Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:02.746 --> 00:00:14.093
What would you think about going to an event if you knew you were going to meet someone new and develop a professional relationship but also make a new friend over time?
00:00:14.093 --> 00:00:18.010
Would you be more willing to make the effort to go?
00:00:20.361 --> 00:00:22.608
Welcome to the Practice of Nonprofit Leadership.
00:00:22.608 --> 00:00:25.185
I'm Tim Barnes and I'm Nathan Ruby.
00:00:25.185 --> 00:00:32.933
Nathan, here's a question Networking events thumbs up or thumbs down?
00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:39.427
Oh man, tim, you know that's an interesting question.
00:00:39.427 --> 00:00:52.887
You know pre-COVID and I hate that we still use that phrase you know pre-COVID, after COVID, but you know, I guess it's a pretty good description of time, so I guess it's accurate.
00:00:52.887 --> 00:00:56.570
But anyway, pre-covid I was thumbs up.
00:00:56.570 --> 00:00:58.567
I was all about networking.
00:00:58.567 --> 00:01:00.787
There was an event somewhere.
00:01:00.787 --> 00:01:11.483
I was there and I loved it, especially if it had free food and or free beverages and my favorite beverages.
00:01:11.483 --> 00:01:13.989
I was all about that.
00:01:13.989 --> 00:01:30.704
But you fast forward to today and I'm still a thumbs up, but I am not as enthusiastic to go, I guess, and I think maybe I just got out of the habit, maybe a little bit.
00:01:30.704 --> 00:01:31.447
I don't know.
00:01:31.447 --> 00:01:31.587
What.
00:01:31.587 --> 00:01:32.771
Do you think about that, tim?
00:01:33.281 --> 00:01:39.804
Well, I think some of these events are starting to happen, uh, starting to come about again a little bit more Um and.
00:01:39.804 --> 00:01:42.408
But I feel like there's a little bit better.
00:01:42.408 --> 00:01:44.230
Who you talk to's a little bit of reluctance.
00:01:44.230 --> 00:01:49.390
Maybe it is I'm out of practice, maybe it's I'm cautious or whatever.
00:01:49.390 --> 00:02:00.069
Also, there's something inside of us we want to kind of get reconnected with people again and find our tribe, find our people that are doing stuff that we can learn and connect with.
00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:13.436
When we talk about networking, it could be a simple little garden party somewhere in your neighborhood with a few people to going to a large convention or conference somewhere in Las Vegas or do wherever.
00:02:13.436 --> 00:02:15.165
So it's all over the map.
00:02:15.165 --> 00:02:32.713
But, yeah, I think networking is making a little bit of a comeback when it comes to event type stuff, I think the challenge is, nathan and I know you're going to talk about this today not everyone is an extrovert and I would say I'm not an extrovert.
00:02:32.713 --> 00:02:50.222
I don't run to these events enthusiastically as an executive director of a non-profit, director of a nonprofit.
00:02:50.222 --> 00:02:54.248
We need to develop the skills of an extrovert if we're going to really get the benefit of doing good networking with others.
00:02:54.248 --> 00:03:00.002
Okay, nathan, why don't you walk us through our four points today about networking.
00:03:01.002 --> 00:03:01.683
Okay, here we go.
00:03:01.683 --> 00:03:16.197
Number one is leverage your passion for your cause, or leverage the passion for your organization, and networking events are really about sharing the organization.
00:03:16.197 --> 00:03:27.072
There's a little personal component there as well, because you know you're meeting people and they're meeting you at the same time.
00:03:27.072 --> 00:03:30.195
But but don't make this about you.
00:03:30.195 --> 00:03:32.187
It's it's not.
00:03:32.187 --> 00:03:43.949
It's not about you, it's about the organization, it's about the people you serve, it's about the mission and the vision and the outcomes that your organization is creating, and so that's what you're there to really talk about.
00:03:43.949 --> 00:03:46.121
And, you know, will you talk about?
00:03:46.121 --> 00:03:47.044
You know your kids?
00:03:47.044 --> 00:03:48.110
Yeah, probably.
00:03:48.110 --> 00:03:50.098
And you know the local sports teams?
00:03:50.098 --> 00:03:50.942
Yeah, probably.
00:03:50.942 --> 00:03:51.604
And the weather?
00:03:51.604 --> 00:03:53.050
You know, absolutely.
00:03:53.050 --> 00:03:57.545
I mean, weather is an awesome topic for networking events, right, tim?
00:03:57.545 --> 00:03:59.573
Always always talking about the weather.
00:03:59.573 --> 00:04:12.719
Oh, and make sure, when you're talking about the weather, that you complain about the weather, don't say, oh, it's great weather, because then nobody knows how to respond to that.
00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:13.860
But don't make it about you.
00:04:13.881 --> 00:04:20.274
And I think for a lot of introverts, you know, tim, I guess maybe we define an introvert here.
00:04:20.274 --> 00:04:28.701
An introvert can be somebody who just doesn't like going out and talking to other groups.
00:04:28.701 --> 00:04:39.473
They would rather stay home and read a book or, in the case that we're talking about, stay in the office and work on the board report or work on the next year's budget.
00:04:39.473 --> 00:04:44.925
They're more comfortable in that space and they don't like being out with groups of people.
00:04:44.925 --> 00:04:47.326
They're more comfortable in that space and they don't like being out with groups of people.
00:04:47.346 --> 00:04:53.973
Or you could also have people that are introverts who actually do a really good job when they are out networking.
00:04:53.973 --> 00:04:57.456
They're in a group of people and you would never know that they're introverts.
00:04:57.456 --> 00:05:09.206
But how it affects them is when they're in a group of people in a networking situation.
00:05:09.206 --> 00:05:14.461
Then when it's over, they are exhausted and they need to go home and go to bed or go lay on the couch because it just sucks all of the energy out of them.
00:05:14.461 --> 00:05:19.574
And both of those personality types can be really successful in networking.
00:05:19.574 --> 00:05:23.870
And one of those things our first point here is just don't make it about you.
00:05:23.870 --> 00:05:25.225
Make it about the organization.
00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:27.807
Yeah, I think we need to get out of our heads.
00:05:27.807 --> 00:05:30.045
And you know, I'm the kind of person.
00:05:30.045 --> 00:05:30.970
I walk into a room.
00:05:30.970 --> 00:05:34.290
I'm not necessarily not everyone's going to be super attractive.
00:05:34.290 --> 00:05:36.327
Hey, you know, life of the party, here we go.
00:05:36.327 --> 00:05:40.846
I would rather get one or two of you sit down at a table, let's talk and let's go.
00:05:40.846 --> 00:05:41.687
You know, let's go deep.
00:05:41.687 --> 00:05:43.689
That's kind of where I'm at.
00:05:44.791 --> 00:05:52.161
And for those of you who haven't met Tim yet, he is absolutely correct.
00:05:52.161 --> 00:05:53.947
He would be the first one to say, no, let's get two or three of us to go sit down.
00:05:53.947 --> 00:05:55.170
And then, when he sits down, he won't talk about himself.
00:05:55.170 --> 00:05:59.463
All he wants to talk about is you, and so that's the way Tim rolls.
00:05:59.463 --> 00:06:08.274
So if you want to talk about yourself and your issues and what's going on, reach out to Tim, because he's a guy that will listen and give you great advice on what to do.
00:06:09.276 --> 00:06:09.836
Thanks for that.
00:06:09.836 --> 00:06:11.403
I'll give you 50 bucks later.
00:06:12.646 --> 00:06:13.410
All right.
00:06:13.410 --> 00:06:14.091
Point number two.
00:06:14.091 --> 00:06:16.889
So point number one was leverage your passion for your cause.
00:06:16.889 --> 00:06:20.110
Number two prepare talking points in advance.
00:06:22.524 --> 00:06:26.994
And I think this is a great tip, not only for networking, but also for public speaking.
00:06:26.994 --> 00:06:32.333
I mean, the more prepared you are, the less anxious, the less nervous you're going to feel.
00:06:32.333 --> 00:06:47.689
And so, before attending events, work on a brief introduction about yourself and your organization, because there's going to be a point guaranteed when somebody will come up to you and say hi, I'm so-and-so, what do you do?
00:06:47.689 --> 00:06:48.934
Or what's your name.
00:06:48.934 --> 00:06:58.682
And there's that little three seconds of awkwardness of you know deer in the headlight, look where you're paralyzed of oh my gosh, what do I say?
00:06:58.682 --> 00:07:08.663
So the more prepared you are for that, the less stressful it's going to be when you're driving in the car to get ready to go to the event.
00:07:08.663 --> 00:07:13.516
So, Tim, let's role play here a little bit.
00:07:13.516 --> 00:07:29.389
Tim and I are going to role play that we're in a situation and at a networking event and Tim's going to come up to me, and then this is something I've actually used this before, and so I'll I'll give you what I would say in the situation.
00:07:29.389 --> 00:07:30.951
So, Tim, you're on.
00:07:32.922 --> 00:07:34.286
Hey, Nathan, Nice to meet you.
00:07:34.286 --> 00:07:35.471
Hey, what do you?
00:07:35.471 --> 00:07:36.233
What do you do?
00:07:36.233 --> 00:07:38.560
I'd like to find out more about who you are.
00:07:39.142 --> 00:07:46.439
Well, hey, tim, it's nice to meet you, and so I am a co-host of the Practice of Nonprofit Leadership.
00:07:46.439 --> 00:08:04.459
I co-host it with my friend, tim Barnes, and we are a resource that takes your small nonprofit from barely getting by to thriving, and every week we bring stories, tools, practical tips that will help you grow and expand the vision and mission of your nonprofit.
00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:15.771
So we talk about things like fundraising and improving leadership, motivating staff and volunteers, managing finances and, for example, recently we worked with a new executive director.
00:08:15.771 --> 00:08:22.269
She'd never been an executive director before and boy was she overwhelmed on day one.
00:08:22.269 --> 00:08:32.923
So we got her pointed in the right direction, doing the right things at the right time, put a fundraising plan together for her, and she raised more money than she ever thought possible.
00:08:32.923 --> 00:08:35.929
And now she's doing awesome, and that's what we do.
00:08:35.929 --> 00:08:37.793
There you go.
00:08:38.700 --> 00:08:39.020
Wow.
00:08:39.881 --> 00:08:42.807
So that's like 40 seconds, 42 seconds that took.
00:08:43.307 --> 00:08:54.846
And so now you've told a story, you've talked about outcomes, and you could do that about your organization, you could do that about a program.
00:08:54.846 --> 00:09:08.530
And now I guarantee you, when you frame it that way, tim in this case Tim's our co-player here he will have questions about oh well, you know what about this, what about this?
00:09:08.530 --> 00:09:21.811
And now, all of a sudden, you're in a conversation and for most people, once you get into a conversation with somebody, all of the fear and anxiety will go away because you're just talking to another person.
00:09:21.811 --> 00:09:33.592
And so if you have that prepared in advance and even maybe practice it a little bit, you know, stand in the mirror and it could be the same, the same story at every event.
00:09:33.592 --> 00:09:39.787
I mean, you're not meeting the same person again and again and again and again, so you're meeting somebody new all the time.
00:09:39.787 --> 00:09:41.245
So it's the same story.
00:09:41.245 --> 00:09:52.547
So if you practice it and you're confident with it when you walk in the door, it's going to be a lot less stress for you to and I think it may feel kind of rote at first.
00:09:53.067 --> 00:09:58.831
You know you may have a little card that you have with you with a written down and you're practicing it and all that.
00:09:58.831 --> 00:10:06.515
But I think the key, one of the keys, is to get to the place where you feel comfortable enough that that's very natural.
00:10:06.515 --> 00:10:16.222
It doesn't come across as being, hey, I've got this all prepared, or whatever it just it comes out and and and that's that's the whole key.
00:10:16.222 --> 00:10:27.495
The whole key is to is to let that your passion for your, your cause, for your mission, so that just flows out rather than being kind of a road thing that you do each time.
00:10:28.378 --> 00:10:29.745
Yeah, the, the um.
00:10:29.745 --> 00:10:34.330
I can't remember who said this to me the best in in.
00:10:34.330 --> 00:10:40.595
I don't know if I have this exactly right, but the best improv-ing improvisation is that how you say it.
00:10:40.595 --> 00:10:45.119
Yes, the best improvisation comes from extreme preparation.
00:10:45.119 --> 00:10:52.264
So when you have your thing that you're going to say to people your story, let's call it your story.
00:10:52.264 --> 00:10:58.618
When you have that, so that you have it nailed and you know it just flows out of your mouth.
00:10:58.618 --> 00:11:05.554
Well, now, all of a sudden, now you can improvise a little bit, you can adjust it here and there for who you're talking to.
00:11:05.554 --> 00:11:11.498
If there's a, you could speed it up or slow it down, or say less or say more.
00:11:11.498 --> 00:11:23.085
I mean, and that comes from having being prepared so that it does sound natural as opposed to you know, some AI bot that's reading off a card for you.
00:11:23.085 --> 00:11:24.831
So, yeah, that's a good point, tim.
00:11:24.831 --> 00:11:26.658
So all right.
00:11:26.697 --> 00:11:29.466
So number one was leveraging your passion for your cause.
00:11:29.466 --> 00:11:32.552
Number two is preparing talking points in advance.
00:11:32.552 --> 00:11:35.619
Number three is you know what?
00:11:35.619 --> 00:11:40.557
Let's take the pressure off ourselves and let's do the one-on-one rule.
00:11:40.557 --> 00:11:44.375
So one-on-one comes from basketball.
00:11:44.375 --> 00:11:50.914
You know, when you get a certain number of fouls and you get to shoot free throws if you make the first shot, you get the second shot.
00:11:50.914 --> 00:11:53.470
If you miss the first shot, then you don't get the second one.
00:11:53.470 --> 00:11:58.099
It's called one-on-one, so this is a one-on-one rule and this is going to be very simple.
00:11:58.099 --> 00:12:10.508
So the first one is to just attend one networking event per month.
00:12:10.528 --> 00:12:21.672
So on this podcast, we talk all the time about things that an executive director should be doing, and, man, if you line up all the things that you need to be doing as an executive director, tim, it's a long list of oh, you need to do this, and you need to do this, and you need to do this.
00:12:21.672 --> 00:12:26.734
I don't even have time to do the first thing, and now we're on thing 32 that we need to be doing.
00:12:26.734 --> 00:12:37.053
So, as the networking and as events really get back up to where we were in 2017, 18, 19,.
00:12:37.053 --> 00:12:55.576
You could do a networking event probably every day, depending on how big your community is, and so we're not saying that, but let's pick out one a month that you could get into your schedule, and there are organizations out there that the chamber is the perfect example.
00:12:55.576 --> 00:13:01.735
You know most chambers will have a before work event or an after work event.
00:13:01.735 --> 00:13:06.552
You know, at least monthly, and so that may be like a really good place to start.
00:13:07.113 --> 00:13:13.956
If you're in a community that has a chamber and just go to that one thing a month for three, four or five months.
00:13:13.956 --> 00:13:15.677
So just start with thing a month for three, four or five months.
00:13:15.677 --> 00:13:16.504
Uh, so just start with with one a month.
00:13:16.504 --> 00:13:18.889
Don't, don't feel like you have to.
00:13:18.889 --> 00:13:22.038
You know, go to every single thing that that's being offered.
00:13:22.038 --> 00:13:32.360
Um, so that's the first one, and then the second one, contact or or make an, an interaction with one person per event.
00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:36.926
So we're we're not talking about you have to go talk to everybody.
00:13:36.926 --> 00:13:54.359
Just just find one person that you could connect with that one time a month and if you do that six months in a row, that that is six new connections within the community that you have now, that you didn't have before.
00:13:54.359 --> 00:14:04.611
And those six, those six connections, who knows where those could take you, you know, in in the future, for you personally, but also for the organization.
00:14:05.033 --> 00:14:10.748
So the one-on-one rule yeah, and you know you talk also, nathan, a lot about the.
00:14:10.748 --> 00:14:17.115
You know the value of networking is not necessarily the event or even the first time meeting.
00:14:17.115 --> 00:14:20.921
It's the relationships that come out of that.
00:14:20.921 --> 00:14:27.828
You know you don't always walk away with, hey, this guy's my best friend forever, but you just, you just never know.
00:14:27.828 --> 00:14:37.991
You start to have this, this group of people that you can connect for different things, and you never know when, when that might really be helpful.
00:14:37.991 --> 00:14:42.447
So it's not just the event itself, but it kind of what flows out of that down the road.
00:14:43.448 --> 00:14:52.227
Yeah, exactly, and you know, I met a a person about six months ago at an event.
00:14:52.227 --> 00:15:07.687
She's in social media and during that conversation I found out that she had a couple of interns that are with her for the next several months and that they were doing her graphic things.
00:15:07.687 --> 00:15:16.058
And I've got a client who is in need of a graphic, but budget's not very big.
00:15:16.058 --> 00:15:25.070
And so, you know, because of that connection, I have a person I can call and say hey, you know, what would it cost me to have, you know, one of your interns do this?
00:15:25.070 --> 00:15:34.996
I don't, I don't, there's not enough budget for her to do it because at her skillset, her, her, you know, her hourly rate or her rate is too high.
00:15:34.996 --> 00:15:38.288
So I can't afford that, my client can't afford that.
00:15:38.288 --> 00:15:45.547
But an intern, I think we can get it to be right and that's in the price range.
00:15:45.547 --> 00:15:48.916
So I wouldn't have not known that person if I hadn't met them six months ago.
00:15:49.826 --> 00:15:52.251
So you never know where those relationships come.
00:15:52.251 --> 00:15:57.634
Those relationships come from and or, or what, what, how, what impact they will have.
00:15:57.634 --> 00:16:01.535
And it, like Tim just said, it may not even be a business thing.
00:16:01.535 --> 00:16:11.826
It may be somebody who loves quilting and you're a quilter, or it could be somebody who you know loves the Cardinals, because everybody loves the St Louis Cardinals, and you know.
00:16:11.826 --> 00:16:12.207
So there's.
00:16:12.207 --> 00:16:13.711
You just never know.
00:16:13.711 --> 00:16:24.985
And and that's, I think, for me but I'm an extrovert, but for me that's part of the fun of going to these things is, who am I going to meet and what is their story and how does it connect to my story?
00:16:24.985 --> 00:16:29.823
So, um, yes, you don't have to connect with everybody, just start with one.
00:16:29.823 --> 00:16:53.701
And which then brings us right into our next point, Tim, which is focus on genuine connections, not quantity like see how many people you can take in this meeting.
00:16:53.721 --> 00:16:54.423
So I, man, I met 50 people tonight.
00:16:54.423 --> 00:16:55.927
Is that, is that what we're looking for?
00:16:55.927 --> 00:16:56.708
Or is it?
00:16:56.708 --> 00:16:59.662
Hey, let's find two or three that are going to really connect with us.
00:16:59.662 --> 00:17:03.011
So I'm glad you're jumping into that, because it's a question I would have.
00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:15.727
Yeah, exactly, and you know what, what would you think about going to an event If you knew you were going to meet someone new and develop a professional relationship, but also a new friend over time?
00:17:15.727 --> 00:17:18.740
Would you be more willing to make the effort to go?
00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:21.105
I think I would.
00:17:21.105 --> 00:17:35.174
I mean, if you I think, tim, you mentioned this early on in the in the show but there is a overall lack of connectedness and just outright friendship in the world today.
00:17:35.174 --> 00:17:36.922
I think, gosh, darn it.
00:17:36.961 --> 00:17:53.356
Going back to COVID again, I think it's just that time where we were so unable to even get out of our own homes just smashed or tamped down those relationships that that we had and it made it so difficult.
00:17:53.356 --> 00:18:02.291
And you know, I think this is especially, you know, those kids right out of college, out of high school, into college, out of college into their early to mid-20s.
00:18:02.291 --> 00:18:12.710
From what I'm seeing, that group especially is struggling with authentic relationships that are not online, and so I don't know.
00:18:12.710 --> 00:18:38.393
I think this is a way to make those connections and to build a friendship with people, to build a professional support group or help to help you at work, so you can just focus on the connection, genuine connections, and the the uh, the score is not how many you have, but how deep they are.
00:18:39.260 --> 00:18:44.161
You know we we talked about questions that typically come up during this time when you're in this.
00:18:44.161 --> 00:18:48.862
You know what do I say when I'm in this situation, and the easiest one is hey, what do you do?
00:18:48.862 --> 00:18:52.892
And again that, again, that's appropriate because you're trying to connect with people.
00:18:52.892 --> 00:18:58.452
But I think having some other questions to ask that can help lead you to maybe deeper connections.
00:18:58.452 --> 00:19:02.599
So someone had challenged me one time about being in those situations.
00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:09.211
Instead of saying what do you do, the question could be hey, nathan, what are you excited about right now?
00:19:09.211 --> 00:19:15.925
It could be hey, nathan, what's the most fun thing you've done in the last few weeks?
00:19:15.925 --> 00:19:22.269
So you're looking for some other questions that aren't like typical networking questions.
00:19:22.269 --> 00:19:27.364
You're trying to really make a genuine connection with people.
00:19:27.364 --> 00:19:33.503
So think about what questions would you like to be asked, what would you like to be able to share?
00:19:33.503 --> 00:19:37.071
And that's a good way to to approach these kinds of events.
00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:47.017
Yeah, and I think when you ask a question of somebody else, they, you know, when you ask a question, they're going to have to answer because you, you've asked it.
00:19:47.017 --> 00:19:51.041
So, basically, you're taking the ball, you have the ball, while you say, oh, you know.
00:19:51.041 --> 00:19:52.482
So what, what are you excited about?
00:19:52.482 --> 00:19:58.106
And now you're handing the ball to them, and now they're going to talk, and so it it gives you.
00:19:58.106 --> 00:20:07.794
It gives you a little break because you know, as you're listening and and hearing what they're saying, and um, and you could, you could this, this relationship starts to build.
00:20:07.794 --> 00:20:23.961
And yeah, maybe it's only 90 seconds, but you just, if you feel like you are starting to build a relationship with somebody, if you're an introvert and you're, and you struggle to be there in the first place, this is a way to start to feel more comfortable because you are building.
00:20:24.363 --> 00:20:31.006
Introverts are really good at building personal relationships because that's, you know, in an intimate setting.
00:20:31.006 --> 00:20:46.943
That's more where they get their excitement and where they get their energy, and so you could be in a room of a hundred people, but if you're in a one-on-one conversation with one person and they're talking about what they're excited about in their life, and of course you know when they're done, they're going to ask you oh well, what are you excited about?
00:20:46.943 --> 00:21:05.549
And you which means you have to have that ready to respond with and you, you can have your own little connection together within this larger group of people, like they don't even exist, and that is something that, for most introverts, would give them energy.
00:21:06.731 --> 00:21:10.967
Well, Nathan, I think you have one more thing you want to share about a five second rule.
00:21:10.967 --> 00:21:13.333
You want to tell us a little bit about what is that.
00:21:14.035 --> 00:21:14.435
Yeah.
00:21:14.435 --> 00:21:16.150
So the five second rule.
00:21:16.150 --> 00:21:17.859
It's a great concept.
00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:28.051
It was originally came out in a book called the Five Second Rule Transform your Life, work and Confidence with Everyday Courage by Mel Robbins.
00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:41.814
The premise of the book is that whenever you have something that you don't want to do so let's say that the networking event is an after hours.
00:21:41.814 --> 00:21:45.961
It starts at 4.30, goes from 4.30 to 6.30.
00:21:45.961 --> 00:21:49.988
It's 4.30-ish, so it's already starting, but you're still at work.
00:21:49.988 --> 00:21:54.914
You've got a 15-minute drive to get there, okay.
00:21:54.914 --> 00:21:59.471
So if you close up shop, you close up your computer, you get out, you get in the car.
00:21:59.471 --> 00:22:05.307
You're going to get there about 10 till 5 till, okay, which is great, fashionably late.
00:22:05.307 --> 00:22:14.702
You know you're not the first one there, so that's about the right timing, and you're sitting at your desk and you're you need to make a decision.
00:22:14.844 --> 00:22:17.249
Am I going to go to the event or?
00:22:17.249 --> 00:22:19.941
You know, it's really not that big of a deal.
00:22:19.941 --> 00:22:23.770
I'm probably not going to know anybody there anyway, so I'm just gonna.
00:22:23.770 --> 00:22:25.382
I'm just going to go the other way.
00:22:25.382 --> 00:22:26.044
I'm going to go home.
00:22:26.044 --> 00:22:29.672
You know, I need to mow the yard, I need to feed the dog, I need to.
00:22:29.672 --> 00:22:30.952
I got all these things I need to do.
00:22:31.532 --> 00:22:34.275
It's in that, those five seconds.
00:22:34.275 --> 00:22:43.540
All it takes is five seconds of courage to say, nope, I'm going to the event because there are people there that I can meet, there are people there that will help the organization.
00:22:43.540 --> 00:22:47.586
There is probably somebody there that I would really enjoy meeting.
00:22:47.586 --> 00:22:52.114
And so in those five seconds and I and I you actually count.
00:22:52.114 --> 00:23:03.451
You know five, four, three, two, one you get up, you go, you get in the car, you go out of the parking lot, you turn left to go to the networking event instead of turning right to go home.
00:23:03.932 --> 00:23:08.971
And so what this does is this concept actually is a way to override your brain.
00:23:08.971 --> 00:23:17.020
When you are wanting to do something that your brain is telling you no, no, we're not going to like that, that's going to be horrible, we don't want to do that.
00:23:17.020 --> 00:23:29.030
So it's a good book that gives you some tools to in the moment when you're ready to make your decision, even in the parking lot am I going to get out of the car and go in or am I going to put it back and drive and go home?
00:23:29.030 --> 00:23:32.842
It's just, you know, in five seconds, make the decision.
00:23:32.842 --> 00:23:36.592
Don't give your head time, don't give your brain time to talk you out of it.
00:23:36.592 --> 00:23:40.391
Just move and it'll get you to where you want to be.
00:23:41.881 --> 00:23:43.988
Well, that sounds really, really encouraging.
00:23:43.988 --> 00:23:53.470
This is a good challenge, especially for those of us who struggle a little bit with actually doing the work of networking, which is really, really important.
00:23:54.070 --> 00:23:56.914
In the end, networking doesn't have to be daunting.
00:23:56.914 --> 00:24:07.826
By shifting your perspective and focusing on authentic connections, you could turn it into an opportunity to share your passion and make a real difference.
00:24:07.826 --> 00:24:13.922
Remember, networking is not just what you get out of it, but what you give to others.
00:24:14.964 --> 00:24:16.048
Thanks for listening today.
00:24:16.048 --> 00:24:25.359
If you'd like to get in touch with us, our contact information can be found in the show notes, or you can send us a text on the platform that you're listening to.
