer internship with Steve Dust and the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance. That led to his father connecting him to a former Mizzou connection, Enterprise VP Jack Talley about an internship in Jacksonville. I was helping to coordinate an ELCA conference while at Wartburg College and approached President Tim Cost at Jacksonville University to serve as our keynote speaker. In preparing for his remarks we met in advance of the conference and I took Connor along for his first introduction to the President.
That single 20 minute introduction turned out to be so very important to Connor gaining further internship opportunities, being introduced to
the Public Policy Institute and deciding to pursue his masters degree at Jacksonville University. That introduction provided him opportunities to gain experience through internships with Congressman John Rutherford, US Senator Marco Rubio's Office and an internship with the Fiorentino Group. Throughout his graduate experience Connor served as a Graduate Assistantship for Student Life and the River House which provided invaluable experience.
Then when it came time for him to decide if Washington D.C. was the place to continue his career he connected with former U.S. Senator Ed Pease from Indiana who his dad worked for at one time when Ed served at VP for Advancement at Indiana State University. He reached out to a family friend from Mizzou Jann Carl, Co-Host of the syndicated show Small Town Big Deal whose daughter Katherine works in D.C. as well. Ultimately President Cost helped Connor secure an interview with Abernathy & MacGregor that has led to full-time employment.
I share this only to show the many connections that make up an experience and that opening a door doesn't get you the internship or the job.
Connor had to interview well, present his talent in order to take advantage of the opportunities that were presented to him. I have introduced many people to others and they didn't do the follow-up to turn that connection into their own, cultivate the relationship beyond just an introduction.
Authors Note: This is also a young man who used to complain, "why do you have to talk to so many people, can't we just go".
Here is a link to an interview I had a chance to conduct with Connor recently that speaks to many of the connections I have outlined.
https://vimeo.com/405700376?utm_source=email&utm_medium=vimeo-cliptranscode-201504&utm_campaign=28749
Monday, March 30, 2020
NETWORKING HAS NO BORDERS
This past year my professional career led me to Jacksonville University
as Assistant Vice President for Admissions.
Back in 2012 my son Connor enrolled at Jacksonville University.
Throughout his undergraduate career I connected with counterparts at JU in various offices.
VP for Student Affairs Kristie Gover and I have a mutual friend in Tara Singer with ODK.
I talked with Associate VP for Student Solutions Tom Taggart and former Director of Admissions Allana Forte at various conferences about JU and the profession.
President Tim Cost was the featured speaker at a professional association conference I coordinated. He has been instrumental to my son’s professional career in Washington, D.C.
Professor Shelly Grant was a faculty mentor to my son. Her daughter Caroline now works for me as a student assistant.
Former Mizzou student Karen Feagins has lived in Jacksonville for a number of years. She stored my son’s belongings one summer and we reconnected again once I moved here.
Indiana State University college friends Bill and Kara Alford moved to Jacksonville as well.
They introduced me to Joe Bowers, co-owner of Party Shack who I since have assisted in identifying distributors around the country for his product!
Angie Morgan Kaiser is a former college classmate that helped me identify my new doctor.
All this in nine months! Through social media and word of mouth my lifetime connections have opened doors!
Developing and cultivating relationships over time opens doors.
It has created opportunity's in way’s that I never imagined!
The point is NETWORKING has no borders and doesn’t tell time!
as Assistant Vice President for Admissions.
Back in 2012 my son Connor enrolled at Jacksonville University.
Throughout his undergraduate career I connected with counterparts at JU in various offices.
VP for Student Affairs Kristie Gover and I have a mutual friend in Tara Singer with ODK.
I talked with Associate VP for Student Solutions Tom Taggart and former Director of Admissions Allana Forte at various conferences about JU and the profession.
President Tim Cost was the featured speaker at a professional association conference I coordinated. He has been instrumental to my son’s professional career in Washington, D.C.
Professor Shelly Grant was a faculty mentor to my son. Her daughter Caroline now works for me as a student assistant.
Former Mizzou student Karen Feagins has lived in Jacksonville for a number of years. She stored my son’s belongings one summer and we reconnected again once I moved here.
Indiana State University college friends Bill and Kara Alford moved to Jacksonville as well.
They introduced me to Joe Bowers, co-owner of Party Shack who I since have assisted in identifying distributors around the country for his product!
Angie Morgan Kaiser is a former college classmate that helped me identify my new doctor.
All this in nine months! Through social media and word of mouth my lifetime connections have opened doors!
Developing and cultivating relationships over time opens doors.
It has created opportunity's in way’s that I never imagined!
The point is NETWORKING has no borders and doesn’t tell time!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
MAKING THE NETWORKING MOVE
Do remember picking up the phone to call the girl or guy that you liked and then hanging up at the last minute to gather more courage? Have you waited too long to pursue a job or position only to find that someone else beat you to it. There are times in life where you have to take the initiative to make your own connections, determine your own path and here is an example of a person doing just that!
I annually speak to seniors here at Wartburg College on the power of networking at a senior seminar hosted by the careers services office and alumni association. In addition to students attending they also invite area alumni and community leaders to interact with the students. It is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable experience in working a room, gathering contact information and sharing their professional goals with strangers.
Every time I speak to a group I hear additional networking stories about how meeting someone has opened a door for them or some unique aspect of how someone they know networks. On this occasion Wartburg alumni and Executive Director of the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau Aaron Buzza, '01 shared a story with me.
He knows of a gentleman who took the initiative to begin networking without waiting on someone else to assist him. This gentleman who was moving to the Cedar Valley decided to contact 60 individuals within the Cedar Valley to set up appointments to learn more about the community he was moving to and build a network of individuals who might assist him in his job search. Aaron indicated how impressed he was with this man for taking the initiatives to schedule these appointments and use it as a catalyst to identify a job which he did.
So many times in life we wait for someone else to "make the move" , whether that is asking an individual out on a date, waiting for a company to call you rather than you call them or waiting on your network to produce a result for you. There are some instances where you may need to take the initiative like this man did make connections on your own.
There is no substitute for meeting someone in person and if you take this approach just make sure you are respectful of the individuals time you are meeting with, have a purpose for the meeting and make sure you thank them for their time.
Aaron, thank you for sharing this story and for giving your time to assist our students.
I annually speak to seniors here at Wartburg College on the power of networking at a senior seminar hosted by the careers services office and alumni association. In addition to students attending they also invite area alumni and community leaders to interact with the students. It is a great opportunity for students to gain valuable experience in working a room, gathering contact information and sharing their professional goals with strangers.
Every time I speak to a group I hear additional networking stories about how meeting someone has opened a door for them or some unique aspect of how someone they know networks. On this occasion Wartburg alumni and Executive Director of the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau Aaron Buzza, '01 shared a story with me.
He knows of a gentleman who took the initiative to begin networking without waiting on someone else to assist him. This gentleman who was moving to the Cedar Valley decided to contact 60 individuals within the Cedar Valley to set up appointments to learn more about the community he was moving to and build a network of individuals who might assist him in his job search. Aaron indicated how impressed he was with this man for taking the initiatives to schedule these appointments and use it as a catalyst to identify a job which he did.
So many times in life we wait for someone else to "make the move" , whether that is asking an individual out on a date, waiting for a company to call you rather than you call them or waiting on your network to produce a result for you. There are some instances where you may need to take the initiative like this man did make connections on your own.
There is no substitute for meeting someone in person and if you take this approach just make sure you are respectful of the individuals time you are meeting with, have a purpose for the meeting and make sure you thank them for their time.
Aaron, thank you for sharing this story and for giving your time to assist our students.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
SHOW YOUR HEART TO BUILD YOUR NETWORK
People are more likely to connect with a person or want to reciprocate a good deed with a good deed. Utilize specials days like Valentine's Day to reconnect with members of your network that you value. Staying connected is about looking for opportunities to reconnect or stay connected to individuals important to you. Although most of our interactions will be for a tangible purpose don't discount how a day like "Valentine's Day" can be all the connection you need. What you are hoping to achieve is an ongoing connection with someone so when you do need to call on them for assistance it is not the first time they have heard from you in years!
Over the years Valentine's Day has morphed into lover's day when in reality it is an international day of caring. Take time out of the hectic world we live in to remember a friend, family member, colleague and remind them they are important. It may seem small and trivial at times to you but your kindness could mean everything to a person who is struggling at the time. Your network needs to be nurtured and days like today are a wonderful time build on those wonderful relationships you have developed over time.
There is no better way to solidify a relationship than to show someone you care! Remember members on their birthdays, during holidays or create your own special "connection day" each year!
Over the years Valentine's Day has morphed into lover's day when in reality it is an international day of caring. Take time out of the hectic world we live in to remember a friend, family member, colleague and remind them they are important. It may seem small and trivial at times to you but your kindness could mean everything to a person who is struggling at the time. Your network needs to be nurtured and days like today are a wonderful time build on those wonderful relationships you have developed over time.
There is no better way to solidify a relationship than to show someone you care! Remember members on their birthdays, during holidays or create your own special "connection day" each year!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED TODAY
What you find out in life is that it is very humbling and that you never stop learning. You grow from your mistakes and that no matter your age you continue to make them unfortunately. I am not sure who reads this blog and although it pertains to networking there sometimes aren't ways to seperate it from life in general because it is all intertwined.
Always remember when dealing with emotional situations to step back, catch your breathe and wait a day before sending out any communication. In this day and age of social media it is far too easy to send out immediate communication about a topic before you have had time to find out all of the facts or before you have time to collect your thoughts. What you put out in Twitter, Facebook, etc. is seen by many who don't know or understand the context of the issue. All people are getting is one side of the story and your responses may not truly be indicative of the message you are trying to convey.
Make sure you thank the individuals in your life who give you enough leeway to make mistakes and learn from them. It is far more beneficial when making a mistake to be punished and given another opportunity then to be jettisoned to the curb and never given another opportunity.
Communication is critical to success and you will need to be able to express yourself effectively to everyone you encounter at all levels. Most items that become issues are a result of poor communication and people intepreting things the wrong way. Remember that the best way to gain the truth is directly from the individual and not someone else's interpretation of partial facts.
It is easy to let the wrong items take priority in your life so make sure you periodically review your personal and professional priorities to make sure you are on track and focusing on the right things. Make sure that your priorities match up with your values because that is an easy way to keep things in line.
Identify individuals to emulate because we hopefully all are a combination of traits we have acuired from many wonderful people over the years.
Be humble. No one goes through life without any set backs and being cognizant of that is important to your overall growth as a person.
Always remember when dealing with emotional situations to step back, catch your breathe and wait a day before sending out any communication. In this day and age of social media it is far too easy to send out immediate communication about a topic before you have had time to find out all of the facts or before you have time to collect your thoughts. What you put out in Twitter, Facebook, etc. is seen by many who don't know or understand the context of the issue. All people are getting is one side of the story and your responses may not truly be indicative of the message you are trying to convey.
Make sure you thank the individuals in your life who give you enough leeway to make mistakes and learn from them. It is far more beneficial when making a mistake to be punished and given another opportunity then to be jettisoned to the curb and never given another opportunity.
Communication is critical to success and you will need to be able to express yourself effectively to everyone you encounter at all levels. Most items that become issues are a result of poor communication and people intepreting things the wrong way. Remember that the best way to gain the truth is directly from the individual and not someone else's interpretation of partial facts.
It is easy to let the wrong items take priority in your life so make sure you periodically review your personal and professional priorities to make sure you are on track and focusing on the right things. Make sure that your priorities match up with your values because that is an easy way to keep things in line.
Identify individuals to emulate because we hopefully all are a combination of traits we have acuired from many wonderful people over the years.
Be humble. No one goes through life without any set backs and being cognizant of that is important to your overall growth as a person.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
THE HARSH REALITY OF LIFE
The harsh reality of life is that you live in a fishbowl and all of your faults will be known by everyone so develop a tough skin. This is not meant to be a downer post but just a reality check for the naive individauls of the world who need a wake-up call. I have personally been blessed with thousands of wonderful connections who I have enjoyed interacting with throughout my life.
The reality though is that I have very few "really" good friends and they know who they are because I express that to them on a regular basis. What people need to understand is that most people, even the one's you think are your friends will stab you in the back and run the other way when times get tough.
Unfortunately we live in a world where, when the truth is told people look out for themselves and when push comes to shove frienship is thrown out the window. If there is a choice of cutting a friend, collegue, teammate at the expense of self preservation or accolades it will be as easy as 1, 2, 3 for that person. We unfortunately still do not live in a world where everyone is treated equal. Those that complain the most, yell the loudest and sit in the expensive seats win most of the battles. There are many wonderful individuals in this world who do give of their time, talent and resources freely and thank god for them. We need more people like them to balance out the very competitive and selfish world we live in today. Please acknowledge and thank those individuals when you see them because what they do is so incredibly important to the soul of the world we live in.
The reality of our world is that we live in a "you scratch my back, I will scratch your back society". Way too many people do something expecting something in return and that is unfortunate. There is no greater sense of fulfillment than to do something strictly out of kindness with no expectation of even a "thank you".
A network can involve 1,000's of individuals and how this all relates to my blog on networking is this:
Manage your personal brand and tell the story about yourself that you want to be told.
Don't allow others to tell the "story of you" except YOU because it most likely will not be postive.
Pick key members of your network carefully because many will not be as complimentary as you think. I have made many reference calls that I am sure the individual thought would say great things and they were full of negative remarks.
Keep your valued thoughts to your closest confidants. Assume that most of what you tell someone will be shared with someone else and probably exaggerated as well.
Every company, school, community has individuals who will gain your confidence to gather information.
Remember YOU are the CEO of You, Inc.and you communicate your own image. Don't let others communicate it for you.
There is a "tell it all PERSON" in every town or company so beware!
Loyalty is an overused word and those that you believe are friends will forgo friendship to get ahead of their closest friend.
Never share anything personal in an email or in a phone message because it will forwarded or shared 90% of the time.
Big town - Small Town, Large business - small business, Facebook-Twitter. Your network community is all of these places and more so be ever mindful.
BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE REMEMBER
There are good people in the world and hopefully many of them are on your "Key Network" list. Don't let the competitiveness of our world and the cut throat actions get you down, Good over Evil! Those that you value most will provide you the greatest rewards !
A NETWORK IS A VALUABLE TOOL WHEN USED IN THE RIGHT CONTEXT !
The reality though is that I have very few "really" good friends and they know who they are because I express that to them on a regular basis. What people need to understand is that most people, even the one's you think are your friends will stab you in the back and run the other way when times get tough.
Unfortunately we live in a world where, when the truth is told people look out for themselves and when push comes to shove frienship is thrown out the window. If there is a choice of cutting a friend, collegue, teammate at the expense of self preservation or accolades it will be as easy as 1, 2, 3 for that person. We unfortunately still do not live in a world where everyone is treated equal. Those that complain the most, yell the loudest and sit in the expensive seats win most of the battles. There are many wonderful individuals in this world who do give of their time, talent and resources freely and thank god for them. We need more people like them to balance out the very competitive and selfish world we live in today. Please acknowledge and thank those individuals when you see them because what they do is so incredibly important to the soul of the world we live in.
The reality of our world is that we live in a "you scratch my back, I will scratch your back society". Way too many people do something expecting something in return and that is unfortunate. There is no greater sense of fulfillment than to do something strictly out of kindness with no expectation of even a "thank you".
A network can involve 1,000's of individuals and how this all relates to my blog on networking is this:
Manage your personal brand and tell the story about yourself that you want to be told.
Don't allow others to tell the "story of you" except YOU because it most likely will not be postive.
Pick key members of your network carefully because many will not be as complimentary as you think. I have made many reference calls that I am sure the individual thought would say great things and they were full of negative remarks.
Keep your valued thoughts to your closest confidants. Assume that most of what you tell someone will be shared with someone else and probably exaggerated as well.
Every company, school, community has individuals who will gain your confidence to gather information.
Remember YOU are the CEO of You, Inc.and you communicate your own image. Don't let others communicate it for you.
There is a "tell it all PERSON" in every town or company so beware!
Loyalty is an overused word and those that you believe are friends will forgo friendship to get ahead of their closest friend.
Never share anything personal in an email or in a phone message because it will forwarded or shared 90% of the time.
Big town - Small Town, Large business - small business, Facebook-Twitter. Your network community is all of these places and more so be ever mindful.
BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE REMEMBER
There are good people in the world and hopefully many of them are on your "Key Network" list. Don't let the competitiveness of our world and the cut throat actions get you down, Good over Evil! Those that you value most will provide you the greatest rewards !
A NETWORK IS A VALUABLE TOOL WHEN USED IN THE RIGHT CONTEXT !
Friday, September 23, 2011
1st Impressions and your Reputation Last Forever
We live in a society today where teenagers are exposed to so much more than their parents ever were. They are growing up much faster and dealing with mature issues before they have the knowledge base to cope with items that adults don't even handle well.
In the connected world we live in it is hard for a 14, 15, 16 year-old to understand that they are making impressions and people are watching. People of influence are developing impressions of young people at much earlier ages because they are far more visible. Technology allows indivduals of all ages to take much closer looks at individuals than they ever have before.
These people that are developing impressions are possible future employers, admission representatives, coaches, scholarship committees and many more. There is not a day that goes by that I personally don't have someone ask "what do you know about.......". My comments are based upon what I know for fact and what reputation that person has developed through a network of acquaintances and technology postings.
It is common in today's world for adults to spread gossip that they have heard from their kids or friends that eventually becomes fact with no factual basis. I can tell you in my own community I have based impressions of young people upon the way I see them interact with others, what I hear them say and what they post on Facebook. I can tell you who the "mean girls" are, what boys have no respect for women and who is sincere verse those that are fake.
The day of "oh they are just kids" is long gone. We have a created a society that has allowed children to grow up too fast. The result is dealing with the harsh realities of adulthood at way too early of an age. There are young people who have unfortunately already shot themselves "in the foot" by developing a reputation that will follow them throughout life.
So the next time someone tells you "it doesn't matter what others think" or "how you treat others right now doesn't matter" then think again. Your actions as a teenager could have a bearing on your future and your reputation is an important item for you to guard.
I personally keep a list of individuals in my draw who I have encountered and believe they might be potential hires one day. They don't all work out but they are individuals who have impressed me. I don't need a list to remember the people that don't impress me, they are easy to remember.
So remember teenagers as you work through this important age in your life. Have fun, enjoy your teenage years but don't let anyone convince you that these years mean nothing. You are making an impression and people are watching.
In the connected world we live in it is hard for a 14, 15, 16 year-old to understand that they are making impressions and people are watching. People of influence are developing impressions of young people at much earlier ages because they are far more visible. Technology allows indivduals of all ages to take much closer looks at individuals than they ever have before.
These people that are developing impressions are possible future employers, admission representatives, coaches, scholarship committees and many more. There is not a day that goes by that I personally don't have someone ask "what do you know about.......". My comments are based upon what I know for fact and what reputation that person has developed through a network of acquaintances and technology postings.
It is common in today's world for adults to spread gossip that they have heard from their kids or friends that eventually becomes fact with no factual basis. I can tell you in my own community I have based impressions of young people upon the way I see them interact with others, what I hear them say and what they post on Facebook. I can tell you who the "mean girls" are, what boys have no respect for women and who is sincere verse those that are fake.
The day of "oh they are just kids" is long gone. We have a created a society that has allowed children to grow up too fast. The result is dealing with the harsh realities of adulthood at way too early of an age. There are young people who have unfortunately already shot themselves "in the foot" by developing a reputation that will follow them throughout life.
So the next time someone tells you "it doesn't matter what others think" or "how you treat others right now doesn't matter" then think again. Your actions as a teenager could have a bearing on your future and your reputation is an important item for you to guard.
I personally keep a list of individuals in my draw who I have encountered and believe they might be potential hires one day. They don't all work out but they are individuals who have impressed me. I don't need a list to remember the people that don't impress me, they are easy to remember.
So remember teenagers as you work through this important age in your life. Have fun, enjoy your teenage years but don't let anyone convince you that these years mean nothing. You are making an impression and people are watching.
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