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Ben Casnocha is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Ben Casnocha and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
Ben Casnocha is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Ben Casnocha and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
It's too late to buy Google stock. You're not going to make much money buying it at its current high price.
I think the same attitude should apply when trying to meet new people. If you're a relative no-name trying to build a network it's too late to reach out to Mark Zuckerberg to talk about entrepreneurship. He's too busy, too high profile. If you're an aspiring writer and want to meet other writers, you can't reach out to an author after he's become a New York Times bestseller. Either you won't reach him, or if you do, he'll assume you have an agenda or want something from him.
Better, in my view, if your goal is to develop long-term relationships with interesting people, to focus on those whose "stock prices" are low but long-term potential high.
Compared to the already rich and famous, no-names can be less egotistic and often more insightful. Plus the value flows bi-directionally (you can help each other).
How to find a hidden gem? Hints from my post on de-emphasizing popular filters: seek out introverts. Seek out people under age 30. Seek out people who are bad at marketing.
Recognize and discount the celebrity effect. Spend time with people who also have time to spend with you. My bet is you'll have a more rewarding relationship.
Bottom Line: The only reason to try to meet with Mr. Busy and Rich for 10 minutes is if you have a very specific request or need. If you're just trying to "network" or build a relationship, don't waste your time.
Ben,
This is an interesting point, and I appreciate the way you present it. I agree that it is difficult to network with someone who is already high-profile. I have noticed that in my own life, networking with others who are moving in the same direction but aren't stars yet is an effective way to build relationships. I believe these relationships will only grow in the future, despite their celebrity status.
The only comment I have about your bottom line is: if you approach someone only cause you need something, how will that benefit them? At least in my experience, it has worked better to approach others with a genuine desire to help them or see how I can provide value for them rather than simply to ask something of them.
The other point I wanted to make here was to watch who you associate yourself with. Perhaps people are aiming at the "big wigs" because they want to be associated with people of that caliber? In that case, I would see it as an honor to have so many wanting to reach out to me.
Thanks for offering your words of wisdom Ben. I look forward to reading more from you.
Andrew
I totally agree with your end result/conclusion Ben, though the reasons we reach that end are different. I've never really been all that interested in meeting celebrities or big wigs, to me I didn't see the benefit. Unless you're extremely interesting they're going to find us proletariats boring and quickly forget about us. To me, people who act rich and famous are doing just that, acting, and deep down probably wish for nothing more than to just be a regular old joe or jane.
Relationships are always about give and take. If you go into a high-profile meeting expecting just to take (i.e., "I want to have access to your resources, Mr. Big!"), you're not going anywhere.
On the other hand, if you have something valuable to offer Mr. Big, he's going to pay attention to you. If he's worth having, that is.
So I would say that networking with high-profile people is largely a matter of trade value.
Everyone wants a piece of you when you have made it. When you're a nobody, they think you're a loser.
Find really cool people to hang with and even if they don't become rich and successful, at least you will have cool friends.
Like the folks at PlainJoe.com or at rivershark.com or tourneycentral.com or me even at dogwalkblog.com All really nice folks who are not yet famous, rich or stuck on themselves... in case you need to network....
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