The End of Networking as We Know It?

 

From time-to-time people tell me that interpersonal networking is dead.  With computers, the Internet and social media the days of face-to-face meetings are numbered;  you know, like buggy whips.  As you can imagine, these are frightful words for a guy who is expert in networking and makes his money by knowing and connecting people.

It's true, with a push of the enter key on a computer anyone can effortlessly communicate to unlimited people anywhere on earth. But I'm not worried...

Computers are great for saving and retrieving contact information.

Networking is about giving first and giving often. How do you give over a wire? 

The Internet is a fantastic tool to find old friends and to research people we don't already know.

Networking is about being there for people. To do that you have to show up.

Social media is fine for mass communication of simple information to people who don't really know each other.

Networking is about deep relationships.  I don't think you can get very deep in 140 characters.  How well does Ashton Kutcher know those million+ followers?

 

Homebrew Meeting Palo Alto - cicra 1975

 

 

Ever heard of "The Homebrew Computer Club?"  If not, you didn't read Job's biography; shame on you!  It was the group of super computer nerds who met monthly in Palo Alto in the 1970s. Together they birthed the PC movement.  Jobs and Woz procured parts through connections developed at the club.  Bill Gates once sent an open letter to the club imploring them to stop sharing Intellectual Property with fellow members lest they stifle innovation (written on a typewriter mind you!).  Not to worry, the nerdiest of the nerds benefited from networking and you should too.

 

If THEY didn't abandon networking for technology, I don't think I have anything to worry about.  The technology simply increases relationships that were formed in person.

New Sheriff?

Yesterday I met with a friend and he showed me something strange.

Recently a new Business Unit CEO was named for the billion+ dollar division of my friend's multi-billion dollar public company.  Big company, big division, big job, big wig! The new executive was scheduled to arrive Monday and a big meeting was planned where she would be introduced.  The week before, my friend, a mid-level executive, received a package (sent to all the executives in the business unit).  In it was an introductory card and a business book.  Among other things, the card recommended that the recipient read the book before the Monday meeting.

Several months later during my visit my friend opened the book, flipped to the end of the 9th Chapter on accountability and showed me a yellow sticky note with a hand-written message that read something like:

"When you get to this spot text me.  I would like to take you to lunch." 

Signed New CEO 949-439-XXXX

It was Sunday afternoon when he texted the new CEO and immediately received a response acknowledging the message.  My friend didn't know what to make of this. Our meeting was months later and he was still thinking about it.  Did everyone get the little message? Was this a test? Maybe it was simply a nice thing where the CEO was attempting to get to know the employees? Was she keeping track of who responded and who didn't?  Is this CEO a control freak? Would they now be required to drop everything and comply with the new boss, work on the weekends? Would he be expected to respond immediately to text messages? Etc., etc.

I'm a relationship builder who goes to lunch every day so my biggest question was, "Where did she take you to lunch?"

My friend said he had never redeemed the offer. "Why not?" I asked in amazement.

This was a shame, a real opportunity lost.  My friend did everything right in reading the book and texting the CEO.  Why not take advantage of the opportunity? This would be a good chance to get to know the boss and a chance to get more background on this weird little request from the CEO.  If nothing else, it's a free lunch.

Birthday Cards

I may not look like it, but I’m a birthday card guy. This year I will send over 2000 handwritten birthday cards. You may have received one; I usually draw one of three things on the front of the card (original art!): a birthday cake with many candles, a cupcake with one candle or a box with a ribbon and a bow. 

It really makes an impact.  Look closely at the picture above. Those are all thank-yous for my birthday cards; I receive hundreds and hundreds each year.

Networking is about staying connected. I started sending birthday cards because I wanted to ensure I was in contact with people at least one time per year. This isn’t the highest goal I could set, but I had to start somewhere! The networking books advise once-a-month contacts and I was working on once-per-year.  Maybe someone else should write this article...   That having been said, this has been some of the best networking I’ve done. It’s a good chance to acknowledge people on their special day and for some in my network one communication per year is better than nothing at all. Sometimes my card is the only one someone receives. Give it a try.

Job Search Networking: 10 Steps to a New Job

This story was told to me today at lunch by a successful CEO.


1. Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is passed over for a promotion to CEO in a very close race to a better internal candidate.

2. CMO starts his external job search.

3. CMO calls an out-of-state HR Director he'd worked  for 2 jobs ago. Tells her he's searching for a CEO role.

4. HR Director learned a few minutes later that the Owner / Founder was retiring and wanted to hire a CEO.

5. HR Director tells the Owner / Founder about CMO and gives him her highest recommendation based upon having worked together.

6.Owner / Founder asks for the CMO's name and finds out he knows the CMO's boss because he is on the Board of Directors of CMO's current company.

7. Owner / Founder calls CMO's boss to inquire why CMO is looking. 

8. CMO's boss tells the Owner / Founder the CMO is excellent, just wasn't a perfect fit for the promotion.  Tells Owner / Founder to stop the search and hire CMO.

9. CMO is hired as the new CEO and starts 8 weeks later.

10.  HR Director loves her new boss!


Why don't more people call the people they've worked with in the past?  Even CEOs get jobs this way.  Our data shows this is the single biggest source of successful searches (27%).  For those of you not searching, make sure you stay in touch with past co-workers as well, as you will be searching soon enough!

The Masters of Networking: Steve Jobs

I was reading the book "Steve Jobs" by Walter Issacson and found the following quote.  It stopped me in my tracks.  Other than owning the original Macintosh, I didn't think I had much in common with Steve.  Now I think we both know the benefit of people interacting (networking).

"Lasseter had originally wanted a traditional Hollywood studio, with separate buildings for various projects and bungalows for development teams. But the Disney folks said they didn’t like their new campus because the teams felt isolated, and Jobs agreed. In fact he decided they should go to the other extreme: one huge building around a central atrium designed to encourage random encounters. Despite being a denizen of the digital world, or maybe because he knew all too well its isolating potential, Jobs was a strong believer in face-to-face meetings. “There’s a temptation in our networked age to think that ideas can be developed by email and iChat,” he said. “That’s crazy. Creativity comes from spontaneous meetings, from random discussions. You run into someone, you ask what they’re doing, you say ‘Wow,’ and soon you’re cooking up all sorts of ideas.” So he had the Pixar building designed to promote encounters and unplanned collaborations. “If a building doesn’t encourage that, you’ll lose a lot of innovation and the magic that’s sparked by serendipity,” he said. “So we designed the building to make people get out of their offices and mingle in the central atrium with people they might not otherwise see.” The front doors and main stairs and corridors all led to the atrium, the café and the mailboxes were there, the conference rooms had windows that looked out onto it, and the six-hundred-seat theater and two smaller screening rooms all spilled into it. “Steve’s theory worked from day one,” Lasseter recalled. “I kept running into people I hadn’t seen for months. I’ve never seen a building that promoted collaboration and creativity as well as this one.” Jobs even went so far as to decree that there be only two huge bathrooms in the building, one for each gender, connected to the atrium. “He felt that very, very strongly,” recalled Pam Kerwin, Pixar’s general manager."

One Great Networking E-mail!

On the advice of Geoffry Gitomer I have sent out hundreds of copies of "The Little Engine that Could."  This is why...

From: Mehdi Reza Hirji [mailto:mehdicpa1@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 11:37 AM
To: Ken Tudhope
Subject: The Little Engine that Could 

Hi Ken: 

It's been a long time and hope you are well.

Had a great story to share with you. You had given my girls the book "The Train that Could." Well this year they are selling Girl Scout Cookies. My middle daughter, who is 5 years old, set a goal for 1,000 boxes, a pretty hefty goal. When I asked her if her goal was realistic she said, well if I say I can, I will, just like the train that could. What inspiration! Thanks for the book; I thought this was really important to circle back with the difference you made with your gift. Thank you.  

If you are interested, here is the girls digital advertisement:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFwYEfY_OBM

I am back in town now, so I hope to be the FEI meeting this week. Hope to see you then. 

Thanks.

Mehdi


While you're at it you should buy some Girl Scout Cookies.  I did!

The Champions of Networking Series: Huell Howser

You may not know Huell Howser by his name but I'll bet you would know his voice as it has a definite folksy twang.  Huell Howser is an institution in California.  He produces and stars in a very popular show called California Gold.  The show runs on NPR and public television.  Huell drives up and down California personally touring the interesting things that make California special.  His shows vary from features on  the BART trains in the Bay Area, to the Ghost Towns out in the desert. I once watched him tour an apple cider plant and he was giddy.  He always gets into the bowels of the operations wherever he is touring and people love him.

I am amazed by the fact that in a progressive state like California with Hollywood, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc. that this folksy guy can be so popular. For goodness sakes, my wife used Huell's show to help our toddlers fall asleep!

I think the reasons he is a champion of networking are the same as the reasons that his show is so popular:

1.  He always has a smile and good cheer.
2.  He is totally genuine so people like him and open up to him.
3.  He is incredibly consistent.  He knows what he does well and he does it over and over.
4.  He asks lots of great questions and listens to the answers.
5.  He celebrates other peoples' successes and uniqueness.

http://www.calgold.com/about.asp