Network more efficiently - Brag, Ask, Give

Networking conversations get painfully dry, especially in the beginning. “What do you do?” “Where are you from?” Yuck.

Here’s a bold and effective way to catalyze some valuable connections and blow past the small talk.

Brag, ask, and give.

• Brag: It has to be a real brag. You and others will be more easily memorable.

• Ask: Who or what are you currently seeking?

• Give: What are you able to offer collaborators and/or clients?

It helps when the entire group is tuned to this prompt. Then you get permission to go really filthy on your brags. (which they should be)

Tim Ferriss taught us to do this at his fan meetup.

Something I learned - Embrace disagreement, avoid conflict.

Disagreements are healthy and are crucial to productive relationships, teams, and organizations. Conflict, however, is not, especially when it’s prolonged.

Two scenarios when disagreement turns into conflict.

1. When you focus on the person, instead of the problem.

   Example: you attribute the source of disagreement to be an intrinsic flaw in someone else. “You’re not smart enough to get this.”

2. When someone thinks the other person disagrees due to a hidden motive.

How to disagree better:

1. Actively listen to the other person by repeating back what you heard. Our first instinct is to rebuttal immediately. Fight the urge.

2. Focus on the problem, not the person.

3. Highlight where you have agreements.

This learning is from the podcast episode Think Fast Talk Smart #136 featuring Julia Minson.

Mai Nguyen

Mai is a force of inspiration, play, and unapologetic drive. She shapes her workflows in accordance with her values. And in that way, she never burns out. Whether it’s content creation, selling a product on Amazon, or dealing cards at a casino, Mai loves what she does. She’s got a constant creative drive that shifts and evolves. Keep up with her latest projects on YouTube or Instagram.

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Favorite piece of content that changed you or influenced how you operate?

What’s one piece of advice you often hear in your field that you disagree with?

Why do you think you have not “made it” yet?

Brag, Ask, Give

Brag: What’s your biggest, baddest, real brag? Lay it on thick. Flex on 'em.

Ask: What or who are you on the hunt for right now?

Knowledge, skills and genuine connections with cool peeps.

Give: What can you offer to potential collaborators/mentees/clients?

I think people forget to be a kid, make stupid jokes, and enjoy the ride too. I'm genuinely more happy than I've ever been because of this and I hope that energy rubs off on people.

Photo of the week - Jacob Collier at Radio City