TLP387: Networking is the beginning. Connecting is the journey. Giving is the goal.

Larry Kaufman is the author of “The Networking Connecting Giving (NCG) Factor: A Formula for Building Life-Changing Relationships from College to Retirement.” He is a connector, giver, and rainmaker who lives his life to help others succeed. He is also a senior-level Sales & Operations Leader and has been a globally-published speaker and trainer on LinkedIn for more than a decade. Larry shares his insights about the nature of networking, which is to know people rather than purely focusing on business. He highlights the significance of approaching interactions with a genuine curiosity about others and actively seeking ways to offer assistance. Additionally, Larry shares his perspective on networking events, noting their continued relevance as long as there is a clear goal or purpose for attendance. Key Takeaways: [03:40] Larry shares his personal views on what networking should look like. It should be focused more on getting to know more and sharing stories with people. In that way, you are also selling what you are capable of doing and what you have, but not focusing solely on exchanging cards to get the other people’s attention. He emphasizes that networking is more about building relationships and not purely marketing.  [06:51] He shares some tips on how to build rapport with other people such as asking personal questions, just as long as they are comfortable enough to share. You can also ask them things that are not usual to business terms, like what do they value or want, or something related to their outside business world. He also reiterated that by asking them personal questions, you are able to get them out from what they really feel because we don’t have a solid idea on what they are going through. [13:02] Larry advises young professionals on how they should conquer their fears in a networking industry, on what they can give, or how they should do it effectively. Young professionals do not have to do it alone, so they should not be afraid to ask for help, especially at the onset of their career. In regard to asking for help, Larry also added that it should not only be done at the start of their career but should be up until retirement which he also included it in his book. [20:07] He mentions a practical strategy for beginners in networking, which is that talking to one person in a month is not a bad start. He also reiterated that this also works at any level of one’s career. They can do this by checking people that surround them and have to add one person to their network at a time until you manage to increase it little by little. Larry also mentions that for today’s generation, there are a lot of tools that can be used to communicate with other people such as zooms, FaceTime, and any other social media platforms.  [29:29] Larry also shares how to be indispensable and the importance of this to a company. Being indispensable can be by showing other people that you are a shoulder they can lean on. It also means you are there to support them all the way and by getting to know them, you can easily understand their needs and can provide them what you can give.  [39:20] Closing Quote: Remember, “No one has ever become poor by giving”.- Anne Frank  Quotable Quotes: “ If you lead with yourself, you will live with yourself.” “Don't call me to fix your tire, but I can call someone to fix your tire. It may not stay on, but I would respond.” “The more I learn about people personally and professionally, I find ways to be helpful.” “People must not be too quick to talk about themselves, but nothing to do with the other person,” “Giving comes back in many ways, it may be never from that person, but it comes back in other ways.” “You don't have to be a connector and a giver alone, you can ask” “You can be a mentor, you can volunteer your time to a charity, you don’t have to play the world’s perceptions” “Meeting one new person that we could add to our network is already powerful” This is the book mentioned in our discussion with Larry: Resources Mentioned: The Leadership Podcast | Sponsored by | Rafti Advisors. LLC | Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | Larry Kaufman LinkedIn | Larry Kaufman Website | Larry Kaufman Twitter |