Get Connected 21st Century- Do it offline then venture online

We are so connected to our devices that we forget that have a quality conversation with people daily is actually better and builds long term relational capital.

We actually were doing it well before social media show up. Then we started to use social networking and texting as a means of communication. It’s brought more harm than good.

Just this week two people send to me they would rather get information via text than email! Not that’s a new trend..

Below are few things to consider to buck the trend

1st Cell phone

This is may be very hard to for all us, even just reading this statement may create some conversation. (my friend @garyvee may enjoy this!)

Shocking as it may seem. We can put away our phones for few hours and have engagement and meaningful conversation with someone face-to-face!

Visit our friend or go to client and engage with them and you may be surprised to learn something new about them!

2nd Social Media

I challenge you to a social experiment decactive your Facebook or Twitter for 1 month. I did this in May 6,2013-June 6.2013 it was an amazing experience.

 Nothing happened for 1 week or so. I started getting email and text the 2nd week ask if “ I was okay?”, “ Did you unfriend me?”. It was very interesting to read this questions.

I mentioned my social experiment and they were little dumbfounded and bewildered that I was doing this.

3rd Connecting

We meet people daily while were a getting coffee or a social occasions, instead of attempting in having a quality conversation we rush and connect online to forge a long-term connections that way.

Why don’t take the time and slow down and ask some great questions and learn more about them now.

Take the above suggestions as a personal challenge and grow network moving forward with creating more quality connection and quantity.

There will be important lessons for all us in this new journey moving forward.

Get Connected 21st Century

Jim Pagiamtzis

www.21connections.ca

Power of LinkedIn: Little bit of focused energy led to...

I have shared numerous stories over the years for how I have been found or have been hired due to my LinkedIn profile.

Below is event happened only few weeks ago in the middle of  May.

I had decided to challenge myself for few hours to prove a point that I have been making during my presentations in recent months that networking and social media work together very well. I have shared stories how I have been "found" many times on LinkedIn for speaking engagements.

This time I want to get a result for a career opportunity. Below is what I did to get a result the same day!

  There are three areas that I focus on using with LinkedIn.  They are as follows;

  1st Connections

  2nd Recommendations

  3rd Groups

  Bonus
  4th  Job boards

 These are three areas that I spend time on a weekly basis to create ongoing engagement in my network

  On this day I had seen some interested careers show up on the board and one of the companies I knew really well, had seem them a local conferences in the city. I proceeded to email my cover letter and resume to the link mentioned.

   On the side of job posting there was a section where it states people that are in your connections who work with this company who have worked with them in the past. I knew an individual on the list and I had met him at an event where he had been part of  guest panel at event few months back, I sent him an email regarding the job opportunity and if he could be of assistance. Half an hour later I got a response which was great!  He was extremely busy and didn't deal with this position what he offered was to send a connection email with HR department via virtual email introductions.

   I responded with an email in appreciation of the offer. Half an hour after that I got an email from the HR department asking if I was interested in 3:00pm phone interview. I responded with "yes' and was looking forward to the call.

   It was time for the call and at 3:00pm sharp we connected. We had an great discussion and answered questions she had.

   I did follow up with them but didn't hear back regarding the position.

 Moral of the story. Utilizing online and offline strategies can be used to create results. Be aware of online opportunities and the power of leverage. You can make it happen quickly!