In case you missed Holly's fantastic 'Roadmaps' post yesterday, click here to read. And I believe Ms. Marisa will be gracing us with a podcast later today, so be sure to check in with her right here.
With that said, it's time for Installment #2 in my 'Roadmaps' series: A Guide to Creative Pursuit. Enjoy, and although I won't be around this weekend to respond to any questions/comments, I'll check in with you first thing Monday morning, so please leave your thoughts!
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I hate networking. I know, I know. Total heresy. Let me explain...
Networking, in the traditional sense, makes my stomach churn. You know the scenario. Business cards, three piece suits, Las Vegas conferences. The norm. Sure, it may work, but it lacks one key ingredient in a successful personal relationship: sincerity.
I'm a firm believer that if you can't offer sincerity, you can't offer much. And as creatives, if our heart isn't in our work, it can get pretty ugly. And I'm not talking metaphorically here. Really, it's ugly.
Same goes for networking. Without heart, you're just a gal with a paintbrush and an email address.
In other words, you can attend all of the trade shows in the world and rock an overflowing Rolodex, but if you don't make a sincere effort to foster those relationships, chances are, it all means nothing.
Remember that really bad late 90's song 'You Get What You Give?' Although I don't encourage you all to skateboard in the middle of a mall, this song has a great message when it comes to networking. Don't expect Martha Stewart to descend upon your studio anytime soon just because she slipped you her assistant's assistant's main line during last season's craft show. Networking is a 2-way street, and unless you have something to offer Ms. Martha herself, I wouldn't bank on your phone number making its way into her speed dial anytime soon. Think you have nothing to offer the Queen of Craft? Think again.
You have a perspective. A pair of eyes, a pocket of experiences and a lot more talent than you think. Use your head. Get creative. Chances are, if you can illustrate something worthy of a sale or two on Etsy, you can figure out how to catch the attention of any blonde jailbird you set your sights on.
With that said, forget about Martha. You don't need her. Look around you. We are so blessed to be surrounded with BILLIONS of creatives from every walk of life. Someone, somewhere is bound to be feeling similar to you. Find that someone, establish that connection, and grow a friendship. You'll need that friendship whether or not your work is picked up by a gallery.
Don't discount a less than obvious connection. For instance, I'm a blonde Midwesterner living in L.A. with three bachelors' degrees, two dogs and a weakness for paper goods. You may be the complete opposite, but I would suspect that I know someone a lot like you. And unless you ask, you'll never know if I'm willing to make the introduction.
Now let's talk specifics. Obviously, this crazy webosphere is a great place to establish connections, but come on--- that's way too easy. Get off your couch and into your community. The best mentor I ever gained was someone I met at the market in the check-out line. Be friendly. Be open to possibility, but be intentional.
Use your resources. Grace Bonney has established a fantastic networking event for some of us in bigger cities with her BizLadies MeetUp. Don't live in a big city? Check out these events across the globe.
Get creative. How about a VideoChat session? A Yahoo group? A community blog? Book club?
And to be totally honest, if you're reading this post right now, you have all the resources you need to start a network of your own, or include yourself in an existing network. And if you've ever commented on a blog, you've already done the latter. Congratulations! You've networked!
The good news is that this post is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so, so many benefits of networking and billions of ways to go about it all. Figure out what works for you, and go get 'em.
And lastly? Never, EVER monetize a current relationship. It's rude, crude and socially unacceptable. People are not steps on their way to your heaven. Grow some respect and take the elevator.
Besides, I happen to know what Picasso thought about that sort of attitude, and trust me, it wasn't good.
See you next week for more Roadmaps, specifically Installment #3: Get organized!
42 comments:
Oh my god, i have to work my english ! I try to read, sometimes it's easy and sometimes dificult ... but i try again and again !!! Thanks so much for all this discoveries !! Have a nice day !!!
This is great. Love it. thanks for this. A lot of what you are talking about can be applied to anything or any type of work and that is fantastic. so thanks.
OH! and check this out...think you might like:
http://www.georgianagle.blogspot.com/
You are so encouraging... just because of it I left you an award for you on my blog. Thanks for your support, Erin.
As usual Erin, you are awesome. In addition, i would recommend: merchantcircle.com, linkedin.com, and any other local group like your chamber of commerce, etc. ALSO, always put your biz card up at local banks, communtiy centers, ANYwhere that a bulletin board exists :-)
you are right on the money with the importance of sincerity and not expecting to monetize the relationship. networking is about reciprocation, but maybe someone you meet won't be able to help you more than by just being a great person.
when i worked in professional services, networking was key. the thing that i really disliked was speaking to someone who made no eye contact and was looking around the room for the next best thing. ugh!
"I'm a firm believer that if you can't offer sincerity, you can't offer much."
I think that transparency and honesty is a HUGE part of developing a successful network. I think a big problem, specifically with businesses that try to cram themselves into social networking tech, is that they want to direct every single message and don't allow for an OPEN dialog. There's a lot of one way communication but no real dialog because their end goal is typically financial.
That kind of goes into "don't monetize a relationship". The biggest benefit of your network should be the symbiotic relationships it provides, not the $. Everyone has something to sell so you've got to have something that is of greater benefit to your community - like your voice, your story or your passion.
/novel
Ok so I'm catching a flight RIGHT THIS SECOND and have two seconds to check in but I lOOOOOOOOVE EVERYONE'S THOUGHTS! You're right on the money here, guys--- thanks for adding such important ideas to the mix!
I love you all so so much! :)
you rock girl! it is so true that if your heart isn't in your work it's ugly... I live that daily, that's why my hobbies are so important. I will have to look into the BizLadies MeetUp. hopefully they have one in St. Louis!
Have a lovely weekend!
Yay! I love this series of posts--it's such a good idea. I can't wait to see what comes next. :)
Nice tie-in with the series. I declared 2008 the year of collaboration (in a not-so-network-y kind of way). Wow. It's made a big difference already!
Another great post! Being involved in your art community is a good way to network. Just by volunteering at a museum or talking to gallery owners. Sometimes I am shy, but once I start talking I realize we both have something to gain from this conversation. Real "networking" makes me feel kinda sick too!
thanks for this post! networking is a great tool. part of me loves it, part of me gets a little nervous...but it's definitely worth the effort! i am going to the la biz meetup; so maybe will see some of you there??
"Someone, somewhere is bound to be feeling similar to you." It's so true . . . and if nothing else comes out of the Roadmaps series for me, enforcing this has been a tremendous gift in and of itself. Thank you, oh Goddess of DFM!
thanks erin... i find networking to be such a forced term when you think of it the wrong way.. i guess i like to make friends and i am a easy going and approachable (And bad spelling) individual.. yesterday at the park i was asked to take WAY to many photos for passing by strangers.. anyho.. great stuff and wealth of links to check out!
As an artist with an MBA (Snort), I am strong believer in applying traditional business principles to the art of business. I wrote an article that was published in The Storque about this very topic.
Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/how-to-network-offline-increase-online-sales-in-five-easy-st/910/
Love & agree with everything you say here!
thank you my dear. most inspirational. the local artist groups i have found (go PDX Etsy!)have been invaluable in terms of business support, emotional support and just plain company. community is one of the most valuable resources we all have. cheers.~
such lovely, kind and inspiring words. i find that if there is a passion behind what you are putting into words it becomes effortless.
Great post again Marissa. I followed that link to the 10 networking things creatives can do and it was great. Some of the things even made me laugh but they were all good ideas.
Oooops! I meant to say 'great post again Erin'! Sorry about that.
Interesting post, lots of great links. Blog commenting is like networking isn't it. However I really like commenting on blogs to let people know when they have done something I find awesome... like this post!
THANKS (from my heart)
I love networking. I prefer to think of it as meeting awesome people who you share a common bond with. It's always fun to open new doors. I learn so much from word of mouth, so you never know what you're going to learn from someone until you talk to them.
Anne
I get so nervous when it comes to face to face networking. Partly because I haven't had much practice lately. After leaving my day job a year ago, it's been me and my laptop most of the time. And I think technology has made it even worse. It's so easy to "meet" people via email that I find myself getting a little nervous at the thought of actually meeting someone face to face. Oh jeeze, I need to get out more!!!
Great post Erin.
-Marichelle
this is a wonderful post. so helpful and inspiring. and what's more...so great that you would take the time to do this. it's so important to share knowledge and information...that in and of itself is networking. i love networking. i grew up in a working class household & it was instilled in me at a very young age to continually connect your neighbors and friends. i started my blog for the very fact that i am always sharing things i like w/ friends and random strangers.
i can't say enough about this post. i think sometimes peeps are afraid to share knowledge for fear that there is not enough to go around. when actually, if you give you shall receive.
i could go on and on...thank you so much lots of food for thought here!
This series is amazing! Thank you Erin for your hard work and *heart*...this is true inspiration!
hey erin:
this is so great! what a positive and inspirational soul you are.
i blogged your praises
incagirlandtheworld.blogspot.com
xoc
Wow Erin, I wish I could thank you in person. I'm so glad we met here in the blogosphere. You are incredible and inspiring. I will try to go out there and get going with more networking but it's people like you that instill the confidence in my to do so. Rock on.
p.s come visit my in Brooklyn!
Great writing Erin! Alot of good info. I will be clicking the links in this post for a while! :)
Hi Erin, Just stumbled upon your blog and loved this post. I was a high pwered 'Big Girl marketing consultant'. Hated the insincerity & shallow people. Now I am a SAHM pursuing my creative urges around washing, taxiing kids, etc! Couldn't be happier. The arts, crafts world on the internet is so inspiring & even though you never meet a lot of these people - you feel touched and you touch others & that is real.
Please check out my inspirational piece of funriture. My little girl Darcy has a challenging neuromuscular condition & I have decorated a chest of drawers for her filling it with inspirational words and quotes.: http://louisestuart.typepad.com/miffysworld/2008/03/darcys-drawers.html
It might make you smile!
cheers from Australia.
Louise
Darn, I was waxing poetic about your amazingness (made up word alert) and suddenly I had the urge to look at another one of your posts. Bye Bye comment! Blog blunder. Ok, back to what I was writing...
Erin, every time I turn around you are doing something wonderful. You are just a joy to know.
I completely agree with you on the sincerity and heart part of networking. Without it, even success becomes meaningless.
Go Erin!
xoxo
I love what you said about sincerity ~ so true!
Erin, I know I've told you a million times but you are truly an inspiration to all of us. And that's why we all keep coming back to read your blog. You talked about sincerity in terms of networking etc., but I think it also shows through in the way you write. It feels like you are speaking one-on-one with us. And you've given us the extra boost of confidence to go out there and network with others. Thanks for your words of wisdom, and of course all of those great links!
You hit the nail exactly on the head. I am actually writing about networking this week for my coaching blog, and I will most likely be linking to this post. Thanks for saying it so succinctly!
These roadmaps are such great reads, thanks so much Erin! You write about these things in a very captive way, and don´t hesitate to say the unpleasant sides as well, which is very important.
I totally agree about the remarks over sincerity. If you don´t have your heart in what you do, but think only in money, that is very shallow.
Have a great week Erin!
Dear Readers:
I am so so enjoying reading your thoughtful perspectives on networking, and thank you so so much for your kind words. My hope is that you can be inspired by what is written here, whether it comes from the post or a random comment. Keep working hard at your dreams, and I'll keep the info coming! :)
Love to you all,
e.
Thankyou so much for your advice and all the great links. I've gotten so much out of the recent posts/podcasts from you, Holly, and Marisa, and I'm starting to see the path towards my dream career! Thankyou!
Penny--- it is ABSOLUTELY my pleasure. Congrats on beginning to realize your passion and its full potential! SO EXCITING! :)
From one blond(ish) Midwesterner living in Los Angeles to another, thanks for this post. I think networking means having sincere relationships wherever you can find them with whomever you meet. It's usually just three or four degrees of separation. Everybody has something to offer, something to contribute, got his thing going on in the garage. My handyman, well, he was in that 80s band and he still knows a bunch of people. And the guy shelving the Entenmann's? Oh, he's a poet. Published some really great stuff. That waitress? Ask her what's in that little book: It's her mini photography portfolio. That soccer mom? She directs movies. That 9-5er? Well, he produces these indy plays at these hole-in-the-wall theaters. That elderly neighbor? Cabinet maker, a real craftsman.
I'd suggest for everyone wanting a great network to be a network catalyst yourself. You don't need a photographer? But you talked to someone recently who did. Get the waitress' business card and send the email to that indy play producer at his stuffed shirt company email address. Make the connection. Put two and two together, even if you are not in the equation. Lend a hand, do a favor, give heartfelt compliments to complete strangers, do good, have fun. Might not be the Super Highway to success, but it's not a bad way to spend the day. And I have a gut feeling it is a way to success.
I got an email recently from somebody with whom I last spoke 14 years ago. And the ideas are coming from this reconnect! Sincerity has no Best Before date.
And then have the nerve to actually click "Publish your comment". Here goes.
-N.
AMEN, FLEDGLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Truly a wonderful post. And you're right!
Nice post! You're 24 with 3 Bachelor's degrees?!? Are you for reals??!!
Ha, I know. I couldn't decide which major I liked the best!!! :)
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