For the most part, it is pretty unusual for me to be intimidated. There are a few notable exceptions when I am so star-struck that I act like a fourteen year old with a speech impediment. I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet with Keith Ferrazzi, but I am so impressed by him that I would probably have to meet with him four or five times for my brain to be included in our discussions. I have been a fan of Keith Ferrazzi for years. He wrote the single greatest book on networking, Never Eat Alone. It is pure genius. When I was a real estate agent in San Diego, it changed my entire outlook on how to build relationships. His books make the world a lot smaller and friendlier. It was the first and only book on networking that I have come across to incorporate integrity, respect and sincerity into building professional relationships.
I didn't plan to become a real estate agent; I definitely fell into it. I found it hard, at first, to join the business world. I was always in more academic and creative settings in my prior life experiences. Quite honestly, I thought the business world was filled with a bunch of greasy- handed phonies, and success in the business world would mean you had to promise to be a big jerk for the rest of your career. Well, there are those types, but Never Eat Alone drives home the point that the truly successful approach networking from a genuine and selfless place. This was finally something I could wrap myself around, and I started to have a lot more fun and success when I applied the principles outlined in his book. I have recommended Never Eat Alone so many times that I can almost hear the eye rolling when I am on the phone with my friends and colleagues, urging them to read it for the 40th time. This book is for everyone. I learned so much about how the world works, and how building a strong network is about living a rewarding life, not just for selling more widgets.
When I was driving from Atlanta to New York, I had the opportunity to listen to Keith's new book Who's Got Your Back. I gave up my career in real estate entirely, and I am now living the most bohemian existence that I have ever attempted to live, and I thought On the Road or almost anything else would be more in line with where I am right now. Old habits die hard. I was too curious not to see what Keith was up to with his new book. So, I listened to the book on CD version, and I was absolutely floored to see how in sync this book is with what I am doing. Try as you might to mix things up, life is a linear journey and unless you are seven years old or crazy, it is foolishness to say your past didn't lead you to exactly to where you are now, no matter how much you try to change course.
To my surprise, Who's Got Your Back addressed a lot of the same things I want to address in my journey. It brought so much more meaning and continuity to what I was about to take on. I couldn't help but see Who's Got Your Back as confirmation that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing at exactly the right time. From my perspective, this book is about bringing your most authentic self to the table before you go on a networking binge. Keith talks about the power of embracing a few key people in your life that "got your back", people who will tell you the truth, good or bad, because they are committed to your happiness, growth and success. I have never read a business book that so aptly merged personal growth with professional development. It really takes an author willing to be vulnerable to advocate the importance of vulnerability and honesty within your inner circle of support. I had to question in my own life who, if anyone, "has my back". It is so important to have people who are trustworthy and committed to not letting you fail and will tell you what you need to hear even if it is uncomfortable.
It was so interesting to hear so many of the same ideas that inspired my own journey in Keith Ferrazzi's talk... "families and communities have disintegrated". I agree, while communities and face to face contact are dropping, our "friends" lists are growing exponentially and alienation is growing. I am trying to bring community back to my life and the lives of other people I know in a small way by bringing a face to face contact within my community of friends, and by taking the time to actually meet up with my virtual friends in person. I am so encouraged by the reconnections people have made by reading my blog, and reaching out to people I have met on my journey. My goal is to bring a higher level of authenticity to my relationships, and to help people connect with each other. Of course, bridging the gap between virtual relationships and face to face relationships is a big goal that will obviously take more than a road trip and a blog to accomplish, but if it gets people thinking, then I would be so happy to know I made a difference.
Keith Ferrazzi's message of generosity was extended to me, and the GreenLight Community, by a hosted networking event with local Bostonians who attended the talk. I strongly encourage any person who wants to grow in the spirit of embracing like-minded individuals to join Keith Ferrazzi's Greenlight Network. Check it out on www.ferrazzigreenlight.com. (The only requirement to join is that you are committed to the success of the other members.) After the Greenlight event, I was truly honored to be invited to join the dessert portion of one of Keith Ferrazzi's famed dinner parties. It was a night I won't forget.
Quite honestly, after my ordeal in New York, I wasn't feeling highly social. The road trip was getting to me, and I didn't look or feel my best when I noticed the book tour event and made the decision to go. It was the hottest day in New York so far this year. I felt slightly hobo-ish living so much out of my car, and I didn't have the proper business attire, all perfect excuses to avoid the event. That said, I drove five hours to Boston and had one of my best experiences in years because I reached out to my network. After all, that's what my journey is all about. Reaching out isn't always easy, but it is worth it.
