So I know things have fallen silent here the past couple of months. Please accept my apologies, unfortunately it seems that I can't find the time to do anything nowadays. That aside, I want to wish Michelle a Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy it, and congratulations again on your new place!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wedding Festivities
Congratulations to Darcy and Brian. The wedding was a great time, and I hope you have fun in Hawaii. I think we're all jealous not to be going.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
New York Times Article
As many of you may know, I am currently in school getting an LLM in real estate law. I received an email from the school's career services department that brought to my attention an article from early May from the New York Times. The article is about networking in the wake of layoffs and lost business, and is particularly relevant to what I am doing here.
Review of "Job-Search Networks, in all Shapes and Sizes"
from the NY Times May 3, 2009
As I explained above, the article Job-Search Networks, in all Shapes and Sizes was recently brought to my attention. This article is a commentary on the different types of networking efforts that people are organizing today. Right now, there are multitudes of unemployed and underemployed professionals. The article mentions that thousands have flocked to online networking sites, such as Facebook and Linkedin, but focuses on and details different types of offline community networking efforts.
I suggest reading the article (see the hyperlink above) to get a sense of what kind of efforts people are going to in order to expand and strengthen their professional networks. That said, there are several good points made, albeit some are just mentioned in passing.
First, for the jobless and recently laid off, networking can provide a venue for support. Meeting with others in similar situations can help to deal with the hardship of losing a job or losing a big client. That said, the article states a point raised by Duncan Mathison, a management consultant in San Diego. Some networking groups for the recently unemployed can focus on the wrong things. It is easy for these groups to turn into "gripe sessions." Negativism defeats the purpose of networking and can be counterproductive to the goals of the group.
The second point is more prevalent throughout the article, the benefit of face-to-face networking. As I have stated before, online networking tools have been great, but they serve a limited role. Online networking should supplement offline efforts. Face-to-face networking lets you actually get to know somebody and builds trust in that person.
Lastly, and probably the most important point the article makes, networking is a two way street. All the members in a networking group have to be interested in helping the other members, as well as looking to get help. Rachelle J. Center, president of RJC Associates, a management consulting firm in San Fransisco, cautions to be aware of networking groups that have members who are only seeking to take from the group. "'It has to be a quid pro quo,' she said. 'You help them, they help you. Successful networking is as much about what you can do for others as it is about what you can get from them.'"
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Review of an Illinois Bar Journal Article
Shakin' the Pink-Slip Blues (review of the article)
The May 2009 edition of the Illinois Bar Journal has an interesting article by Helen Gunnarsson titled "Shakin' the Pink-Slip Blues." The article is written with a recruiter's perspective and directives on the proper steps to getting back into the legal work force after being laid off. While this is an interesting article for several reasons, it's particularly relevant here as it focuses on the importance of networking. Gunnarsson counsels that the first step is doing a self-inventory of your experience and skill sets. Second, identify which jobs are right for you. This means evaluating potential alternatives for your future based on your skill sets. After that, she dives into the networking aspects of career development.
For the substance of the article, Gunnarsson relies on the thoughts and comments of several recruiters and career counselers, including: Sheila Nielsen, founder of Nielsen Career Consulting Service; Pamela DiCarlantonio, a managing director of the Chicago office of Major, Lindsey & Africa; and Marilyn Moats Kennedy, founder of Career Strategies.
The article talks about going to, and through, the "village outside the castle." This is a catch phrase Nielsen is quoted with coining. The concept is simple. The company or the job you want is the "castle," and the HR department or person receiving either blind resumes or a response to a job posting is the "dragon." The dragon may pass your resume onto the right person, but it might also just eat up the paperwork. So, instead of going directly to the castle, as Nielsen explains, you need to go through the "village outside the castle." This metaphor is referring to the traditional process of professional networking. You need to go behind the scenes to make sure your resume gets to the right person.
Networking Dos and Don'ts
The networking portion of the article begins with some networking pointers. The focus of this section is making sure to ask the right questions. This goes back to the earlier parts of the article requiring you to do a self-assessment and using that assessment to figure out the right jobs for you. Use this information as your background knowledge to make sure you are asking leading questions that will get you to your goal. Most people who are out of work, or who are students looking for their first job, simply ask who is hiring. This is not going to get you anywhere. Instead, with networking, you need to pitch yourself, and then ask your contact if they know of any places where your skills would fit in. If the contact has some suggestions, ask them if they know a contact person at that firm or company for you to talk to.
The basic idea here is that your networking needs to have an end goal. The article refers to networking as a quest to get to the castle. You make small steps to move closer to your goal.
Note that this differs from some things I have said in past posts. As a lawyer, I think it is important to have an open mind when networking, and not just dismiss someone you meet because they do not fit in to your goals for a particular event or networking situation. Always remember that anyone can be a client or lead to a client. That said, this article is focused on networking for employment. In this case, while keeping an open mind, you need to also have a specific goal and stick with it. Continue on the quest to get closer and closer to your goal.
Persistence Pays
Continuing the quest, or staying the course is key. Networking is not easy, and it takes time. Like I have said before, networking is about building professional relationships, creating and marketing self-value or worth, and building professional trust. The metaphor of a quest is absolutely appropriate. It is easy to get discouraged, but you need to stick with it. Making a contact is basically an informal interview. You use these opportunities to continue meeting people and to gain new contacts which may be closer to your end goal. Being persistent means continuing to network in order to, at the very least, get noticed by the right people. In other words, network in a direction and always follow up.
Network When You Don't Need To
In my opinion, the last part of the article is the most important, and the most overlooked aspect of networking. It is important to network when you don't need to. Too many people think that networking is only important when they need a job or something else. This is the wrong approach. Like I stated above, networking is about building professional relationships and building trust. Networking is a two-way street, not a one-way street. Students, particularly, miss this point. I know I did when I was a student. If you have established a network before you need a job (or even while still in school), it's much easier to use that network when you need it, rather than to try and start building one in your time of need.
In the article, Kennedy is quoted as saying, in pertinent part, "networking episodically is far more painful than doing it on an ongoing basis....This is called career insurance, and you make it yourself." This is the perfect comparison for the importance of networking. When you need your network, it will be there for you. If you start networking only when you need it, you have a lot longer road to travel, and under the conditions it will be much more stressful.
This was an excellent article. I recommend reading it. If you cannot get your hands on a copy, let me know and I will send it your way.
The May 2009 edition of the Illinois Bar Journal has an interesting article by Helen Gunnarsson titled "Shakin' the Pink-Slip Blues." The article is written with a recruiter's perspective and directives on the proper steps to getting back into the legal work force after being laid off. While this is an interesting article for several reasons, it's particularly relevant here as it focuses on the importance of networking. Gunnarsson counsels that the first step is doing a self-inventory of your experience and skill sets. Second, identify which jobs are right for you. This means evaluating potential alternatives for your future based on your skill sets. After that, she dives into the networking aspects of career development.
For the substance of the article, Gunnarsson relies on the thoughts and comments of several recruiters and career counselers, including: Sheila Nielsen, founder of Nielsen Career Consulting Service; Pamela DiCarlantonio, a managing director of the Chicago office of Major, Lindsey & Africa; and Marilyn Moats Kennedy, founder of Career Strategies.
The article talks about going to, and through, the "village outside the castle." This is a catch phrase Nielsen is quoted with coining. The concept is simple. The company or the job you want is the "castle," and the HR department or person receiving either blind resumes or a response to a job posting is the "dragon." The dragon may pass your resume onto the right person, but it might also just eat up the paperwork. So, instead of going directly to the castle, as Nielsen explains, you need to go through the "village outside the castle." This metaphor is referring to the traditional process of professional networking. You need to go behind the scenes to make sure your resume gets to the right person.
Networking Dos and Don'ts
The networking portion of the article begins with some networking pointers. The focus of this section is making sure to ask the right questions. This goes back to the earlier parts of the article requiring you to do a self-assessment and using that assessment to figure out the right jobs for you. Use this information as your background knowledge to make sure you are asking leading questions that will get you to your goal. Most people who are out of work, or who are students looking for their first job, simply ask who is hiring. This is not going to get you anywhere. Instead, with networking, you need to pitch yourself, and then ask your contact if they know of any places where your skills would fit in. If the contact has some suggestions, ask them if they know a contact person at that firm or company for you to talk to.
The basic idea here is that your networking needs to have an end goal. The article refers to networking as a quest to get to the castle. You make small steps to move closer to your goal.
Note that this differs from some things I have said in past posts. As a lawyer, I think it is important to have an open mind when networking, and not just dismiss someone you meet because they do not fit in to your goals for a particular event or networking situation. Always remember that anyone can be a client or lead to a client. That said, this article is focused on networking for employment. In this case, while keeping an open mind, you need to also have a specific goal and stick with it. Continue on the quest to get closer and closer to your goal.
Persistence Pays
Continuing the quest, or staying the course is key. Networking is not easy, and it takes time. Like I have said before, networking is about building professional relationships, creating and marketing self-value or worth, and building professional trust. The metaphor of a quest is absolutely appropriate. It is easy to get discouraged, but you need to stick with it. Making a contact is basically an informal interview. You use these opportunities to continue meeting people and to gain new contacts which may be closer to your end goal. Being persistent means continuing to network in order to, at the very least, get noticed by the right people. In other words, network in a direction and always follow up.
Network When You Don't Need To
In my opinion, the last part of the article is the most important, and the most overlooked aspect of networking. It is important to network when you don't need to. Too many people think that networking is only important when they need a job or something else. This is the wrong approach. Like I stated above, networking is about building professional relationships and building trust. Networking is a two-way street, not a one-way street. Students, particularly, miss this point. I know I did when I was a student. If you have established a network before you need a job (or even while still in school), it's much easier to use that network when you need it, rather than to try and start building one in your time of need.
In the article, Kennedy is quoted as saying, in pertinent part, "networking episodically is far more painful than doing it on an ongoing basis....This is called career insurance, and you make it yourself." This is the perfect comparison for the importance of networking. When you need your network, it will be there for you. If you start networking only when you need it, you have a lot longer road to travel, and under the conditions it will be much more stressful.
This was an excellent article. I recommend reading it. If you cannot get your hands on a copy, let me know and I will send it your way.
Friday, May 22, 2009
I Know, So the Posts are Only Trickling In Right Now
This post is going to be short, sweet and apologetic. Unfortunately, my work, school and personal schedules have been hectic over the last five or six weeks. It's made updating my blogs slow to a virtual crawl. I always hate when stuff, particularly work, gets in the way of things I actually want to do. Anyway, there is more to come very soon. Hopefully over the next few weeks I will be able to provide more a lot substance up here. I have a couple of articles regarding networking and blogging that I want to comment on in the near future. In addition, I will be completing some very stale, old drafts that never got published here. Make sure to check out the archived posts for when they show up.
In the mean time, I have still been keeping up my networking efforts. I have not had the time to attend any networking events recently, but I have made time to meet some people for lunches. I like to keep the rule to thumb of always try to schedule one lunch a week with someone. This keeps my network fresh. That said, in practice, sometimes it's difficult to manage. In addition to in person lunches, I've taken the time to touch base with people by sending a few emails every couple of days. It's important to keep up good communication, even if you don't have time for any face-to-face interacting.
As always. thanks for reading so far, and I hope you continue reading and checking for updates. On that note, I want to take the time here to give a shout out to a loyal reader. Thanks Michelle for reading and checking the site for updates. It's much appreciated.
In the mean time, I have still been keeping up my networking efforts. I have not had the time to attend any networking events recently, but I have made time to meet some people for lunches. I like to keep the rule to thumb of always try to schedule one lunch a week with someone. This keeps my network fresh. That said, in practice, sometimes it's difficult to manage. In addition to in person lunches, I've taken the time to touch base with people by sending a few emails every couple of days. It's important to keep up good communication, even if you don't have time for any face-to-face interacting.
As always. thanks for reading so far, and I hope you continue reading and checking for updates. On that note, I want to take the time here to give a shout out to a loyal reader. Thanks Michelle for reading and checking the site for updates. It's much appreciated.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Hidden Networking Opportunities
While it's clear to all of us to recognize the value and opportunities associated with organized networking events, it can be easy to overlook other everyday networking opportunities. There are plenty of hidden networking opportunities that occur all the time. The trick is to recognize those opportunities and be able to take advantage of them.
The idea behind this post was suggested to me by a friend, in a round about way (thanks Darcy). The suggestion was to write about the forced networking that can happen on airplanes while traveling. It makes sense, you're confined to a seat with complete strangers stuck directly beside you for the exact same amount of time, so why not use the opportunity to network. This seemed like an excellent suggestion, but I struggled with how to discuss this narrow and specific situation. Then I realized that the airplane example is just a good depiction of a broader idea, recognizing hidden networking opportunities in everyday life.
Hidden networking opportunities can occur in many shapes and sizes. Often, casual social settings can open doors to business relationships. For example, as an attorney who practices in real estate law, I've met people in social settings who have ended up hiring me for their residential real estate closings. Residential real estate closings are not the focus of my practice, but through casual conversation I learned their need for an attorney for their transaction, and likewise they learned of my experience in real estate law and transactions. In this instance, dinner and drinks turned into a client for me, and an attorney for them when they needed one. This is just one example of many depicting the value of hidden networking opportunities.
We need to keep in the back of our minds that any social setting can be a networking opportunity. In addition to the example above, I have helped people that I met in situations ranging from weddings to ND tailgates. In sum, pay attention to people you meet and be conscious of the every day happenings around you and the opportunities that go along with them. You never know when a friend of a friend or a total stranger can turn into a long term contact.
The idea behind this post was suggested to me by a friend, in a round about way (thanks Darcy). The suggestion was to write about the forced networking that can happen on airplanes while traveling. It makes sense, you're confined to a seat with complete strangers stuck directly beside you for the exact same amount of time, so why not use the opportunity to network. This seemed like an excellent suggestion, but I struggled with how to discuss this narrow and specific situation. Then I realized that the airplane example is just a good depiction of a broader idea, recognizing hidden networking opportunities in everyday life.
Hidden networking opportunities can occur in many shapes and sizes. Often, casual social settings can open doors to business relationships. For example, as an attorney who practices in real estate law, I've met people in social settings who have ended up hiring me for their residential real estate closings. Residential real estate closings are not the focus of my practice, but through casual conversation I learned their need for an attorney for their transaction, and likewise they learned of my experience in real estate law and transactions. In this instance, dinner and drinks turned into a client for me, and an attorney for them when they needed one. This is just one example of many depicting the value of hidden networking opportunities.
We need to keep in the back of our minds that any social setting can be a networking opportunity. In addition to the example above, I have helped people that I met in situations ranging from weddings to ND tailgates. In sum, pay attention to people you meet and be conscious of the every day happenings around you and the opportunities that go along with them. You never know when a friend of a friend or a total stranger can turn into a long term contact.
Monday, May 4, 2009
A Brief Note on Personal Referrals
As an attorney, I receive promotional calls, emails, and snail mail from people and organizations on almost a daily basis. Typically these offer services for use in my practice, but sometimes offer products or services for my personal life. Almost every single one of these goes into my trash can, my spam folder, or my voicemail to be deleted. My time, or more accurately my billable time, is money. If evaluating an offer takes away from what I can accomplish in a day, it's often not worth the initial review. I feel that I need someone else to evaluate a product or service provider’s value before it crosses my desk. Thus, in my experience most connections, including new clients, are made by referrals.
The personal referral is the most effective way to expand your network, and can be a great resource for obtaining new clients and business. For attorneys, if I am introduced a personal referral, then there is already a level of respect and trust present. In other words, someone else has made the initial review of what the skills I am providing and has approved those skills by referring me to prospective client.
In addition to the introduction, the personal referral helps build my reputation. Even though it jump starts building a reputation with a new contact; it is important to remember to continue to nurture and build your reputation in the new relationship.
A professional network is like a garden, you have to water it from time to time in order for it to grow (Credit for this metaphor is being given here, but I'm not sure to who. I first heard this from a speaker at a networking event, who also gave credit. I can't recall either name). Maintaining your network does several things; it keeps current contacts or clients happy, continues to build your reputation, and allows for further expansion of your network. A new relationship does not end at the close of a deal.
While a personal referral can be the key to the first step of building a professional relationship, maintaining the relationship requires many different tools and resources. The use of emails, letters, and online social networking platforms can be used as a great supplemental tool to maintain your existing target network.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Second Degree of the Network
On Linkedin I received a promotional notice of a new book out called "How to REALLY use Linkedin", written by a networking coach named Jan Vermeiren. Jan had previously written a networking book called "Let's Connect." Now I'm a strong proponent of networking, and I consider myself fairly seasoned at it. Additionally, I know my way around online social networking platforms. That being said, I'm not currently in the market for purchasing a book on the uses of Linkedin. While it seemed the book could be quite useful, I was still more excited to see that Jan was offering a free, light version of the book in pdf format. I downloaded the light version and have taken some time to read through it.
From the book, the five fundamental principles of networking are as follows: (1) networking attitude, (2) the golden triangle of networking, (3) the real power of the network is in the second degree. (4) quality and diversity are both important, and (5) your "know, like and trust" factor.
In this blog, I'm going to focus on the third fundamental principle: the real power of the network is in the second degree. Who you know, or in other words, your network, is considered the first degree. On Linkedin, the first degree network is indicated by a number 1 next to the name of your contacts. The second degree are your contacts' connections. These people are denoted with a number 2 next to their names.
The book makes some good points regarding the second degree, and reinforces my ideal that everyone at a networking event is worth the time and the conversation. While someone may not be in an industry that you view as important, beneficial, or even relevant; you never know who they know. Their network always has the potential to be very beneficial to you.
Also, as I've said before, networking is a two-way street. If you are seeking benefits of any kind from networking, it's essential to offer benefits to others. You have to have some value to offer. Not only does every person in your first degree lead to your second degree network, but you also provide others with a second degree network. By taking the time to speak with an individual who at first doesn't appear to suit your goals, you may learn that they are looking for someone in your network. This point is important and should always be in the back of your mind. Referrals can be a great source of customers, clients, mentors, etc.
The second degree network is beneficial because you have easier access to those individuals by having the first degree network act as a bridge between you and them. The first degree can offer an introduction or referral to the second degree. With a personal introduction or referral, someone else has in essence taken the time to evaluate the value of the contact. Linkedin makes this easy because it allows you to see not only your connections, but also those people in the second and the third degrees beyond your network. For example, if you're searching for someone with a certain expertise on Linkedin, the results may show an individual who falls into your second degree network. Linkedin makes this easy to see.
In short, if you want a brief overview of the benefits to using Linkedin as a networking tool, check out How to REALLY Use Linkedin, or at least the light version. For other questions, as always, feel free to contact me.
From the book, the five fundamental principles of networking are as follows: (1) networking attitude, (2) the golden triangle of networking, (3) the real power of the network is in the second degree. (4) quality and diversity are both important, and (5) your "know, like and trust" factor.
In this blog, I'm going to focus on the third fundamental principle: the real power of the network is in the second degree. Who you know, or in other words, your network, is considered the first degree. On Linkedin, the first degree network is indicated by a number 1 next to the name of your contacts. The second degree are your contacts' connections. These people are denoted with a number 2 next to their names.
The book makes some good points regarding the second degree, and reinforces my ideal that everyone at a networking event is worth the time and the conversation. While someone may not be in an industry that you view as important, beneficial, or even relevant; you never know who they know. Their network always has the potential to be very beneficial to you.
Also, as I've said before, networking is a two-way street. If you are seeking benefits of any kind from networking, it's essential to offer benefits to others. You have to have some value to offer. Not only does every person in your first degree lead to your second degree network, but you also provide others with a second degree network. By taking the time to speak with an individual who at first doesn't appear to suit your goals, you may learn that they are looking for someone in your network. This point is important and should always be in the back of your mind. Referrals can be a great source of customers, clients, mentors, etc.
The second degree network is beneficial because you have easier access to those individuals by having the first degree network act as a bridge between you and them. The first degree can offer an introduction or referral to the second degree. With a personal introduction or referral, someone else has in essence taken the time to evaluate the value of the contact. Linkedin makes this easy because it allows you to see not only your connections, but also those people in the second and the third degrees beyond your network. For example, if you're searching for someone with a certain expertise on Linkedin, the results may show an individual who falls into your second degree network. Linkedin makes this easy to see.
In short, if you want a brief overview of the benefits to using Linkedin as a networking tool, check out How to REALLY Use Linkedin, or at least the light version. For other questions, as always, feel free to contact me.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Mocktail
February 17, 2009
The Center for Real Estate Law at JMLS hosted a "Mocktail" for students to work on their networking skills where they invited a number of alumni to participate. The Mocktail is the follow up to the Center's Networking 101 workshop put on the week before. The idea behind the event was to simulate a cocktail party and for students to get feed back from the alumni on their networking skills and demeanor.
The idea is good in theory, but was a little awkward in practice. I was stuck on a phone call in the office and so I arrived a little late. I missed the introductions to the event so I had to break into an ongoing conversation between a student and an alumni. Making an introduction, especially if it involves interrupting a current conversation, can be the most difficult thing to do at a networking event. An easy way in is to approach someone you already know. Obviously, this only works if you actually know someone there. In this case, that's exactly what I was able to do. I briefly interrupted a conversation to say hello to someone I recognized from class, then introduced my self to the person they were speaking with. There's plenty of ways to make an introduction, but I typically like to warm up with familiar faces.
The awkward part about the Mocktail was that it was broken into timed segments. So after a short amount of time, everyone in the room was stopped and all alumni in attendance were asked to give feedback to the students. The timed segments were often not long enough, and on several occasions the conversations felt as if they were cut short. That said, I was still able to get some good pointers.
Importantly, I spoke with one of the participants regarding how to handle the situation where you have absolutely no knowledge or understanding of what an individual does for a living. It's difficult to have an engaging conversation about someone's "profession" when that profession is completely off your radar. We found that there are two easy answers to this dilemma. One, make small talk to see if there is a common subject the two of you can discuss; and two, ask them to explain what you don't understand. This can be accomplished simply by asking what the person does day to day. A lot of times, people are happy to talk about their profession and explain what they do. Keep in mind, that person is there to network too, and they may want you to have a good understanding of their work. You may have some professional value to them that you haven't been able to sense.
In my case, I spoke with a gentleman who is a partner at a law firm that specializes in real estate tax. I'll be honest, tax is a topic that is often completely over my head. He was happy to explain his work to me. He knew that I may have clients that need a real estate tax attorney, or that my firm may be in the need of a real estate tax co-counsel at some point in the future. Understanding what he does allows me to recognize when I could use his expertise. Particularly in the legal profession, facing this situation at a networking event should not be avoided. For attorneys, typically everyone is potentially a client, and inevitably a client is at some point going to need expertise outside your scope of knowledge. Therefore, it's good to know how to handle the situation and not just move on to meet other people.
The Mocktail was a great idea. It was perhaps a little too short to be as effective as possible, but nonetheless it was definitely worthwhile to those who attended. The Center is definitely doing a great job in emphasizing the importance of networking to its students.
The Center for Real Estate Law at JMLS hosted a "Mocktail" for students to work on their networking skills where they invited a number of alumni to participate. The Mocktail is the follow up to the Center's Networking 101 workshop put on the week before. The idea behind the event was to simulate a cocktail party and for students to get feed back from the alumni on their networking skills and demeanor.
The idea is good in theory, but was a little awkward in practice. I was stuck on a phone call in the office and so I arrived a little late. I missed the introductions to the event so I had to break into an ongoing conversation between a student and an alumni. Making an introduction, especially if it involves interrupting a current conversation, can be the most difficult thing to do at a networking event. An easy way in is to approach someone you already know. Obviously, this only works if you actually know someone there. In this case, that's exactly what I was able to do. I briefly interrupted a conversation to say hello to someone I recognized from class, then introduced my self to the person they were speaking with. There's plenty of ways to make an introduction, but I typically like to warm up with familiar faces.
The awkward part about the Mocktail was that it was broken into timed segments. So after a short amount of time, everyone in the room was stopped and all alumni in attendance were asked to give feedback to the students. The timed segments were often not long enough, and on several occasions the conversations felt as if they were cut short. That said, I was still able to get some good pointers.
Importantly, I spoke with one of the participants regarding how to handle the situation where you have absolutely no knowledge or understanding of what an individual does for a living. It's difficult to have an engaging conversation about someone's "profession" when that profession is completely off your radar. We found that there are two easy answers to this dilemma. One, make small talk to see if there is a common subject the two of you can discuss; and two, ask them to explain what you don't understand. This can be accomplished simply by asking what the person does day to day. A lot of times, people are happy to talk about their profession and explain what they do. Keep in mind, that person is there to network too, and they may want you to have a good understanding of their work. You may have some professional value to them that you haven't been able to sense.
In my case, I spoke with a gentleman who is a partner at a law firm that specializes in real estate tax. I'll be honest, tax is a topic that is often completely over my head. He was happy to explain his work to me. He knew that I may have clients that need a real estate tax attorney, or that my firm may be in the need of a real estate tax co-counsel at some point in the future. Understanding what he does allows me to recognize when I could use his expertise. Particularly in the legal profession, facing this situation at a networking event should not be avoided. For attorneys, typically everyone is potentially a client, and inevitably a client is at some point going to need expertise outside your scope of knowledge. Therefore, it's good to know how to handle the situation and not just move on to meet other people.
The Mocktail was a great idea. It was perhaps a little too short to be as effective as possible, but nonetheless it was definitely worthwhile to those who attended. The Center is definitely doing a great job in emphasizing the importance of networking to its students.
Conversations with Peter Eisenberg & Ken Morino
February 12, 2009
I attended a small lecture by developers Ken Morino and Peter Eisenberg. The lecture and the Q&A session afterward was geared toward the state of real estate development industry in today's economy. Since this is a networking blog, I'm going to focus on a few comments they made relating to networking in regards to real estate development, and all but ignore their comments on the state of the industry right now. However, first, to sum up their thoughts concerning the industry in today's economy, it's a great time to have capital and a horrible time to be leveraged.
That said, a majority of the conversation was about the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation. Harold Eisenberg passed suddenly in 1999 from cancer involving the liver. Shortly thereafter, the Harold E. Eisenberg foundation was founded in his memory. The foundation was founded to promote cancer research and to promote learning and mentoring, specifically in the real estate industry. Peter Eisenberg, one of the lecturers, is the son of Harold Eisenberg and is extremely active with the foundation.
The foundation has a great program for students where they can mentor numerous industry leaders. More information regarding the foundation's mentor program can be found on their website at www.eisenbergfoundation.org/mentorship/mentor-program.aspx. The program is great in that it allows students to get a taste of the real world in fields they are interested in by mentoring some of the best in the industry. The mentors are from a number of real estate related industries ranging from development, brokerage, REIT's, lending, site acquisition, and property management just to name a few.
That said, the underlying theme of the conversation was Harold Eisenberg's interest in people and his relationships with them. The mentor program was born out of that. Peter and Ken confirmed the importance of relationship building. Both believe the real estate development business is a relationship oriented industry. Networking is integral in a developer's success, and professional relationships are the key to that success.
It is clear, that no matter what industry you are in, networking is essential. Successful networking opens doors, whether it be gaining new clients or customers, new business opportunities, job opportunities, or some other benefit. The importance of professional relationships and relatioship building has never been as evident as it is today. Having a network already in place can be a safety net in this economic environment. Even if you have no network in place, now is a great time to start building one.
I attended a small lecture by developers Ken Morino and Peter Eisenberg. The lecture and the Q&A session afterward was geared toward the state of real estate development industry in today's economy. Since this is a networking blog, I'm going to focus on a few comments they made relating to networking in regards to real estate development, and all but ignore their comments on the state of the industry right now. However, first, to sum up their thoughts concerning the industry in today's economy, it's a great time to have capital and a horrible time to be leveraged.
That said, a majority of the conversation was about the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation. Harold Eisenberg passed suddenly in 1999 from cancer involving the liver. Shortly thereafter, the Harold E. Eisenberg foundation was founded in his memory. The foundation was founded to promote cancer research and to promote learning and mentoring, specifically in the real estate industry. Peter Eisenberg, one of the lecturers, is the son of Harold Eisenberg and is extremely active with the foundation.
The foundation has a great program for students where they can mentor numerous industry leaders. More information regarding the foundation's mentor program can be found on their website at www.eisenbergfoundation.org/mentorship/mentor-program.aspx. The program is great in that it allows students to get a taste of the real world in fields they are interested in by mentoring some of the best in the industry. The mentors are from a number of real estate related industries ranging from development, brokerage, REIT's, lending, site acquisition, and property management just to name a few.
That said, the underlying theme of the conversation was Harold Eisenberg's interest in people and his relationships with them. The mentor program was born out of that. Peter and Ken confirmed the importance of relationship building. Both believe the real estate development business is a relationship oriented industry. Networking is integral in a developer's success, and professional relationships are the key to that success.
It is clear, that no matter what industry you are in, networking is essential. Successful networking opens doors, whether it be gaining new clients or customers, new business opportunities, job opportunities, or some other benefit. The importance of professional relationships and relatioship building has never been as evident as it is today. Having a network already in place can be a safety net in this economic environment. Even if you have no network in place, now is a great time to start building one.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Networking 101: A Workshop for a Student's Perspective
February 10, 2009
The assistant director of the JMLS real estate center hosted a networking workshop for students. Attending the workshop was actually a prerequisite to attending a mock networking event at the school next week. The workshop, titled "Networking 101: Practical tips for converting a cocktail party into a long-term network", covered a lot of good points and presented an outline for having a strategy at networking events. Admittedly, I arrived a little late, so I missed the beginning. That said, I tried to take some good notes so I could describe some of the better points of the workshop here. Below is an overview infused with some of my own thoughts Keep in mind, the workshop was presented from a student's prospective seeking to network with potential employers.
The workshop focused on developing a plan and goals when attending networking events; and then executing that plan through preparation, confidence, and follow up. The key to effective networking is right in the title of the workshop: turning a networking event into a long-term relationship.
First, you need preparation. Many structured networking events will provide a list of the people who are attending, or at the very least are themed such so that you know what industry is likely to be there. That said, prepare goals beforehand and stick to them. Your goal should reflect what you want to get out of the event, such as meeting a certain professional or gaining certain knowledge. Keep in mind, the ultimate goal of forming a long-term professional relationship is accomplished through the follow up after the event.
Second is the event itself. The assistant director offered several good tips and strategies for easing the tension of a networking event. Upon arrival, take time to review the program if there is any, or survey the registration table to get a feel for who is going to be there. Take a lap around the room to see if there is a particular person who you want to meet. The most important thing to remember is that every one is there to meet people, and that all if not most people are a little nervous about the introduction. Therefore, you need to stay confident and introduce yourself, even if it feels a little awkward. By taking the initial step, you most likely are relieving the pressure from the other person. To help with this tension, many structured events will have an activity, such as formal introductions or games like meeting ten people in order to be eligible for a raffle.
When you are past the introduction, make sure you ask questions. Try to only ask questions you want to know the answer to. If your goal is information, ask questions focused on leading to that information. Likewise, if you are seeking to meet particular professionals, make sure you discover who those professionals are.
Ending a conversation can be as awkward and just as difficult as beginning one. The workshop suggested to end a conversation when it is not meeting your goals, or it has run its natural course. That said, keep in mind that networking is about relationship building. It is difficult to predict the path your career will take, so be wary of prematurely ending conversations that might not be "meeting your goals" for the evening. Also, always bow out of a conversation gracefully. If there is not an out, then remember there's nothing wrong with simply ending the conversation with a "nice to meet you" and a hand shake.
The final point the workshop focused on is, I believe, the most important: the follow up. Networking events can be similar to speed dating. The idea is to get to know someone enough in a short amount of time to want to speak with them again. Make sure you send a follow up email or note to people you want might want in your professional network within a day or two. However, do not just coldly send a resume unless it was requested. You need to follow up in person first and begin to build a relationship. Remember to take notes at the event to help you remember people. The easiest way is to jot a few things down on the back of their business card, including the name they use if different from the formal name on their business card.
As the workshop described, the idea behind networking events is to be able to meet new people and hopefully grow relationships such that they become part of your professional network. That needs to always be the mindset, even for students seeking employment.
Nate
The assistant director of the JMLS real estate center hosted a networking workshop for students. Attending the workshop was actually a prerequisite to attending a mock networking event at the school next week. The workshop, titled "Networking 101: Practical tips for converting a cocktail party into a long-term network", covered a lot of good points and presented an outline for having a strategy at networking events. Admittedly, I arrived a little late, so I missed the beginning. That said, I tried to take some good notes so I could describe some of the better points of the workshop here. Below is an overview infused with some of my own thoughts Keep in mind, the workshop was presented from a student's prospective seeking to network with potential employers.
The workshop focused on developing a plan and goals when attending networking events; and then executing that plan through preparation, confidence, and follow up. The key to effective networking is right in the title of the workshop: turning a networking event into a long-term relationship.
First, you need preparation. Many structured networking events will provide a list of the people who are attending, or at the very least are themed such so that you know what industry is likely to be there. That said, prepare goals beforehand and stick to them. Your goal should reflect what you want to get out of the event, such as meeting a certain professional or gaining certain knowledge. Keep in mind, the ultimate goal of forming a long-term professional relationship is accomplished through the follow up after the event.
Second is the event itself. The assistant director offered several good tips and strategies for easing the tension of a networking event. Upon arrival, take time to review the program if there is any, or survey the registration table to get a feel for who is going to be there. Take a lap around the room to see if there is a particular person who you want to meet. The most important thing to remember is that every one is there to meet people, and that all if not most people are a little nervous about the introduction. Therefore, you need to stay confident and introduce yourself, even if it feels a little awkward. By taking the initial step, you most likely are relieving the pressure from the other person. To help with this tension, many structured events will have an activity, such as formal introductions or games like meeting ten people in order to be eligible for a raffle.
When you are past the introduction, make sure you ask questions. Try to only ask questions you want to know the answer to. If your goal is information, ask questions focused on leading to that information. Likewise, if you are seeking to meet particular professionals, make sure you discover who those professionals are.
Ending a conversation can be as awkward and just as difficult as beginning one. The workshop suggested to end a conversation when it is not meeting your goals, or it has run its natural course. That said, keep in mind that networking is about relationship building. It is difficult to predict the path your career will take, so be wary of prematurely ending conversations that might not be "meeting your goals" for the evening. Also, always bow out of a conversation gracefully. If there is not an out, then remember there's nothing wrong with simply ending the conversation with a "nice to meet you" and a hand shake.
The final point the workshop focused on is, I believe, the most important: the follow up. Networking events can be similar to speed dating. The idea is to get to know someone enough in a short amount of time to want to speak with them again. Make sure you send a follow up email or note to people you want might want in your professional network within a day or two. However, do not just coldly send a resume unless it was requested. You need to follow up in person first and begin to build a relationship. Remember to take notes at the event to help you remember people. The easiest way is to jot a few things down on the back of their business card, including the name they use if different from the formal name on their business card.
As the workshop described, the idea behind networking events is to be able to meet new people and hopefully grow relationships such that they become part of your professional network. That needs to always be the mindset, even for students seeking employment.
Nate
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
ND Face-to-Face Event
December 15, 2008
Back in December was the second Face-to-Face networking event for the ND Alumni Network on Linkedin (www.Linkedin.com). The event was quite a bit more popular than the first one. Space was limited, so the number of attendees was capped at twenty-five, which filled up easily. The meeting was held in the offices for Weaver Boos Consulting, of which the organizer serves as corporate counsel.
There was an open networking period with wine and appetizers before we all got together and set down around the conference room table. I spoke at some length during the open networking period with the owner of the Chicago Diamond and Jewelry Exchange (www.chidexx.com). We met at the first ND face-to-face event, but didn't have much time to talk. It was interesting on getting a feel for what a diamond broker does and how Chidexx might be useful to me one day.
The discussion after the initial open networking was focused on introductions and ideas concerning how to use these events and Linkedin for effective networking. Much of the talk focused on building relationships and how we can effectively help those who are newly looking for work in this economy. The comments made go straight to some of the core principles of networking and building relationships. There was a general consensus in the room to pass along opportunities or keep individuals we know in mind whenever we hear of something. The idea is that if we build relationships, we're better able to match opportunities with people we know who may fit those opportunities.
After the discussion, there was another open networking period. There were several younger Domers there I recognized from when I was a student at ND. I was able to reconnect with a person who I recognized from the old days in the NDH (North Dining Hall). We raught up some and realized we had several mutual friends. All in all, the second face-to-face was an enjoyable event. It's a great example of how online social networking platforms can be used to supplement in-person networking.
Older Events
At this point, it's pretty noticeable that I am recounting old events here. I had the idea for this blog for some time before I was able to actually start posting. As a result, there are many events I attended several months ago, but wasn't able to post them as quickly as I would like. Unfortunately, I now feel I am falling too far behind in my posting and am not listing current events as quickly as I should. Therefore, I am going to start posting more current events, and thus there are several older events which will be posted completely out of any sense of logical order. I'll catch up one of these days.
Back in December was the second Face-to-Face networking event for the ND Alumni Network on Linkedin (www.Linkedin.com). The event was quite a bit more popular than the first one. Space was limited, so the number of attendees was capped at twenty-five, which filled up easily. The meeting was held in the offices for Weaver Boos Consulting, of which the organizer serves as corporate counsel.
There was an open networking period with wine and appetizers before we all got together and set down around the conference room table. I spoke at some length during the open networking period with the owner of the Chicago Diamond and Jewelry Exchange (www.chidexx.com). We met at the first ND face-to-face event, but didn't have much time to talk. It was interesting on getting a feel for what a diamond broker does and how Chidexx might be useful to me one day.
The discussion after the initial open networking was focused on introductions and ideas concerning how to use these events and Linkedin for effective networking. Much of the talk focused on building relationships and how we can effectively help those who are newly looking for work in this economy. The comments made go straight to some of the core principles of networking and building relationships. There was a general consensus in the room to pass along opportunities or keep individuals we know in mind whenever we hear of something. The idea is that if we build relationships, we're better able to match opportunities with people we know who may fit those opportunities.
After the discussion, there was another open networking period. There were several younger Domers there I recognized from when I was a student at ND. I was able to reconnect with a person who I recognized from the old days in the NDH (North Dining Hall). We raught up some and realized we had several mutual friends. All in all, the second face-to-face was an enjoyable event. It's a great example of how online social networking platforms can be used to supplement in-person networking.
Older Events
At this point, it's pretty noticeable that I am recounting old events here. I had the idea for this blog for some time before I was able to actually start posting. As a result, there are many events I attended several months ago, but wasn't able to post them as quickly as I would like. Unfortunately, I now feel I am falling too far behind in my posting and am not listing current events as quickly as I should. Therefore, I am going to start posting more current events, and thus there are several older events which will be posted completely out of any sense of logical order. I'll catch up one of these days.
Chicago Real Estate Council Holiday Event
December 2, 2008
In August I decided to go back to school, so I began the LLM program for real estate at the John Marshall Law School. The program at John Marshall was great for me for several reasons, the first and most obvious being that it is the only real estate LLM program in Chicago, and I believe it was the first of such programs in the country (or so they tell me). The second good reason for choosing John Marshall is the school is located less than a block from my office. It's nice to be able to walk over to school in less than two minutes.
I noticed a major difference being in the LLM program as opposed to my law school days back at IU. Law school focused primarily on theory and caselaw, while the LLM program takes a much more practical approach to transactional real estate practice. As part of this practical approach, the real estate center constantly stresses the importance of networking. I noticed that many of the students are not yet practicing attorneys or have not yet began their professional career. As such, they may be overlooking the importance of building professional relationships. This is partially why I decided to start this blog. In addition to blogging, I try to attend as many events with the center as possible, and I volunteered to help the center with their networking programs.
As a result, the center asked if I would be interested in attending the Chicago Real Estate Council's Holiday Event, so I jumped at the opportunity. I am obviously interested in real estate, but the difficulty I'm having is meeting good contacts in the industry. I work with lawyers everyday, but I'm not nearly as familiar with the non-legal side of the industry. I figured this would be another good opportunity to meet professionals outside of the practice of law.
The CREC's Holiday Event was held at Nacional 27 on West Huron, in the bar area at the front of the restaurant. This was the first time I'd been to Nacional 27. It has a great environment.
At first I spoke with a couple of people who both happened to also be attorneys in the real estate law practice. I spoke briefly with each about their practice and the effect the market is having on it. I also saw the two other students from John Marshall who were there. I spoke at some length with one of the students, whom I did not know beforehand, regarding his position as an administrative law judge here in Chicago. Additionally, he and I met a commercial broker who specializes in finding properties for his clients that are not publicly listed for sale. We spoke at great length about his work, both as a broker and as a property owner and manager. The conversation between the three of us was insightful and what I was hoping to get out of the event. I met two new people who were able to offer me knowledge about important aspects of real estate in Cook County. I was able to get their opinions on the city building codes and inspectors, and the effect that has on owning rental property in Chicago.
In conclusion it was a great event. I had some good appetizers, had a few drinks, met some new people, and gained knowledge I didn't have otherwise. I look forward to keeping in contact.
Nate
In August I decided to go back to school, so I began the LLM program for real estate at the John Marshall Law School. The program at John Marshall was great for me for several reasons, the first and most obvious being that it is the only real estate LLM program in Chicago, and I believe it was the first of such programs in the country (or so they tell me). The second good reason for choosing John Marshall is the school is located less than a block from my office. It's nice to be able to walk over to school in less than two minutes.
I noticed a major difference being in the LLM program as opposed to my law school days back at IU. Law school focused primarily on theory and caselaw, while the LLM program takes a much more practical approach to transactional real estate practice. As part of this practical approach, the real estate center constantly stresses the importance of networking. I noticed that many of the students are not yet practicing attorneys or have not yet began their professional career. As such, they may be overlooking the importance of building professional relationships. This is partially why I decided to start this blog. In addition to blogging, I try to attend as many events with the center as possible, and I volunteered to help the center with their networking programs.
As a result, the center asked if I would be interested in attending the Chicago Real Estate Council's Holiday Event, so I jumped at the opportunity. I am obviously interested in real estate, but the difficulty I'm having is meeting good contacts in the industry. I work with lawyers everyday, but I'm not nearly as familiar with the non-legal side of the industry. I figured this would be another good opportunity to meet professionals outside of the practice of law.
The CREC's Holiday Event was held at Nacional 27 on West Huron, in the bar area at the front of the restaurant. This was the first time I'd been to Nacional 27. It has a great environment.
At first I spoke with a couple of people who both happened to also be attorneys in the real estate law practice. I spoke briefly with each about their practice and the effect the market is having on it. I also saw the two other students from John Marshall who were there. I spoke at some length with one of the students, whom I did not know beforehand, regarding his position as an administrative law judge here in Chicago. Additionally, he and I met a commercial broker who specializes in finding properties for his clients that are not publicly listed for sale. We spoke at great length about his work, both as a broker and as a property owner and manager. The conversation between the three of us was insightful and what I was hoping to get out of the event. I met two new people who were able to offer me knowledge about important aspects of real estate in Cook County. I was able to get their opinions on the city building codes and inspectors, and the effect that has on owning rental property in Chicago.
In conclusion it was a great event. I had some good appetizers, had a few drinks, met some new people, and gained knowledge I didn't have otherwise. I look forward to keeping in contact.
Nate
The First ND Face-to-Face Event
November 10, 2008
The rise of online social networking in the past few years has intrigued me in relation to the building of professional relationships. With younger generations particularly, the emergence of MySpace and Facebook, and other similar websites, has seemingly taken a minor monopoly of internet use. Likewise, resources such as Linkedin (www.linkedin.com) have emerged for professionals to connect in a similar way. The use of an online networking platform such as Linkedin provides a way to easily stay in in touch with your network, as well as to easily stay in tune with changes and progression in each individual's career.
That said, online networking cannot replace the value of in-person relationship building. Rather, online networks serve has an excellent supplement to personal and professional relationship building. Tongiht's event is an excellent example in how online networking, specifically Linkedin, led to a beneficial meeting among ND alumni. ND alumni have a group on Linkedin known as the Notre Dame Alumni Network that the Career Center at ND has endorsed as the official group for ND alumni on Linkedin. One of the members of this group began discussions on the group page proposing a face-to-face meeting for members here in the Chicagoland area. Tonight was the result of these discussions and the first of such meetings.
The face-to-face was a success, and there's now a discussion about tentative future meetings with the goal to expand on the number of attendees. The meeting was held at the Rosebud Theater District restaurant on West Madison, and there was a turnout of roughly fifteen Domers. Those who attended included several attorneys, both in private firms and in-house; an executive consultant and turnaround specialist; the now president at St. Francis High School; the owner of Chicago Diamond and Jewelry Exchange; and the CEO of the Attainable Housing Alliance among others.
The discussion centered on introductions of those present and then focused primarily on ways to best utilize these face-to-face events. There were a lot of good ideas and good discussion about networking in general and how to use Linkedin to further our relationships. The event was a success and a popular idea among those present. We agreed to hold future face-to-face events, which I am looking forward to attending.
Nate
The rise of online social networking in the past few years has intrigued me in relation to the building of professional relationships. With younger generations particularly, the emergence of MySpace and Facebook, and other similar websites, has seemingly taken a minor monopoly of internet use. Likewise, resources such as Linkedin (www.linkedin.com) have emerged for professionals to connect in a similar way. The use of an online networking platform such as Linkedin provides a way to easily stay in in touch with your network, as well as to easily stay in tune with changes and progression in each individual's career.
That said, online networking cannot replace the value of in-person relationship building. Rather, online networks serve has an excellent supplement to personal and professional relationship building. Tongiht's event is an excellent example in how online networking, specifically Linkedin, led to a beneficial meeting among ND alumni. ND alumni have a group on Linkedin known as the Notre Dame Alumni Network that the Career Center at ND has endorsed as the official group for ND alumni on Linkedin. One of the members of this group began discussions on the group page proposing a face-to-face meeting for members here in the Chicagoland area. Tonight was the result of these discussions and the first of such meetings.
The face-to-face was a success, and there's now a discussion about tentative future meetings with the goal to expand on the number of attendees. The meeting was held at the Rosebud Theater District restaurant on West Madison, and there was a turnout of roughly fifteen Domers. Those who attended included several attorneys, both in private firms and in-house; an executive consultant and turnaround specialist; the now president at St. Francis High School; the owner of Chicago Diamond and Jewelry Exchange; and the CEO of the Attainable Housing Alliance among others.
The discussion centered on introductions of those present and then focused primarily on ways to best utilize these face-to-face events. There were a lot of good ideas and good discussion about networking in general and how to use Linkedin to further our relationships. The event was a success and a popular idea among those present. We agreed to hold future face-to-face events, which I am looking forward to attending.
Nate
ND Attorney Networking Event
November 6, 2008
Tonight was a joint networking event with the attorney networking group of the Notre Dame Club of Chicago and the Texas Christian alumni club. The event was at the Metropolitan Club in the Sears Tower and included appetizers with a cash bar. There were a number of professionals present and current students from the TCU MBA program, who were visiting Chicago through the career services department of the school. There was a cocktail hour with an open meet and greet period. Then there were two speakers featured, followed by another open networking period. This is a common setup at networking events and the same setup I've experienced at previous ND attorney networking events.
The two speakers were both from the academic world, one a business law professor in the TCU MBA program, and the other an ND alumni, employment lawyer, and professor at UIC. Both speakers focused their talks towards the industry and the non-attorneys present. Their topics involved the increasing use of mandatory arbitration to settle disputes, and employment law concerns from a business prospective.
During the open meet and greet, I bumped into a friend of mine who I met at a similar event. She's a great networker and is always trying to help others develop their careers.
Additionally, I spoke at length with director of the Graduate Career Service Center for the Neeley school of business at TCU. We discussed different resources here in Chicago to aid MBA students in their search for employment after school. Particularly we discussed CoreNet Global, its Chicago chapter and the CoreNet University Alliance and Resume Bank for students. CoreNet Global is a professional association for corporate real estate executives. Check out the Chicago Chapter's website at www.corenetglobal.org/chapters/chicago. The Chicago Chapter's Universioty Alliance serves as a way to link students to senior real estate executives. It's a great resource for students. Check out the website at www.corenetglobal.org/chapters/chicago/universityalliance.html.
I left shortly after the speakers, but despite my early exit, the event was informational and I was able to meet some new people and discuss some great resources.
Nate
The two speakers were both from the academic world, one a business law professor in the TCU MBA program, and the other an ND alumni, employment lawyer, and professor at UIC. Both speakers focused their talks towards the industry and the non-attorneys present. Their topics involved the increasing use of mandatory arbitration to settle disputes, and employment law concerns from a business prospective.
During the open meet and greet, I bumped into a friend of mine who I met at a similar event. She's a great networker and is always trying to help others develop their careers.
Additionally, I spoke at length with director of the Graduate Career Service Center for the Neeley school of business at TCU. We discussed different resources here in Chicago to aid MBA students in their search for employment after school. Particularly we discussed CoreNet Global, its Chicago chapter and the CoreNet University Alliance and Resume Bank for students. CoreNet Global is a professional association for corporate real estate executives. Check out the Chicago Chapter's website at www.corenetglobal.org/chapters/chicago. The Chicago Chapter's Universioty Alliance serves as a way to link students to senior real estate executives. It's a great resource for students. Check out the website at www.corenetglobal.org/chapters/chicago/universityalliance.html.
I left shortly after the speakers, but despite my early exit, the event was informational and I was able to meet some new people and discuss some great resources.
Nate
Monday, February 2, 2009
Real Estate Happy Hour
January 21, 2009
In late January I was invited to a holiday networking event by a VP of the title company I use for my commercial real estate transactions and minutes of foreclosure, Guaranty National Title Company. I wasn't sure if I could squeeze the event in or not, but I reasoned it was important for me to go. I realized beforehand that I probably would not know anyone there. Notwithstanding, with as much emphasis I'm putting on networking nowadays, it only stands that I would have been a hypocrite for not attending.
The event was held at a new bar on Wells Street called Bull and Bear. It was actually the night before the bar officially opened to the public. It was a pretty cool atmosphere inside, with a ton of TV's for sporting events. Needless to say, I think I'll be back there at some point in the near future.
Since there was not one person present who I knew beforehand, this was an exercise in the introduction at a networking event. First things first, I ordered a drink, then started making the rounds. I introduced myself to a number of people, the first of which were a couple of younger guys who worked for developers and builders. I'm interested in the business side of development, so I tried to use this as a chance to gain some practical knowledge. Unfortunately, it shortly became clear that these guys were not actually there to gain any contacts, rather just to take advantage of the drink special.
While most people attend networking events to actually network, this is not always the case. Particularly as a lawyer, I'm a strong advocate that most everyone at a networking event is worthwhile to talk to. You never know when anyone can turn into a client, referral or otherwise. However, there is one exception to this philosophy, and that's when the person is not interested in networking period. This person is not looking for any type of ongoing relationship or even ongoing communication. So in this instance, it's important to recognize that your time and effort is best spent elsewhere. That said, I quickly moved on.
There were plenty of other people I met in the next hour or so. While I failed to meet anyone who I feel gave me an immediate benefit from the event, like I stated above, almost everyone you meet has potential benefit. Plus, this event gave me the opportunity to address the one situation where, in my view, it is important to quickly end the conversation and move on.
In late January I was invited to a holiday networking event by a VP of the title company I use for my commercial real estate transactions and minutes of foreclosure, Guaranty National Title Company. I wasn't sure if I could squeeze the event in or not, but I reasoned it was important for me to go. I realized beforehand that I probably would not know anyone there. Notwithstanding, with as much emphasis I'm putting on networking nowadays, it only stands that I would have been a hypocrite for not attending.
The event was held at a new bar on Wells Street called Bull and Bear. It was actually the night before the bar officially opened to the public. It was a pretty cool atmosphere inside, with a ton of TV's for sporting events. Needless to say, I think I'll be back there at some point in the near future.
Since there was not one person present who I knew beforehand, this was an exercise in the introduction at a networking event. First things first, I ordered a drink, then started making the rounds. I introduced myself to a number of people, the first of which were a couple of younger guys who worked for developers and builders. I'm interested in the business side of development, so I tried to use this as a chance to gain some practical knowledge. Unfortunately, it shortly became clear that these guys were not actually there to gain any contacts, rather just to take advantage of the drink special.
While most people attend networking events to actually network, this is not always the case. Particularly as a lawyer, I'm a strong advocate that most everyone at a networking event is worthwhile to talk to. You never know when anyone can turn into a client, referral or otherwise. However, there is one exception to this philosophy, and that's when the person is not interested in networking period. This person is not looking for any type of ongoing relationship or even ongoing communication. So in this instance, it's important to recognize that your time and effort is best spent elsewhere. That said, I quickly moved on.
There were plenty of other people I met in the next hour or so. While I failed to meet anyone who I feel gave me an immediate benefit from the event, like I stated above, almost everyone you meet has potential benefit. Plus, this event gave me the opportunity to address the one situation where, in my view, it is important to quickly end the conversation and move on.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Introductions
"I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me."
- Ralph Ellison
While I don't intend, in any way, to echo the themes and issues posed in Ellison's novel "The Invisible Man", admittedly I did copy the title of my blog from Ellison. The quote above can be equated to modern day networking in that as a networker you need to be "seen" by your peers. Ellison's narrator constantly laments being invisible. Simply put, visibility is the core goal of networking. Becoming visible in a way that showcases themselves and their abilities is the struggle every professional has in building their network.
You need to be seen by your network and to be known by your network. Networking is the building of relationships and trust in the professional context. Basically, networking is no different than building personal relationships. A strong network will consist of people you can rely on, and who in return can rely on you.
This is the first installment of my new blog centering on networking today. I will share personal experiences as well as contribute essays on relevant aspects of professional relationship building. The hope is that my experiences will illustrate building relationships in different social settings as well as specific networking events. Secondly, I hope to offer some useful insight by contributing the aforementioned essays. Until next time.
Nate
- Ralph Ellison
While I don't intend, in any way, to echo the themes and issues posed in Ellison's novel "The Invisible Man", admittedly I did copy the title of my blog from Ellison. The quote above can be equated to modern day networking in that as a networker you need to be "seen" by your peers. Ellison's narrator constantly laments being invisible. Simply put, visibility is the core goal of networking. Becoming visible in a way that showcases themselves and their abilities is the struggle every professional has in building their network.
You need to be seen by your network and to be known by your network. Networking is the building of relationships and trust in the professional context. Basically, networking is no different than building personal relationships. A strong network will consist of people you can rely on, and who in return can rely on you.
This is the first installment of my new blog centering on networking today. I will share personal experiences as well as contribute essays on relevant aspects of professional relationship building. The hope is that my experiences will illustrate building relationships in different social settings as well as specific networking events. Secondly, I hope to offer some useful insight by contributing the aforementioned essays. Until next time.
Nate
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