Build a Powerful Business Network - with Tiffany Anderson

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Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Durable Entrepreneur Show, where we talk with the experts to know how to help early stage entrepreneurs get from day one to year six.
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Half of all small businesses fail in their first five years, but you are not going to be one of them.
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Listen up and apply what you learn so you can survive and thrive well beyond year five.
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I'm your host, Sean O'Hara, and today we are very lucky to have the opportunity to learn from Tiffany Anderson, a community engagement strategist, networking expert, and speaker that helps her clients elevate their networking skills and strategy to accelerate their success.
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She's a contributing author to the Amazon best-selling book, How to Maximize Your Network, Build Your Business, Crush the Competition, and Triumph in Any Eyes.
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And I know you want to do all of that.
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I promise you, after this episode, you're going to be looking for opportunities to network using Tiffany's tried and true expert guidance.
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No one gets there alone.
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And Tiffany is going to show you how you can make valuable, fulfilling connections that will definitely help you achieve long-term, durable success as an entrepreneur.
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She's going to share how to develop an effective networking strategy, why you need to make it a routine part of your business, and how to make that happen.
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She's going to talk about how to invest your time and effort in the right places, as well as what winning looks like in networking.
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And she's also going to share what you need to know about the far-reaching power of your echo and a lot more.
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Welcome, Tiffany, to Durable Entrepreneurs.
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Hello, thank you for having me.
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Happy to be here.
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Being an expert in networking, I feel like you can answer so many questions that people have about how to do this right.
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Because I feel like and I can count myself among these people, people do it wrong.
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And a lot of people put in effort on networking events and maybe they throw in the towel or just get frustrated.
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But based on what I've read and things that you've written and what I've heard you talk about, there is a right way to do it.
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But starting out, why do so many people cringe just at the idea of attending networking events?
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I mean, what are most of us getting wrong here?
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And that's a pretty loaded question, but I'll do my best to kind of narrow it down.
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I think that in the space of networking, people have gotten to the point that you're right, we're tired because the the space is inundated, number one.
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And number two, I don't think people are coming into the networking space anymore with the same strategy and um effort and engagement that they would any other part of their business.
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I mean, when we're starting a business, when we're going out, when we're trying to be the best at what we're doing, we're reading the books and we're listening to the podcasts and we are engaged, right?
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I think networking people take for granted as just showing up.
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And showing up is no longer the end goal.
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Showing up is step one in a list of best practices.
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So you can't just show up to the space and hand out business cards, which is the way it was done for a long time and maybe was in some ways beneficial.
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But now you can't do that.
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There are so many people in that networking space and at these events.
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Uh, because if you think about it, now we we're in a space where it's not just your corporate professionals that as it once was, but you have all of these new entrepreneurs.
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You have small to mid businesses, you have solopreneurs, you have freelancers out there doing their day job, but still freelancing their efforts in the networking space.
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And so when you have all of these people vying for the same amount of attention at these, it really is about, it becomes about people wanting their face in front of as many people as possible.
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But that really doesn't make a difference if you're not making a connection during that time.
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So I think where we're missing it is we're not coming in with a strategy.
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We think showing up and doing a quick sales pitch is gonna seal the deal, and it just will not.
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There has to be a connection.
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Um, otherwise it feels kind of sleazy when when you've just been confronted by person after person trying to sell you on a quick sell.
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That's not what we came to do.
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We came to make some connections and be excited about something when we leave that that space at the end, right?
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Yes.
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Those are very, very cutting insights, and I feel like a lot of people can relate.
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So you you mentioned the idea of not just showing up, which I'm sure a lot of people do.
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There's like, oh, we got this after hours thing, uh, you know, stop by on the way home.
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But in order to make the most of these opportunities, what type of prep work should people typically be doing before they show up at the event?
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And that's a really good question.
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And there are so many ways that you can get prepared, but let's let's take it from the nerves perspective.
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If this is just not your your normal MO, you're not the person who's gonna get out there and start the conversation.
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Um, you're just fine being included, but you're not necessarily the first person to start the conversation, right?
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And that's a lot of people.
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You've started a business, but that doesn't mean that you're, you know, I'm in a community-facing role.
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That's where I thrive.
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That's not everybody.
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And so I can't have the same expectation out of everyone to handle it, you know, the same way I might.
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So one really great best practice if that's not your strength, or if let's say you're going into a new space, because you want to get to know what type of event you're walking into.
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So do your research first.
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That's important.
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But I recently went to an event and it was it within a new group that I have only recently begun attending.
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And so I don't know as many people.
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I'm just now in enveloping this new territory.
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And so I just I don't know as many people as in previous territories.
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And so I can contacted a friend, someone that I know, because he shows up at the same events that I do regularly.
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And I said, Are you going to this event?
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And he said, Yeah, I'm on my way there now.
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I said, Great.
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Will you be my wingman?
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You treated just like you would a night out, you know, with a friend, but in a networking situation.
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And I and I laid it out for him.
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I said, Andy, I don't know a lot of people here, but I do have a lot of people, you know, with their eyes on me at this event and seeing how I'm going to make these connections.
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And um, I want to put my best foot forward.
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And this is me as a seasoned networker saying, in this space, let's let's kind of work this together.
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Let's, you know, and I didn't want him right next to me, pulling me into conversations.
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And he understood the assignment immediately.
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And this man went before me, and I could hear from across the room, like, oh, you do this.
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Have you met Tiffany yet?
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Tiffany works over here and she does this.
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And you should really have a conversation with her.
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And it people were coming to me to engage.
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I didn't have to seek people out.
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They had heard my name before I walked in the room because I'm allowing someone else to speak for me.
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And it was a, it was an easy thing to do because I already had an established relationship with this person who could speak so well of me and what I do because I've already made that meaningful connection with him.
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So once you've started making those real, actual, meaningful connections, they will work for you.
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That that was something that could move out into the room ahead of me and engage people on my behalf.
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And so the same way you would engage and that you would plan for any other part of your business, you have to plan your networking accordingly as well.
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So if it's nerves, have someone.
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You can be learning their best practices in real time.
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That's another thing that I like to do.
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If I know there's someone who is just working the room, I am mentally taking notes.
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And I am saying, well, I I like the way he engaged them by talking about what they were wearing or just starting those conversations.
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It's the same thing as going out and and just meeting new people.
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This is just we put so much pressure on it because it's a professional setting and we put the pressure of our business on our shoulders, but it really is about making a connection.
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And so I think that it's important to take the step back and say, how would you normally in life connect to people and just employ those same tactics?
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That's interesting and very informative.
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I mean, a couple things that I was thinking about as you were speaking is that I think a lot of people think about networking events as a lot more transactional than what you're describing and how to do it effectively.
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You you talked about having a having a strategy showing in, but also it seems like it's actually more than a um an exercise in trying to find this person that you're looking for or that could be a customer or a partner, and more about sort of committing to this community overall, right?
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Because that's how that that commitment to that community was what set up that whole situation that you had with somebody who was in the same room as you, who was able to really articulate very well what you could do and actually be finding potential matches for you as well, right?
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Am I right about that with the network?
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That and that's dead accurate because I don't enter the room thinking I need to meet somebody within this industry to make this particular contact.
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I need to only speak to people who are, you know, facing this direction because then I miss everybody that that the person is connected to that I chose not to speak to, right?
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So it's not about only the people in the room.
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It's not about the person only who's standing in front of you.
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It's about every single person that they're connected to.
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That is what a network is.
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That is what networking is.
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It's about making this one connection.
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Let me make this bridge to you, Sean, so that you can be so impressed with the either the passion or what I had to say or the connection or an initiative, but something I want you to get to know who I am so that when you walk away, even if you decide, I don't know if I have something here to connect with her specifically in my business, but I do know this person said that they needed this and I'm gonna introduce them to Tiffany.
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It's about building that bridge to the next connection.
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So if you are only looking at a transaction and trying to sell someone in that moment, you will lose me if you're standing in front of me and all you're trying to do is hit me with a hard sale for here's what I can do for you.
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I don't know if I even remember your name yet.
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I don't know what company we're talking about.
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I don't know who you are as a person.
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I don't know if I can trust you.
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Do I know you?
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Do I like you yet?
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Do I trust you with my business to make a knee-jerk reaction to give you my business?
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No, not that quickly.
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But if I take that opportunity to build a relationship, and and I I don't want to put so much pressure on that because I you don't want to overshare and like get relationshipy with the person immediately, but you do want to start building that foundation just enough that they want to have a second interaction with you.
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That when we leave that space, they're saying, Yes, Tiffany, I will go have a cup of coffee with you this week because there is more that I want to know.
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So it's about wanting that next step, that next interaction, making someone curious or engaged enough that they want that.
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So that when you call, it you've already primed the conversation and they're ready.
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But that can't happen with someone who is not listening while you're speaking because they're waiting to say, right?
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Absolutely.
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And um what I'm hearing you say really is that the the human connection is the most important piece of the whole thing, right?
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And and the the sales pitch that people expect to get, or maybe people go with the intention of delivering, actually creates a barrier because you're you're not even establishing that that human connection first.
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Correct.
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It's all about knowing that this person has a journey and that you're a part of that in this moment.
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I think the the ones, the connections that I've made that have gone the distance that I still would reach out to today if I had any need, um, are those that happened organically.
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We met somewhere in the same crowded room with tons of other people dying for time and attention.
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But when they stood in front of me, they didn't talk about, you know, how they could plug me in and how they could get me involved and make me feel like I was a commodity.
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They made me feel like I got to be a fly on the wall for their journey, for their story right now.
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And so, for example, um, I did attend an event and it was um, you know, a Latin chamber and made a lot of really great connections, was really trying to foster that, those relationships, and that was um new, you know, in this area for me.
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And I was approached by a woman who just wanted to talk about what she did.
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And at first I didn't know what she did, never said the company, she never said what the organization was.
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She just said, I help young women get scholarships, I help young women who are engaged in educational opportunities and have desire to do more with their life.
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I help them get career skills, I help them with personal and professional growth.
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These are all the things that make me tick as a human being, not just in my job.
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My mission and my values align with everything that I do personally and professionally.
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And that's the ticket is you want that to be so interchangeable that you're not marrying yourself to something you don't believe in.
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It's all the same, it becomes one and the same.
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But I was so connected to what she had to say.
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At the end of it, I said, I'd love to know about what you do and how I can get involved.
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I was clamoring for an opportunity to get involved because I could hear the passion and what she was doing.
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Everything she said that she was hoping to accomplish were the things I was hoping to accomplish.
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And the next thing I know, I'm speaking to a room full of young ladies competing in a Miss Latina contest for scholarship opportunities.
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We are giving them educational opportunities, we are giving them headshots through another connection that I'd had.
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So now I'm the bridge and I'm connecting and I'm bringing more people in because I'm excited about what they're doing.
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And then likewise, she started sending me here.
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Tiffany is great at connecting people.
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If you have something that you need in this space, Tiffany is a good go-to.
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And then I was getting people knocking on my door because of that relationship.
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And it all started with a conversation where she said, This is what I do, this is what I care about.
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And these are the things that make me come alive.
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And I said, Me too.
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And so we that was the natural relationship.
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And that's how these things happen.
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She did not tell me first, you know, how can I get you involved?
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This is what I need you to do.
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She said, This is what excites me.
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And it just happened to be in line with my values.
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That is that's incredible.
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So uh can you share a little bit about the importance of shared values and finding people that you connect with on at that level?
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Yeah, absolutely.
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And that to me, that's uh one of my top three moves, one of my immediate first things that I do.
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I mean, the networking space is great, and those are your events, and you show up, but the values alignment is such a strong second step.
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So now I've made a connection with someone at an event.
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Um, I am interested and intrigued enough that I know I want to have a second meeting with them, but I want to be prepared for that meeting.
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I want to know, first of all, is there something deeper that maybe we can move forward and do?
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Are we aligned with our values?
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And the way that I do that is I immediately check out their website and I want to see do you have a space where you're talking about what your mission, what your values, what your goals are?
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And then I will write those down and I will make them concise and then I will mirror them to mine because of course I have my top three things written down.
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And if they align and I say these things go hand in hand, I know that there's something that we can move forward and do together because I already know that what I'm passionate about, they're passionate about.
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And when I come back to them with that conversation, I can give real examples of how we can connect and why this is fertile ground for a relationship because I've already done the research.
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I have already looked into it.
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And then once I've done a little bit of digging on the website, I might jump onto LinkedIn and see what are the things that you are constantly posting or engaged in because those are the things that that excite you.
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Those are the things that make you tick because you are constantly engaging in them.
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And so then I can get to a point that I'm engaging in some of the same things.
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And that becomes, you know, shared experience, right?
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That's one more thing that says, wow, Tiffany is not just, you know, trying to sell me on something, but she's has the same interest and the same end goal, perhaps that I do.
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And so values alignment for me is first of all, if you don't know what they are, good place to start.
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If you don't very clearly know as a solopreneur, as a small business, exactly what your values are as a business, you need to start there because people will ask.
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And you don't want to be the person empty-handed when someone asks you what your values are because you haven't given it any thought, because that could come off as a red flag.
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Oh, this person doesn't even know who they are.
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Why would I hitch my wagon to that?
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Right.
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Who can align with that?
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Who can align with what we don't know?
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So know what yours are, but definitively, like these are the things.
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And if it doesn't fall into one of those categories, if it doesn't fall in line with your, you know, your goals, is there an outside of the box way to make that fit so that a relationship can happen?
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Or can you build that bridge for them to connect to someone else?
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So let me ask you a follow-up question on that.
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With if you meet somebody like that, it seems like a very synergistic, exponential growth opportunity for you to align with somebody that you feel like, wow, we've really got strong opportunities here to help each other.
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What if you have that opposite situation in a networking environment and you're talking to somebody, maybe it's a little too long, and and you know early on that this is not a good fit.
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How how do you go about tactfully moving on?
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I think that you know, an important thing to think about is that there is no connection that will be a bad connection.
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I mean, making that connection is always going to be a positive thing.
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They're not all going to be your ideal connection, and that's okay.
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Like if you're only looking for that ideal person, you are just, you know, wiping out so much of your potential network.
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But for me, because I've already been listening, like really actively listening, and I can tell you, you know, what and and I I'm someone who likes to reiterate things back.
00:19:54.240 --> 00:20:06.480
And so if you're talking, especially if you are a talker, this is someone who has now been talking my ear off, and they, you know, have monopolized the conversation and maybe they're even being a little salesy and they're they're not letting go.
00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:11.359
So I will take an opportunity to interject and I will repeat back to them.
00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:14.960
So I understand that this is what you do, like, correct?
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:17.440
Is this this what you know your business is about?
00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:19.680
This is the goal that you're working on right now.
00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:21.359
So, you know, this is what you're doing.
00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:27.519
Those all sound really great, but these are my priorities right now, and I don't see how those fit.
00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:29.200
So that might change.
00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:36.960
Or if I think of a way that I could incorporate that down the line when my priorities shift, I'd love to stay in touch.
00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:39.119
And so then I have their information.
00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.519
They know I'm not just telling them no.
00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:50.880
I'm saying, hey, maybe not right now, but I'm also kind of taking the lead and saying, I will call you when my my circumstances change, when my priorities shift.
00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:56.960
I will be the one to reach out to you so that now hopefully they're not going to bombard you with emails and calls.
00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:00.880
And if they do, you can gently remind them, I have your information.
00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:03.680
I will contact you when the time is right.
00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:13.839
In the meantime, if these are your goals and these are the objectives that you're working on now, can I offer you a contact of someone that I think might be a better fit?
00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:15.839
And then I'm still offering them.
00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:22.400
I still now I am an active part of their network because I am connecting them to someone else.
00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:24.960
And it's not pawing them off on someone else.
00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:35.920
It really is thinking, I had a conversation with this other person who, again, I don't think is a good connection for me right now, but I'm gonna set these two people up, let them have a conversation and go from there.
00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:40.880
But if you think of it in terms of, you know, it's not a no, it's a not right now.
00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:43.839
Maybe right now this does not fit with my priorities.
00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:50.559
If you can come to me later and tell me how maybe we could be creative and you could fit those priorities, great.
00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:55.039
Cause now you've put the ownership in their court and they can say, well, maybe we could do this.
00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:58.960
And if they bring something else viable to the table, they're not selling me on it.
00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.759
They're they're asking.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.240
Actively participating and trying to make something work.
00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:06.160
And I might be a little more up for that second conversation.
00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:10.240
So I think the main thing is never letting it come off as rude.
00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:13.680
You're not telling them no and you're not closing the door.
00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:15.039
You're leaving the door open.
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:17.440
You're perhaps building a bridge to someone else.
00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:20.720
You're just being stern about what your priorities are.
00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.440
And that's okay.
00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.960
Be clear, be concise.
00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:31.119
Don't leave the door open where they think you're just saying, like, oh, let me talk to my team and I'll get back to you because that is an open door.
00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:34.319
I clearly say this is not something I can do right now.
00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.720
If that changes, I will reach out to you.
00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:40.400
But in the meantime, let me let me see if I can connect you to someone else.
00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:49.359
And I think that that's a really um viable and enriching way to keep the connection alive and keep it well without having to make any commitments yourself.
00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:54.799
I feel like what you effectively just said is just be transparent about it.
00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:58.319
You don't have to like navigate this like it's a game, right?
00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:04.319
You just going back to that human connection and the community as opposed to the transactional mindset.
00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:08.000
And and by doing that, being very transparent, you're honoring that person.
00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:12.559
Obviously, you're being very clear, right, about what to expect.
00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:17.759
But also I like the fact that you're trying to add value to that relationship already.
00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:23.839
If you have somebody else that you feel like could be a good connection for them, you're you're offering that as well.
00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:36.240
So you're you're planning, even though you're you're sort of disengaging on this potential immediate opportunity, you're you're planting seeds for something that that could happen down the road.
00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:40.960
Uh which I which I assume you've seen that happen many times.
00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:41.839
Absolutely.
00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:46.880
And that's the reason we never close the door, because uh there is that law of reciprocity.
00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:58.000
And so I think that especially in a business environment, when you know I've now said I'm saying not right now, but I am offering you this contact, and hopefully that contact is positive.
00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:06.000
They have a great conversation, they're going to feel compelled to come back to me and say, I was thinking, and here's another person I think you should talk to.
00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:10.400
And then now I have a viable lead, someone that I can connect to and I can work with.
00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:15.359
And sometimes it's a slow burn, and I think that's what you're talking about, where it doesn't happen immediately.
00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:17.680
This may not look like a great fit.
00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:23.440
And then come to find out the more that you talk and you leave that door open and you you have that connection.
00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:32.799
And um, I really strongly feel uh positive about the role that LinkedIn has as just being a window into what people are involved in.
00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:42.880
So if you can make that connection and just stay connected, where I see what you're engaged in and you can see what I'm engaged in, but we're not necessarily engaged together yet.
00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:51.039
Eventually something will come up and someone will say, I noticed that you were involved in this, and that made me think of this other organization I'd like to connect you.
00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:56.079
And then there's there's the connection, and it has already paid and the dividends keep coming.
00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:05.680
But I have had situations where in the not right now, not in my priorities, or like they're leading with what their company is.
00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:10.319
I find down the road that they're also civically involved in other things.
00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:14.480
So now we've opened doors to other opportunities and say, well, you know what?
00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:26.559
I don't see an opportunity here between my organization and yours, but I do also belong to this networking group, or I do belong to this civic organization, or I do belong to this nonprofit.
00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:32.880
And then it opens doors there for things that really do fall in line with my goals and my values.
00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:44.880
So, for example, I am incredibly involved and believe in things like DECA, which takes high school students and gives them the skills to go out and become entrepreneurs.
00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:53.119
And so that is something that I'm heavily involved in and stay heavily involved in because I have come across people in my path who do the same.
00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:58.240
Um something that I did in high school and have seen the fruits and and am the fruit.
00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:00.720
So think that that is worth time.
00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:12.319
Um civic organizations like Rotary and Kiwanis, strong, strong leaders that they're building, starting with young children through high school, college, and then you know, the organizations that we know and love.
00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:20.880
So there are so many opportunities to get involved that might not be the face value of the business they introduce themselves as in that first line.
00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:26.240
You mentioned all of these different organizations that somebody can be involved in.
00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:31.680
And and all of those inherently have some networking potential, right?
00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:41.599
Do you have any thoughts about what people realistically may have the bandwidth to do effectively in terms of networking?
00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:50.160
How do you gauge what's quality and what's a good investment of your time so that you're not diluted and not effective anywhere?
00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:56.480
And I think that happens a lot because there are there are so many groups that are out there.
00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:03.519
There are, and you know, all of them will claim to be, you know, the one that's different, and you know, we're involved in a lot of things.
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:06.240
And it really is about the bandwidth that you have.
00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:09.920
And as entrepreneurs, you know that you're, you know, there are no days off.
00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:15.039
There are, you know, you work weekends and holidays, and um, you're always on call.
00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:25.440
So when you are thinking of networking as like this is a spare time thing, you're gonna get spare time, you know, quality out of it.
00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:32.319
So you have to say, like, I'm going to give X amount of my time per week to networking.
00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:32.799
Okay.
00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:35.359
So it has to be a part of your plan, just like anything else.
00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.799
Like, this is the day that I do my bookkeeping, this is the day that I do my outreach.
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:41.279
This is the day that I work on my social media ads.
00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:45.599
This is the day I'm going to devote to some form of networking.
00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:51.119
And that can be through a civic organization, that can be through, you know, something else that you're involved in.
00:27:51.200 --> 00:28:07.440
It can be through your church, anything that's a social networking opportunity that you know you can get out in front of people, um, you need to be just as strategic, like in planning your week, but also planning out where is it going to be the most feasible, right?
00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:13.119
Everything sounds great at first glance because everybody is vying for your time, right?
00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:28.559
So you have to say, and that's why, again, I'm gonna hark back to the values and your mission, your goals, you're gonna be able to do that same thing with a civic organization or a networking group and say, this is an organized group.
00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:35.359
They, you know, there there are dues involved, there's actual calendar, I'm gonna get on their directory.
00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:40.000
So like there's there's added value, but you have to decide which one is for me.
00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.920
So you can do that values alignment.
00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:49.759
You can say, like, okay, well, I see that this civic organization was founded on this principle, and that's something that I feel strongly about.
00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.359
I think that aligns with what I do.
00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:53.279
You can go check it out and see.
00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:54.160
And you'll know.
00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:55.440
You're you're gonna know.
00:28:55.599 --> 00:29:00.640
Find out by using LinkedIn and and the socials that we have at our fingertips.
00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.359
Find out.
00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:04.400
You're gonna know someone who's involved in any of these organizations.
00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.319
That's probably how you found out about it.
00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:30.960
Ask questions, real, actual questions about their experience in that group, their experience with what that group has to offer, what sets them apart, and really get to know how go to something, but go knowing that that person's going to be your Wii man so that you can get to know some people, you're strategically talking to people, and you get a real feel for whether or not it's going to be a good fit.
00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:37.759
But it's like anything else, you're gonna have to show up to some things to narrow down the one that actually fits best for you.
00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:44.640
So do your research ahead of time, know what you're looking for, because if you don't know what you're looking for, you won't know when you found it.
00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:56.079
And then go visit, have someone strategically introducing you, and then you won't waste your time in spaces that are not going to build what you're trying to build.
00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:06.400
This point that you continue to reinforce and really resonates is that this is a part of the discipline of your business.
00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:11.920
And you have to know how much time you can allocate to something and be effective.
00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:31.839
But but if that's not literally on your calendar, which I suspect for a lot of people it's not, then it is going to be um one of those things, like you said, if you if you just kind of show up and you're not really prepared, then you know, expect the outcome to be uh aligned with the what the effort that you put into it.
00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:33.279
And that's exactly right.
00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:40.000
I think that if you're treating it like an extra thing, it's that's exactly what it's gonna be.
00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:45.119
You're not going to get a lot of um a lot more out of it that you're putting into it.
00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:53.279
So um the strategy is show up, yes, but show up to the things that you know you're going to get a little something out of.
00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:56.640
And the only way you're gonna know is by putting a little bit of time and effort into that.
00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:58.160
And it doesn't have to be a lot.
00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:02.720
I think that that seems very daunting, but it doesn't have to be a lot of time.
00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:08.079
I schedule my social media time, and that doesn't mean I'm just creating content the whole time.
00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:14.160
It means I'm also setting aside time to interact and be engaged in the people in my network.
00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:24.720
The same way that with the events, I am not just going out and looking at all of the community calendars and saying, what's everybody doing this week, this month, so that I can put it on my calendar?
00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:28.000
I'm saying, okay, let me spend a little bit of time here.
00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.839
This looks like a quality event.
00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:32.400
Let me see who looks like they're going to be involved in this event.
00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:44.880
Let me see if this looks like something, does it fit in my calendar in a way that I'm not going like if it's at the end of a Thursday and you've already had the longest week, you've worked late night, are you likely to show up?
00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:51.759
Or are you going to give yourself the excuse to make that the expendable thing because you've already had a long week?
00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.759
You can't let it be expendable.
00:31:53.920 --> 00:32:01.200
Networking is just as important as anything else because it's building those bridges, it's building those relationships.
00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:04.480
And honestly, without relationships, what are you holding on to?
00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:06.720
I love I love all of those insights.
00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:12.480
And it's this has been a great conversation so far, just because it's it's a big paradigm shift, really.
00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:21.839
So let me ask you this how would you, at the end of a networking event, determine whether you felt like that was worth your time?
00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:28.160
You're driving home, going back uh to work, and reflecting on the conversations that you have.
00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:30.400
What does winning look like there?
00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:41.920
I know at the end of an event, you know, that it was a good event and it was worth my time when I'm excited to tell someone about an interaction that I've had.
00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:48.000
If I'm already on the phone calling my husband, saying, like, oh, I met the most interesting person today.
00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:54.079
I can see, you know, all this potential for, you know, relationship moving forward.
00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:56.960
Um, and and sometimes it's just about the person.
00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.799
Like I met the most interesting person.
00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:03.200
We connected on a personal level, and we're gonna meet again to see how we can work.
00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:07.519
Because sometimes it's just about the energy and the right energy in the room will propel the needle forward.
00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:13.839
But other times it's because they said the magic words and they're working on an initiative that maybe I never even thought of.
00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:16.400
But it got my creative brain going.
00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:19.599
And I said, like, oh, wouldn't it be so great if we could connect on this?
00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:30.799
So it's that conversation that it goes from that awkward, let's get to know each other, to we're really talking because I can see that we're making eye contact.
00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:37.519
I am five feet tall, and I can tell when you're looking over my head for someone else to talk to because you've already given me your pitch.
00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:39.200
So don't, don't do that.
00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:42.640
What you want to do is make sure that you're having that like deep conversation.
00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:56.559
And when I know that I've made that connection with someone that I am excited to set up that second conversation with, when I can call, you know, and or go the next day and I'm can't wait to send that email to say it was so great meeting you.
00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:58.240
Let's do coffee this week.
00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.759
That's when I know it's successful.
00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:01.759
That's when I know they're going to say yes.
00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:09.760
I know as I'm sending that email out that I'm gonna get a positive response and they're just as excited to to have that second meeting as I am.
00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:18.960
Sometimes I'm just as excited in the end because I know I'm about to connect this person with this person, and some sort of magic's gonna happen, and I know I was a part of it.
00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:36.400
So it may not even benefit me in the end, but I know that making those relationships will continue to build relationships for me because now I'm gonna make two people very, very happy, two organizations successful in some arena, and they're going to remember that, and they're going to remember me for my part in that.
00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:45.840
So I think the excitement when you know that you're walking away with a relationship and you know that there will be a second conversation.
00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:55.760
Like I think that we've all walked away and you already know who that one person was that made it worth not going home early and getting comfortable, right?
00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:59.199
Because we would all rather be at home after a long day.
00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:04.400
But when you go and you're just so excited by the possibilities again, right?
00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:16.800
Because sometimes we're going through the motions through the day so often, just trying to get to through the task list that we forget how exciting and how creative it can be for those next experiences.
00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:24.400
And someone might ignite that in you for a project you didn't even think would be on the horizon, but now it is because now the right people are in place.
00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:28.400
Well, I I'm gonna say you you actually you've got me really excited.
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:32.239
I'll I'll I'm I'm looking looking for my next networking opportunity now.
00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:39.760
This is, I mean, there there's so much upside exponential potential, it feels like, when you do this the right way.
00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:55.920
But for people, for people maybe who are seeing things differently now, like me, um more energized on on the whole idea of growing a business through networking, but but they're not, because of past experience, maybe they're not comfortable with just walking in the door.
00:35:56.239 --> 00:36:03.039
Do you have any mindset ideas that somebody should maybe uh walk in with to make the most of the opportunity?
00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:13.119
Somebody who's trying to have a reset on on networking, instead of walking in with anxiety, maybe, what should their mindset be walking into their next networking event?
00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:22.400
I think the number one thing is like if you can already list the the type of pressure that you're putting on your shoulders and and maybe actually actively do that.
00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:31.440
Like, what are the things that are that are making me so nervous walking into this thing that I'm distracted from being the best version of myself?
00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:38.800
And if you can list those things and make them tangible, like, okay, I'm just nervous because I haven't gone to one of these in a while, right?
00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:45.760
So then maybe you practice your top three things that you want people to remember about you in the car before you get out.
00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:49.119
That way you know what things you want people to walk away talking about.
00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:50.400
So know what they are.
00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:59.599
What if, or if there's one takeaway, like I know they may not remember everything that I say to them, but hopefully they will remember this one thing about me.
00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:04.400
So if I can get them to remember that one thing about me, then it's all worth it.
00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:09.119
So practice what that is, know what it's going to be, and then you'll feel more confident.
00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:16.000
If it's about, you know, I've never walked into this particular organization event.
00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:18.159
Okay, do a little bit of research.
00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:29.920
Again, even if it was a last-minute ad to your calendar, sit in the car on your phone, look up this organization, get to know a little bit more about it so that you feel comfortable interacting with people.
00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:36.960
Or maybe you have one or two questions in your back pocket that you're ready to ask about the organization so that they have to talk first.
00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:42.239
Because if you can build your confidence by sitting and listening first, then you're ready to engage.
00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:55.360
So all the if you can list the things that you know are making you nervous about the event or this interaction or the networking experience, then that gives you an opportunity to combat those things before you walk in.
00:37:55.519 --> 00:38:02.719
And if you know someone who is a seasoned networker that you feel, you know, is is pretty good at what they do, ask them.
00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:06.480
Like, hey, what give me a couple of best practices before I walk in the door?
00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:07.840
Or I'm going to this event.
00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:10.239
Have you ever been to one with this organization?
00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:12.400
Like, glean from the people around you.
00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.760
That's also networking.
00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:21.360
Like asking the questions for the things that you're doing with your week, with your time, with your business should go across the board.
00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:27.280
So if it, if the question of the day is, you know, best practices for networking, ask your network.
00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:35.360
One thing I wanted to ask you about, Tiffany, too, and I know you talk about this, is the echo that that you leave.
00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:37.519
What can you elaborate on that a little bit?
00:38:37.840 --> 00:38:49.039
Yeah, uh one of the things that um really has resonated with me is like the understanding that it's not just, you know, our presence in the room that matters.
00:38:49.199 --> 00:39:01.280
I mean it, it is and be engaged and be there in the moment, but what lasts a lot longer and and will go far beyond you is the echo that you leave when you do exit the room.
00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:08.239
And what I mean by that is your reputation is the echo that you leave behind.
00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:24.559
The the way that you have presented yourself in that space and in that moment, how that resonates with the person or the people standing in that room with you, they are going to be, you know, your echo when you leave that room or when they move on into the next room.
00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:26.559
They take that echo with them.
00:39:26.800 --> 00:39:32.320
So, you know, your resume matters, and you can talk about who you are all day long.
00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:37.679
And the letters behind your name, they may mean something, you know, tangible.
00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:49.920
But the echo that you leave behind and the way that people talk about you, and the way that, you know, your reputation will now fill every single room that those people walk into matters.
00:39:50.159 --> 00:40:01.119
So I it's not to add extra pressure, but it's to let you know that the way that you choose to represent yourself in those moments goes far beyond that specific moment.
00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:04.159
It will go on, you know, into eternity.
00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:07.119
That becomes the legacy that you leave in that echo.
00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:08.079
Interesting.
00:40:08.239 --> 00:40:20.960
So yeah, just to have enough self-awareness really to realize that as you're communicating with these people, there's the echo, it sounds like that you leave with that person, but then that person also becomes your echo as well, right?
00:40:21.199 --> 00:40:21.679
Exactly.
00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:35.599
And and like an echo, I mean, that can continue on to the next person because now you know, if if I have done my job, or even if I haven't, because you're that echo will remain, whether it be positive or negative, right?
00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:37.440
That echo will still be there.
00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:42.239
So the type of echo that you leave behind is what your focus should be.
00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:57.360
So if I'm having a conversation with you, Sean, and you take what I say and you mention it to the next person, and and that becomes the echo that I'm not even a part of that conversation physically, but that goes on without me.
00:40:57.519 --> 00:41:00.239
But then that person says, Well, that's interesting.
00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:02.639
I want to know more about this person who said this.
00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:05.039
And they get on my LinkedIn and now they're looking.
00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:09.199
And so anything that they say after they've connected to me, they become my echo.
00:41:09.280 --> 00:41:13.519
And that echo will reverberate person after person after person.
00:41:13.679 --> 00:41:22.400
And like seven degrees of separation later, this person knows of me, but we've never met until the day we do.
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:24.480
And they say, No, I know who you are.
00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:24.960
Right.
00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:28.880
I I I follow you on LinkedIn, or I know who you are.
00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:31.679
I listened to that podcast, or I know who you are.
00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:33.760
You know, I I talked to Sean O'Hara.
00:41:33.920 --> 00:41:34.480
Do you know him?
00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:43.440
And whatever it is, that reputation goes, it has legs and it has reverberations and it will go on and on and on.
00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:47.679
And it is up to us to make sure that that echo is a positive one.
00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:51.039
And that it's like the telephone game when we were children.
00:41:51.280 --> 00:42:03.119
It may, you know, if you want it to be true all the way to the end and echo and reverberate in a positive way, you have to represent yourself that way every time, every single time I'm the same person.
00:42:03.280 --> 00:42:05.119
It becomes your personal brand.
00:42:05.360 --> 00:42:12.800
You're when I represent myself the same way every time to every person, that that's the echo.
00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:18.000
The echo is in that person now knowing who I am before I've entered the room.
00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:18.880
I love that.
00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:24.480
I love, I mean, and that the personal brand is exactly what I was thinking of when you were talking about this.
00:42:24.719 --> 00:42:30.000
So the echo is there regardless of whether you craft it or not.
00:42:30.239 --> 00:42:40.079
So the the key, it sounds like is to be very intentional with the echo that you are going to leave behind because you're gonna leave one.
00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:42.960
So it might as well be the one that you want to leave.
00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:48.400
And being consistent about that really will build your personal brand over time, right?
00:42:48.800 --> 00:42:49.280
Exactly.
00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:54.079
And you know, they they may not remember everything about you, but they'll remember the way they made you feel.
00:42:54.239 --> 00:43:01.039
And, you know, my Angelou, I'm yeah, speaking not verbatim, but you know, you it's what you leave behind.
00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:07.280
It's how people feel when you they leave you, and it is what they remember about you and the way that they feel.
00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:21.599
They may not be able to even place a face seven times removed, but they'll they'll know the reputation and that brand of who you are based on what other people are saying and that echo beyond stepping into that room.
00:43:21.679 --> 00:43:26.159
And then once I've stepped out, I want it to be the same consistently.
00:43:26.400 --> 00:43:26.880
Yeah.
00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:45.599
Uh one of the things I really like about that is that you're walking into this situation, whatever the networking situation is, and you have to be aware of the fact that this is an opportunity every time to reinforce, reinforce your personal brand.
00:43:46.400 --> 00:43:46.960
Absolutely.
00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:53.440
It's your personal brand, but it's also um it becomes like amplified over time.
00:43:53.599 --> 00:44:00.559
So the more, the more that it gets told, the more that you get discussed, like it gets amplified, and that echo can grow very Very loud.
00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:03.920
So now if it's being shouted in the streets, is it positive?
00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:04.800
Is it negative?
00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:09.920
Is it on brand with with the person that I have represented myself to be when I am in the room?
00:44:10.239 --> 00:44:27.280
Do you find that over time, as you as you as you do this, that you become, I guess, in a lot of ways, more articulate at doing that and getting it to where you're more consistent with it and thoughtful about things as you're communicating?
00:44:27.840 --> 00:44:40.320
I think that with anything, if you were going to get up and give a a speech, or if you were going to get up and give a presentation, you know, for a work, you wouldn't get up and wing it, right?
00:44:40.480 --> 00:44:52.800
You would know that slide deck, you would know what you're going to say, you would know your information, you would know your data and your numbers, um, at least at a pretty surface level, so that you feel confident and comfortable doing that.
00:44:53.760 --> 00:45:01.760
And and that's numbers and that's figures, and those are great and those are important, but we're talking about your brand and your reputation, which we know is is really everything.
00:45:01.920 --> 00:45:05.360
Once you've lost reputation, it's very hard to overcome.
00:45:05.519 --> 00:45:17.679
So why would we not give the same consideration, the same amount of of practice and strategic inner, you know, interaction to how we're going to represent ourselves, right?
00:45:17.760 --> 00:45:24.480
So think of it like you're giving a presentation, like you're giving a slide deck, you're giving, you know, a speech, but the topic is you.
00:45:24.719 --> 00:45:34.480
If I'm gonna get up and I'm gonna tell you all about who I am, you will understand pretty quickly if I'm inflating those numbers or if I'm misrepresenting myself.
00:45:34.639 --> 00:45:50.719
You will know, you know, if if I'm painting a pretty picture, but that's not who I am, because the echo of who I am when you're actually talking to me outside of that presentation speaks just as loudly, if not louder, than what you saw on the screen, right?
00:45:51.440 --> 00:45:58.239
So practice what you're going to say so that I am being the same person every time I enter a room.
00:45:58.480 --> 00:46:04.000
I don't want people to say, well, you know, uh I know I heard her speak and she was very eloquent.
00:46:04.079 --> 00:46:07.199
And Tiffany was, you know, wow, she came off as so passionate.
00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:10.079
But when she's in the office, she's this way.
00:46:10.239 --> 00:46:12.159
Ooh, I just lost everybody, right?
00:46:12.320 --> 00:46:14.400
Because you don't want to be a different person.
00:46:14.639 --> 00:46:15.840
I want to represent myself.
00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:25.199
And that doesn't mean that we won't have flaws or we won't have bad days, but it does mean that I'm still gonna be the exact same person and represent myself that way, regardless of where I am.
00:46:25.440 --> 00:46:30.559
If I'm with my family, I'm uh those same things that make me tick are the things that make me tick.
00:46:30.719 --> 00:46:35.599
If I am talking, you know, in my office internally, they should be getting that same person.
00:46:35.760 --> 00:46:38.880
If I'm talking externally, they should see that same person.
00:46:39.119 --> 00:46:51.840
The common thread of who I am should be that echo that everybody hears and knows about because I'm so and and people you throw around the word authenticity to a fault now.
00:46:51.920 --> 00:46:53.440
I think it's just a buzzword.
00:46:53.599 --> 00:47:01.760
But if we could get back to the heart of the word, like if I am truly being authentic, that means that I don't have to shift based on my environment.
00:47:01.840 --> 00:47:10.559
It means I'm being myself regardless of who I am, and I shouldn't have to worry about how to um manipulate and maneuver my reputation.
00:47:10.719 --> 00:47:18.559
My reputation should be taken care of itself because I am that person everywhere I go, and then everywhere I'm not, that echo goes before me.
00:47:18.880 --> 00:47:20.639
Makes makes a lot of sense.
00:47:20.800 --> 00:47:28.639
So it has to be very thoughtful, but it's you don't want it to be manipulative because ultimately that's gonna that's gonna undo what you're trying to do anyway.
00:47:28.960 --> 00:47:29.440
Exactly.
00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:36.960
Yeah, no, that that is that really changes things in terms of thinking about the way that you're engaging with people all the time.
00:47:37.119 --> 00:47:48.480
So people can have a a well crafted personal brand, but it's not something like a what I'm hearing, it's not a a switch that you situationally flip on.
00:47:48.639 --> 00:47:51.679
Your personal brand is actually true to who you are.
00:47:51.840 --> 00:47:55.920
And and like what you were talking about before, it aligns with your values too, right?
00:47:56.719 --> 00:47:58.639
And it's not playing a part.
00:47:58.800 --> 00:48:01.199
Building your brand is not saying, who do I want to be?
00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:02.719
And then trying to live into that.
00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:07.360
It's saying, who am I and how do I best represent that?
00:48:07.599 --> 00:48:13.440
So I I think that branding, a lot of times people think like, okay, well, how do I want people to see me?
00:48:13.599 --> 00:48:16.000
And if that's not who you are, people will see through it.
00:48:16.079 --> 00:48:22.159
And then it comes off as disingenuous and you've you've kind of lost your your whole facade, right?
00:48:22.400 --> 00:48:25.519
So instead you say, My personal brand is who I am.
00:48:25.679 --> 00:48:28.719
It's it's the questions you ask about like who you are as a person.
00:48:28.960 --> 00:48:31.679
What are the things that that you do in your downtime?
00:48:31.840 --> 00:48:33.920
These are the things that make you a person.
00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:38.719
And that those things should have a commonality and a common thread, and that's your brand.
00:48:39.119 --> 00:48:41.280
Not who you're trying to be, but who you are.
00:48:41.599 --> 00:48:41.840
Yes.
00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:48.320
Yeah, you can still aspire to who you want to become, but you you are who you are right now, right?
00:48:48.559 --> 00:48:50.719
And that's the way you need to represent it.
00:48:50.960 --> 00:48:52.079
Great, great advice.
00:48:52.239 --> 00:48:53.679
Thank you very much for that, Tiffany.
00:48:53.920 --> 00:48:55.840
I've got a couple last questions.
00:48:56.079 --> 00:49:05.280
First question is what do you love to do when you have nothing but downtime, when you can just completely decompress and unplug?
00:49:05.760 --> 00:49:09.599
What what is your what is your favorite go-to activity?
00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:18.079
So uh my uh my favorite things to do to to decompress, or I mean, happy, sad, bored, you know, whatever.
00:49:18.159 --> 00:49:19.440
Um, I love to read.
00:49:19.519 --> 00:49:20.880
I am an avid reader.
00:49:21.039 --> 00:49:25.039
Um, I have turned my my home office into a home library.
00:49:25.199 --> 00:49:29.199
So it's um and and I love to write.
00:49:29.360 --> 00:49:36.000
I'm a nice a writer, I'm a a poet, and I love to write and um and I love music.
00:49:36.159 --> 00:49:46.719
So concerts, my son and I love to go to concerts, and I think that all of those things still always boil down to like the power of words.
00:49:46.960 --> 00:49:52.800
So reading and writing and music and and you know, lyrics, those are all the things that I love.
00:49:52.960 --> 00:50:02.639
Those are the things that make me tick, and and those are the things that I'm so passionate about, even in my job, because I the words that we choose to represent ourselves mean everything.
00:50:02.800 --> 00:50:05.679
You know, what we say are our values, it means everything.
00:50:05.920 --> 00:50:09.840
The way people talk about us when we leave the room means everything.
00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:11.760
What words do people say about us?
00:50:11.840 --> 00:50:17.199
And so I give a lot of thought to that on a regular basis, just the power of words.
00:50:17.360 --> 00:50:30.880
And my um my degree background is in psychology, and my entire thesis was on the power of words and how creative writing, you know, can change our our psychology in the way that we think.
00:50:31.039 --> 00:50:34.079
And um, I just happened to do mine in the midst of COVID.
00:50:34.239 --> 00:50:42.400
So it became a really interesting case study of how people used words to to kind of cope through really tumultuous times.
00:50:42.559 --> 00:50:46.239
So yeah, the things that I love to do all revolve around words.
00:50:46.320 --> 00:50:50.239
And so I'm I'm a reader, I'm a writer, and I I love music.
00:50:50.559 --> 00:50:51.119
That's great.
00:50:51.280 --> 00:51:06.719
Well, people who want to learn even more about how to be more impactful in their networking should definitely go find your book on Amazon, how to maximize your network, build your business, crush the competition, and triumph in any economy.
00:51:06.960 --> 00:51:12.239
Lastly, what for people who want to work with you, what's what's the best way for them to connect with you?
00:51:12.639 --> 00:51:16.800
Best way to connect with me is to connect with me on LinkedIn.
00:51:17.119 --> 00:51:24.480
I again cannot overstate the the importance of getting out on LinkedIn if you're not there, if you're not utilizing it.
00:51:24.559 --> 00:51:28.079
I'd love to chat with you how to better maximize that as well.
00:51:28.400 --> 00:51:29.840
But find me on LinkedIn.
00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:38.159
You'll find me at Tiffany Randerson, comma MS, and I would love to connect with you at a at a deeper place.
00:51:38.400 --> 00:51:38.960
Excellent.
00:51:39.119 --> 00:51:42.960
Well, Tiffany, thank you so much for your time today.
00:51:43.119 --> 00:51:45.199
This was such a great conversation.
00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:48.480
You have definitely changed the way that I think about networking.
00:51:48.639 --> 00:51:51.280
I'm sure a lot of other entrepreneurs as well.
00:51:51.519 --> 00:51:54.719
So um appreciate your time very, very much.
00:51:54.960 --> 00:51:55.840
Thank you.