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Are you a business owner? Or are you on the verge of taking that side hustle to the next level? Or curious about the world of entrepreneurship? Join Vivian Kvam, Co-Owner of Tandem Works, each week for a behind-the-scenes at small businesses and what it takes to succeed.
Each episode is full of inspiration, education, tips, and great conversation with people like you, people who are figuring it out. Take your business to the next level with insight from expert guests in business, leadership, and marketing.
On this episode of Writing Tandem Works, I.
Think sometimes people set themselves up for unrealistic expectations, too. Like, you don't need to go and meet 15 people, and I think that would take a lot of the pressure off of some people, especially introverts, to.
Say, if I just go and meet.
One or two people. I mean, one good contact is valuable.
Hi there. This is your host, vivian, and you're listening to Writing Tandem Works, a podcast that is all safe business, entrepreneurship and the secret to operating a successful business while still having a life you love. Whether you're a business owner on the verge of taking that side hustle to the next level or just curious about the world of entrepreneurship, join me as I go behind the scenes of my own business and the businesses of others, unpacking some of the most valuable lessons you can apply today. Let's dive in. Hi, everyone. Welcome back to this episode of Writing Tandem Works, and I'm excited because I have mikayla here with me again today, my business partner. mikayla, welcome back.
Thanks for having me back.
Welcome back to the podcast you co own. You've been invited back again. congrats.
Yes. It's funny.
People will ask about that when they're like, so when's mikayla in there, I'm like, she's been on once, and she's coming back again. So this is good. We were talking a lot as we're setting up goals and stuff just about networking events. And one of the things I love about you and I tell people this all the time, and you know this, you've probably heard me say it, but one of the things I love about you is that you're a Super connector, which I hadn't really heard that term before. I probably read it somewhere a number of years ago, and I was like, oh, that is mikayla. And I just thought it'd be fun if we talk about networking today because you're super good at it.
It's funny because it wasn't something that I was like, oh, yeah, I'm good at this, until people start to point it out and you're like, oh, this isn't easy for everybody like it is for me.
Yeah, you actually, before we hopped on here recording, we were talking about this, and I'd actually kind of forgotten about it, but in the previous company we had and you were there, we would do these, like, lunch and learn type of like somebody presents on a topic. And you had been saying that you weren't sure what to present on. And I said, well, networking.
And I was like, you're crazy. What are you talking about? Yeah.
And I remember thinking, well, you're crazy. I'm so good at it.
Yeah. So I did that's when, like, word swag was a thing instead of like a powerpoint, I did, like, a little word swag pictures, like Networking 101.
I forgot about word swag.
That was a thing back then.
I still have it on my phone.
That takes up space. It does. I should probably get rid of it. So I did a little Networking 101 and one of my takeaway tips, and when I looked around, everyone eating lunch and they were like it totally dawned on them when I was like, if I meet people in there from a small town in Iowa, I would ask about, like, oh, did ragbi go through there? In such and such year? Even though I might not know exactly what year, it kind of gave us common ground to be like, oh, yeah, there's a little hole in the wall bar there, or there's this statue in the park, those kind of things. And it gave us a starting point to just really have some common ground. Yeah.
And you're good at that. I've always noticed that because sometimes it's hard for me to go into a new group of people, and I always liked being able to hang around you in those situations because you do just kind of start those up. And I kind of use and say random things too, because I feel like it's one, I don't know what to say sometimes, but two, it does feel more relatable. And so I like that because I was like, oh, I'm not the only one who I remember I used to start some conversations with like, so what did you have for breakfast today? Like, anything great I should know about? And people look at you like, what?
But it stops them.
It does.
You do ask good questions.
Thanks.
Yeah.
I often think of the way you interact with people, and I try to get it to rub off on me, to remember, like, oh, mikayla, you're so good at remembering those details of places. And I have a really hard time with that. I'm always like that one thing, that one time with the title of I don't remember.
Yeah. I struggle, though, sometimes. Some things I'm just like, I have no idea. I know I know somebody that knows somebody that could do that, but I'm stuck right now. So sometimes I'll thumb through my Facebook feed. I'm like, that's who it is.
I would say, like, social profiles have made that a little easier.
Absolutely.
You and I actually just went to a networking event in omaha, which we haven't done anything in omaha for a while. We used to do a lot in omaha because the previous business was there and just I don't know, we did more there pre COVID.
We did a lot there pre COVID.
Yes, for sure. And we were there and I remember just like, wait, I feel like I know this person, the company they were talking about. So I was like, sneaking my phone, trying to look at LinkedIn. Like, I think I know this company and I have a company.
How do I know them?
That happens to me a lot, for sure. Do you think that's awkward for other people? Sometimes I just want to say, I feel like I should know you, or I feel like I should know you.
Say that all the time. Your face is super familiar to me, especially with a photography background. oftentimes I've looked at their face so much longer than they've ever looked at mine.
It's true.
I'm like, I know I've edited your face. Not in a bad way, but I've edited your face, and I know it. I just need a little time to place it. At that same event, I was like, I know. I know that girl.
Yeah, you did. I'm like, that's how the worst maybe it's not the worst. I'm sure everyone experiences it, but the worst is when I know. And then you end up in conversation and they clearly know you and you're still trying to place them. So you're trying to ask questions, but your brain's racing with, Can I ask about this? Because maybe that's not that person.
I think I've said this to you before, too, definitely to my husband. If I don't introduce you right away, within the first probably 15, 30 seconds, I don't remember their name. So I want you to jump in and say, hey, what's your name?
Yeah, that's true. I use the same rule, and I think we play off each other that way pretty well, where it's like, Hi, I'm vivian. This is Machaela.
Or. Hi.
This is Machaela. You guys have met before, right? Pause. Don't insert their name means you reach out and go, what was your name again? Yeah, so helpful.
I try to remember names.
It is nice to be able to do that. I have a little hack that I use when I meet somebody. Like, for example, I do this actually a lot at church because you meet a lot of different people and you're not necessarily going to interact with them again. Like, they're sitting behind you and you shake hands, say, hello. I will write in my notebook. I take a notebook with me. I try to write something that I can remember, like three kids and something like that, or red coat. And I put their name in and I've used that. I've flipped back through notes, and it's in my margins so that when I see them the next time, I'm like, Hi, so good to see you. And they're always, like, thrilled. And I have a little chuckle to myself because I did want to remember them.
You just made a point to remember them. Yeah.
Thank you.
When I was bartending, I would do that. Their name is Blank and they drink a rare Russian. I'd remember it that way. Otherwise I'd end up texting people I worked with, like, what's that couple's name? They drink a White Russian. Oh, yeah.
What is your approach to networking? Like, when you think about networking, what's your approach to it? How do you kind of navigate through it? As a business owner, especially, I guess.
I don't really think about it as networking. I would say I started out probably in my 20s, going to networking events for the free drinks, for the fun.
That sounds right.
There were some fun ones where you would, like, get an ipod. Like a little tiny one.
Like an actual ipod?
Yeah.
Did you get one?
I did. It was purple.
Do you still have it?
Probably no, I think it's your way. It was dead. It was old. You would get an ipod for going to some food networking event. I was pretty excited about that. We were.
So you're going for the swag?
Went for the swag and the free cocktails. And then I was like, oh, these things could actually be a little useful.
So when did you realize that they were useful to your business?
Probably when I started booking photography work out of them. And people just saying, oh, yeah, she has photography. I mean, sometimes I book photography work and they'd never even see my work.
Really?
Yeah. They'd talk to me and be like, oh, yeah, that's fine.
They like you.
Yeah. Like, do you want to see stuff? Oh, that's fine.
You're so like, okay, I can see that. I could see people just because you're a superconnector.
I'm like, Are you sure you don't want to see anything?
I'm sure it's fine. Yeah, so too many people maybe book that way. They were lucky.
Yeah. So typography, it's not about me and more like how I can help other people and looking at it that way, like, kind of more community building, relationship building, less about the transaction of handing out a business card.
I think that's one of the things that turns people off.
Yeah.
One, because they don't want that whole everyone go around circle, say their name, here's my business card.
Yeah.
Or they feel like I'm supposed to do that. And they don't feel comfortable walking up to somebody and be like, hi, I'm vivian. Here's my card.
Yeah. Most of the time if it's here's my card, it's just going to go to the door of my car.
Have you ever I'm trying to think of a time if that's ever happened to me because I think hopefully everyone can picture this in their head. Well, maybe I should hope that they can. I hope you've never had this experience, but you go to the, say, a Chamber event, which they put on some great events, but someone walks in the door, they walk up to your small circle, who's talking, and they're like, Hi, I'm George. And they already have their cards out. And it's like the salesman. Yes, it's what it feels like. Here's my card. Here's my card. I'm like, George, bless your heart. I don't know you. I don't want your card.
No.
Have you ever had that reverse, though, where you're like, oh, actually, I'm glad I have their card. I cannot think of a time.
No.
Yeah, don't do that, that's bad. So what do you do though, because in your mind the purpose of networking is about serving others, connecting.
But you do want to build in the relationship oftentimes. Well, I can't tell you how many times I've been to events and like, I don't have a card. Yeah, I'll grab your card. But usually after I'm emailing them, if I get the card, I'm emailing them like, hey, you should really get to know such and such, I'm going to introduce you guys. Or this seems like it would be a good fit, or this is a great resource you could use. So usually that's kind of how my follow up is.
I would say I'm similar in approach as far as going, but to be honest, if I think back to the early beginning days, I did not go for the cocktails and ipod stuff. I probably should have. That would have been way more fun. I was not that fun. I really thought of networking events as show up, promote your business, go home. And it was very intimidating. And I don't think that I showed up to serve others at first. I think I just showed up because I was supposed to. Like as a new state, that's what they say to do. Yeah, I think I was going because that's what they say to do. And I had a very outgoing partner at the time and he liked to go, so I was just kind of there and started observing and seeing and trying. But it was more of a because you're supposed to.
I can see that.
Now. I do enjoy them though. I take it more as what can I do for others? Who might I meet who is going to have a really interesting story too. I like that as well, for sure.
There are so many interesting people and just asking a few different questions, you're like, oh, we have a common ground, or I know somebody that could really benefit from what you do, or somebody's looking for something that you do, what.
Kind of questions do you ask?
Well, I don't ask what people do for a living and I thought something was super wrong with me because my husband always asks people, so and what do you do? And I'm always like, I don't ask. I'm like maybe I don't care what people do in a bad way. I didn't care. That's what I thought. And then we took our 16 personalities test and I was like, it says right at the top, I don't care what you do for a living. I care more about your passion a bit, what you love, what you dream about. So really diving into that and leaning into it more is not a negative and a positive. I'm going to ask him different questions like what are you excited about?
I do like to ask that. What's the project you're working on, your excited about? Right now. Or sometimes I like to ask some of the personal questions, too. I know you're there as sort of this business networking, but people will say, what do you mean, what am I excited about?
And be like, well, what are you.
Excited about in work? Or even something fun coming up in personal life?
I think some people probably later, like in a super corporate study, and it's probably a little like and we've totally merged and there's not a work life balance, really.
It's a lie.
Smith yes, for sure.
If you haven't read the blog yet, we'll link to the blog now that we've mentioned it. It's true. It's more fun to be able to get to know people at that level. And I think it makes you more memorable, a little more humanized. How do you practically I do actually truly want to know. I've never asked you this. How do you work the room? Like, I have to really come up with a strategy. As an introvert, I need a strategy before I go in to make myself feel comfortable. What's your approach? Like, you walk in the door and what goes through your mind?
I don't have a plan. If I see somebody now, I might walk over to them and like, hey, how are you? Kind of thing. Otherwise, I just kind of see somebody. Hello. Sometimes if I see somebody that looks like they are like deer in headlights lost, I would be like, hey, how are you? Like, that kind of thing. But I don't really have a plan.
Yeah, I thought that might be your answer.
No plan.
I also thought you might say, I look for the beer and the wine.
I do that too. Not going to lie.
If I get uncomfortable and walk in, I will kind of gravitate towards something to put my hands yeah.
If you're hosting a network of app, you need to have some sort of greeter that really sets a tone. It's like if you don't have one there, it's like having a bad hostess at a restaurant and then your whole experience is ruined.
Well, we just, I would say, had an experience sort of like that at a recent networking event. We were brand new to it. We'd not been to one like this.
No.
And I felt that way. We walked in and I would actually say people barely looked up, some heads.
Turned, but not in a like, hey, how are you?
Yeah, I guess.
Too it's a little bit ingrained in me from working in the food service industry for so long that you acknowledge people when they walk in, even as a smile or a wave or whatever. And I feel like we're good about that when we have people at the studio.
Yeah, I think so, too. It's something that I would say also food industry has taught me, but honestly, I'll take it all the way back. My mom taught me that you say hello.
Drink of water?
Do you like drinking water? May I take your coat? Can I lay in here?
Do you have cat allergies?
I'll make sure to hang it up here's where the bathroom is. I mean, literally, we went through to.
Take their purse and put it on my mom's bed. Yeah, put their coat there too. Right.
There was an etiquette to somebody comes to the door from the moment they walk in the door to the moment they leave, of how you host people and you're a good host.
I did go to etiquette camp.
Did you really?
Yeah. My neighbors were going, and I really wanted to go, and my mom was like, what is wrong with you?
Etiquette camp?
And you learn how to answer the phone, how to take people's coat and stuff when they came to the door. Really?
Did you learn how to set the table properly? Sure did, because we did all that, too, but I just thought it was a home school thing.
Nope. I went to a camp at pusy School.
Really?
My mom thought I was a freak.
What was the favorite thing you learned? Or what was the craziest?
We used a little rotating phone.
Oh, my gosh.
Hello. Thanks for calling. And my mom was like, no, just say hello.
Do you like that? We did all that too, but my mom just taught it all. I think maybe she used a curriculum or something. But we did the phone greeting, too, and it had to be, hello, you've reached the cavan residence. vivian speaking.
Oh, yeah. And my older siblings were like, Just say hello. My friends think you're weird.
No, we practiced it. And then you're like, oh, yes, my mom is here. One moment, I need to get their name. But this is good stuff to know.
Yeah.
How do you answer the phone now?
Hello? You do? Hi. This is miguela.
I do the same. I do it a little less formal. Hi. This is vivian. Yeah, part of what that brought about, too, is because my mom and sisters and I, our voices all started to sound the same. So when you'd answer the phone, they'd be like, molly?
Yeah.
Who am I talking to right now?
Sure.
Well, okay. So I'm thinking about this, too. I know something we have talked about, and you were saying this is like networking events. For them, really, to be successful and do something for your business, they have to be more than business cards and handshakes. It really is about that, making a connection. So I guess the pushback I could see some people saying is, yeah, but what about me? What about my business? When do I get to say something or do I not? Or Is there a classy way to bring my business up? How do you navigate that? Or do you just not bring it up?
I think when people ask you, like, what do you do it's a great opportunity to say, this is what I do, but I also think it's going to pay it forward. I'm a big believer in, like, you're helping people, people are going to help you. It's going to come through. Yeah.
And we've seen that again and again. I know we left some event one time, and I remember us talking about it of we've never gone to an event of any shape or size, whether there's 1800 people there or there are eight people where we didn't gain something.
Absolutely.
And it's not always that you gained a new client, but that has certainly happened, for sure. Sometimes you gain a new idea or a tip or a little inspiration, or you gain a I'm never doing that.
Yeah. Or sometimes it takes a few years, too, for it to actually turn into something.
We've definitely had that happen. And people, when they do remember you, then they remember to bring you up. And I know I heard about this from a fellow I was talking to, and he actually specializes in this. He works out of New York. But he was talking about how basically what are people saying about you in the room when you're not there? Is almost, as I think, about way more valuable than some pitch you can give or a business card you can hand out.
For sure. Yeah.
So, okay, practical tips, though. We're approach networking for more of a connecting, more of a pay up forward, but what are some of the practical tips that you would share? You were talking about finding a common ground.
For sure.
Do you have any other questions you love to ask to find common ground, or what do you mean? Maybe by finding common ground, like, if.
I were to ask you where you're from, maybe it's somewhere I've visited or common ground. What else do you do outside? What do you do on the weekends? Oh, you like to ride bikes? So where do you ride bikes to? You like to do the taco ride? Oh, I love to do the taco ride when I could.
So you're, like, immediately connecting? If I said I own cats, I'd.
Be like, I had cats once. Yeah.
So you're like connecting it somehow, or my daughter is obsessed with cats asking for cats.
Yes.
Yeah, I like that. Because then you're not making it about you. You're talking about you, but you're relating it back to what they're saying.
Yeah. And I didn't realize that's, like, something people learn, obviously I learned it probably from my mom, but I didn't realize that it's not something natural.
I guess you could practice that, I suppose, for sure. You could even just practice it, like, with somebody, you know?
Yeah.
If you asked a question and I thought, man, how can I relate back to that? Then they say something else. Okay, all I have to do is find a nugget to relate back to it could even be I suppose you could make it relate, even if you're like they're like, I have cats. And you hate cats. You could say, oh my gosh, I had a terrible experience with cats once. Like, how do you manage? I mean, you're relating back at that point.
It's all about cats.
What about names? You do a decent job remembering names. And we were talking about that a little bit.
But yeah, names are hard for me. I sometimes say that I black out when people tell me their names. So in probably like 2011, maybe I made it my New Year's resolution that I was going to remember people's names. And I was like hell bent on this. I'm like, I'm remember people's names, OK. When they introduce their names, I'm going to say their name back and forth in my head while they introduce themselves. So we were at this, like, career fair thing that we were doing for work, and my friend Natalie and I were sitting next to each other. We were at the booth together. And this guy introduces himself and he's like, hey, I don't remember his name. And she said, Hi, I'm Natalie Harris. So I said his name back and forth. John. John. So then Natalie says her name Natalie Harris. And I'm saying natalie Harris. Natalie Harris. Natalie harris in your head. In my head, yes. And he says, what's your name? And I said, Natalie Harris. And she looks at me like, what is wrong with you? And he said, you guys have the same name. And I was like, no we don't. I was like, sorry, it's my New Year's resolution to remember people's names. I'm repeating names in my head. They say they repeat it seven times. And I was like, I am not Natalie Harrison. Really sorry. And to say she was just like, because she has such a different personality type than I do. She's just like, what is wrong with you? And I was like, I was trying to remember his name.
Yeah, I could imagine somebody being like, are you making fun of me right now?
She literally put her hand on the table, turns and looks at me like, what?
I'm like, what did the guy think?
He was just like, okay. I was dying laughing too. It's my New Year's resolution. I think it was like the end of January too, about that time. And I'm just like, I'm trying to wear real names. I struggle. And then she's just like, yeah, no, we don't have the same name.
That's funny.
Yeah.
I have also introduced myself with the wrong name. I do not have as great of a reason, though. I have for sure introduced myself as vicky, but there were no vickies in the room. And I was not repeating vicky in my head. I have an Aunt vicky. Maybe that's fine, but I don't think I have no recollection of like I was thinking about her or something, but vicky popped out of my mouth. And then I was like I remember thinking, how do I walk this back? Like, I just introduced myself and I have no New Year's resolution excuse. I just literally look like a crazy person.
How did you walk that back?
I think I laughed and just said, actually, I'm not sure why that came out. My name is vivian. I don't think I actually played it off well. I think I did look like a crazy person.
I'm going to go over here now.
Yeah, I mean, there are times where you just can't bring it back. I remember giving somebody this is when I was a lot younger, I was a kid, and I remember they were, like, asking, like, what grade are you in or something? And I gave some wildly off age. You know what? That might have been where I introduced myself wrong, too, now that I think about it. I just remember the awkwardness of it and that there was no saving it. I couldn't save it. I'm just done.
In college, we gave fake names, but that was usually a hint to our friends. I like, not work. No, keep going.
Fake names?
Yeah. My name was always matilda.
Matilda?
Yeah, it was close enough to Machaela. matilda.
Why would you give fake names? I'm intrigued.
I mean, just that party at random parties and things, we just like, yeah, no, we're never going to see you again.
Fake name. So you got a fake name?
Yes. Fine. I loved the movie matilda as a kid.
Did they have a show? A matilda show right now?
New musical.
Musical? Are you like I've only watched, like.
The first ten minutes.
Really? Someone was telling you that?
That's cool.
All right, so find common ground. Ask questions, being curious.
For sure.
I think, too. You have to be genuine about it, though.
Yeah.
We've had experiences where people were asking the right questions and it felt robotic.
It felt like they had a piece of paper in front of them and they were reading from it. And I kind of felt like I was on a news interview.
It was very difficult.
You did good.
Thanks.
I just kind of blocked out and I was like, yeah.
I remember looking over at you and just thinking, like, maybe this feels awkward to me. Like, she's asking all these right questions. But I was you could tell she didn't care.
Yeah, it was rough.
It was rough.
And I'm like, you know, just and vivian's so nice. She just kept going.
I did, and I didn't want to keep going, but I didn't know how to get off the bus because the questions kept coming. So I did, though. I got us off the bus and you know what I used I got.
To get a drink.
I got to go get a drink. Yeah, I remember doing an awkward segue of like, this has nothing. To do with it. But I was like, speaking of xyz, I'm going to have to go get a drink.
And I was like, why am I going to what? Maybe her next canned question was going to be about a cocktail.
I don't know. I didn't know what to do.
But you know what? She probably doesn't even think anything of it because she was too busy with her memorized list of questions. Yeah.
Do you have any good tips for you do feel like you want to move on from a conversation? Do you have any great segues or maybe some that weren't so smooth?
I will say it was a little bit of a hard transition from shooting a lot of those kind of events, like photography wise. Because if you got yourself into a conversation where you're just like, with a used car salesman kind of feel or where you're just like, I can't take anymore. You're like, I got to get that shot. That's really good over there. So that was kind of hard, like, going from not having a camera in my hand with an escape route because it's an excuse.
Just be like, yeah, oh, I got to run. I should go get this picture.
Yeah, it's really nice talking to you. See you around, kind of.
Yeah, I do think you can say things like that, for sure. I like that of, this has been really interesting.
Yeah. I'm going to run in the bathroom.
I think you can say, I'm going to go chat with some other folks. Maybe there's nothing wrong with just saying.
That I'm going to move around.
I'm excited to meet some other people just like you.
I have a problem. Unless I really legitimately had to go to the bathroom, I probably wouldn't say I had to go to the bathroom.
Oh, I will. Yeah, I will use the bathroom as a crutch. A lot fyi, if any of you folks are at a networking event with me or an event, sometimes you do it legit. But when I would go to a new thing, I would often walk in the door, and my plan was go to the bathroom like I got in the door. This is good. I've done a good job. Okay, now I need a break. I would go to the bathroom first.
I think sometimes people set themselves up for unrealistic expectations, too. Like, you don't need to go and meet 15 people. And I think that would take a lot of the pressure off of some people, especially introverts, to say, if I just go and meet one or two people. I mean, one one good contact is valuable.
That's true.
So, like, actually setting the bar to where it's attainable and not I need 15 business cards. Yeah, because that's just stupid.
Although you have done some competitions like that, haven't you?
Well, I have. Where we said, I'm going to meet three good people, or let's see you can meet three better people.
I think that's good. I like the idea of you don't have to meet 15 people just to meet 15 people. Take the pressure off. But I also like if you're finding yourself in a rhett where maybe you have to attend a certain number of network events and you're in some and you're just finding yourself in a funk.
Or bored or gamify, it a little.
Bit that also helps me as an introvert to have a little bit of a game with myself because it pushes me. I'm competitive and it gives me a purpose and it lets me think about that. Like, okay, yeah, I met someone. I'm going to go meet another person.
Two more. Done.
Two more. Now I can tell mikayla I did it, and the next thing you know, you're talking to a fourth person and it doesn't feel strained. But I tend to make a couple of quality connections, and that's pretty good. I feel like you can really work around the room quite a bit. Sometimes you'll end up in a corner and a deep conversation, but I feel like you are really good at getting around it, and you do make a couple of touch points, generally.
Yeah. And I think a lot of that is back to our personalized too, where I probably know a few more people in the room, but you're better with fostering a little bit more of a deeper conversation and things like that.
I also like being we were talking about earlier. I really like being the person when they walk in the door to greet them. Yeah, I enjoy that. And it allows me to meet kind of everybody. If we're hosting it without it, it gives me a purpose and a reason. I'm greeting you. I'm making sure you feel comfortable. I'm making sure you're directed there's, like, something for me to do. And I like that.
Again, if you're hosting an event, super important. Yeah, I think that is something to, like, hammer home.
It makes people feel valuable and welcome.
And at ease, and it just sets the stage for everything else. Yeah.
Because we have hosted a couple of events in our studio space. One is kind of an entrepreneurship group. Small business owners, large business owners, people thinking about starting businesses, people who like this podcast. And we've had people show up that nobody knew. It was not a face anyone knew. And I just hate that feeling myself. And I can put myself in their shoes and you can see it in their eyes as they walk in like, I got here. And then I'm like, okay, good job. We'll get you the rest of the way.
Yeah, reel me in.
Get me in here.
For sure.
What about when? Oh, this is something that we were talking about earlier, too. So sometimes you do hand out a business card. Somebody gives you a business card and you definitely want it. I like to grab a picture and hand it back.
Same. I'm going to lose it anyway.
Yeah, I will. Yeah, I'll lose it. Or I want to text it to somebody, remember? Or I want to put it into like our sauna program or something like that for somebody.
A picture of it and you can have it right back.
I think that with people. Oh my gosh, though.
What?
Kyle has those cards.
Kyle one of the guys we work with.
He has a tie, not a tile.
What does that call? I don't know. It runs into the things you like scanning out of buildings with.
Yeah, I keep getting Facebook ads about.
It, but it can go like where you can directly just save it to your contact card or send him an email. Actually it sends him an email right away too, with your contact information.
It does?
Yeah. I'm going to look this up. I'll have to link it. We can ask Kyle too.
It's like a business card alternative. I definitely have been getting a lot of ads about these and I think there's a lot of different kinds.
Yeah.
Is it nfc?
He pays a subscription and then he has the card. It's like between 30 and $50 for the card and then he pays like $2 a month. Yeah, it's cheap.
We should get into that because we really don't we'd probably lend them out. We probably would lose it.
We just have to connect it to our keys.
Okay, so what about well, how do you find a networking event now? Are you still browsing through like for free cocktail?
Cocktail? Yeah. No, I can buy my own cocktails now. No, I'm not browsing for the free cocktails, and I would probably browse for free ipads if that was out there.
I'm down a lot of times it's.
Stuff that you find like people sending emails, newsletters, things like that. You can tell the difference in our personality types. vivian will be the whole email. I don't yes. So she'll be like, hey, did you see this? I'm like, oh yeah, sure. Sometimes just add it to the calendar. Jenny, our virtual assistant, she'll often find stuff and say, hey, this looks like a good event. There are some events that I just know, like some of the ones that Council Chamber does that are just great events are well attended. They always happen that are always fun. Still free cocktails.
Do you ever go to something that you really don't know anything about?
Like at all? Maybe we did a couple of weeks ago or last week.
Yeah, we did.
Yeah. And that was good. I know that people have found the entrepreneurs group that we hosted a lot of studio through like meetup.com and they've.
Yeah, that's a really interesting one. More than one person has come and I have not used Meet up that way. But you can just search it and you can just go it's probably more.
Somebody either saying like, hey, I'm going to this, or I think you like this event, or I'm hosting this event, or such and such does this event kind of thing.
And you have goals for events.
I tried to do two a month. I didn't realize how much I booked just by being out and about before I had kids, like even just running to the post office, I'd run into somebody and be like, I hate the post office. Not sure why, but a dreadful task. But I'd run into people there and they'd be like, oh yeah, I have a meaning to call you, or just things like that. I'm just like, I was out and about a lot more. So I try and do at least two a month, which is probably like a small fraction of what I used to do.
But you're essentially setting yourself up with some realistic expectations for sure of what's possible.
You're not going to meet 15 people at this event, go for two and.
You'Re only going to do two. And if you get a third one in, great. Yeah, but you can't spend all your time away from home.
No.
That wouldn't work out so hot.
So I'm kind of picky about what events I mean, if it's the middle of the day, it's totally different story, but if it's a morning coffee thing or an evening thing, I want to be something too. Like the one we went to our last week. It was a topic, a conversation topic thing that we were interested in, that we're passionate about. So that was like, yeah, I want to do that.
That would probably be my first attraction when I'm looking at them. And those are probably the ones that I will send over to you. Is this looks relevant? For some reason, either people that we've been wanting to talk to or connect with are likely to be here, or the presenter. I think that's a big thing. A lot of these will have a presenter of some kind and it's either somebody I think sounds interesting, their topic sounds interesting, so it's kind of that it's less about getting together with people because as an introverted person, I know I'm not going to feed energy off of that. I'm going to be more depleted. So if there's this opportunity to gain some knowledge piece, then I'm like, I'm more in for sure.
Yeah, I think that makes it worthwhile.
I would have a hard time, frankly, I don't like going to parties, which probably sounds so sad, but I don't know what to do or why I'm there. Aside from of course to Happy birthday and here's your gift and that kind of thing. But if there's no set activities, I will feel really lost. So that's probably part of it. I look for things where there's going to be a little bit of a set, something that I can center around. Yeah, if it's totally open ended. That's rough for me. Baby showers are rough for me.
Oh, and see a baby shower with events in it. It's so rough for me. Yeah. I'm like, you want me to find I'm like, I'll probably win with all this shit in my purse.
But.
What do you have in your.
Purse that can help the expectant mother?
Yeah, those things are hard for me, like the games and stuff, because it feels to me like a little more I'm trying to think of the word a little more.
It's very contrived.
Yeah. Where I'm more of like, let's not have a plan. Like, if I didn't have to work herself, I would probably be a hippie in the woods with no shoes on. So if that gives you an idea, then you're like, oh, okay.
I mean, I could see you being like, I'm just not feeling this. Let's move the party down the street. And I would be like, someone else comes later and then they're not going to know where to go and we have to leave a sign on the door and then we just probably shouldn't do that. Although I've gotten better, I am like, okay, mikayla, just rub that off on me so I can feel more good with that. One thing I've been thinking about, too, is you're talking about kids, which often not always, but often means a partner or a spouse or somebody else involved, too. Like, inviting them along to some of these has been really fun. It's been fun to invite Troy, my husband, and your husband Nick has come to a few things as well, and it's really interesting to hear their perspective on certain events. But it's also been fun with Troy is he said, I had no idea. I didn't know this is what you did, or I didn't know that there were these types of things happening in the community and they're not necessarily related to what he is doing. But it's been interesting conversation to have, like, a way to invite him into my world while still having somebody to go with. And he's gained things, too.
Yeah, there's a lot to learn. I mean, people are doing interesting things and there's great things going on in the community. And the more you submerge yourself in some of those things, you're like, oh, there's a group for that, or there's other people who care about those things. So I do think it is good. It's about to have a comfort zone, and it's not a world they live in, but who's to say they're not going to live in it tomorrow with their jobs or career, like those things? So I do think it's beneficial and.
It is fun to invite people in that I enjoy, like including people and you're huge on that. Of just including people and younger folks. That's something we've kind of thought about a little bit, is we should invite so and so so they could have this experience or opportunity to come along to a dinner or something like that that you wouldn't normally think of. I think a lot of times people go, who's the coolest, most awesome people I could either be seen with or rub shoulders with at, say, like a sponsored table.
No, I'd rather have someone that I would like to talk to and who would be like, oh, this is a fun experience.
And getting to expose people exactly. To something new.
They're like, I could picture this, or I could be a part of that.
Yeah, those are fun. Okay, how about follow ups?
Networking? A lot of times my follow ups are more of connecting people. I will say I don't offer a connection if I'm kind of like, I don't know you really well enough, especially if I'm going to offer a connection of someone who like a trusted mentor or friend or somebody who I'm like. And I don't know you very well. I may not set that up right away.
You have to be kind of protective.
Yeah. Because it's a representation of you, too.
That's true.
And they can look like I can be like, oh, they sent me that guy. No thanks.
Because you're offering their time. Almost. Not almost.
You are. Yeah.
They at least have to read the email or whatever, so I have to.
Make sure, like, feel it out, make sure it's valid. And sometimes I can feel it right away, too, where I'm like, oh, yeah, they're good. I like them.
Yeah. So you'll do a lot of follow ups afterwards of, hey, I mentioned so and so, and I want to connect you with them. Are you doing that the day after? Do you have anything systematically with that?
Are you texting or asking the non systems person, though?
That's true. I am asking.
No, it's more of kind of like sometimes I'll do it right then and there, too. If I'm like, I will not remember to do this as soon as I leave here, I'll do it right then and there. I love greeting cards. So we're having some custom made greeting cards, which is like a dream come true of mine. I've always wanted to do that. When I was stressed out, I used to always go to the grading card aisle, just read greeting cards.
I am excited about these greeting cards. And so when you can send a good card, you're more apt to do it.
I know. I just have to remember to send the card. It's a problem. That was a New Year's resolution one year, too, was it? Not just going to buy cards. I'm going to actually buy the card and send it.
I rarely do, like, birthday cards and things like that.
Yeah, but it's so great when you get pressed on the mail. It is so a follow up, a handwritten follow up. We did a lot of those for a long time. When we had an assistant in the studio.
Yes. There's nothing wrong with that either. Yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong with you decide you want to make a connection between these two people, to have a va or an assistant or somebody else actually handle the logistics of it. There's nothing wrong with that at all.
Nick, my husband, he started a new company, and I think he's had, like, six handwritten cards from either executive level at the company.
Wow.
And I'm like, this must be classes. Part of what they do, and you can tell it's not like even the envelope is they wrote it themselves.
Really?
Yeah.
How does Nick respond to that, your husband?
Well, he doesn't say much, but they're hanging on the fridge, so you know it means something. Yeah. That right there tells me he likes us.
That's cool. Yeah, it goes a long way, for sure. You were saying about doing it right there. I am a systems person, and that is one of my systems. I know that I want to get this done, and there's a million other things that are going to happen between now and tomorrow. So I will often email myself, and I just put it in the subject line, connect mikayla with Jessica. And it's just in the subject line, and then it prompts me to remember sometimes.
I know sometimes you like jumbled words. I'm like that's for me to remember tomorrow.
We do that a lot. We'll text each other, like, notes.
Yeah.
Because then you know where to find it again.
Yeah. And then if she's tomorrow, like, hey, why did you send me John Joe Jack? And I'm like, oh, yeah, I need to email those people.
Yeah, that prompt. I was thinking about that, too. I think that might be I will tend to be more systematic in that. I will write it down, put it somewhere, store it digitally, make a task, a todo list, and then I'm decent at following through with it at some point, which I know for you, you're like, it just ends up here and there. And then I've got to remember. I always think about that. You were saying you really like running to the you hate running the post office, but being out to the post office, in the grocery store, at the gym, it visually prompts you to remember. Oh, yeah. I wanted to connect so and so, for sure. So that visual reminder of being out and about, that's kind of part of your system. Actually, I would say.
Yeah. But actually, coming up with a system to store people is still something I'm working on.
Yeah, you've talked about that. What do you mean by that?
So I have a various network of people who can do a variety of things, and sometimes people like, I need someone who does. I can't think of something, prints a.
Banner, eight by ten, I don't know.
But I do know, but if I sit down and think about it for a second, I would know. But if I could type it into something to say, like printing, I'd be like, oh, yeah, I know some people. I know several people, actually. So it just doesn't spark right away, especially if it's not, like, their primary thing I know them for it's like.
Machaela'S own Yellow Pages with Google search ability.
Yeah, I need an app for that. I like that.
Yeah, you need an app for that. And then you need someone else to enter all the data in.
Yeah, that's not me. No, I'm out on the data.
Or if you use gosh, all this AI stuff. Holy buckets. Like, if there's a way you could speak it in, hopefully we're saying this and somebody's listening, like that exists and they send it. But what if you could speak into it where you're like natalie Harris. We'll use hers if she brought her up. natalie Harris, and she's great at and you listed all these things and it just, like, put it in for you. Yeah, that would be rad.
It's funny you use her as an example, because she would be somebody who would go and enter it right away.
Really? That's funny.
Yeah.
Well, those are different things that I think I would use, too, as far as doing the follow ups. But then something else that I will do is boomerang in my gmail, super helpful, and I will boomerang myself somebody's email, even if I email them. So if I made the connection or I followed up or I was like, hey, I was thinking about this from last night or a week ago, and I have sent the email, I will still have it boomerang back in. Because I'm like, it'd be nice to touch base with them and see how that's going, as an example, that it's.
Something to follow up on. Like, if you connect to people and then to follow up with them and say, hey, how'd that go?
That's huge.
Yeah. Okay. Major points.
Great. Awesome.
You're winning.
Major points. I'm winning, but I use boomerang to do that because I would never remember to do it. And it will boomerang that email back in, and they'll be like, oh, I should reconnect with them.
And I think it's only, like $50. Yeah, it's not expensive. Yeah, I think you get, like $14 free per month or something. Otherwise it's like $50 for a year, I think, isn't it?
I used to have I think that's right. I used to have where it was like the free I forgot 20. And then it would be like, sorry, you're out of 20, unless you beg us. And I would always be like, yes, please, one more. And then it'd be like, okay, well, now you've used up, so now if you want one more, but really, you should pay for this.
I'm like, Give me one more, and.
Then find, like, this is ridiculous. I should just pay them.
And you're like, 40. I think it's $47, something like that.
Oh, it saved me so many times.
Which is so cheap.
Life so much easier.
Yeah.
Boomerang.
You're a salesperson in your pocket.
Boomerang. We would like some money back from this.
Yes.
That one's huge. And every once in a while, if I don't have an email reason to boomerang back, although, little hack, you can write yourself an email and boomerang that back. But I have actually just put it on my calendar. There's been a couple of times that's happened where it's like, this is six months from now, and I want to follow up with them. And I'll put it at 05:00 A.m. On some day so that it will pop on my calendar. Do you do that ever?
I will do the calendar, yeah. That helps a lot, for sure.
For remembering things. One of the other things that we were talking about with this whole idea of connecting and networking was you were talking about the book you were reading.
Super connector. Yes.
Funny title since I think you're a superconnector.
Yeah.
What do you like about the book?
Well, I think part of it, too, is, like, the remembering the names. I kind of thought that maybe people thought it was like a Facebook stalker. Okay, explain where I'm not. Once I know your name, I usually don't forget it. And so just like, some things just stick to me like that. And I thought, people are going to think I'm a stalker. Because they're like, who are you? Because you would remember their name.
And they were like, that's unusual.
And they're like, who are you? I'm like, and I jog their memory, but they appreciate it. They don't think I'm a stalker? No, I felt like a stalker, so the book gave me the permission to remember people's names. Oh, good. Yeah.
It makes people feel so special.
I should remember back to the surveying industry. If I remember what people ordered, they'd be like, you are so good.
Eyes light up, so appreciative. hips go up. Yeah, dollar signs.
You put money in the bank right there.
But it does make people feel special.
Exactly.
And I love that. I like when you can give people that gift.
Yeah, it's cool. I mean, it could be a little bit of a stalker, though, because detective is, like, on my personality type. That's something I could be.
Okay.
I could dig a little deep, too.
Protect your profiles, friends.
I mean, not in your profiles. Like, as a child, when I drive high people's houses, there's a new subdivision going in, and I would know who had kids that I could babysit before I knocked on that door or kids that I could play with.
Okay, tell me more.
So, like, a house would go up, and I'd be like, I have a mini van. They must have kids. Do they have little kids? Or big kids. When I knock on the door, am I going to ask them to babysit, or am I going to ask them if they have kids I can play with?
These are, like, actual thoughts you had.
So I tailored my question. Oh, yeah, okay. Tailored my questions before I got to the door.
So you're like looking at their house. You're like, Looks like big kids bikes.
Or pay attention, like when they're moving in.
Oh, sure.
Like, what kind of bikes are they moving in? Are they moving in strollers or are they moving in bikes? I could ride. Yeah.
Toddler beds are going in. Hint.
I pay attention to that stuff.
How old were you?
Like, 4th, 5th grade, man. Third grade.
Very astute.
Yeah. That's how I met one of my best friends knocked on her door. My little entourage, my sister and two best friends knocked on their door. I knew who they were. They just moved to our school. They just did the talent show that day. Yeah, I was in fifth grade.
So in essence, you targeted her house.
Absolutely.
You had cased it.
So maybe I am a detective. I don't know. And knocked on the door, knowing it was an older sister and a younger sister, and they had a little brother. Wow. Yeah. And knocked on the door and was like, how do you have kids? I'm like, Maybe my friends want to play. And she looks at me like, you and your friends. I turn around. My sister and my friends had ran away. Just me. I was like, yeah. And they're like, oh, yeah, hold on. Let me go get them. Should they go and get him? I'm like hi. You guys had really did the talent show today. I knew they did the talent show. Total creeper over here.
Yeah. Still lifelong friends, but you connected with them. Like you remembered things about them.
Yeah.
Which would make somebody feel so valued.
Yeah, that's good. So I kind of cased the neighborhood. I was a popular babysitter. I was wanted in that neighborhood for babysitting gigs.
Well, especially if you just come knock on people's door and you're like, I notice you have a toddler and an infant. I specialize in toddler.
Imagine if somebody came to your door now. You'd be like, 911, please.
Oh, it's true.
Let me get on the neighborhood app and see what kind of groups are out.
Yeah, that's interesting. And I don't mean that it's not normal. Like, you're not normal or you're strange.
It was strange, but it is unusual.
To pay attention like that. I think it is part of that superconnector piece.
I loved meeting people. I think I got a thrill a little bit out of it, even though it was, like, nerve wracking. They were really good at gymnastics, and I'm knocking on their door. It was like, you guys are really good. I'd never get up and do the talent show. That. Kind of thing. Yeah. So I think being observant and being able to connect dots is helpful, and.
That'S definitely a tip that people give. Any blog you read about networking, they'll say, like, do your homework, know beforehand. And I will say there are fun opportunities when you just walk in and you're like, I'm not really sure what this is all about. I'm just kind of here. But when you do set yourself up and you know you can have more meaningful connections and it allows you to go, okay, I know these types of people will be here. And so I kind of want to be in that frame of mind when I chat with them like you were doing. Like, am I going into the frame of mind of I want to present myself as a trustworthy babysitter on a job, or I want to go on a friend? It's the same thing. You're walking in, I think, to some events going, am I looking for another client? That's a legit reason to go look at this differently. Or am I looking for a mentor or a friend or someone else to connect with? Those are two different ways to enter into an engagement, like that or an event, and you may arrive at the.
Same place, but it could just take you longer.
I think that also has helped me as the introvert, like, we were talking before having a bit of a plan, so then if the plan goes sideways, it's fine. I felt like I had an anchor point and then knowing ahead of time that the event is coming is also helpful, which is part of a strategy for me is I like to get them on the calendar so I can anticipate them one so that I don't pack too much around them. I mean, you said this yesterday, I think it was. You were looking at my calendar and you're like, vivian, you're going to be.
Miserable on this day.
Right here. Right here is where you're going to have a crisis point, because you could see on my calendar there were too many external events for me, and I was like, I know, but knowing that allows me to be mentally prepared, so I do things differently to get ready for that. But also, maybe I want to look into something before we go.
Which brings me to the guest list. Like, if you're having an event and you put it on Facebook, I want to see your guest list. I don't like it when it's hidden. It makes me so mad.
Yeah, we talked about this and I can see that you don't like when it's hidden. I viewed it totally differently. I don't like when you can see the guest list because I look at it, I'm like, what if people are looking at it and they're like, oh, I don't want to be around that person, so I'm not going.
Yeah, I could see that.
And then your whole event doesn't go off because so and so it's going to be there. Then maybe there's other issues to address.
Yeah. I don't know.
And maybe people don't look at the guest list that way.
I know, and I look at it too sometimes. Like, it's like, invite your friends and like, well, I don't know if my friends are invited.
True.
I can't see the list.
That's true. Yeah. Then they're getting, like, 18 invites.
Yeah. Or sometimes I see it like, oh, my friend jordan's going to this. I'm going to see if, like, hey, she want to meet before we're going to ride together.
Yeah, okay. Talk about that. Do you like to go to events with a wingman or do you like to roll alone?
I can do either. I like to go with somebody, especially if it's like they hid the event list and there's only two people there. I'm just kidding. That hasn't happened. But I do like to go with somebody.
Yeah, but I do like to go.
With someone, too, that can go out on their own a little bit. Sometimes they struggle if they're, like, stuck.
I'm glad you brought that up because we were saying this. Well, I just brought it up, actually, today because we've been talking about networking, thinking about this topic, and I said to the last event we went to after we left, I was like, I think we should have split up at that one because we didn't really know anybody. Maybe it was just me, but I felt like I got a little corralled. And then I just worry about this all the time. And you can say it even though recording, you can say whatever you want. But sometimes I'm like, I'm doing all the talking because I will just kind of jump in and command the conversation in that. And then I'm like, why am I not letting Machaela talk?
Well, at that event in the canned, that was a lot of canned questions.
Yeah.
I was kind of like, she can answer these questions because I would have figured out a way out of this conversation. But it just kind of I can go either way.
It's always interesting to me when we do split up more or we just end up split up more. Back up. Who was it asked? Because we do go to a lot of things together. We work together, and sometimes we might dress very similarly. But somebody asked you recently. You don't have to it was just funny. They asked recently, like, what did they say? You drove here yourself? Or like, you didn't come, you drove yourself. And it's like, we don't share car.
Oh, you came by yourself. I'm like, I am mam person. Yeah, I did come by myself. I was like, what do you think we are, like, relying on each other?
People do think of us very much as, like, together for a lot. So I do think it's nice sometimes to split up because you bring a lot of uniqueness in and of yourself and I bring a uniqueness and a difference in of myself and it's good for people to get to know us individually. And I felt I was thinking of being stuck at your hip. I remember especially early on with you, I would stick myself to your hip and maybe that was annoying, like now.
I think about it because I was.
Very I hadn't developed those skills yet of feeling good in room. I was just very shy at that point and it took a lot of work and so I would rely on you to help work the room and bring some energy and you would talk and introduce and I really leaned on you.
It's more of the people who have to go to a networking event and have gone to them with they're required to go because of their job and it's kind of like almost dead weight.
Yeah.
I could see that. You got to go.
Move along.
Yeah. If you have to be here. Yeah. Find a reason that's good to be here. Find a reason that it's motivating for you to be here. Find a reason that you can get something out of it and you can get something out of it. So that the dead weight kind of bothers me. You're not dead weight.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Appreciate that. And this was the end of our business partnership. mikayla was like, and yeah, you're a.
Dead weight, by the way.
So it is nice to have someone else to go with but knowing when it's okay to split up.
And I think it's good to know what events you're comfortable with. I like big events. Like during COVID going to a volleyball tournament, I didn't know I could be so jazzed by thousands of people in a gymnasium at the centurylink. I was like, oh, this is amazing.
That's interesting.
Not amazing, but yes.
So you could think of like conferences, big ones.
I like that stuff. Yeah. Or if you're like a small more intimate group and you want to find something on, meet up where you're like, this is where I'm comfortable. Find the pond you want to be in and own it. Yeah.
You were talking about that concept. Was that from the book?
It was about the pond connector.
Explain that a little bit in case I never read the book.
Being comfortable in the pond that you're in, like big fish, little pond kind of concept. Like, if you're going to be totally a fish out of water, people are going to know you're just not going to be yourself kind of thing. It's been a while since I've listened.
This book, so I could be I like the concept.
It could be a little bit off.
So in essence, it's saying stay somewhat in your comfort.
Stay true to what is comfortable to you and what you feel like you're good at.
Yes.
If you're not just around arena full of people, don't expect to go there and meet and make great relationships.
Right. Because you're not going to be in the right energy for that.
I met one of my very best friends at centurylink. Really? He's working. Yeah. That's cool. I liked his jeans. Yeah, that's fine.
Yeah, that makes sense of because gosh and now I'm thinking back that you said that. I've definitely been in rooms where you can tell somebody there is there because they think they're supposed to be. They think that if I'm seen in this room in this way, if you can also tell they're uncomfortable. I probably have been that person, I'm sure. And it does have a different vibe. I do think you have to try new things, though, to find those ponds. Or sometimes you're jumping from one pond to another pond and you can morph there. But it was interesting that you say that when we went and did the event. So there's Council bluffs in omaha, and we recently went to this one event and it was in omaha, and boy, we sound like we go to these events all the time. We do. Get out fairmount.
I've had a few lately.
Yeah. But it was a shift. I felt like I was in a different vibe, a different pond. It was it wasn't a bad pond. No, it just felt different.
But it was a smaller pond.
True.
So I think, too, knowing where you excel and where you're comfortable, a room full of tons of people is energizing towards me. I want to go do more after that. Yeah. Like a conference. Like the Connection conferences we go to at least is in Des moines, even connection. I'm jazz after that. Yes, let's go do more. So, like, those kind of things I enjoy.
That's true. And I really like those ones, too, but they are bigger. I'm probably more exhausted than some of the other ones at the end. And then I would say I would go from that. That's like the max size until you get like mega size and then I'm like I don't know if I would call that networking. Networking happens in between the breakouts and stuff, but that is almost more about just being filled up with just some sort of experience there. But even then, you're so good at being in the halls as people mix back and forth.
Way better in the halls and probably the bathroom line than I there is some good conversation than I do in an actual, hey, go meet people. I do feel because there's a lot of genuine, authentic conversations that happen, then it's true.
I mean, you're in a more vulnerable real life situation. We all have to use the bathroom.
Or you're waiting in line for a drink or waiting in line for food or whatever it may be.
Yeah. You're all sharing a common experience, so you can come around that, and it gives you something you can talk about.
Yeah.
Although I hate asking the expected questions, like, oh, boy, looks like we've got red and white wine, open bar tonight. You're like, okay, let's get beyond that. So you were talking, too about one of the things in the book that you were reading. Is that what was it? Tandem Workss enablers, connection, connectors.
Tandem Workss enablers and then connection, executors.
Yeah, and pack that a little bit. What were your takeaways from that?
I think I balanced between the Tandem Works and a connector. Like, the Tandem Works is one who fires ideas right away. Sometimes I do that, and I think it overwhelmed people. Sometimes I do that, and if you're not there, they're like, what are you talking about? You're 8 miles down the street. And I'm like, you didn't see that squirrel?
There's squirrels racing past.
Like, come on, get on board here. We're going somewhere. Yeah. So I think sometimes that's hard for me to not have somebody, and you've been doing it now for me for so long that sometimes I forget to connect the dots.
Oh, interesting.
So I'm like when they look at me like, what is she talking about? I'm like, oh, yeah, I don't have my person here to put together pieces. Like, you're going to take this idea and this idea and this person, and then you're going to have this. And they're like, oh, okay. Sometimes I flatten people that my business partner usually connects the dots for people like this. I just spout out ideas, and then she takes them and puts them into a plan. Isn't that interesting? I was just talking about that, actually, to my husband about I just need the client to trust the process. They don't have to know all of it. I can just spew you all these ideas and these things, and then you're going to take it and make a plan out of it. And I used to ask a lot more questions and be like, okay, well, what about this? What about that? And you're like, probably like, shut up, I've got this, where you're like, trust the process. She has a plan. Anyway, I kind of got off on a thing, but that's cool goes into that. You're going to take somebody's idea, like, when you meet them or connected with them, and you can take it and execute and make a strategy out of it.
That's an interesting way to think about attending events and networking with a business partner or with a key employee or heck, with a vendor of being able to push in and rely on each other. But I like that thought, too, of my person that would normally do that isn't here. I'm going to have to ramp that.
Up a little bit. I have to slow down. Not ramp up, probably.
Well, I have to ramp up and you have to slow down.
I need to slow down and put the pieces together because not everybody is firing off 8 million ideas at a time. And sometimes I think people are like, what? You lose them.
I think they're excited, though, a lot of times, even if you're starting to lose people, I see people go, I don't know if I'm fond of all this, but this sounds exciting.
Yeah.
Sounds like out of the ideas.
Yeah. So there's a Tandem Works than the connection piece, which oftentimes it's easy because I've been in the community for so long and my family is so involved in the community that it is easier for me to connect the dot from A.
To B and you're literally making connections for people. That was a big piece we've been talking about. Is that what it's talking about, too?
Is like yes. Being the piece that connects people.
What about the enabler part? I was here enabler, and I think.
I got to remember now what the enabled piece? This was the enabler bring people together. So not in a bad way.
Yeah.
I think of it as like the party goer. Is there more of like a party thrower?
Oh, I think so.
That's how I took it. Yeah.
I could see that they're creating the environment.
Yeah, they're creating an environment to introduce people and to bring people together.
That's kind of like the helping, assisting, nurturing side of it. Yeah, that makes sense.
And I think playing into those things and like, what is your strong suit? Like, what's your role? Kind of where do you feel comfortable?
Yeah, that's good. And gosh, when you can have all that come together. I was thinking about how we will host events again, as an introvert, I like when we get to host the event because there's just some safety pieces with that that I enjoy. But if you are going to host your own event, because you can go out and find events like we've talked about. meetup Chambers newsletters. There's so many associations. Social media has events you can search by the type of genres and things you want. I want a network of bakers. I want a network of artists. Like, there's so many. I don't want business people, financial experts, et cetera. You can search them that way, but then if you're not finding what you want or you're just interested in it, we're talking about just create your own event.
Yeah, for sure.
Which doesn't have to be. I think when people hear that, they're like, oh, my gosh, I've got to book a venue, and then I got to get a speaker, and then I'm.
Like, do it at your house.
Yeah.
You can invite people. Be casual.
That entrepreneur is the one that we've helped Co facilitate. I mean, it's been so casual, for sure. We were like, Just come on in. We don't even have to know it. Doesn't even have to have a name. Like, just bring people together.
Yeah, just invite them and by the way, people there if you are planning.
To do that, so sorry, party planners. Sorry. But it is that makes us the enabler piece part. It makes people feel comfortable when they have they can wipe their face.
I mean, I'll make it nice enough.
But you might be wiping your face on your sleeve.
No.
You're pretty good at getting all that stuff together, too. When you think about this year and networking and events, things that is there anything you're excited about? Do you have certain goals in mind? Is there anything and events you're excited about or you'd be interested in?
I am excited about a little, like, happy hour networking connection event we're going to do. Oh, yeah. Coming up. I've been kind of feeling some people out on it, so there's going to be more to come on that.
Yeah, I'm excited for that, too. Yeah, they were just like, leave everyone hanging.
DA DA DA DA.
Yeah, that's going to be fun. And you do such a great job of bringing people together, so I know it's going to be quality, enjoyable. People are going to gain things out of that for sure.
Yeah. I think we just need a bigger space so then we can host more people. Yeah.
Mikayla, you're really good at, like we should probably plan for, like, 200. And I'm like, what if nobody comes? What if ten people come? And you're like, maybe we need an arena, which is what I love. Yeah, so it's awesome. Well, leave you all hanging on that. We can't share what it is yet, but we will be sharing some details and maybe we'll unpack some of how that event goes.
Maybe I don't have the details yet.
Maybe there are no details yet. She's got to get an enabler. She needs to find an enabler.
Yeah. Well, I'm kind of the enabler, too. I bring the people together, but not totally.
But I think it'll be fun and just to encourage people to get out, go make some connections. Find a person you can go with.
In a low stress, not like make.
It stressful on yourself low I'm trying.
To think of a word there.
You can do it in kind of a low key way.
Low key, if that's what is casual.
Yeah, casual. I think your point was perfect of start with where you're comfortable and then you can always inch out from there a little bit, try the other pawns, and if it's not feeling right, go back to the ones that feel right.
Yeah.
Well, cool. Thanks for hopping on here. Talk about some more fun stuff in the future.
Sounds good.
And for our local friends, hopefully we'll see you at some networking events and.
I might knock on your door and ask you if I can babysit or have kids.
Yeah, perfect. All right, thanks a lot.
Bye. Riding Tandem Works is recorded on location at the studios on South Fourth in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
In cooperation with Todd Studder Productions.