Podcast with The Prepared Mind

Chris Gee, CEO/Creative Director at Cube Interactive, and I recorded a podcast yesterday that was published on Chris' popular blog, The Prepared Mind. I thought I'd share it here as well.

The hour-long show's topic was global opportunities and pitfalls for graphic designers. Like most conversations, we also touched on several other topics, including some marketing stuff. Click here to listen to the podcast. I hope you find it entertaining and informative:

Cube Interactive, LLC is a New York City-based web design and development firm that specializes in creating highly effective e-business solutions. They do some pretty nifty work.

The Prepared Mind is an insightful blog about issue effecting the graphic design industry. Definitely worth a read.

The case of the shy networker

Most extroverted folks are great at networking events. They're all bubbly, chatty and such. They make us introverted folks cringe sometimes.

Me, an introvert?

Yup, 'fraid so gang. I've always been a bit shy, even way back in the dark ages when I was but a mere kidlet. Yet, I don't have any problem with public speaking - the task that rates higher than death on the "Stressful things to do" list. I'm also the guy who starts up the conversation when nobody else will at a club lunch. Go figure.

How did I deal with being a happy introvert in the business world? Easy. I married an extrovert who also was my business partner. She was (and is) probably one of the best sales people I've ever met. She can still fire up a comfy conversation with anyone.

Then, I got divorced. Ut oh ...

I found myself sitting on the couch in my nifty new apartment one evening after a workday, thinking, "Gee ... what do I do with myself now?" I needed to figure out how I was going to get out there and all chummy with new prospects.

Here's what I did. Odds are, it will work for all you other card-carrying introverts out there, too.

I found the best extrovert I knew and did what he did. I acted "as if." "As if" I was a chatty type and "as if" I was a public speaker. And guess what? It worked. And, it wasn't too tough, either.

Simply acting as if you where a dynamic networking mogul can get you over the hump and learn the skills. When you're in a situation, just think, "What would [insert extrovert du jour] do or say?" Picture your extrovert model person in your seat and just do and say as you believe they would. That might sound like a big lull in the conversation's looming, but not really. Odds are you've seen your model in the same or similar situation and your brain will work pretty quick.

But what if you screw up and say or do something stupid? So what? It's important to remember that everybody does or says something stupid at times. We're all human. I usually try to say something funny and call attention to my idiotic faux pas. We all have a good laugh and move on with things. It's important not to take ourselves too seriously at times.

Here's a case in point. It wasn't a major knee-slapper, but it's stuck in my memory for about 30 years. A good bud of mine, and also a brilliant sales guy, was at the checkout counter at a drugstore with me. He pulled out his wallet and all his dough fell out onto the floor. Without so much as a pregnant pause, he said, "Oh geez, what a vulgar display of wealth." Everybody around cracked up.

After a while it gets easier and soon you find yourself being comfortable in situations that used to terrify you. You might even find you look forward to them.

So, go forth, act "as if" and release the happy extrovert living inside of you.

Thar's power in them thar numbers

Numbers are interesting things. They're especially interesting when they're followed by several zeros and preceded with a dollar sign, or your currency symbol du jour. But, before you can laugh all the way to the bank, you'll need to let folks know you exist and that your service can help them reach their goals.

Consider these two ideas. First, if you're like most people, you know roughly 200 other people when all is said and done. Each of those 200 are likely connected to another 200. Next, mull this over. There's a theory called "six degrees of separation." It states that everybody on the planet is connected through a chain of just six people. The theory was first proposed in 1929 by the Hungarian writer Frigyes Karinthy in a short story called "Chains." Don't believe it? Check out this article in New Scientist.

These are two very powerful ideas. Just do the math. 200 X 200 = 40,000 potential prospects and key prospects you'd like to get to are just six folks away.

Start by making a list of everybody you know. If you're really ambitious, start listing everybody you've ever met in your entire life. Then start to rekindle some relationships.

It's easy to lose touch. We get busy. We move. Things change. We simply forget. But, it can also be just as easy to stay connected. All you need is a plan and some well placed reminders so you don't forget.

Make up your list. Then send off a couple of emails with some links your friends and/or business associates might find useful. Shoot off a holiday or birthday card. Mail some promo postcards. Give someone a call and get together for lunch. Easy, right?

This doesn't need to be any hard sell. Just keeping in touch to remind folks you're still alive and well. When the time comes, and it will, that they need your services, or know somebody that does, your name's at the top of their mind.

Let me give you an example. Many moons ago, I worked for a guy at a large publishing company. He was my boss, but also became a friend and a mentor. I've known this guy for the better part of 30 years now. During that time, he left the publishing company, moved out of state and started his own custom publishing company. When he needed graphic design, he called me. Several of his clients also became my clients. A few years later, he moved again and took a position with another company. Guess what? When they needed some brochure work done, they called me. Later he took another position and the whole thing started again.

Simply by keeping in touch with one guy, I picked up several clients along the way. It cost me little to nothing in terms of marketing dollars. Okay ... maybe a few bucks in long distance calls, but I would have made those calls anyway.

Food for thought, eh?