August 31, 2025 • 65 mins
"What if people actually want to talk to you?" This simple mindset shift is just one of the game-changing approaches that can transform networking from an anxiety-inducing obligation into a natural, rewarding practice.
In this conversation with recruiting expert Jenna Kimball, we tackle the common fear of awkward networking and provide practical strategies anyone can implement immediately. Jenna shares her journey from being painfully shy to confidently connecting with strangers, proving that networking skills can be developed regardless of your personality type.
The discussion reveals several powerful techniques, including how to gamify your networking approach by setting achievable challenges, ways to re-engage your existing network without feeling intrusive, and conversation prompts that create meaningful dialogue instead of awkward small talk. Perhaps most valuable is Jenna's four-word magic phrase—"keep me in mind"—which opens doors without putting pressure on either party.
We also explore the fascinating concept that third-level connections (people you barely know) often facilitate major life opportunities, from job offers to significant relationships. This insight transforms networking from a self-serving activity into an exciting opportunity to build a web of connections that might change your life in unexpected ways.
Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking clients, a job seeker looking for opportunities, or simply someone who wants to build a stronger professional community, this episode provides actionable strategies to make networking feel natural and productive. By approaching connections with genuine curiosity and a service mindset, you'll not only build a stronger network but also enjoy the process along the way.
Don't miss our upcoming workshop "Five Ways to Network Without Being Awkward" on April 23rd at 1:30pm Central Time. Sign up through the link in our show notes to attend live or receive the replay after the event.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to episode 152 of the Tiny Marketing Show.
I'm Sarah Noir-Block and youare listening to the last
episode of the Uncut Summerseries Starting next week.
It's all new episodes forseason five.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Hi, my name is Jenna Kimball.
I am a recruiter at a marketingand advertising agency called
Dentsu International, and I alsohelp people learn how to
interview and be their bestselves and help them navigate
this crazy job market.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yeah, you kill it at that.
We met at an American MarketingAssociation event.
We were both speakers at it andwe bonded instantly.
And I don't know I don't knowabout you, but I'm not always
like that.
You're clearly good atnetworking because we just met
for the first time that day.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
We're like it was so funny.
My husband came because I waslike come to my thing, you know,
and then he's like girl, we'relike really buddies.
I'm like I know he's like didyou go over?
I said no, I just met her today, just a good vibe.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I know, I know.
So that's what we're digginginto today.
We're talking about how tonetwork without being awkward.
This is part of a series ofpodcast episodes on this topic,
because I hear this question alot Like I feel uncomfortable
networking.
I'm worried that they thinkthat I'm just trying to sell
(01:24):
them.
But you have some great tips tojust like pull out of your
toolbox to make it so mucheasier.
But, more importantly, how tomaintain that relationship after
the fact, Because you know ifyou grab a card and then walk
away and never talk to themagain, it was kind of pointless,
right?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, yeah, and I think, too, we can certainly get
into that.
I want to just flip the limitedbeliefs, because I used to have
this too.
I used to be a really shy kidand I would think what you just
said you know like oh, no onewants to hear from me, I'm not
interesting, nobody cares what Ihave to say, and I just want
everyone who's listening to feellike, let's flip that.
Like what if people reallythought what you had was
(02:05):
interesting to say?
What if people really wanted totalk to you?
Like, just, you have to go intoa networking event conversation
scenario with that mindset, orelse you know you're not going
to really do your best.
And it also shows such an easewhen you can believe that about
yourself, just like, hey, I'mabout to go into this event, I
can't wait to meet people, Ican't wait to learn about others
(02:27):
.
I'm sure people are going tohave questions for me too, and
it's going to be a really funevent, so I hope that people can
just flip it.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
I agree, I didn't.
I would have never pictured youas a shy kid.
I was too Like constantly.
People like you're blushingconstantly people like you're
blushing.
I'm like, that's just becauseyou're looking at me.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I existed.
I was so shy.
But also what a relief, youknow, when people come up to you
at these networking events.
You know, sometimes you mightfeel awkward approaching a group
or, you know, jumping into aconversations that that's
already in the middle of, butwhen that people are so relieved
because I think a lot of peopleare like that they're like, oh
gosh, what am I going to saywhen I hear, oh no, isn't it
such a relief when someone takesyou by the hand and is like,
hey, I really want to know moreabout what you're doing or what
(03:13):
you're looking for.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yes, yeah and right.
There is a good point in thatyou're asking questions about
them, so you're kind of guidingthe conversation and letting
them tell their stories.
So it doesn't.
It feels less awkward for thembecause they're being asked to
tell their story.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, and it's something that they know the
most about that.
Everyone in that room, out ofanyone, you know the most about
your unique story.
I'm not asking you to explainquantum physics to me, you know.
I'm just telling.
I'm just asking you to tell meabout what you're doing that day
.
So I think it's these low riskquestions.
It puts people at ease.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Speaking of when we went out to breakfast a couple
of weeks ago.
You mentioned making it a game,so can you explain how people
can do that?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
a game.
So can you explain how peoplecan do that?
Yes, so I'm a huge game showfan.
I have to give myself likenumbers and make it a challenge
for myself.
So when I say, go to going to anetworking event, or even if
you're networking on the jobsearch, or after you've gone to
an event, you can use this atany phase of the networking
process which is like for therest of your life, pretty much
human networking.
But I say, if you're at an event, you can, let's see how many
(04:29):
people are there.
If there's 20 people, just sayI am not going to leave until I
talk to three people, or I amgoing to spend 30 minutes here
and I am not going to sit in thecorner, I'm going to sit in
that middle table or I'm goingto walk up to the front.
You have to give yourself achallenge and that's why I say
make it.
It can be either a numberschallenge or it can be something
(04:51):
that scares you, like walkingto the front of the room, or I
think too, even making it a gameis like could I volunteer?
If I volunteer, if I checksomeone in, how many people can
I talk to after I did?
So, just putting numbers behindit or giving yourself a scary
challenge.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
That's so fun, and I create those little games for
myself too, like for BizDev, forexample, like I know the
percentage of people I have tohave conversations with to meet
my sales goals, so I make it agame.
This is how many people I haveto talk to this week.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
If it's 20 per week, that's five for this four.
You know, yeah, all of that,you just kind of keep it going.
And I think it's the same whenwe talk about how to re-engage
your existing work Write down Iknow this sounds crazy, but
write down every single personthat you've worked with and you
know, not the one that you metthat one time, but that you've
actually worked with over theyears and that they would know
(05:44):
your name, they would recognizeyou, and just put it, just put a
list.
And if you want to re-engageyour network, your existing
network, just go and howevermany that could be a hundred,
that could be 20.
I don't know how long you'vebeen working or how many people
you've worked with, so you haveto kind of make it customized to
your experience.
Yeah, well, let's say for me Imean, I've been working for like
(06:04):
15 years so I probably couldthink of, quickly, 50 people.
So if you want to re-engage allthose 50 people, make it a game
and you can say, hey, over thenext 10 weeks I'm going to reach
out to five per week, and youjust put a list and you can even
make a spreadsheet.
It's another form of making agame, I guess, and you can put
everyone's name on a spreadsheet.
I know it maybe sounds takessome of the authenticity out,
(06:27):
but I kind of just think it'sgood record keeping.
So you can say, okay, I metthis person this day or I worked
with them at this company.
Here's the last date of thelast time I talked to them.
And then any kind of specialnotes, like if you do know they
have some kind of hobby or theirfamily, something about their
family or their kids' names, orthey have a dog, any kind of
(06:51):
detail, because I mean, somepeople have just crazy memories
and they can do all that.
But if you don't have that, andit's been a few years, you can
have all those notes there andthen, when you do re-engage with
them, oh, how was your trip toCape Cod four years ago or
whatever six months ago.
So you have something to kindof kick off from and it's not so
awkward.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah.
And for those who are listening, who are founders, for example,
you probably have a CRM whereyou can have this information in
there.
I have an air table where Ikeep meticulous track of
everybody I reach out to, so Iknow the percentages that I need
to hit my sales goals.
Those are just some easy waysyou can gather data around it
(07:29):
too.
So you're suggesting that firstcontact should be just soft,
asking a question aboutsomething that's happened
recently.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Yeah, I think this is like my life philosophy.
I feel like it's easier to careabout people than it is to ask
for things.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Agreed.
It's so much easier to servetoo.
Like I'm offering you thisthing rather than asking for
something because I have, Icannot.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, every person you meet, everyone listening,
has something cool that theyknow a lot about.
That could help a lot of people.
So thinking about it that way,I feel like for me you know, I
do a lot of recruiting, I do alot of interview preparation.
I know how to do jobinterviewing.
I interview thousands of peoplea year.
I mean I know how to do thosethings.
So if there's someone who says,oh, I'm struggling with my
(08:19):
interviews, I'm like I can helpyou immediately.
I'm like I can think about that.
Or if you're saying, hey, Iwant to meet someone in this
field, I talk to those peopleall the time oh, I know someone.
So it's just thinking aboutwhat you can give rather than
what you can get.
But I do think the softapproach of how's your family?
What's going on with you?
Oh, great, oh, you work herenow.
(08:46):
Oh, I didn't know, I got a newjob.
What made you make the move?
Or why did you decide to startyour own business?
Or what gaps are you seeing inthe market?
What's the hardest thing aboutyour business today?
Anything like that.
Just really natural, organicquestions.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, just showing a genuine interest in their lives,
so novel.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
So novel, I know, but I find that I get to the best
conversations, I mean with youtoo.
You know we've had that greatbreakfast we met like two years
ago.
Yeah, we don't talk all thetime, but I feel like I know a
lot about you and your life andwhat you're looking for, and I
feel like you know that about metoo, and you raise the
vibration, you raise the qualityof your relationships when you
(09:24):
leave the you know automatedquestions behind and you just
start talking to people.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
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So when you say leaving theautomated questions behind, that
(11:02):
makes me think of scriptingyour conversations.
You think more in the terms ofprompts.
Can you give me some examplesof prompts that might make it
easier for someone where it justdoesn't come that naturally.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, and I know that this is awkward for people, but
you know we're going to flipthe script and we're going to
say it's not awkward, thatyou're super interesting, you
have a lot to offer.
And I think yes or no questionsare.
Let's put those on the backburner for a while.
Let's think about open-endedquestions that give people a lot
of breath to answer.
So when you're at an event inperson, let's say, you could say
(11:38):
something like oh, how did youhear about this event?
Or where's the last place youtraveled?
If they say something abouttraveling, or just you know,
whatever the event is about, aska question about okay, if this
is about a entrepreneur, like,tell me about your business.
Okay, you're an entrepreneur.
What?
Why did you?
Why did you decide to startthat?
Or what's your favorite way tospend your time when you're not
(12:14):
working on your business?
So all of these questions arenot yes or no and they give you
a lot of room for people toexpand their answers and then
you can ask more questions offof that.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
So it's just kind of like you get you ask one
question interviewing my clientsto help them with their content
creation.
It's I prompt them withsomething and then it spurs into
the next thing.
These podcasts aren't scriptedin the slightest bit.
I just have like three promptsand everything else just fills
in.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
And a lot of times you probably get something that
you're like oh, I didn't eventhink about that All the time or
I had never yeah, Because youhave these open-ended questions.
It just raises the quality.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Yes, so we have how to re-engage the people that
have been in our lives beforethat we haven't talked to in a
while in a more comfortable way,and some prompts if we're
starting to have thoseconversations at either
networking events or connectioncalls, when we're reengaging
that audience.
But now let's talk about theafter.
(13:18):
In the after, yeah, how do youmaintain those relationships and
make sure that they don't fallaway again?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yeah.
So if it's been a couple yearssince you talked to somebody a
lot of times too, and we can getto this but if they post a lot
on LinkedIn or whatever platformthat you are going to connect
with them on maybe Slack orYouTube, I don't know how you
know everybody, but I do a loton LinkedIn, so I would probably
message someone on LinkedIn,especially if I worked with them
(13:47):
two years ago.
I might not have their workemail.
We don't work at the same placeanymore.
I don't know how to contactthem, so I would go.
If it's virtual, I would go onLinkedIn and I would just say
hey, you know, I noticed thatyou're still at X company.
How's it been going for you?
I'd love for us to catch up andreally stating your intentions
(14:09):
like don't, without asking forthings, so just saying I'd love
for us to catch up.
I miss talking to you.
I love when we work together.
You have some what's youravailability over the next
couple weeks to just grab acoffee or just grab a call, and
not saying are you available?
What's your yeah, and sometimespeople won't answer you.
(14:32):
You might get people that don'tcheck their LinkedIn or you
might get people who maybe theyare not in the mood to network
or they're nervous like you, andso they might not answer you.
You might not get 100 percentresponse rate, but a lot of
times you get people.
If you really knew them, youknow they would say oh my gosh,
it's been years, I would love to.
How about next Friday?
(14:53):
Are you available?
Are you in town, or we can justgrab a virtual coffee.
So I think just saying thingslike what's your availability,
how's it been going since X, y,z thing, if you know them
through, we know Sarah and Iknow each other through the AMA.
So have you been attending alot of these AMA events lately?
How's that been going, thingslike that?
(15:14):
So, however, you've met them,make sure to drop that in case
they forgot, you know, to remindthem who you are and how you
know them.
And yeah, just no yes or noquestions and just keep it super
casual.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Yeah, that is a really good point too, in that
when, like my success ratereaching out to people on
LinkedIn versus email is so muchhigher If I had my air table up
I could tell you the exactpercentage, but it's just more
casual slipping into the DMs andhaving a conversation and I
(15:45):
think that people are moreprotective of their email and
feeling like it's down tobusiness.
I'm just always reaching forthat zero inbox, so I'm deleting
a lot of emails that probablymatter, but it's unattainable.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
inbox zero.
I'm always trying to get theretoo, and yeah, I totally agree.
I think people just kind ofgloss over their emails.
Sometimes with LinkedIn, theysee it.
And another thing you can do isif someone on your list that
you made of 50 people or howevermany, if they post on LinkedIn
a lot, maybe you can write oh mygosh, that's so funny.
(16:31):
And then message them privatelyand be like hey, I saw your
post about XYZ.
It made me think of you.
How are you doing?
How's it been going since XYZmeeting time?
I'd love for us to catch up.
What's your availability overthe next couple of weeks?
Speaker 1 (16:45):
That is a great way to do even a softer touch is
start reengaging with their inthe comments comments, and then
they'll be like yes, yes, yes.
Actually that happened to melast week where someone who was
the content director when I wasjust when I was freelance
(17:05):
writing she was a contentdirector for the company and I
noticed that she kept commentingon my LinkedIn post.
I'm like I haven't, I haven't.
She was so high above me that Ionly saw her cc'd on emails to
me.
I haven't interacted with herin ages.
I wonder what she's up to andwe're setting up a call to
(17:27):
reconnect.
But that's exactly how Ihappened.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
These are how it's just.
I think in general, we talkabout networking after the fact
or in the moment.
I think you have to just leadwith caring about people.
I have so many examples.
We do not have enough time inthe day for me to give you
specific examples that Iremember, and there's probably
other ones that I forgot,because you know I haven't slept
in years.
I've got two kids under five,but I can tell you I walked up
(17:55):
to someone this is a good one, Ithink, because I was at an
event and it was actually out inLas Vegas and we live in
Chicago, and I was.
I told you, I'm a marketingrecruiter, and this person who
was leading a panel, also amarketing recruiter, lived in
Chicago, owned her own business,and I was like what, we're so
parallel lives, how is it thatwe don't know each other?
(18:18):
So I just walked up to her andI was like hey, I mean, I just
kind of said what I said youknow you work in marketing
recruiting, so do I?
How do we not know each other?
I'd just love to meet you.
And she said hey, are youinterviewing for jobs?
And I said no, and she's likewell, here's my card, why don't
you come by the office next week?
And I ended up working for her.
That's awesome.
So I didn't even ask for a job.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
I wasn't even looking for a job, but that's how it
goes yeah, it really is whenthinking back, because we're
similar ages.
So I've also been in theworkforce for about 15 years.
Looking back, every single jobthat I've gotten and most that
my friends have gotten were frompeople I knew.
I was like, oh, you know what?
(19:02):
I know someone who is lookingfor that kind of role.
Let me connect you guys.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yeah, and there was some TED Talk.
You can probably find it.
I don't know if you want to putit in the show notes, maybe I
can find it for you, but it waslike the main things that happen
in your life, your main lifeevents.
So, whether that's gettingmarried, getting a job, anything
that's a primary turning pointin your life, it's all
facilitated by third party orthird level connections.
(19:30):
So, you know, your firstconnection is like your brother
and sister, second is like yourfriend and then third is someone
you barely know.
And it's so true.
I mean, I got that job from aperson I barely knew at that
time and think about all thepeople that you know.
Oh, let me just connect youguys.
And then it's like, before youknow it, you got a job there or
you're working together.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Yeah, that's so interesting, I'm going to look
for it.
I'm trying your third.
Yeah, I'm thinking of like, uh,how I met my husband.
My best friend was cousins withhis best friend and we ended up
at the same party thirdconnection.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
See, yeah, everyone listening is thinking about this
.
They're like how did I meetthis person?
Or how did I get that job?
It's your third connection mostlikely, unless some people have
been married since like thethird grade, I don't know, but
most of it is third levelconnections.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Before we wrap up, I wanted to touch on a couple
other ways that I stay connectedto people after I meet them,
Some other options.
Like for events that I've goneto, we created group texts where
we would find where to meet upduring the event.
So we just kept that group textgoing from the event.
(20:45):
Another one is oh, what was it?
Oh, I set a boomerang on myGmail every 90 days to reconnect
, so I don't forget.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
That's a great idea.
And you can have thisspreadsheet.
If you're you know less techlike me, I'm like I look at like
spreadsheets or I could set upboomerangs that's a good idea.
But I have a spreadsheet oflike the last time I talked to
someone, if it's been 90 days or60 days, I'm like, oh, you can
refer to that too.
And that's the other thing.
When people at events like AMAor some kind of organization
that has Slack, you can keep upwith people and ask, hey, are
(21:22):
you coming to the next meetingor the next event?
Hey, I'll be there in two weeks.
Okay, great, I'll see you there.
And it's so easy to just askpeople if they're going.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Oh, that's a really good point.
If there's a community attachedto the event, even better.
Yeah, yeah, I have found thatcommunities and then attending
those events are the mostprofitable way for me to spend
my time.
They so often turn into workfrom third party connections.
People like from third partyconnections.
People like, oh, a clientactually needs this.
Let me connect you to.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Yeah, a lot of it's timing, and I think overall, the
main point is just to be openand not necessarily feel so
desperate Like, oh my gosh, Ihave to talk to five people this
week.
Don't put a panic on it.
Just say, hey, this is a goal,I'm going to try it out.
Let's do five people a week,let's just see what happens.
And then once they say you knowyou've reached out to them on
(22:20):
LinkedIn or whatever platform,then they say, hey, let's meet.
Then you can ask a lot moreopen ended questions How's it
been going?
I'd love to.
I'm so glad we could catch uptoday.
So what have you been doing thelast few months?
And then they'll give youthings.
And if you are looking for ajob or you are looking for new
business, you can say myfavorite four words when
networking.
Keep me in mind.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Oh my gosh, I totally forgot.
You told me that.
Can you just touch on that?
All right, I was wrapping upand now I'm not.
Can you just touch on that?
Keep me in mind thing.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Yes.
So you know, like I said, it'sway easier to care about people
than to ask for things.
Keep me in mind is just, hey,I'm open to it, but I'm not
asking and I'm not going toforce you to say yes or no to me
right now.
So I have, like that funnystory I have is so David
Schwimmer?
He played Ross on Friends and ifyou all watch the, if you know
(23:15):
the show Friends, of course, butif you watch the reunion, he
talked about it and he said Iinterviewed with the creators of
Friends, obviously not at thattime, but he said 10 years ago I
met with those people and I dida casting call and it wasn't
the right show at that pointbecause it was, you know, 1984,
like before Friends started.
And he said, you know, itwasn't the right thing and they
didn't pick me, but we likedeach other, we just had this
(23:37):
kinship, and so I left theaudition after they told me no,
but I said keep me in mind forsomething else.
Cut to 10 years later they'recasting Friends and David
Schwimmer is the first personthey cast because they met him
10 years ago and it was like youknow, it didn't work, that it
didn't work out 10 years ago.
But he said, keep me in mindand they remember it.
And he remembered, and then therest is history.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
That is so brilliant and you really just wiggle
wormed into my brain with that,because I have started saying
keep me in mind, and it does.
It has circled back alreadyjust since we had that
conversation.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Yes, and it's not so.
You know you don't want to.
I never like asking.
It's so hard to ask for thingsand if you don't, you're just.
It might not even be the righttime.
So it's like, hey, keep me inmind.
When the time's right, it'llwork.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
So now for reals, before we wrap up, I just wanted
to touch on our workshop.
We are hold on pause, pause,pause.
I am pulling it up.
I just wanted to touch on ourworkshop.
We are hold on pause, pause,pause.
I am pulling it up.
Here.
It is April 23rd at 1.30 pm,central Standard Time.
I'm more of the emcee, you'rethe expert on it, but Jenna and
(24:50):
I are going to be hosting aworkshop called Five Ways to
Network Without being Awkward.
Do you want to touch on some ofthe things that we'll be
digging into?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Yes, so we'll get into some more specifics.
I feel like we touched on somepoints, but whenever I hear
workshop, I hope you're comingto work, because that's what
we're going to do.
We're going to go very specificquestions on like how to, which
questions are not yes or noquestions, and we're going to
have you do that and put it intopractice immediately and see
how you feel when you're doingit.
And then to just this pointabout when you're networking, I
(25:22):
think we always think, oh, whodo I ask?
But it's like, how can youserve first?
How can you say what can I givepeople?
And when you lead with thatgenerosity, it is kind of
subconscious that people want togive it back to you.
So how can you your uniqueskills, crafting your elevator
pitch like what are you reallygood at?
How could you help people?
And then go out to yournetworking how beneficial
(25:45):
networking can really be.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
My Q4 of last year was horrendous.
I mean, December usually sucks,but I spent that entire month
networking.
I was like I'm going to go allin and I networked a ton and
then by January I was booked outthrough May.
It really, really helps, and Iwas using these same tactics
(26:20):
that Jenna taught today.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I'm glad that you are showing that these things work,
because sometimes it's hard toshow it.
You're like, oh, I could neverdo that.
And it's like, yes, you can.
And the results can justmultiply and transform your
business and your life and itchanges how you feel about
yourself too yeah, it does.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
And my mindset really shifted because I did feel
uncomfortable for a long timeabout it.
And then I started going intothose conversations with gives
already prepared, like I did myresearch and I was like I know a
few people that I think couldbe really beneficial to that
person.
I'm going to have those introsready to go, or I'd love to
(27:02):
collaborate with that person.
I just knew what my gives wouldbe ahead of time and then, as
the conversation progressed, I'dsee which one of those gives
that I had pre-thought aboutwould actually work.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
That's a great way to leave those conversations.
When you're re-engaging yournetwork is just at the very end
say oh my gosh, it was so greatconnecting with you.
You know we were talking aboutthis thing.
I'm going to introduce you tothat person, I'll send an email
intro, I'll set it up and thenit's like you leave.
You ask for the conversation,but you're leaving giving them
something, so they feel like itwas worth their time too.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Yes, absolutely.
And when I'm like reallycrossing my fingers that I don't
fall out with this person, likewe just, you know, drift off
away from each other, I alwayshave a second ask prepared, like
what's a way that I can set upa re-engagement in a way with
that?
So we can.
(27:55):
I can make sure to maintainthat relationship.
Yeah, absolutely so, jenna.
Where can people find youonline and connect with you?
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Yes, so you can find me on LinkedIn.
My name is Jenna Kimball and Ialso have a website.
If you want to look there.
It's wwwjennak is Jenna Kimballand I also have a website.
If you want to look there, it'swwwjennakimballcom, and I have
my.
I did write a book actuallyabout how to interview, how to
ace your job interview, so youcan find it there or you can
find it on Amazon.
But yeah, just connect with meon LinkedIn.
I'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
And that is that.
That was my conversation withJenna.
Make sure to head on over tothe show notes, and there's a
clickable link to sign up forthat workshop.
You can join us live or you canget the replay afterwards if
you just want to grab the quicktips and tricks that she'll be
teaching you Live, though, we'llbe doing some actual work and
(28:53):
practicing what it's like tonetwork and how to come up with
those prompts and how to feelmore comfortable with networking
, so it should be a greatexperience for everybody.
If you liked this episode,please rate, review, subscribe
wherever you're listening tothis and head over to LinkedIn.
Follow Jenna.
(29:14):
She's amazing, and that's alsomy primary social media channel,
so if you want to be friendsover there, join me.
It's just linkedincom.
Slash IN, slash SarahNoelBlock.
All right, I will not reallysee you, since this is a podcast
(29:36):
, but you will be hearing fromme again next week, where we
will continue this series, andit'll all culminate with that
workshop on the 23rd.
So the 21st we're droppinganother episode on networking.
The 23rd we're having that liveworkshop.
Sign up.
You'll get the replay if youcan't show up live.
(29:56):
Either way.
Love you, love your show.
First time caller, long timelistener.
Bye.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
If you are looking for a job or you are looking for
new business.
You can say my favorite fourwords when networking Keep me in
mind.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Oh, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
This is Sarah Noelle Block andyou are listening to Tiny
Marketing.
This is Sarah Noelle Block andyou are listening to Tiny
Marketing.
Have you ever been to anetworking event and you did not
know what to say?
You just sat in a cornerquestioning.
I don't know your existence.
(30:48):
Or maybe you thought I want toreconnect with coworker why?
But I wouldn't know how to dothat because we worked together
five years ago.
What should I say?
Or I went to this awesome eventand met a great group of girls
and I wish I kept in touch withthem.
(31:09):
What do I do now in order tore-engage with them and just see
if they're going to go to thenext event?
Those are the topics we'retalking about today.
I recently chatted with JennaKimball, who is an expert at
networking.
So here are some things thatyou're going to learn today Easy
(31:33):
ways to keep and remember thecontacts that you have in your
world and make it a game, soit's fun.
How to create scripts orprompts in order to network
better.
And how to re-engage your oldco-workers, your old friends,
(31:54):
within the business world.
And, last, how to maintainthose relationships after the
networking event is over.
So we're touching on a wholebunch of good stuff today.
And oh, I don't want to forgetto tell you, jenna is my guest
expert for an upcoming workshopthat I'll be emceeing.
(32:15):
It is April 23rd at 1.30 pmCentral Time.
If you sign up for it, you'llalso get the replay, so don't
forget to sign up.
The link will be in the shownotes, but she is going to teach
you exactly how to networkwithout being awkward, and we'll
have some games involved.
(32:36):
She is so much fun You're goingto love it.
So make sure to pause thisright now and sign up for that
workshop.
You don't want to miss it.
Okay, before we get into theconversation with Jenna, let's
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Speaker 2 (34:52):
Yes, hi, my name is Jenna Kimball.
I am a recruiter at a marketingand advertising agency called
Dentsu International, and I alsohelp people learn how to
interview and be their bestselves and help them navigate
this crazy job market.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
Yeah, you kill it at that.
We met at an American MarketingAssociation event.
We were both speakers at it andwe bonded instantly.
And I don't know I don't knowabout you, but I'm not always
like that.
You're clearly good atnetworking because we just met
for the first time that day.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
We're like it was so funny.
My husband came because I waslike, come to my thing, you know
.
And then he's like you and mygirl, we're like really buddies.
I'm like I know.
He's like did you go over?
I said no, I just met her today, just a good vibe.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
I know, I know.
So that's what we're digginginto today.
We're talking about how tonetwork without being awkward.
This is part of a series ofpodcast episodes on this topic,
because I hear this question alot Like I feel uncomfortable
networking.
I'm worried that they thinkthat I'm just trying to sell
(36:00):
them.
But you have some great tips tojust like pull out of your
toolbox to make it so mucheasier.
But, more importantly, how tomaintain that relationship after
the fact, because you know ifyou grab a card and then walk
away and never talk to themagain it was kind of pointless,
(36:25):
right, yeah, yeah, and I thinktoo, we can certainly get into
that.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
I want to just flip the limited beliefs, because I
used to have this too.
I used to be a really shy kidand I would think what you just
said you know, like, oh, no onewants to hear from me.
To be a really shy kid and Iwould think what you just said
you know like oh, no one wantsto hear from me, I'm not
interesting, nobody cares what Ihave to say, and I just want
everyone who's listening to feellike let's flip that.
Like what if people reallythought what you had was
interesting to say?
What if people really wanted totalk to you?
Like, just, you have to go intoa networking event conversation
(36:49):
scenario with that mindset, orelse you know you're not going
to really do your best.
And it also shows such an easewhen you can believe that about
yourself.
Just like, hey, I'm about to gointo this event, I can't wait
to meet people, I can't wait tolearn about others.
I'm sure people are going tohave questions for me too, and
it's going to be a really fun.
So I hope that people can justflip it.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
I agree I didn't.
I would have never pictured youas a shy kid.
I was too Like.
Constantly, people like you'reblushing I'm like that's just
because you're looking at me.
I existed.
I was so shy.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
But also what a relief, you know, when people
come up to you at thesenetworking events.
You know, sometimes you mightfeel awkward approaching a group
or, you know, jumping into aconversations that that's
already in the middle of, butwhen you do that, people are so
relieved because I think a lotof people are like that.
They're like, oh gosh, what amI going to say when I hear oh no
, Isn't it such a relief whensomeone takes you by the hand
(37:46):
and is like, hey, I really wantto know more about what you're
doing or what you're looking for.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
Yes, yeah and right.
There is a good point in thatyou're asking questions about
them, so you're kind of guidingthe conversation and letting
them tell their stories.
So it doesn't.
It feels less awkward for thembecause they're being asked to
tell their story.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Yeah, and it's something that they know the
most about that.
Everyone in that room, out ofanyone, you know the most about
your unique story.
I'm not asking you to explainquantum physics to me.
I'm just asking you to tell meabout what you're doing that day
.
So I think it's these low riskquestions.
It puts people at ease.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Speaking of when we went out to breakfast a couple
weeks ago.
You mentioned making it a game,so can you explain how people
can do that?
Speaker 2 (38:41):
Yes.
So I'm a huge game show fan.
I have to give myself likenumbers and make it a challenge
for myself.
So when I say, go to going to anetworking event, or even if
you're networking on the jobsearch or after you've gone to
an event, you can use this atany phase of the networking
process which is like for therest of your life, pretty much
human networking.
(39:02):
But I say if you're at an eventyou can.
Let's see how many people arethere.
If there's 20 people, just say Iam not going to leave until I
talk to three people.
Or I am going to spend 30minutes here and I am not going
to sit in the corner, I'm goingto sit in that middle table or
I'm going to walk up to thefront.
You have to give yourself achallenge and that's why I say
(39:23):
make it.
It can be either a numberschallenge or it can be something
that scares you, like walkingto the front of the room or I
think to even making it a game.
It's like could I volunteer ifthe room?
Or I think too, even making ita game is like could I volunteer
If I volunteer?
If I check someone in, how manypeople can I talk to after I
did so, just putting numbersbehind it or giving yourself a
scary challenge.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
That's so fun, and I create those little games for
myself too, like for BizDev, forexample.
I know the percentage of peopleI have to have conversations
with to meet my sales goals, soI make it a game.
This is how many people I haveto talk to this week.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
If it's 20 per week, that's five for this four.
You know, yeah, all of that,you just kind of keep it going.
And I think it's the same whenwe talk about how to re-engage
your existing work Write down Iknow this sounds crazy, but
write down every single personthat you've worked with and you
know, not the one that you metthat one time, but that you've
actually worked with over theyears and that they would know
(40:20):
your name, they would recognizeyou, and just put it, just put a
list.
And if you want to re-engageyour network, your existing
network, just go and howevermany that could be 100, that
could be 20.
I don't know how long you'vebeen working or how many people
you've worked with, so you haveto kind of make it customized to
your experience.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
That's a feasible goal.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Yeah, well, let's say for me I mean, I've been
working for like 15 years so Iprobably could think of, quickly
, 50 people.
So if you want to re-engage allthose 50 people, make it a game
and you can say, hey, over thenext 10 weeks I'm going to reach
out to five per week, and youjust put a list and you can even
make a spreadsheet.
It's another form of making agame, I guess, and you can put
(41:02):
everyone's name on a spreadsheet.
I know it maybe sounds takessome of the authenticity out,
but I kind of just think it'sgood record keeping.
So you can say, ok, I met thisperson this day or I worked with
them at this company, here'sthe last date of the last time I
talked to them.
And then any kind of specialnotes, like if you know they
have some kind of hobby, ortheir family, something about
their family or their kids names, or they have a dog, any kind
(41:23):
of detail, because I mean, somepeople have just crazy memories
and they can do all that.
But if you don't have that, andit's been a few years, you can
have all those nodes there andthen, when you do reengage with
them, oh, how was your trip toCape Cod four years ago or
whatever six months ago.
So you have something to kindof kick off from and it's not so
awkward.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Yeah, yeah.
And for those who are listening, who are founders, for example,
you probably have a CRM whereyou can have this information in
there.
I have an air table where Ikeep meticulous track of
everybody I reach out to, so Iknow the percentages that I need
to hit my sales goals.
Those are just some easy waysyou can gather data around it
(42:05):
too.
So you're suggesting that firstcontact should be just soft,
asking a question aboutsomething that's happened
recently.
Speaker 2 (42:17):
Yeah, I think this is like my life philosophy.
I feel like it's easier to careabout people than it is to ask
for things.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Agreed.
It's so much easier to servetoo.
Like I'm offering you thisthing rather than asking for
something because I have, have,I cannot.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
Yeah, every person you meet, everyone listening,
has something cool that theyknow a lot about.
That could help a lot of people.
So thinking about it that way,I feel like for me you know, I
do a lot of recruiting, I do alot of interview preparation.
I know how to do jobinterviewing.
I interview thousands of peoplea year.
I mean I know how to do thosethings.
So, interview thousands ofpeople a year, I mean I know how
to do those things.
So if there's someone who says,oh, I'm struggling with my
(42:56):
interviews, I'm like I can helpyou Immediately.
I'm like I can think about that.
Or if you're saying, hey, Iwant to meet someone in this
field, I talk to those peopleall the time.
Oh, I know someone.
So it's just thinking aboutwhat you can get.
But I do think the softapproach of how's your family?
What's going on with you?
Oh, great, oh, you work herenow.
Oh, I didn't know.
I got a new job.
(43:16):
What made you make the move?
Or why did you decide to startyour own business?
Or what gaps are you seeing inthe market?
What's the hardest thing aboutyour business today?
Anything like that, just reallynatural, organic questions.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Yeah, just showing a genuine interest in their lives,
so novel.
Speaker 2 (43:36):
So novel, I know, but I find that I get to the best
conversations, I mean with youtoo.
You know we've had that greatbreakfast we met like two years
ago.
We don't talk all the time, butI feel like I know a lot about
you and your life and whatyou're looking for, and I feel
like you know that about me tooand you raise the vibration, you
(43:57):
raise the quality of yourrelationships when you leave the
you know automated questionsbehind and you just start
talking to people.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
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Yeah, so when you say leavingthe automated questions behind,
(45:38):
that makes me think of scriptingyour conversations.
You think more in the terms ofprompts.
Can you give me some examplesof prompts that might make it
easier for someone where it justdoesn't come that naturally.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
Yeah, and I know that this is awkward for people, but
you know we're going to flipthe script and we're going to
say it's not awkward, thatyou're super interesting, you
have a lot to offer.
And I think yes or no questionsare.
Let's put those on the backburner for a while.
Let's think about open-endedquestions that give people a lot
of breath to answer.
So when you're at an event inperson, let's say, you could say
(46:14):
something like oh, how did youhear about this event?
Or where's the last place youtraveled?
If they say something abouttraveling, or just you know,
whatever the event is about, aska question about okay, if this
is about a entrepreneur, like,tell me about your business.
Okay, you're an entrepreneur,why did you decide to start that
?
Or what's your favorite way tospend your time when you're not
(46:35):
working on your business?
So all of these questions arenot yes or no and they give you
a lot of room for people toexpand their answers and then
you can ask more questions offof that.
So it's just kind of like youask one question but then you
get information to ask threemore.
So you can it can really jumpit off and get to know people
(46:56):
quickly.
Speaker 1 (46:56):
Yeah, and that is something that I mentioned
before we hit record.
I do all the time in podcastingor when I'm interviewing my
clients to help them with theircontent creation.
It's I prompt them withsomething and then it spurs into
the next thing.
These podcasts aren't scriptedin the slightest bit.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
I just have like three prompts and everything
else just fills in and a lot oftimes you probably get something
that you're like oh, I didn'teven think about that All the
time, or I had never.
Yeah, because you have theseopen-ended questions.
It just raises the quality.
Speaker 1 (47:32):
Yes, so we have how to re-engage the people that
have been in our lives beforethat we haven't talked to in a
while in a more comfortable way,and some prompts if we're
starting to have thoseconversations at either
networking events, or someprompts if we're starting to
have those conversations ateither networking events or
connection calls, when we'rereengaging that audience.
But now let's talk about theafter.
(47:55):
In the after, how do youmaintain those relationships and
make sure that they don't fallaway again?
Speaker 2 (48:01):
Yeah, so if it's been a couple of years since you
talked to somebody?
Yeah, so if it's been a coupleof years since you talked to
somebody a lot of times too, andwe can get to this.
But if they post a lot onLinkedIn or whatever platform
that you are going to connectwith them on maybe Slack or
YouTube, I don't know how youknow everybody, but I do a lot
on LinkedIn, so I would probablymessage someone on LinkedIn,
(48:25):
especially if I worked with themtwo years ago.
I might not have their workemail.
We don't work at the same placeanymore, I don't know.
So I would go.
If it's virtual, I would go onLinkedIn and I would just say
hey, you know, I noticed thatyou're still at X company.
How's it been going for you?
I'd love for us to catch up andreally stating your intentions
like don't, without asking forthings.
So just saying I'd love for usyour intentions, like don't,
(48:47):
without asking for things.
So just say I'd love for us tochat, but I miss talking to you.
I love when we work together.
You have some what's youravailability over the next
couple of weeks to just grab acoffee or just grab a call and
not saying are you available,what's your availability?
Speaker 1 (49:00):
Yeah, Not a yes or no question, and it's casual, it's
no pressure.
Speaker 2 (49:06):
Yeah, and sometimes people won't answer you.
You might get people that don'tcheck their LinkedIn, or you
might get people who maybe theyare not in the mood to network
or they're nervous like you andso they might not answer you.
You might not get 100 percentresponse rate, but a lot of
times you get people.
If you really knew them, youknow they would say oh my gosh,
sarah, it's been years.
I would love to.
(49:28):
How about next Friday?
Are you available?
Are you in town, or we can justgrab a virtual coffee.
So I think just saying thingslike what's your availability,
how's it been going since X, y,z thing, have you, if you know
them through?
We know Sarah and I know eachother through the AMA.
So how's have you beenattending a lot of these AMA
events lately?
(49:48):
How's that been going?
Things like that?
So, however you've met them,make sure to drop that in case
they forgot, you know, to remindthem who you are and how you
know them.
And yeah, just no, yes or noquestions and just keep it super
casual.
Speaker 1 (50:01):
Yeah, that is a really good point too, and that
when, like my success ratereaching out to people on
LinkedIn versus email is so muchhigher.
If I had my air table up Icould tell you the exact
percentage, but it's just morecasual slipping into the DMs and
having a conversation and Ithink that people are more
(50:23):
protective of their email andfeeling like it's down to
business and I'm just alwaysreaching for that zero inbox so
I'm deleting a lot of emailsthat probably matter, but it's
unattainable.
Speaker 2 (50:43):
Inbox zero.
I'm always trying to get theretoo and yeah, I totally agree.
I think people just kind ofgloss over their emails.
Sometimes with LinkedIn theysee it.
And another thing you can do isif someone on your list that
you made of 50 people or howevermany if they post on LinkedIn a
lot, maybe you could writesomething on their posts.
If they comment what initiativethey're doing, or you see them
(51:05):
say something, you can say, ohmy gosh, that's so funny.
And then message them privatelyand be like hey, I saw your
post about XYZ.
It made me think of you.
How are you doing?
How's it been going since XYZmeeting time?
I'd love for us to catch up.
What's your availability overthe next couple of weeks?
Speaker 1 (51:21):
That is a great way to do.
Even a softer touch is startreengaging with their in the
comments and then they'll belike yes, yes, yes.
Actually that happened to melast week where someone who was
the content director when I wasjust when I was freelance
(51:42):
writing she was a contentdirector for the company and I
noticed that she kept commentingon my LinkedIn posts.
I'm like I haven't.
She was so high above me that Ionly saw her cc'd on emails to
me, but I was like I haven'tinteracted with her in ages.
I wonder what she's up to andwe're setting up a call to
(52:03):
reconnect.
But that's exactly how Ihappened.
Speaker 2 (52:08):
These are how it's just.
I think in general, we talkabout networking after the fact
or in the moment.
I think you have to just leadwith caring about people.
I have so many examples.
We do not have enough time inthe day for me to give you
specific examples that Iremember, and there's probably
other ones that I forgot,because you know, I haven't
slept in years.
I've got two kids under five.
(52:29):
But I can tell you I walked upto someone this is a good one, I
think, because I was at anevent and it was actually out in
Las Vegas and we live inChicago, and I was.
I told you, I'm a marketingrecruiter, and this person who
was leading a panel, also amarketing recruiter, lived in
Chicago, owned her own business,and I was like what we're so
(52:51):
parallel lives, how is it thatwe don't know each other?
So I just walked up to her andI was like hey, I mean, I just
kind of said what I said youknow you work in marketing
recruiting, so do I?
How do we not know each other?
I'd just love to meet you.
And she said, hey, are youinterviewing for jobs?
And I said no, and she's likewell, here's my card.
Why don't you come by theoffice next week and I ended up
(53:12):
working for her.
That's awesome.
So I didn't even ask for a job.
I wasn't even looking for a job.
But that's how it goes.
Speaker 1 (53:28):
Yeah, it really is when thinking back, because
we're similar ages, so I've alsobeen in the workforce for about
15 years, looking back.
Every single job that I'vegotten and most that my friends
have gotten were from people Iknew I was like, oh, you know
what?
I know someone who is lookingfor that kind of role.
Let me connect you guys.
Speaker 2 (53:45):
Yeah, and there was some TED talk.
You can probably find it.
I don't know if you want to putit in the show notes, maybe I
can find it, but it was like themain things that happen in your
life, your main life events.
So, whether that's gettingmarried, getting a job, anything
that's a primary turning pointin your life, it's all
facilitated by third party orthird level connections.
(54:07):
So, you know, your firstconnection is like your brother
and sister, second is like yourfriend and then third is someone
you barely know.
And it's so true.
I mean, I got that job from aperson I barely knew at that
time and think about all thepeople that you know.
Oh, let me just connect youguys.
And then it's like, before youknow it, you got a job there or
you're working together.
Speaker 1 (54:33):
Yeah, that's so interesting, I'm going to look
for it.
Yeah, I'm trying your thirdyeah, I'm thinking of like how I
met my husband.
My best friend was cousins withhis best friend and we ended up
at the same party.
Speaker 2 (54:42):
Third connection yeah , everyone listening is thinking
about this.
They're like how did I meetthis person?
Or how did I get that job?
It's your third connection mostlikely, unless some people have
been married since like thethird grade, I don't know, but
most of it is third levelconnections.
Speaker 1 (54:58):
Before we wrap up, I wanted to touch on a couple
other ways that I stay connectedto people after I meet them.
Some other options.
Like for events that I've goneto, we created group texts where
we would find where to meet upduring the event.
So we just kept that group textgoing from the event.
(55:22):
Another one is event.
Another one is oh, what was it?
Oh, I set a boomerang on myGmail every 90 days to reconnect
so I don't forget.
Speaker 2 (55:34):
That's a great idea and you can have this
spreadsheet.
If you're you know less techlike me, I'm like I look at like
spreadsheets or I could set upboomerangs, that's a good idea.
But I have a spreadsheet oflike the last time I talked to
someone, if it's been 90 days or60 days, I'm like, oh, you can
refer to that too.
And that's the other thing.
When people at events like AMAor some kind of organization
(55:54):
that has Slack, you can keep upwith people and ask hey, are you
coming to the next meeting orthe next event?
Hey, I'll be there in two weeks.
Okay, great, you know, I'll seeyou there, and it's so easy to
just ask people if they're going.
Speaker 1 (56:08):
Oh, that's a really good point.
If there's a community attachedto the event, even better.
Yeah, yeah, I have found thatcommunities and then attending
those events are the mostprofitable way for me to spend
my time.
They so often turn into workfrom third party connections.
People like, oh, a clientactually needs this.
(56:31):
Let me connect you to.
Speaker 2 (56:35):
Yeah, a lot of it's timing, and I think overall, the
main point is just to be openand not necessarily feel so
desperate Like, oh my gosh, Ihave to talk to five people this
week.
Don't put a panic on it.
Just say, hey, I love this as agoal.
I'm going to try it out.
Let's do five people a week,let's just see what happens.
And then, once they say youknow you've reached out to them
(56:56):
on LinkedIn or whatever platform, then they say, hey, let's meet
.
Then you can ask a lot moreopen ended questions How's it
been going?
I'm so glad we could catch uptoday.
So what have you been doing thelast few months?
And then they'll give youthings.
And if you are looking for ajob or you are looking for new
business, you can say myfavorite four words when
networking keep me in mind oh mygosh, I totally forgot.
Speaker 1 (57:19):
you told me that.
Can you just touch on that?
All right, I was wrapping upand now I'm not.
Can you just touch on that?
Keep on, keep me in mind, thing.
Speaker 2 (57:30):
Yes.
So you know, I, like I said,it's way easier to care about
people than to ask for things.
Keep me in mind is just, hey,I'm open to it, but I'm not
asking and I'm not going toforce you to say yes or no to me
right now or no to me right now.
So I have a like that funnystory I have is so David
Schwimmer?
He played Ross on Friends and ifyou all watch the, if you know
(57:52):
the show Friends, of course, butif you watch the reunion, he
talked about it and he said Iinterviewed with the creators of
Friends, obviously not at thattime, but he said, 10 years ago
I met with those people and Idid a casting call and wasn't
the right show at that pointbecause it was, you know, 1984,
like before Friends started.
And he said, you know, itwasn't the right thing and they
didn't pick me, but we likedeach other, we just had this
(58:13):
kinship, and so I left theaudition after they told me no.
But I said keep me in mind forsomething else, cut to 10 years
later they're casting Friendsand David Schwimmer is the first
person they cast because theymet him 10 years ago and it was,
like you know it didn't work,that it didn't work out 10 years
ago, but he said keep me inmind and they remember it.
And he remembered, and then therest is history.
Speaker 1 (58:33):
That is so brilliant and you really just wiggle
wormed into my brain with that,because I have started saying
keep me in mind, and it does.
Speaker 2 (58:50):
It has circled back already, just since we had that
conversation.
Yes, and it's not so.
You know you don't want to.
I never like asking, but it'sso hard to ask for things and if
you don't, you just it mightnot even be the right time.
So it's like, hey, keep me inmind when the time's right it'll
work.
Speaker 1 (59:01):
Yes, yes, so now for reals, before we wrap up, I just
wanted to touch on our workshop.
We are hold on pause, pause,pause.
I am pulling it up here.
It is April 23rd at 1.30 pm,central Standard Time.
(59:21):
I'm more of the emcee, you'rethe expert on it, but Jenna and
I are going to be hosting aworkshop called Five Ways to
Network Without being Awkward.
Do you want to touch on some ofthe things that we'll be
digging into?
Speaker 2 (59:46):
into work, because that's what we're going to do.
We're going to go very specificquestions on like how to at
which, questions that are notyes or no questions, and we're
going to have you do that andput it into practice immediately
and see how you feel whenyou're doing it.
And then to just this pointabout when you're networking.
I think we always think, oh,who do I ask?
But it's like, how can youserve first, how can you say
what can I give people?
And when you lead with thatgenerosity, it is kind of
(01:00:09):
subconscious that people want togive it back to you.
So how can you your uniqueskills, crafting your elevator
pitch Like what are you reallygood at?
How could you help people andthen go out to your networking
conversations with those thingsin mind?
Speaker 1 (01:00:30):
with those things in mind, yes, yes, yes, yes, and I
just want to touch on howbeneficial networking can really
be.
My Q4 of last year washorrendous.
I mean, December usually sucks,but I spent that entire month
networking.
I was like I'm going to go allin and I networked a ton and
then by January I was booked outthrough May it really helps.
(01:00:52):
And I was using these sametactics that Jenna taught today.
Speaker 2 (01:01:00):
I'm glad that you are showing that these things work,
because sometimes it's hard toshow it.
You're like, oh, I could neverdo that.
And it's like, yes, you can.
And the results can justmultiply and transform your
business and your life and itchanges how you feel about
yourself too.
Speaker 1 (01:01:15):
Yeah, it does.
And my mindset really shiftedbecause I did feel uncomfortable
for a long time about it.
And then I started going intothose conversations with gives
already prepared.
I did my research and I waslike I know a few people that I
think could be really beneficialto that person.
I'm going to have those introsready to go, or I'd love to
(01:01:39):
collaborate with that person.
I just knew what my gives wouldbe ahead of time and then, as
the conversation progressed, I'dsee which one of those gives
that I had pre-thought aboutwould actually work.
Speaker 2 (01:01:51):
That's a great way to leave those conversations.
When you're re-engaging yournetwork is just at the very end
say oh my gosh, it was so greatconnecting with you.
You know we were talking aboutthis thing.
I'm going to introduce you tothat person, I'll send an email
intro, I'll set it up and thenit's like you leave.
You ask for the conversation,but you're leaving giving them
something, so they feel like itwas worth their time too.
Speaker 1 (01:02:17):
Yes, absolutely.
And when I'm like reallycrossing my fingers that I don't
fall out with this person, likewe just, you know, drift off
away from each other, I alwayshave a second ask prepared, like
what's a way that I can set upa re-engagement in a way with
that?
So we can.
I can make sure to maintainthat relationship.
Yeah, absolutely so, jenna.
(01:02:38):
Where can people find youonline and connect with you?
Speaker 2 (01:02:44):
Yes, so you can find me on LinkedIn.
My name is Jenna Kimball and Ialso have a website.
If you want to look there, it'swwwjennakimballcom, and I have
my.
I did write a book, actually,about how to interview, how to
ace your job interview, so youcan find it there or you can
find it on Amazon.
But yeah, just connect with meon LinkedIn.
I'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (01:03:05):
Get excited, because next week we start our season
five brand new episodes and ourfirst guest will be Haley Denker
, talking about how to generateleads with events.
Welcome to episode 152 of the Tiny Marketing Show.
I'm Sarah Noir-Block and youare listening to the last
episode of the Uncut Summerseries Starting next week.
It's all new episodes forseason five.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Hi, my name is Jenna Kimball.
I am a recruiter at a marketingand advertising agency called
Dentsu International, and I alsohelp people learn how to
interview and be their bestselves and help them navigate
this crazy job market.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yeah, you kill it at that.
We met at an American MarketingAssociation event.
We were both speakers at it andwe bonded instantly.
And I don't know I don't knowabout you, but I'm not always
like that.
You're clearly good atnetworking because we just met
for the first time that day.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
We're like it was so funny.
My husband came because I waslike come to my thing, you know,
and then he's like girl, we'relike really buddies.
I'm like I know he's like didyou go over?
I said no, I just met her today, just a good vibe.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I know, I know.
So that's what we're digginginto today.
We're talking about how tonetwork without being awkward.
This is part of a series ofpodcast episodes on this topic,
because I hear this question alot Like I feel uncomfortable
networking.
I'm worried that they thinkthat I'm just trying to sell
(01:24):
them.
But you have some great tips tojust like pull out of your
toolbox to make it so mucheasier.
But, more importantly, how tomaintain that relationship after
the fact, Because you know ifyou grab a card and then walk
away and never talk to themagain, it was kind of pointless,
right?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, yeah, and I think, too, we can certainly get
into that.
I want to just flip the limitedbeliefs, because I used to have
this too.
I used to be a really shy kidand I would think what you just
said you know like oh, no onewants to hear from me, I'm not
interesting, nobody cares what Ihave to say, and I just want
everyone who's listening to feellike, let's flip that.
Like what if people reallythought what you had was
(02:05):
interesting to say?
What if people really wanted totalk to you?
Like, just, you have to go intoa networking event conversation
scenario with that mindset, orelse you know you're not going
to really do your best.
And it also shows such an easewhen you can believe that about
yourself, just like, hey, I'mabout to go into this event, I
can't wait to meet people, Ican't wait to learn about others
(02:27):
.
I'm sure people are going tohave questions for me too, and
it's going to be a really funevent, so I hope that people can
just flip it.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
I agree, I didn't.
I would have never pictured youas a shy kid.
I was too Like constantly.
People like you're blushingconstantly people like you're
blushing.
I'm like, that's just becauseyou're looking at me.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I existed.
I was so shy.
But also what a relief, youknow, when people come up to you
at these networking events.
You know, sometimes you mightfeel awkward approaching a group
or, you know, jumping into aconversations that that's
already in the middle of, butwhen that people are so relieved
because I think a lot of peopleare like that they're like, oh
gosh, what am I going to saywhen I hear, oh no, isn't it
such a relief when someone takesyou by the hand and is like,
hey, I really want to know moreabout what you're doing or what
(03:13):
you're looking for.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yes, yeah and right.
There is a good point in thatyou're asking questions about
them, so you're kind of guidingthe conversation and letting
them tell their stories.
So it doesn't.
It feels less awkward for thembecause they're being asked to
tell their story.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, and it's something that they know the
most about that.
Everyone in that room, out ofanyone, you know the most about
your unique story.
I'm not asking you to explainquantum physics to me, you know.
I'm just telling.
I'm just asking you to tell meabout what you're doing that day
.
So I think it's these low riskquestions.
It puts people at ease.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Speaking of when we went out to breakfast a couple
of weeks ago.
You mentioned making it a game,so can you explain how people
can do that?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
a game.
So can you explain how peoplecan do that?
Yes, so I'm a huge game showfan.
I have to give myself likenumbers and make it a challenge
for myself.
So when I say, go to going to anetworking event, or even if
you're networking on the jobsearch, or after you've gone to
an event, you can use this atany phase of the networking
process which is like for therest of your life, pretty much
human networking.
But I say, if you're at an event, you can, let's see how many
(04:29):
people are there.
If there's 20 people, just sayI am not going to leave until I
talk to three people, or I amgoing to spend 30 minutes here
and I am not going to sit in thecorner, I'm going to sit in
that middle table or I'm goingto walk up to the front.
You have to give yourself achallenge and that's why I say
make it.
It can be either a numberschallenge or it can be something
(04:51):
that scares you, like walkingto the front of the room, or I
think too, even making it a gameis like could I volunteer?
If I volunteer, if I checksomeone in, how many people can
I talk to after I did?
So, just putting numbers behindit or giving yourself a scary
challenge.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
That's so fun, and I create those little games for
myself too, like for BizDev, forexample, like I know the
percentage of people I have tohave conversations with to meet
my sales goals, so I make it agame.
This is how many people I haveto talk to this week.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
If it's 20 per week, that's five for this four.
You know, yeah, all of that,you just kind of keep it going.
And I think it's the same whenwe talk about how to re-engage
your existing work Write down Iknow this sounds crazy, but
write down every single personthat you've worked with and you
know, not the one that you metthat one time, but that you've
actually worked with over theyears and that they would know
(05:44):
your name, they would recognizeyou, and just put it, just put a
list.
And if you want to re-engageyour network, your existing
network, just go and howevermany that could be a hundred,
that could be 20.
I don't know how long you'vebeen working or how many people
you've worked with, so you haveto kind of make it customized to
your experience.
Yeah, well, let's say for me Imean, I've been working for like
(06:04):
15 years so I probably couldthink of, quickly, 50 people.
So if you want to re-engage allthose 50 people, make it a game
and you can say, hey, over thenext 10 weeks I'm going to reach
out to five per week, and youjust put a list and you can even
make a spreadsheet.
It's another form of making agame, I guess, and you can put
everyone's name on a spreadsheet.
I know it maybe sounds takessome of the authenticity out,
(06:27):
but I kind of just think it'sgood record keeping.
So you can say, okay, I metthis person this day or I worked
with them at this company.
Here's the last date of thelast time I talked to them.
And then any kind of specialnotes, like if you do know they
have some kind of hobby or theirfamily, something about their
family or their kids' names, orthey have a dog, any kind of
(06:51):
detail, because I mean, somepeople have just crazy memories
and they can do all that.
But if you don't have that, andit's been a few years, you can
have all those notes there andthen, when you do re-engage with
them, oh, how was your trip toCape Cod four years ago or
whatever six months ago.
So you have something to kindof kick off from and it's not so
awkward.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah.
And for those who are listening, who are founders, for example,
you probably have a CRM whereyou can have this information in
there.
I have an air table where Ikeep meticulous track of
everybody I reach out to, so Iknow the percentages that I need
to hit my sales goals.
Those are just some easy waysyou can gather data around it
(07:29):
too.
So you're suggesting that firstcontact should be just soft,
asking a question aboutsomething that's happened
recently.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Yeah, I think this is like my life philosophy.
I feel like it's easier to careabout people than it is to ask
for things.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Agreed.
It's so much easier to servetoo.
Like I'm offering you thisthing rather than asking for
something because I have, Icannot.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, every person you meet, everyone listening,
has something cool that theyknow a lot about.
That could help a lot of people.
So thinking about it that way,I feel like for me you know, I
do a lot of recruiting, I do alot of interview preparation.
I know how to do jobinterviewing.
I interview thousands of peoplea year.
I mean I know how to do thosethings.
So if there's someone who says,oh, I'm struggling with my
(08:19):
interviews, I'm like I can helpyou immediately.
I'm like I can think about that.
Or if you're saying, hey, Iwant to meet someone in this
field, I talk to those peopleall the time oh, I know someone.
So it's just thinking aboutwhat you can give rather than
what you can get.
But I do think the softapproach of how's your family?
What's going on with you?
Oh, great, oh, you work herenow.
(08:46):
Oh, I didn't know, I got a newjob.
What made you make the move?
Or why did you decide to startyour own business?
Or what gaps are you seeing inthe market?
What's the hardest thing aboutyour business today?
Anything like that.
Just really natural, organicquestions.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, just showing a genuine interest in their lives,
so novel.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
So novel, I know, but I find that I get to the best
conversations, I mean with youtoo.
You know we've had that greatbreakfast we met like two years
ago.
Yeah, we don't talk all thetime, but I feel like I know a
lot about you and your life andwhat you're looking for, and I
feel like you know that about metoo, and you raise the
vibration, you raise the qualityof your relationships when you
(09:24):
leave the you know automatedquestions behind and you just
start talking to people.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
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(10:14):
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So when you say leaving theautomated questions behind, that
(11:02):
makes me think of scriptingyour conversations.
You think more in the terms ofprompts.
Can you give me some examplesof prompts that might make it
easier for someone where it justdoesn't come that naturally.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, and I know that this is awkward for people, but
you know we're going to flipthe script and we're going to
say it's not awkward, thatyou're super interesting, you
have a lot to offer.
And I think yes or no questionsare.
Let's put those on the backburner for a while.
Let's think about open-endedquestions that give people a lot
of breath to answer.
So when you're at an event inperson, let's say, you could say
(11:38):
something like oh, how did youhear about this event?
Or where's the last place youtraveled?
If they say something abouttraveling, or just you know,
whatever the event is about, aska question about okay, if this
is about a entrepreneur, like,tell me about your business.
Okay, you're an entrepreneur.
What?
Why did you?
Why did you decide to startthat?
Or what's your favorite way tospend your time when you're not
(12:14):
working on your business?
So all of these questions arenot yes or no and they give you
a lot of room for people toexpand their answers and then
you can ask more questions offof that.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
So it's just kind of like you get you ask one
question interviewing my clientsto help them with their content
creation.
It's I prompt them withsomething and then it spurs into
the next thing.
These podcasts aren't scriptedin the slightest bit.
I just have like three promptsand everything else just fills
in.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
And a lot of times you probably get something that
you're like oh, I didn't eventhink about that All the time or
I had never yeah, Because youhave these open-ended questions.
It just raises the quality.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Yes, so we have how to re-engage the people that
have been in our lives beforethat we haven't talked to in a
while in a more comfortable way,and some prompts if we're
starting to have thoseconversations at either
networking events or connectioncalls, when we're reengaging
that audience.
But now let's talk about theafter.
(13:18):
In the after, yeah, how do youmaintain those relationships and
make sure that they don't fallaway again?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yeah.
So if it's been a couple yearssince you talked to somebody a
lot of times too, and we can getto this but if they post a lot
on LinkedIn or whatever platformthat you are going to connect
with them on maybe Slack orYouTube, I don't know how you
know everybody, but I do a loton LinkedIn, so I would probably
message someone on LinkedIn,especially if I worked with them
(13:47):
two years ago.
I might not have their workemail.
We don't work at the same placeanymore.
I don't know how to contactthem, so I would go.
If it's virtual, I would go onLinkedIn and I would just say
hey, you know, I noticed thatyou're still at X company.
How's it been going for you?
I'd love for us to catch up andreally stating your intentions
(14:09):
like don't, without asking forthings, so just saying I'd love
for us to catch up.
I miss talking to you.
I love when we work together.
You have some what's youravailability over the next
couple weeks to just grab acoffee or just grab a call, and
not saying are you available?
What's your yeah, and sometimespeople won't answer you.
(14:32):
You might get people that don'tcheck their LinkedIn or you
might get people who maybe theyare not in the mood to network
or they're nervous like you, andso they might not answer you.
You might not get 100 percentresponse rate, but a lot of
times you get people.
If you really knew them, youknow they would say oh my gosh,
it's been years, I would love to.
How about next Friday?
(14:53):
Are you available?
Are you in town, or we can justgrab a virtual coffee.
So I think just saying thingslike what's your availability,
how's it been going since X, y,z thing, if you know them
through, we know Sarah and Iknow each other through the AMA.
So have you been attending alot of these AMA events lately?
How's that been going, thingslike that?
(15:14):
So, however, you've met them,make sure to drop that in case
they forgot, you know, to remindthem who you are and how you
know them.
And yeah, just no yes or noquestions and just keep it super
casual.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Yeah, that is a really good point too, in that
when, like my success ratereaching out to people on
LinkedIn versus email is so muchhigher If I had my air table up
I could tell you the exactpercentage, but it's just more
casual slipping into the DMs andhaving a conversation and I
(15:45):
think that people are moreprotective of their email and
feeling like it's down tobusiness.
I'm just always reaching forthat zero inbox, so I'm deleting
a lot of emails that probablymatter, but it's unattainable.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
inbox zero.
I'm always trying to get theretoo, and yeah, I totally agree.
I think people just kind ofgloss over their emails.
Sometimes with LinkedIn, theysee it.
And another thing you can do isif someone on your list that
you made of 50 people or howevermany, if they post on LinkedIn
a lot, maybe you can write oh mygosh, that's so funny.
(16:31):
And then message them privatelyand be like hey, I saw your
post about XYZ.
It made me think of you.
How are you doing?
How's it been going since XYZmeeting time?
I'd love for us to catch up.
What's your availability overthe next couple of weeks?
Speaker 1 (16:45):
That is a great way to do even a softer touch is
start reengaging with their inthe comments comments, and then
they'll be like yes, yes, yes.
Actually that happened to melast week where someone who was
the content director when I wasjust when I was freelance
(17:05):
writing she was a contentdirector for the company and I
noticed that she kept commentingon my LinkedIn post.
I'm like I haven't, I haven't.
She was so high above me that Ionly saw her cc'd on emails to
me.
I haven't interacted with herin ages.
I wonder what she's up to andwe're setting up a call to
(17:27):
reconnect.
But that's exactly how Ihappened.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
These are how it's just.
I think in general, we talkabout networking after the fact
or in the moment.
I think you have to just leadwith caring about people.
I have so many examples.
We do not have enough time inthe day for me to give you
specific examples that Iremember, and there's probably
other ones that I forgot,because you know I haven't slept
in years.
I've got two kids under five,but I can tell you I walked up
(17:55):
to someone this is a good one, Ithink, because I was at an
event and it was actually out inLas Vegas and we live in
Chicago, and I was.
I told you, I'm a marketingrecruiter, and this person who
was leading a panel, also amarketing recruiter, lived in
Chicago, owned her own business,and I was like what, we're so
parallel lives, how is it thatwe don't know each other?
(18:18):
So I just walked up to her andI was like hey, I mean, I just
kind of said what I said youknow you work in marketing
recruiting, so do I?
How do we not know each other?
I'd just love to meet you.
And she said hey, are youinterviewing for jobs?
And I said no, and she's likewell, here's my card, why don't
you come by the office next week?
And I ended up working for her.
That's awesome.
So I didn't even ask for a job.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
I wasn't even looking for a job, but that's how it
goes yeah, it really is whenthinking back, because we're
similar ages.
So I've also been in theworkforce for about 15 years.
Looking back, every single jobthat I've gotten and most that
my friends have gotten were frompeople I knew.
I was like, oh, you know what?
(19:02):
I know someone who is lookingfor that kind of role.
Let me connect you guys.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yeah, and there was some TED Talk.
You can probably find it.
I don't know if you want to putit in the show notes, maybe I
can find it for you, but it waslike the main things that happen
in your life, your main lifeevents.
So, whether that's gettingmarried, getting a job, anything
that's a primary turning pointin your life, it's all
facilitated by third party orthird level connections.
(19:30):
So, you know, your firstconnection is like your brother
and sister, second is like yourfriend and then third is someone
you barely know.
And it's so true.
I mean, I got that job from aperson I barely knew at that
time and think about all thepeople that you know.
Oh, let me just connect youguys.
And then it's like, before youknow it, you got a job there or
you're working together.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Yeah, that's so interesting, I'm going to look
for it.
I'm trying your third.
Yeah, I'm thinking of like, uh,how I met my husband.
My best friend was cousins withhis best friend and we ended up
at the same party thirdconnection.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
See, yeah, everyone listening is thinking about this
.
They're like how did I meetthis person?
Or how did I get that job?
It's your third connection mostlikely, unless some people have
been married since like thethird grade, I don't know, but
most of it is third levelconnections.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Before we wrap up, I wanted to touch on a couple
other ways that I stay connectedto people after I meet them,
Some other options.
Like for events that I've goneto, we created group texts where
we would find where to meet upduring the event.
So we just kept that group textgoing from the event.
(20:45):
Another one is oh, what was it?
Oh, I set a boomerang on myGmail every 90 days to reconnect
, so I don't forget.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
That's a great idea.
And you can have thisspreadsheet.
If you're you know less techlike me, I'm like I look at like
spreadsheets or I could set upboomerangs that's a good idea.
But I have a spreadsheet oflike the last time I talked to
someone, if it's been 90 days or60 days, I'm like, oh, you can
refer to that too.
And that's the other thing.
When people at events like AMAor some kind of organization
that has Slack, you can keep upwith people and ask, hey, are
(21:22):
you coming to the next meetingor the next event?
Hey, I'll be there in two weeks.
Okay, great, I'll see you there.
And it's so easy to just askpeople if they're going.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Oh, that's a really good point.
If there's a community attachedto the event, even better.
Yeah, yeah, I have found thatcommunities and then attending
those events are the mostprofitable way for me to spend
my time.
They so often turn into workfrom third party connections.
People like from third partyconnections.
People like, oh, a clientactually needs this.
Let me connect you to.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Yeah, a lot of it's timing, and I think overall, the
main point is just to be openand not necessarily feel so
desperate Like, oh my gosh, Ihave to talk to five people this
week.
Don't put a panic on it.
Just say, hey, this is a goal,I'm going to try it out.
Let's do five people a week,let's just see what happens.
And then once they say you knowyou've reached out to them on
(22:20):
LinkedIn or whatever platform,then they say, hey, let's meet.
Then you can ask a lot moreopen ended questions How's it
been going?
I'd love to.
I'm so glad we could catch uptoday.
So what have you been doing thelast few months?
And then they'll give youthings.
And if you are looking for ajob or you are looking for new
business, you can say myfavorite four words when
networking.
Keep me in mind.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Oh my gosh, I totally forgot.
You told me that.
Can you just touch on that?
All right, I was wrapping upand now I'm not.
Can you just touch on that?
Keep me in mind thing.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Yes.
So you know, like I said, it'sway easier to care about people
than to ask for things.
Keep me in mind is just, hey,I'm open to it, but I'm not
asking and I'm not going toforce you to say yes or no to me
right now.
So I have, like that funnystory I have is so David
Schwimmer?
He played Ross on Friends and ifyou all watch the, if you know
(23:15):
the show Friends, of course, butif you watch the reunion, he
talked about it and he said Iinterviewed with the creators of
Friends, obviously not at thattime, but he said 10 years ago I
met with those people and I dida casting call and it wasn't
the right show at that pointbecause it was, you know, 1984,
like before Friends started.
And he said, you know, itwasn't the right thing and they
didn't pick me, but we likedeach other, we just had this
(23:37):
kinship, and so I left theaudition after they told me no,
but I said keep me in mind forsomething else.
Cut to 10 years later they'recasting Friends and David
Schwimmer is the first personthey cast because they met him
10 years ago and it was like youknow, it didn't work, that it
didn't work out 10 years ago.
But he said, keep me in mindand they remember it.
And he remembered, and then therest is history.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
That is so brilliant and you really just wiggle
wormed into my brain with that,because I have started saying
keep me in mind, and it does.
It has circled back alreadyjust since we had that
conversation.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Yes, and it's not so.
You know you don't want to.
I never like asking.
It's so hard to ask for thingsand if you don't, you're just.
It might not even be the righttime.
So it's like, hey, keep me inmind.
When the time's right, it'llwork.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
So now for reals, before we wrap up, I just wanted
to touch on our workshop.
We are hold on pause, pause,pause.
I am pulling it up.
I just wanted to touch on ourworkshop.
We are hold on pause, pause,pause.
I am pulling it up.
Here.
It is April 23rd at 1.30 pm,central Standard Time.
I'm more of the emcee, you'rethe expert on it, but Jenna and
(24:50):
I are going to be hosting aworkshop called Five Ways to
Network Without being Awkward.
Do you want to touch on some ofthe things that we'll be
digging into?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Yes, so we'll get into some more specifics.
I feel like we touched on somepoints, but whenever I hear
workshop, I hope you're comingto work, because that's what
we're going to do.
We're going to go very specificquestions on like how to, which
questions are not yes or noquestions, and we're going to
have you do that and put it intopractice immediately and see
how you feel when you're doingit.
And then to just this pointabout when you're networking, I
(25:22):
think we always think, oh, whodo I ask?
But it's like, how can youserve first?
How can you say what can I givepeople?
And when you lead with thatgenerosity, it is kind of
subconscious that people want togive it back to you.
So how can you your uniqueskills, crafting your elevator
pitch like what are you reallygood at?
How could you help people?
And then go out to yournetworking how beneficial
(25:45):
networking can really be.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
My Q4 of last year was horrendous.
I mean, December usually sucks,but I spent that entire month
networking.
I was like I'm going to go allin and I networked a ton and
then by January I was booked outthrough May.
It really, really helps, and Iwas using these same tactics
(26:20):
that Jenna taught today.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I'm glad that you are showing that these things work,
because sometimes it's hard toshow it.
You're like, oh, I could neverdo that.
And it's like, yes, you can.
And the results can justmultiply and transform your
business and your life and itchanges how you feel about
yourself too yeah, it does.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
And my mindset really shifted because I did feel
uncomfortable for a long timeabout it.
And then I started going intothose conversations with gives
already prepared, like I did myresearch and I was like I know a
few people that I think couldbe really beneficial to that
person.
I'm going to have those introsready to go, or I'd love to
(27:02):
collaborate with that person.
I just knew what my gives wouldbe ahead of time and then, as
the conversation progressed, I'dsee which one of those gives
that I had pre-thought aboutwould actually work.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
That's a great way to leave those conversations.
When you're re-engaging yournetwork is just at the very end
say oh my gosh, it was so greatconnecting with you.
You know we were talking aboutthis thing.
I'm going to introduce you tothat person, I'll send an email
intro, I'll set it up and thenit's like you leave.
You ask for the conversation,but you're leaving giving them
something, so they feel like itwas worth their time too.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Yes, absolutely.
And when I'm like reallycrossing my fingers that I don't
fall out with this person, likewe just, you know, drift off
away from each other, I alwayshave a second ask prepared, like
what's a way that I can set upa re-engagement in a way with
that?
So we can.
(27:55):
I can make sure to maintainthat relationship.
Yeah, absolutely so, jenna.
Where can people find youonline and connect with you?
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Yes, so you can find me on LinkedIn.
My name is Jenna Kimball and Ialso have a website.
If you want to look there.
It's wwwjennak is Jenna Kimballand I also have a website.
If you want to look there, it'swwwjennakimballcom, and I have
my.
I did write a book actuallyabout how to interview, how to
ace your job interview, so youcan find it there or you can
find it on Amazon.
But yeah, just connect with meon LinkedIn.
I'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
And that is that.
That was my conversation withJenna.
Make sure to head on over tothe show notes, and there's a
clickable link to sign up forthat workshop.
You can join us live or you canget the replay afterwards if
you just want to grab the quicktips and tricks that she'll be
teaching you Live, though, we'llbe doing some actual work and
(28:53):
practicing what it's like tonetwork and how to come up with
those prompts and how to feelmore comfortable with networking
, so it should be a greatexperience for everybody.
If you liked this episode,please rate, review, subscribe
wherever you're listening tothis and head over to LinkedIn.
Follow Jenna.
(29:14):
She's amazing, and that's alsomy primary social media channel,
so if you want to be friendsover there, join me.
It's just linkedincom.
Slash IN, slash SarahNoelBlock.
All right, I will not reallysee you, since this is a podcast
(29:36):
, but you will be hearing fromme again next week, where we
will continue this series, andit'll all culminate with that
workshop on the 23rd.
So the 21st we're droppinganother episode on networking.
The 23rd we're having that liveworkshop.
Sign up.
You'll get the replay if youcan't show up live.
(29:56):
Either way.
Love you, love your show.
First time caller, long timelistener.
Bye.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
If you are looking for a job or you are looking for
new business.
You can say my favorite fourwords when networking Keep me in
mind.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Oh, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
This is Sarah Noelle Block andyou are listening to Tiny
Marketing.
This is Sarah Noelle Block andyou are listening to Tiny
Marketing.
Have you ever been to anetworking event and you did not
know what to say?
You just sat in a cornerquestioning.
I don't know your existence.
(30:48):
Or maybe you thought I want toreconnect with coworker why?
But I wouldn't know how to dothat because we worked together
five years ago.
What should I say?
Or I went to this awesome eventand met a great group of girls
and I wish I kept in touch withthem.
(31:09):
What do I do now in order tore-engage with them and just see
if they're going to go to thenext event?
Those are the topics we'retalking about today.
I recently chatted with JennaKimball, who is an expert at
networking.
So here are some things thatyou're going to learn today Easy
(31:33):
ways to keep and remember thecontacts that you have in your
world and make it a game, soit's fun.
How to create scripts orprompts in order to network
better.
And how to re-engage your oldco-workers, your old friends,
(31:54):
within the business world.
And, last, how to maintainthose relationships after the
networking event is over.
So we're touching on a wholebunch of good stuff today.
And oh, I don't want to forgetto tell you, jenna is my guest
expert for an upcoming workshopthat I'll be emceeing.
(32:15):
It is April 23rd at 1.30 pmCentral Time.
If you sign up for it, you'llalso get the replay, so don't
forget to sign up.
The link will be in the shownotes, but she is going to teach
you exactly how to networkwithout being awkward, and we'll
have some games involved.
(32:36):
She is so much fun You're goingto love it.
So make sure to pause thisright now and sign up for that
workshop.
You don't want to miss it.
Okay, before we get into theconversation with Jenna, let's
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(32:59):
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Speaker 2 (34:52):
Yes, hi, my name is Jenna Kimball.
I am a recruiter at a marketingand advertising agency called
Dentsu International, and I alsohelp people learn how to
interview and be their bestselves and help them navigate
this crazy job market.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
Yeah, you kill it at that.
We met at an American MarketingAssociation event.
We were both speakers at it andwe bonded instantly.
And I don't know I don't knowabout you, but I'm not always
like that.
You're clearly good atnetworking because we just met
for the first time that day.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
We're like it was so funny.
My husband came because I waslike, come to my thing, you know
.
And then he's like you and mygirl, we're like really buddies.
I'm like I know.
He's like did you go over?
I said no, I just met her today, just a good vibe.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
I know, I know.
So that's what we're digginginto today.
We're talking about how tonetwork without being awkward.
This is part of a series ofpodcast episodes on this topic,
because I hear this question alot Like I feel uncomfortable
networking.
I'm worried that they thinkthat I'm just trying to sell
(36:00):
them.
But you have some great tips tojust like pull out of your
toolbox to make it so mucheasier.
But, more importantly, how tomaintain that relationship after
the fact, because you know ifyou grab a card and then walk
away and never talk to themagain it was kind of pointless,
(36:25):
right, yeah, yeah, and I thinktoo, we can certainly get into
that.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
I want to just flip the limited beliefs, because I
used to have this too.
I used to be a really shy kidand I would think what you just
said you know, like, oh, no onewants to hear from me.
To be a really shy kid and Iwould think what you just said
you know like oh, no one wantsto hear from me, I'm not
interesting, nobody cares what Ihave to say, and I just want
everyone who's listening to feellike let's flip that.
Like what if people reallythought what you had was
interesting to say?
What if people really wanted totalk to you?
Like, just, you have to go intoa networking event conversation
(36:49):
scenario with that mindset, orelse you know you're not going
to really do your best.
And it also shows such an easewhen you can believe that about
yourself.
Just like, hey, I'm about to gointo this event, I can't wait
to meet people, I can't wait tolearn about others.
I'm sure people are going tohave questions for me too, and
it's going to be a really fun.
So I hope that people can justflip it.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
I agree I didn't.
I would have never pictured youas a shy kid.
I was too Like.
Constantly, people like you'reblushing I'm like that's just
because you're looking at me.
I existed.
I was so shy.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
But also what a relief, you know, when people
come up to you at thesenetworking events.
You know, sometimes you mightfeel awkward approaching a group
or, you know, jumping into aconversations that that's
already in the middle of, butwhen you do that, people are so
relieved because I think a lotof people are like that.
They're like, oh gosh, what amI going to say when I hear oh no
, Isn't it such a relief whensomeone takes you by the hand
(37:46):
and is like, hey, I really wantto know more about what you're
doing or what you're looking for.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
Yes, yeah and right.
There is a good point in thatyou're asking questions about
them, so you're kind of guidingthe conversation and letting
them tell their stories.
So it doesn't.
It feels less awkward for thembecause they're being asked to
tell their story.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Yeah, and it's something that they know the
most about that.
Everyone in that room, out ofanyone, you know the most about
your unique story.
I'm not asking you to explainquantum physics to me.
I'm just asking you to tell meabout what you're doing that day
.
So I think it's these low riskquestions.
It puts people at ease.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Speaking of when we went out to breakfast a couple
weeks ago.
You mentioned making it a game,so can you explain how people
can do that?
Speaker 2 (38:41):
Yes.
So I'm a huge game show fan.
I have to give myself likenumbers and make it a challenge
for myself.
So when I say, go to going to anetworking event, or even if
you're networking on the jobsearch or after you've gone to
an event, you can use this atany phase of the networking
process which is like for therest of your life, pretty much
human networking.
(39:02):
But I say if you're at an eventyou can.
Let's see how many people arethere.
If there's 20 people, just say Iam not going to leave until I
talk to three people.
Or I am going to spend 30minutes here and I am not going
to sit in the corner, I'm goingto sit in that middle table or
I'm going to walk up to thefront.
You have to give yourself achallenge and that's why I say
(39:23):
make it.
It can be either a numberschallenge or it can be something
that scares you, like walkingto the front of the room or I
think to even making it a game.
It's like could I volunteer ifthe room?
Or I think too, even making ita game is like could I volunteer
If I volunteer?
If I check someone in, how manypeople can I talk to after I
did so, just putting numbersbehind it or giving yourself a
scary challenge.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
That's so fun, and I create those little games for
myself too, like for BizDev, forexample.
I know the percentage of peopleI have to have conversations
with to meet my sales goals, soI make it a game.
This is how many people I haveto talk to this week.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
If it's 20 per week, that's five for this four.
You know, yeah, all of that,you just kind of keep it going.
And I think it's the same whenwe talk about how to re-engage
your existing work Write down Iknow this sounds crazy, but
write down every single personthat you've worked with and you
know, not the one that you metthat one time, but that you've
actually worked with over theyears and that they would know
(40:20):
your name, they would recognizeyou, and just put it, just put a
list.
And if you want to re-engageyour network, your existing
network, just go and howevermany that could be 100, that
could be 20.
I don't know how long you'vebeen working or how many people
you've worked with, so you haveto kind of make it customized to
your experience.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
That's a feasible goal.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Yeah, well, let's say for me I mean, I've been
working for like 15 years so Iprobably could think of, quickly
, 50 people.
So if you want to re-engage allthose 50 people, make it a game
and you can say, hey, over thenext 10 weeks I'm going to reach
out to five per week, and youjust put a list and you can even
make a spreadsheet.
It's another form of making agame, I guess, and you can put
(41:02):
everyone's name on a spreadsheet.
I know it maybe sounds takessome of the authenticity out,
but I kind of just think it'sgood record keeping.
So you can say, ok, I met thisperson this day or I worked with
them at this company, here'sthe last date of the last time I
talked to them.
And then any kind of specialnotes, like if you know they
have some kind of hobby, ortheir family, something about
their family or their kids names, or they have a dog, any kind
(41:23):
of detail, because I mean, somepeople have just crazy memories
and they can do all that.
But if you don't have that, andit's been a few years, you can
have all those nodes there andthen, when you do reengage with
them, oh, how was your trip toCape Cod four years ago or
whatever six months ago.
So you have something to kindof kick off from and it's not so
awkward.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Yeah, yeah.
And for those who are listening, who are founders, for example,
you probably have a CRM whereyou can have this information in
there.
I have an air table where Ikeep meticulous track of
everybody I reach out to, so Iknow the percentages that I need
to hit my sales goals.
Those are just some easy waysyou can gather data around it
(42:05):
too.
So you're suggesting that firstcontact should be just soft,
asking a question aboutsomething that's happened
recently.
Speaker 2 (42:17):
Yeah, I think this is like my life philosophy.
I feel like it's easier to careabout people than it is to ask
for things.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Agreed.
It's so much easier to servetoo.
Like I'm offering you thisthing rather than asking for
something because I have, have,I cannot.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
Yeah, every person you meet, everyone listening,
has something cool that theyknow a lot about.
That could help a lot of people.
So thinking about it that way,I feel like for me you know, I
do a lot of recruiting, I do alot of interview preparation.
I know how to do jobinterviewing.
I interview thousands of peoplea year.
I mean I know how to do thosethings.
So, interview thousands ofpeople a year, I mean I know how
to do those things.
So if there's someone who says,oh, I'm struggling with my
(42:56):
interviews, I'm like I can helpyou Immediately.
I'm like I can think about that.
Or if you're saying, hey, Iwant to meet someone in this
field, I talk to those peopleall the time.
Oh, I know someone.
So it's just thinking aboutwhat you can get.
But I do think the softapproach of how's your family?
What's going on with you?
Oh, great, oh, you work herenow.
Oh, I didn't know.
I got a new job.
(43:16):
What made you make the move?
Or why did you decide to startyour own business?
Or what gaps are you seeing inthe market?
What's the hardest thing aboutyour business today?
Anything like that, just reallynatural, organic questions.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Yeah, just showing a genuine interest in their lives,
so novel.
Speaker 2 (43:36):
So novel, I know, but I find that I get to the best
conversations, I mean with youtoo.
You know we've had that greatbreakfast we met like two years
ago.
We don't talk all the time, butI feel like I know a lot about
you and your life and whatyou're looking for, and I feel
like you know that about me tooand you raise the vibration, you
(43:57):
raise the quality of yourrelationships when you leave the
you know automated questionsbehind and you just start
talking to people.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
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Yeah, so when you say leavingthe automated questions behind,
(45:38):
that makes me think of scriptingyour conversations.
You think more in the terms ofprompts.
Can you give me some examplesof prompts that might make it
easier for someone where it justdoesn't come that naturally.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
Yeah, and I know that this is awkward for people, but
you know we're going to flipthe script and we're going to
say it's not awkward, thatyou're super interesting, you
have a lot to offer.
And I think yes or no questionsare.
Let's put those on the backburner for a while.
Let's think about open-endedquestions that give people a lot
of breath to answer.
So when you're at an event inperson, let's say, you could say
(46:14):
something like oh, how did youhear about this event?
Or where's the last place youtraveled?
If they say something abouttraveling, or just you know,
whatever the event is about, aska question about okay, if this
is about a entrepreneur, like,tell me about your business.
Okay, you're an entrepreneur,why did you decide to start that
?
Or what's your favorite way tospend your time when you're not
(46:35):
working on your business?
So all of these questions arenot yes or no and they give you
a lot of room for people toexpand their answers and then
you can ask more questions offof that.
So it's just kind of like youask one question but then you
get information to ask threemore.
So you can it can really jumpit off and get to know people
(46:56):
quickly.
Speaker 1 (46:56):
Yeah, and that is something that I mentioned
before we hit record.
I do all the time in podcastingor when I'm interviewing my
clients to help them with theircontent creation.
It's I prompt them withsomething and then it spurs into
the next thing.
These podcasts aren't scriptedin the slightest bit.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
I just have like three prompts and everything
else just fills in and a lot oftimes you probably get something
that you're like oh, I didn'teven think about that All the
time, or I had never.
Yeah, because you have theseopen-ended questions.
It just raises the quality.
Speaker 1 (47:32):
Yes, so we have how to re-engage the people that
have been in our lives beforethat we haven't talked to in a
while in a more comfortable way,and some prompts if we're
starting to have thoseconversations at either
networking events, or someprompts if we're starting to
have those conversations ateither networking events or
connection calls, when we'rereengaging that audience.
But now let's talk about theafter.
(47:55):
In the after, how do youmaintain those relationships and
make sure that they don't fallaway again?
Speaker 2 (48:01):
Yeah, so if it's been a couple of years since you
talked to somebody?
Yeah, so if it's been a coupleof years since you talked to
somebody a lot of times too, andwe can get to this.
But if they post a lot onLinkedIn or whatever platform
that you are going to connectwith them on maybe Slack or
YouTube, I don't know how youknow everybody, but I do a lot
on LinkedIn, so I would probablymessage someone on LinkedIn,
(48:25):
especially if I worked with themtwo years ago.
I might not have their workemail.
We don't work at the same placeanymore, I don't know.
So I would go.
If it's virtual, I would go onLinkedIn and I would just say
hey, you know, I noticed thatyou're still at X company.
How's it been going for you?
I'd love for us to catch up andreally stating your intentions
like don't, without asking forthings.
So just saying I'd love for usyour intentions, like don't,
(48:47):
without asking for things.
So just say I'd love for us tochat, but I miss talking to you.
I love when we work together.
You have some what's youravailability over the next
couple of weeks to just grab acoffee or just grab a call and
not saying are you available,what's your availability?
Speaker 1 (49:00):
Yeah, Not a yes or no question, and it's casual, it's
no pressure.
Speaker 2 (49:06):
Yeah, and sometimes people won't answer you.
You might get people that don'tcheck their LinkedIn, or you
might get people who maybe theyare not in the mood to network
or they're nervous like you andso they might not answer you.
You might not get 100 percentresponse rate, but a lot of
times you get people.
If you really knew them, youknow they would say oh my gosh,
sarah, it's been years.
I would love to.
(49:28):
How about next Friday?
Are you available?
Are you in town, or we can justgrab a virtual coffee.
So I think just saying thingslike what's your availability,
how's it been going since X, y,z thing, have you, if you know
them through?
We know Sarah and I know eachother through the AMA.
So how's have you beenattending a lot of these AMA
events lately?
(49:48):
How's that been going?
Things like that?
So, however you've met them,make sure to drop that in case
they forgot, you know, to remindthem who you are and how you
know them.
And yeah, just no, yes or noquestions and just keep it super
casual.
Speaker 1 (50:01):
Yeah, that is a really good point too, and that
when, like my success ratereaching out to people on
LinkedIn versus email is so muchhigher.
If I had my air table up Icould tell you the exact
percentage, but it's just morecasual slipping into the DMs and
having a conversation and Ithink that people are more
(50:23):
protective of their email andfeeling like it's down to
business and I'm just alwaysreaching for that zero inbox so
I'm deleting a lot of emailsthat probably matter, but it's
unattainable.
Speaker 2 (50:43):
Inbox zero.
I'm always trying to get theretoo and yeah, I totally agree.
I think people just kind ofgloss over their emails.
Sometimes with LinkedIn theysee it.
And another thing you can do isif someone on your list that
you made of 50 people or howevermany if they post on LinkedIn a
lot, maybe you could writesomething on their posts.
If they comment what initiativethey're doing, or you see them
(51:05):
say something, you can say, ohmy gosh, that's so funny.
And then message them privatelyand be like hey, I saw your
post about XYZ.
It made me think of you.
How are you doing?
How's it been going since XYZmeeting time?
I'd love for us to catch up.
What's your availability overthe next couple of weeks?
Speaker 1 (51:21):
That is a great way to do.
Even a softer touch is startreengaging with their in the
comments and then they'll belike yes, yes, yes.
Actually that happened to melast week where someone who was
the content director when I wasjust when I was freelance
(51:42):
writing she was a contentdirector for the company and I
noticed that she kept commentingon my LinkedIn posts.
I'm like I haven't.
She was so high above me that Ionly saw her cc'd on emails to
me, but I was like I haven'tinteracted with her in ages.
I wonder what she's up to andwe're setting up a call to
(52:03):
reconnect.
But that's exactly how Ihappened.
Speaker 2 (52:08):
These are how it's just.
I think in general, we talkabout networking after the fact
or in the moment.
I think you have to just leadwith caring about people.
I have so many examples.
We do not have enough time inthe day for me to give you
specific examples that Iremember, and there's probably
other ones that I forgot,because you know, I haven't
slept in years.
I've got two kids under five.
(52:29):
But I can tell you I walked upto someone this is a good one, I
think, because I was at anevent and it was actually out in
Las Vegas and we live inChicago, and I was.
I told you, I'm a marketingrecruiter, and this person who
was leading a panel, also amarketing recruiter, lived in
Chicago, owned her own business,and I was like what we're so
(52:51):
parallel lives, how is it thatwe don't know each other?
So I just walked up to her andI was like hey, I mean, I just
kind of said what I said youknow you work in marketing
recruiting, so do I?
How do we not know each other?
I'd just love to meet you.
And she said, hey, are youinterviewing for jobs?
And I said no, and she's likewell, here's my card.
Why don't you come by theoffice next week and I ended up
(53:12):
working for her.
That's awesome.
So I didn't even ask for a job.
I wasn't even looking for a job.
But that's how it goes.
Speaker 1 (53:28):
Yeah, it really is when thinking back, because
we're similar ages, so I've alsobeen in the workforce for about
15 years, looking back.
Every single job that I'vegotten and most that my friends
have gotten were from people Iknew I was like, oh, you know
what?
I know someone who is lookingfor that kind of role.
Let me connect you guys.
Speaker 2 (53:45):
Yeah, and there was some TED talk.
You can probably find it.
I don't know if you want to putit in the show notes, maybe I
can find it, but it was like themain things that happen in your
life, your main life events.
So, whether that's gettingmarried, getting a job, anything
that's a primary turning pointin your life, it's all
facilitated by third party orthird level connections.
(54:07):
So, you know, your firstconnection is like your brother
and sister, second is like yourfriend and then third is someone
you barely know.
And it's so true.
I mean, I got that job from aperson I barely knew at that
time and think about all thepeople that you know.
Oh, let me just connect youguys.
And then it's like, before youknow it, you got a job there or
you're working together.
Speaker 1 (54:33):
Yeah, that's so interesting, I'm going to look
for it.
Yeah, I'm trying your thirdyeah, I'm thinking of like how I
met my husband.
My best friend was cousins withhis best friend and we ended up
at the same party.
Speaker 2 (54:42):
Third connection yeah , everyone listening is thinking
about this.
They're like how did I meetthis person?
Or how did I get that job?
It's your third connection mostlikely, unless some people have
been married since like thethird grade, I don't know, but
most of it is third levelconnections.
Speaker 1 (54:58):
Before we wrap up, I wanted to touch on a couple
other ways that I stay connectedto people after I meet them.
Some other options.
Like for events that I've goneto, we created group texts where
we would find where to meet upduring the event.
So we just kept that group textgoing from the event.
(55:22):
Another one is event.
Another one is oh, what was it?
Oh, I set a boomerang on myGmail every 90 days to reconnect
so I don't forget.
Speaker 2 (55:34):
That's a great idea and you can have this
spreadsheet.
If you're you know less techlike me, I'm like I look at like
spreadsheets or I could set upboomerangs, that's a good idea.
But I have a spreadsheet oflike the last time I talked to
someone, if it's been 90 days or60 days, I'm like, oh, you can
refer to that too.
And that's the other thing.
When people at events like AMAor some kind of organization
(55:54):
that has Slack, you can keep upwith people and ask hey, are you
coming to the next meeting orthe next event?
Hey, I'll be there in two weeks.
Okay, great, you know, I'll seeyou there, and it's so easy to
just ask people if they're going.
Speaker 1 (56:08):
Oh, that's a really good point.
If there's a community attachedto the event, even better.
Yeah, yeah, I have found thatcommunities and then attending
those events are the mostprofitable way for me to spend
my time.
They so often turn into workfrom third party connections.
People like, oh, a clientactually needs this.
(56:31):
Let me connect you to.
Speaker 2 (56:35):
Yeah, a lot of it's timing, and I think overall, the
main point is just to be openand not necessarily feel so
desperate Like, oh my gosh, Ihave to talk to five people this
week.
Don't put a panic on it.
Just say, hey, I love this as agoal.
I'm going to try it out.
Let's do five people a week,let's just see what happens.
And then, once they say youknow you've reached out to them
(56:56):
on LinkedIn or whatever platform, then they say, hey, let's meet
.
Then you can ask a lot moreopen ended questions How's it
been going?
I'm so glad we could catch uptoday.
So what have you been doing thelast few months?
And then they'll give youthings.
And if you are looking for ajob or you are looking for new
business, you can say myfavorite four words when
networking keep me in mind oh mygosh, I totally forgot.
Speaker 1 (57:19):
you told me that.
Can you just touch on that?
All right, I was wrapping upand now I'm not.
Can you just touch on that?
Keep on, keep me in mind, thing.
Speaker 2 (57:30):
Yes.
So you know, I, like I said,it's way easier to care about
people than to ask for things.
Keep me in mind is just, hey,I'm open to it, but I'm not
asking and I'm not going toforce you to say yes or no to me
right now or no to me right now.
So I have a like that funnystory I have is so David
Schwimmer?
He played Ross on Friends and ifyou all watch the, if you know
(57:52):
the show Friends, of course, butif you watch the reunion, he
talked about it and he said Iinterviewed with the creators of
Friends, obviously not at thattime, but he said, 10 years ago
I met with those people and Idid a casting call and wasn't
the right show at that pointbecause it was, you know, 1984,
like before Friends started.
And he said, you know, itwasn't the right thing and they
didn't pick me, but we likedeach other, we just had this
(58:13):
kinship, and so I left theaudition after they told me no.
But I said keep me in mind forsomething else, cut to 10 years
later they're casting Friendsand David Schwimmer is the first
person they cast because theymet him 10 years ago and it was,
like you know it didn't work,that it didn't work out 10 years
ago, but he said keep me inmind and they remember it.
And he remembered, and then therest is history.
Speaker 1 (58:33):
That is so brilliant and you really just wiggle
wormed into my brain with that,because I have started saying
keep me in mind, and it does.
Speaker 2 (58:50):
It has circled back already, just since we had that
conversation.
Yes, and it's not so.
You know you don't want to.
I never like asking, but it'sso hard to ask for things and if
you don't, you just it mightnot even be the right time.
So it's like, hey, keep me inmind when the time's right it'll
work.
Speaker 1 (59:01):
Yes, yes, so now for reals, before we wrap up, I just
wanted to touch on our workshop.
We are hold on pause, pause,pause.
I am pulling it up here.
It is April 23rd at 1.30 pm,central Standard Time.
(59:21):
I'm more of the emcee, you'rethe expert on it, but Jenna and
I are going to be hosting aworkshop called Five Ways to
Network Without being Awkward.
Do you want to touch on some ofthe things that we'll be
digging into?
Speaker 2 (59:46):
into work, because that's what we're going to do.
We're going to go very specificquestions on like how to at
which, questions that are notyes or no questions, and we're
going to have you do that andput it into practice immediately
and see how you feel whenyou're doing it.
And then to just this pointabout when you're networking.
I think we always think, oh,who do I ask?
But it's like, how can youserve first, how can you say
what can I give people?
And when you lead with thatgenerosity, it is kind of
(01:00:09):
subconscious that people want togive it back to you.
So how can you your uniqueskills, crafting your elevator
pitch Like what are you reallygood at?
How could you help people andthen go out to your networking
conversations with those thingsin mind?
Speaker 1 (01:00:30):
with those things in mind, yes, yes, yes, yes, and I
just want to touch on howbeneficial networking can really
be.
My Q4 of last year washorrendous.
I mean, December usually sucks,but I spent that entire month
networking.
I was like I'm going to go allin and I networked a ton and
then by January I was booked outthrough May it really helps.
(01:00:52):
And I was using these sametactics that Jenna taught today.
Speaker 2 (01:01:00):
I'm glad that you are showing that these things work,
because sometimes it's hard toshow it.
You're like, oh, I could neverdo that.
And it's like, yes, you can.
And the results can justmultiply and transform your
business and your life and itchanges how you feel about
yourself too.
Speaker 1 (01:01:15):
Yeah, it does.
And my mindset really shiftedbecause I did feel uncomfortable
for a long time about it.
And then I started going intothose conversations with gives
already prepared.
I did my research and I waslike I know a few people that I
think could be really beneficialto that person.
I'm going to have those introsready to go, or I'd love to
(01:01:39):
collaborate with that person.
I just knew what my gives wouldbe ahead of time and then, as
the conversation progressed, I'dsee which one of those gives
that I had pre-thought aboutwould actually work.
Speaker 2 (01:01:51):
That's a great way to leave those conversations.
When you're re-engaging yournetwork is just at the very end
say oh my gosh, it was so greatconnecting with you.
You know we were talking aboutthis thing.
I'm going to introduce you tothat person, I'll send an email
intro, I'll set it up and thenit's like you leave.
You ask for the conversation,but you're leaving giving them
something, so they feel like itwas worth their time too.
Speaker 1 (01:02:17):
Yes, absolutely.
And when I'm like reallycrossing my fingers that I don't
fall out with this person, likewe just, you know, drift off
away from each other, I alwayshave a second ask prepared, like
what's a way that I can set upa re-engagement in a way with
that?
So we can.
I can make sure to maintainthat relationship.
Yeah, absolutely so, jenna.
(01:02:38):
Where can people find youonline and connect with you?
Speaker 2 (01:02:44):
Yes, so you can find me on LinkedIn.
My name is Jenna Kimball and Ialso have a website.
If you want to look there, it'swwwjennakimballcom, and I have
my.
I did write a book, actually,about how to interview, how to
ace your job interview, so youcan find it there or you can
find it on Amazon.
But yeah, just connect with meon LinkedIn.
I'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (01:03:05):
Get excited, because next week we start our season
five brand new episodes and ourfirst guest will be Haley Denker
, talking about how to generateleads with events.
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