Networking for 7-12 year olds

True Networking Story

I don’t have kids. It was never a question. I have just never related to kids. (I am one of those grumpy guys who turns off all the lights on Halloween) Keep this in mind as you read further on this true story. A few years ago, we had a visitor come to the house. I opened the door and saw a kid in a Boy Scout uniform (which could have been Weeblo’s). He is standing about 4 feet tall.  He could have been 7, or he could have been 12. I’m not interested in kids; I don’t know ages at this stage.  He was short. The first thing out of his mouth is, “Want to buy some popcorn?”

I thought (didn’t say out loud) “WTF is this shit”. Seriously? No introduction? No, “I am raising money for this or that cause?” Did you just hit me with a straight-up “Want to buy some popcorn?” Who sent this crumb snatcher out here? Do they not have a “How to sell some popcorn badge?” Needless to say, HRNasty was a little “put out.”

Wanna buy some popcorn?

I asked him who he was, thinking I would give him a second chance. Naive to children, I thought he would introduce himself and give me the rest of the pitch. “My name is Joey. Do you want to buy some popcorn?” Kids these days, where is the world going?  Did the parents seriously send this kid out unarmed to make a pitch? I seriously walked out onto the porch to see where the dumb ass parents were, but they were nowhere in sight. Go figure.

I must create a video game that teaches kids how to sell Somoa’s, Thin Mints, and Carmel Popcorn.

I explained the concept of networking to him. He needs to introduce himself (courtesy), tell me what troop he is with (credibility), and tell me why he is raising the money (connect with me).  Is he going to camp?  I don’t know if he is pocketing the money or doing what with it. HRNasty took the time to explain that common courtesy goes a long way in any culture. I sent him back outside and told him to try it again. We went through this 3 times before I forked out 15.00 for a small bag of popcorn that had to be pre-ordered and would be delivered in 4 weeks. I need to live in a place with a mile-long driveway.

Establish a connection 

The point is, I think it’s a bit insincere to hear, “What jobs are you hiring for?” within the first 30 seconds, even if that is the event’s purpose. This is not networking. This is taking advantage of the other person.

Had this kid waved to me when I was at the local grocery store, helped me mow my lawn, or sang some carols in front of my house during the holidays, AKA “Networked,” I would have just forked over the money as soon as he got to the door.

General thoughts about networking

We both know one of us “wants something.” (Yes, I figured the kid was trying to sell something because I don’t have a son or child that he would come over to play with.) You need some help, and I genuinely want to assist you.

• Favors are always easier to ask for if you already know the person.  So, try to meet people even when you don’t need anything.  (You shouldn’t ONLY find yourself asking for introductions when you need something)
• Favors are always easier to ask for if you have ALREADY done someone a favor. (If the Weeblo had sung some Christmas carols or helped me mow my lawn.  .  . )
• Favors are more easily accepted if you offer to help or reciprocate in some way. AKA, networking.
• If you ask a favor of someone during your job hunt, the odds are that you are going to come to that person again. A thank you card, gesture, note, or an update goes a long way. I don’t appreciate it when someone calls me out of the blue every 9 months and always wants my time.
• If you will meet with someone, do some background research on them. There is no excuse for the advent of Google and all of the social tools out there.

Weeblo must have quit the Scouts because I never saw him again.

See you at the after party,
HRNasty

nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky, and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.

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