Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Eating with Keith Ferrazzi

Keith is known world-wide for being the master-networker. His company Ferrazzi Greenlight offers consulting and coaching to organizations. Keith's bio is so impressive, yet his personal charisma is electrifying and stands for itself.

See his Microsoft Small Business Summit speaking engagement. This is motivational for the entrapeneur, office worker, student or house wife. For Keith, it is apparent that networking comes natural; we can only hope to emulate him in social sucess. Pick up a few tips from him by reading "Never Eat Alone". This is loaded with good information; I won't even attempt to review it since so many reputable persons have reviewed it already.

If your fortunate to meet meet (or eat!) with Keith, make sure you talk from the heart. But the same goes for all relationships. One of the biggest values I relish from Keith is "Put yourself out on the table":
  • what is it that you want,
  • what can you offer,
  • what are you afraid of
  • what is the big picture (or dream) you're going after and how do I fit in?

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Johannes Larcher

Today I was browsing linked in and through my profile I came across Johannes Larcher. Johannes is linked through George Kellerman, a friend, former co-worker and astonishing role model. I found Johannes because George's had good things to say about him, and coming from George, this is a very valuable endorsement.

Johannes comes from Wharton and has an incredible record in the Internet space. He held senior positions at Overture and Friendster, both of which are very successful ventures and prior to those he brought Korn Ferry recruitment online. If you're looking for a guy who knows how to suceed online, Johannes can speak with experience.

He is now producing online educational software at Academy123 and consulting with Cineal Inc. Academy123 is an online application for learning; it provides the student an online teacher through a very slick interface. I believe that this hosted educational software will change the face of traditional learning. If you haven't seen it, it's worth looking at their online samples. Having been a tutor and teachers assistant in college and I've considered ways in which tutoring could be individualized and made commonly available through the internet. His software might a great fit for that need too.

More relevant to my interest today is his consultation in media and online applications for my company, RelevantAds. RelevantAds provides an application service for regional media and online publishers. While Cineal Inc. is still forming (according to its website), I look forward to connecting with its key asset, Johannes himself. Johannes would likely have great advice and connections on helping us deliver our solution to the market.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Marc Averitt

Marc is co-founder and managing director of Okapi VC, a new VC in Orange County. Marc is very active in capital networking groups in OC including OCTANe and OCVG. He's also an IT strategist; having worked at Intel and Sun in legal and corporate development roles. His perspectives on the future of online services, software and IT are sure to be inspiring. I look forward to meeting Marc someday soon.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Marshall Toplansky

Marshall is a Harvard MBA grad and a marketing guru. He is CEO of CoreStrategies a marketing firm with several top tier accounts. I had a missed connection with Marshall at a recent Bowers Museum event put on by Harvard Business School Association of Orange County.

Marc Kelly
The very next night after the Bowers Mummy event, OCVG hosted Cocktails with the VC's which Arnaud and I crashed. There I met Marc Kelly, CFO of CEYX Technologies, a company which produces software to control and optimize optics in LCD displays and fiber communication. Marc also went to USC, my alma mater and then Harvard Business School (I presume with Marshall). Marc is very entertaining to talk with; he's quick witted and has great generational gap stories about his teenage children. In our talking, we just happen to find that Marc is good friends and neighbors with Marshall. Marc had no problem giving me Marshals contact information; so I look forward to meeting Marshall soon.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Read a good book lately

People you don't know are content waiting to be explored
I look each person as if they are a book. The cover doesn't have to be attractive, but then you either need to have something catchy keywords or phrases on the back cover or have a few interesting pictures to show. Nevertheless, when there isn't much to do, any book is better than none. A large gather of people is like being in a book store.

Hottest on the Block
I frey from the popular ones, crowded around ones. Yes, they would be the best people to talk with and could do the most benefit, but in a conjested setting you're much less likely to get the right time, attention, and ultimately much less likely to be remembered.

Time Managment
Pick your books well and when you've learned enough, learn how to take a quick note, put them down and move on to the next when you've learned enough; time is valueable.

Meaning
The way in which people personally interact with each other dictates the very nature of life. In future threads I'll discuss more of my belief on this.

Beginning the list

I love to network. Whether its at business events, games, weddings, or a few people in a bar you'll find me gabbing away. I'm definetely not the best at entry lines, but I can generally hold good conversation with quality people.

I often learn about other people, those whom I'd like to someday meet and gain some valuable insight from. I'm starting this blog now to keep an operating list of my "wishful connections" in networking.

This list isn't for ranking or prioritizing entries, but mearly tracking whom I think would be good to eventually meet. In starting, are two people whom I read about today:
  • Martin Devon, CIO Sanders
    • Martin is a information mastermind, master networker, we'll versed in technology and information. He manages a well composed blog called PatioPundit.com as well as a few others. His blog is full of interesting points on politics, culture and technology. He has a lot to say, or moreover a lot to share. It's comforting to read from someone who is open about their personal life and interests. I'm sure that it's this integrity which has lead him to the sucesses in business and life. Martin is highly respected among those he knows and might even be considered a mensch.

      While Martin is just out of my network reach, I'm destined to meet him someday soon since my LinkedIn network has over 10 people who know someone which Martin knows. I've never seen someone that close to being connected; wouldn't be interesting if LinkedIn sent an alert when people are that close.

  • Chien Wang, CEO AwardElements
    • Chien is a well communicated, straight-forward, down to earth person. He is a sucessful businessman and is a master networker. I got on his email list a few months ago and he promotes his business and his life very well. Even though I never met him, he made me feel connected by sharing his personal experiences.

      His association with AwardElements couldn't be more fitting. AwardElements sells Promotional Products in Los Angeles and has 1000's of useful yet promotional, marketing items. I'm looking at a giving thermos coffee cups to propective partners. Part of being sucessful with the people in your network means that they benefit from the relationship; even these small tokens can make a substadifference.
    • UPDATE: I meet Chien today and instantly recognized him since his face had been so famous in my email. Everything I believed about him was true; he speaks very well and shows a high degree of sincerity and desire to work with others. In fact, Chien even had a wing-networker with him.


    • A wing-networker is someone you have a business relationship with but not in the same company. They should bring be good at provoking conversation and ideally they'll make you look and effectively double your coverage of the room by finding other interesting people.

      On this occassion Chien brought, and paid for, Ricardo Guzman his business banker from Banco Popular. After meeting with Ricardo I realized that I needed a personal banking relationship in Latin America; after connecting, I actually started and funded an account later that same day. Chien is a fantastic person to know, he values people before business and is and about the easiest person to talk to that you will ever meet. I hope one day to be his wing-networker!