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Analog-ish is a weekly interview podcast for people who are tired of being optimized. Hosted by feminist coach Becky Mollenkamp, who believes slowing down is a radical act, each episode features conversations with thinkers, makers, and everyday radicals who are finding their way back to something slower, more intentional, and more human.
We're not here to tell you to smash your phone or go off the grid. We're here to ask better questions about the role technology plays in your life — and to explore practical low-tech ideas that give you more agency over the answer. From reclaiming rest to building real-life community, from protecting your attention to finding unmonetized joy, these conversations are honest, curious, and refreshingly free of hustle culture.
If you're burned out from being constantly online and hungry for a different way forward, this show is for you.
Becky Mollenkamp (00:00.823)
Hi, welcome back to Analogish. This week I'm joined by Brandon Drake, who is a relationship-driven CRM consultant committed to using technology to strengthen human connection in the digital age, which is exactly why I wanted to have this conversation. Because I think that we have to figure find that balance between tech and humanity. And sometimes tech can help us be more human or it can take away from.
our humanity and you are such a great example of what it looks like to really focus on relationship networking. So I'm excited to have you here, Brandon. Thanks for joining me.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (00:38.06)
Yeah, you're welcome. I'm I can't wait to get it started and have the conversation flow.
Becky Mollenkamp (00:43.957)
Well, fantastic. Let's start out just talking about networking because I think for some people, when they hear that word, they immediately feel right. It brings up used car salesman. It makes them think of chamber of commerce. I don't know if anybody does that anymore, or B and I's or like those spaces that are just here's my business card, get me business kind of feeling. So when we talk about relationship driven networking, I would like to hear what that means to you and how that's different than maybe what some people think of.
when they have that icky reaction to networking.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (01:15.404)
Yeah, I mean the common icky reaction is what I had too is is as well like seven, eight years ago where I said to myself, What's the purpose of networking? I don't understand it. Like you're just talking to each other and like is there a business gonna come out of it? I don't get it. Like there's no point in that. But then when I started networking with the right people, I realized the value that it offers both parties if they're into truly having a mutual partnership. So to me, based on my experience and learning from others that we're doing it right.
I learned that proper networking is really both parties truly taking the time to get to know each other's businesses and then from there fostering their relationship and as they get to know each other better seeing how we can mutually support one another's growth. that to me is the right way to network. And there's many different ways to do it. I just happen to do it in a certain way where I'm I'm mixing technology and CRMs with relationship building.
You know, I I give credit to all the people that I was around and also to one of the books that I read that's a really good book. It's called The Go Giver. that book and the people that are in my network set the tone for how to do networking the right way. And that kind of influenced me on how I was going to build out my CRM for the networking piece of my my business. And because of that, like, yeah, people remember me. I remember them because I have a system in place and a framework in place to provide value and in return.
those people, those are good people on my network will reciprocate and give me good value in terms of good connections and then therefore we're contributing to having a mutual partnership where both parties are contributing to each other's growth. So so yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (02:48.617)
Yeah. We'll talk about your system a lot here in a little bit. Before we get to all that though, I just want to talk a bit more about this idea of like differentiating extractive transactional networking from relationship networking. And you just mentioned reciprocal, and that feels like it's a big piece of that and that go giver versus go-getter mentality. So talk a little bit about that part, if you could, about reciprocity and what that means to you and how that is different than the traditional sort of
corporate approach to networking.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (03:20.501)
Yeah, like usually that co that corporate approach is what can I get out of this person? I mean, that's pretty much the the motto, like how what could I get out of this person? More compar versus how can we both like support each other? it it's a huge mindset shift because like in corporate like I quit my corporate job because I just didn't feel aligned. I didn't know at the time, I wasn't like fully aware. I just know I didn't like it, but
Now that I look back, you know, whenever we've networked with people in our cross departmental like communications, it was all about I'm talking to you because I need something from you And that's the only reason why I'm talking to you. Other than that, like that's it. And so like a lot of people that that quit their corporate job, they still have that same mentality and they got to retrain their brain and their their strategy to to survive in an entrepreneurial world. Like if if
I mean it could only take you so far if you're just trying to take, take, take, take because more people will recognize that and they'll won't wanna associate themselves with you. They'll remember you but they'll remember you in a bad way. Like they don't wanna do business with you, they don't wanna interact with you. So therefore you're relegated to doing like cold calling or buying leads or whatnot. Nothing wrong with that, but like the more sustainable long term growth method to me is really establishing good relationships where both parties really
have the mentality of how can we help each other. And naturally when we have that mentality, we naturally grow together.
Becky Mollenkamp (04:54.983)
Yeah, and you mentioned a couple times the right people, quote unquote. And when you're talking about the right people, I think you could take that two ways. And I have a feeling it's a little of both. So I want to hear what you think. What do you mean by right people? Is it about what they do or who they are?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (05:10.561)
first it starts with who they are before you even get into the detail like the inner working details of what they do. So even I I mean it's the same filtration process or qualification process I do for my prospects and my networking partners is I need to find out who they are as a person, what they're all about, and making sure there's some type of value alignment there. And like my most important value alignment, like
characteristic trait that I look for is people that are relationship driven because those people that are relationship driven they already naturally do care about helping other people and so therefore I naturally care about helping other people. So therefore it's gonna be a good relationship where we're gonna help each other. You know, that's probably the the definitely the number one thing that I look for as a trait for either a business partner or even a customer. Like they have to be relationship driven because if they're not relationship driven, the opposite. They're very transactional.
And I left the corporate world not to be in that environment that's not conducive to my productivity or to my happiness. So therefore, why would I wanna do that when I have the choice to be happy or not be happy?
Becky Mollenkamp (06:13.131)
Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (06:16.703)
I mean, I think so many of us corporate refugees can understand that feeling. And yet, like you said, sometimes we end up recreating it for ourselves because we don't know another way. So I love Yeah. Exactly. And I love that you're going to share more tips to the the right quote unquote right person, talking about them being transactional or relational, and that that sort of value set around being more relational is so important. How do you identify that? Because sometimes people talk a good game, but then they aren't.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (06:24.621)
We don't know any better. Yeah. And we're trained in that way for so long. So
Becky Mollenkamp (06:45.269)
really who they were. So this may start to get a little bit into your system, which w I wanna really Yeah, I know. Okay. So let's hint at it, but I don't want to go I just give me a little bit of what are some signs for you that somebody is relationship driven and and then we'll explain your system.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (06:50.537)
it definitely is.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (07:01.417)
yeah, and and I I I know like I could list some of the red flags too as well with opposite of relationship driven. you can't when you have a initial meeting with me with yeah, when we have an initial meeting, you know, we're all qualifying each other, we're getting to know each other and we're determining whether we want you to be in our network or not. I mean it applies to our personal life too as well when we talk to people. so when I see that a somebody is I I could kinda tell that
Becky Mollenkamp (07:08.971)
Yeah, please do.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (07:30.806)
I okay, the one question that I ask is who are your strategic partners? And then I I go ahead and define it and when they answer the question they didn't listen listen to my definition. So I say strategic partners are basically professionals that don't do what you do, but we serve a common target audience and you guys get to know each other better, you'll be able to refer each other's client bases to one another. Okay, so that person I tell them that definition and then they go straight into who their target audience is.
And I say, okay, that's a red flag. Like they're they're it's like they're brainwashed to say who they're gonna who are they're gonna sell like right away. So that's it's already a red flag. And then s for some people, I'll I'll stop them. Well, all people I stop them and say, Hey, that's not I'm not talking about target audience. I'm talking about your their your strategic partners. And some people will say, Well, some people it's either a bigger red flag of say, No, I'm really looking for my target audience. And that's already a big red flag. I'm already know that
You're you're not a fit. You're just in it for yourself. You're in it with what you get out of me and you don't care about mutual partnership. That's a red flag to me. And then some people are really nice, like, yeah. Sorry, I was so caught up in talking about my target audience. that's a good question. Some people were like, I I wanna think about that more. And those I it's not like I'm gonna dismiss them. Those are good people because they they made a mistake, they admitted to it, and therefore that's fine. Like we we could correct that and we could get better. And I'm training them to be better anyway. So like those are green flags.
Like I like those people, you know, like or they already know the answer to the question, so I don't even have to have to have to care I mean I don't I don't have to like correct or whatnot. So the latter two people are good people where th either those people are willing to learn or those people already know the answer to the question. The people that don't want to do any strategic partnerships, they're already in it for themselves. That's a sign that they're just looking for a target audience. They're trying to get something out of you and then that's it. Yeah, we all want to get something out of each other, but like when you just leave with that right away, it's like, yeah,
Becky Mollenkamp (09:13.729)
Yeah.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (09:27.703)
They're not a fit. Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (09:29.451)
I love that. I mean, I think it's important to think about those networking calls as a qualifying I we do it with prospects, right? Where we're qualifying them and trying to decide is this lead somebody that would be a great lead, but to think about that when you're networking as well, because you want in your corner people who share your value set, share your approach. And if you're not asking the right kinds of questions or thinking about what those questions would be, you may end up with people that you later think, these people don't ever
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (09:36.812)
Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (09:56.098)
They're never helpful. They're never trying to reciprocate when I ask for help or, you know, whatever. So I I love that. But
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (10:02.667)
Yeah. And another red flag is when they start talking about all the different accomplishments. I've done this, I've done that I said nobody like when you go to a networking event, nobody cares about all your accompliments and all your whatever acronyms are in front of your name or whatever. Nobody cares about that. Like they care about you just being a regular human being that could connect with other human beings and then from there they'll learn more about your accomplishments. To me that's the order of operations of things in order to create good connections with people.
Becky Mollenkamp (10:32.907)
Yeah. I mean, we obviously share the same sentimentality, which is why I wanted you here and why I love I've loved getting to know you more. You this will go into some of the what does reciprocity look like and maybe some of the system too, because you're really great at making introductions and sharing your your network. And I try to do the same in and maybe not as the same ways, but in other ways. but
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (10:32.993)
Yeah. Yeah.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (10:43.725)
Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (10:58.421)
That's one form of reciprocity, right? It's introductions, is helping people meet other people. What do you when you think about reciprocity, because we might as well get into your system. So your system gives like you have this really amazing system, a CRM that I think it's probably custom that you have thousands of people in. You can tell us all about that. And when you meet with Brandon, you get basically a a file, a digital file that's your footprint in his in his world.
Where you can there's sort of this behind-the-scene mechanations that allow you to earn points or take away points based on some of these reciprocity things, which all can sound a little transactional or weird, I guess, but it's really about helping you best judge who are the people in your network who really are relational, who really are showing up. And one of those ways is through introductions and things like that. But what are some of the things that, speaking of green flags, that are earning people points or earning people
in it really what it's about is like telling you these are people who are gonna be reciprocal. Like what does that look like, both in what they do, but then also in what you're doing?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (12:06.945)
Yeah, so it's like I've gamified networking in a way within the CRM that awards people points based on truly how engaging they are, which is a measurement of like how likely are they to be a really good mutual partner. So I'm just basically using numbers to to to identify that. But also too, there's the number factor that's measuring engagement, but also too, there is my judgment based on measuring engagement and giving them points based on the human and based on the system.
So it's mainly a holistic score. So when I'm talking to somebody and I'm getting to know them, I have certain descriptors associated with people like community oriented, genuine, friendly, good listener, you know, networking savvy, tech savvy, all these I have a set of keywords that I use to describe people and those keywords are associated with positive and negative points. So if I said, this person, if I put a tag called salesy, negative points.
Why would I want introduce another salesy person to it to my network? You know, so they get negative points. And all these descriptives have of people of using my interpretation of talking to them over time, that's grading them. So my my keywords are are are are d giving them positive and negative points. But also too, not only is it my judgment, but even if I had to get done talking to them, their interaction with me via email, email responses, giving me referrals.
all that stuff is being measured by the CRM. So they open up an email, they reply to an email, they subscribe, they unsubscribe, all they fill out a form of survey, all those activities associated positive and negative points. So over time, as they continue on with this relationship with somebody, I'll be able to see how truly good of a knowing partner are they are by me looking at their engagement score. And it's not like bias because the data doesn't lie. The system is actually measuring people based on how engaging they are.
And also to I'm using my own human intuition to grade people as well. So now you get a holistic score associated with you. So like I expect like people like you and people that I really like, their score is naturally gonna go up because you already understand networking and because you're gonna naturally interact with me. So therefore, like I'm gonna see you at the top of the score list and I'm gonna make sure to engage with you because the your your score is basically a
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (14:26.613)
interpretation of how like truly engaging there you are. So therefore I'm gonna return that energy in the reciprocate to make sure I give back to you as well, therefore creating a mutual partnership. So it shows up in the score and I'm able to make data informed decisions over who to focus my efforts on. And like you said, like some people talk a good game, they're gonna do this, they're gonna do that, they're gonna do this. But when it comes down to it, the system is gonna it's gonna tell whether they're doing it or not. Like whether and and it'll show up in their score. So so yeah. Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (14:51.775)
Yeah. And I mean, it's one thing when you are new to networking or starting a new network for whatever reason, maybe a new industry or whatever that might look like, and you have thirty people that are in your network or a hundred, even a hundred's a lot, but when you have how many people are in your system?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (15:04.631)
Yeah. Yeah.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (15:11.127)
So I reached a milestone and you know, here's the thing. I do not care about about numbers. like I do k actually sorry, I'm a data person. I don't care about like the quan I I care more about quality than quantity, but I'm happy happening to reach a quantity area now. So I actually reached a milestone. I'm at over seven thousand people on my CRM database, but it's customers, prospects, and business partners, and everybody's getting scored, and that's what I'm happy about. Like
I can now make better data informed decisions for my clients who ask me questions or my networking partners that who asked me, Hey, do you know somebody that's so and so? I can search my database based on their filters and then I organize it by a engagement score and I'm gonna reward another good networking partner with a person that has a high engagement score because I know that person is already active, so they're gonna be active together. So it's most likely that they're gonna have a good connection. I mean it's not guaranteed, but I at least you're guaranteed to meet with a person that's gonna be engaging.
Becky Mollenkamp (16:04.983)
Well, that's what I wanted to get at because again, if you have a hundred people, you can do some of the mathematics in your head because you know, like, yeah, I haven't I've talked to them quite a bit or I rarely hear from them or whatever. But when you like many of us who've been in a career for a longer time and or you're just a really active networker and you enjoy meeting people, it doesn't take that long to rack up hundreds and even thousands of people that you know. I mean, my LinkedIn has like almost 4,000 people, right? And
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (16:09.686)
Yeah. Yeah.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (16:29.325)
Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (16:33.951)
And where LinkedIn, I think for many people, fails is exactly what you're talking about. It's like I can have 4,000 people on there, but it's just, it's like 4,000 names. And trying to make sense of all of that is really challenging. And I think that's why it really falls short for a lot of people as a really good networking tool, because you're just like, I don't even remember who some of these people are at this point. I, you know, it's it's not useful data. And what you're talking about is how do I then, when I start to amass a larger network,
How do I make sense of that data? How do I remember who I most wanted to talk to or how I knew them? Or, you know, again, even more than that, because I think most CRMs will at least give you a this is kind of how we met, this is how long we've known each other, whatever. But you're adding in this additional depth that gets to the relationship piece of how well do I know them? How well do we connect? How well do we vibe? How how likely are they to bring some reciprocity to this relationship? And I think that's
So clever, so important, and what's missing with so much many tools that are out there. And so, because you know, we're talking about on this show kind of balancing tech and humanity, you know, I would just would love to hear a little bit from you about that component of why you're bringing all this tech to this solution. Because I think it's kind of getting to that piece of how can I use tech to actually create better relationships? Because very often we think tech is ruining relationships, and you're sort of trying to think of the question how do I make it help?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (17:58.326)
Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (18:00.331)
Relationships.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (18:01.249)
Yeah, the overuse of tech, yeah, is definitely ruining relationships and then all the commercial that come out. automation, well, I'll get to it. AI, it was AI, AI, AI this, AI that. I mean, yeah, there's great use cases to use AI, but you wanna balance the human connection and AI and or other technology. some people that know how to do it the right way, there's some people that just overuse technologies at the point of like losing the human connection. You know, for example, I was at a I did a workshop
Becky Mollenkamp (18:11.368)
Yeah.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (18:31.405)
with an AI crowd and I talked about my my process of networking and one person it kinda it kinda annoyed me but I was dead professional about it. This person's like, Well why why can't you just AI that? And I was like, my God. I said to myself, like and I basically said to this person, Well, the thing is if I AI everything it's gonna be cold and usually most people are gonna recognize that and therefore they're gonna be turned off and therefore that connection is gonna be lost.
So I'm losing business. So I that's why I don't AI everything, because there needs to be a balance of things. and so back to the question like ha you say how do I balance it? Is is that the the main question?
Becky Mollenkamp (19:12.725)
Sort of how are you when you think about technology and that argument that it sort of ruins relationships, how for you is it actually strengthening or helping you foster better relationships?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (19:18.593)
Yes. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, the way I think of technology is using technology in the right way allows you to have more time to be a human being and to have more human connection. So like if you have AI automations doing certain things that you don't have to do all the time, the repeatable processes or a AI or automations that do that, that's fine. Now it frees up for you to have more time for you to be a responsible human being to nurture those relationships with all the the people in your network so that you could differentiate yourself in your business. That's what
That's what's great about technology. Technology allows you to get rid of all the manual procedures and it'll let the it do its thing. And now you have more time to foster relationships with your customers, prospects, business partners. And that engagement time that you have is going to differentiate yourself from everybody else that's doing the same thing as you. So if you're able to use technology smart, it's a big differentiator. because now people will remember you because you're fostering those relationships. And then for me, like, yeah, automate my my nurturing, like my nurturing workflow with people, like
Get in touch them every like sixty or so days, but it's automated. And people understand that. They understand that I can't send a personalized email all the time. But when in that email, it says in the email, the two call to actions are usually if you want to get to know me better, here, book a reconnection call so we get to know each other better. That's where the human comes into play. Or the other option is that's okay if you don't have any time, that's not a big deal. But if you need to update your bio, click here.
So that when you update your bio, I'll get notified via email and then the human comes into play and I'll still read your bio and see what I can connect you with. So that's like an example of like using technology mixed in with the human touch. Because it is, it's automated and then when people respond or they book a meeting or they update their bio, that's when I come to play and be act be acting like a human being. And then they see that I made the connection or I had a meeting with them or I replied to their email to his will, that's when the human comes into play. So that's like
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (21:15.275)
a to me a delicate balance of using technology and automation and the human connection that differentiates myself in the business.
Becky Mollenkamp (21:22.101)
Go to the setting up of your system in a second. Before that, let's talk about the human piece. Now that it is in it's set up, it's in place, things are automated, it works, right? Now that that's there, what does your time look like when you think about networking? How much of your time is maintenance of that system and messing with technology versus getting on phone calls, introducing people, things like that? Like, what is your relationship, your networking system look like?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (21:46.401)
Yeah.
Yeah, so for the first few years I was always refining it just to make improvements to be more an efficient person so I have more free time to be human. but now like it's pretty much you know, it it's pretty much on the system is built now where there'sn't doesn't really need to be made any modifications to be made. I could take a break from that and now because of that
Now I have more time to I have a lot more time to do meetings with people like my prospects, my customers, my business my returning business partners because prospects, customers, business partners. Yeah, though they're all top priority connections. Like yeah, and we're all in business. Like our customers come first, our prospects come second, and then our returning networking partners come third. That's how I prioritize it. And my new networking partners, I'm sorry, but they have to be at the bottom just because like I need I need I I need to make a living.
I would love to talk to everybody all the time. Yeah, we have to prioritize accordingly. But but yeah, so I don't know if I answered your question. I want to make sure I'm on track. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, now it's had me now now it's allowed me to free up my time. And because I have more free time, now I have more time to have meetings and I have more time to to showcase my authentic self. And by me showcasing my authentic self.
Becky Mollenkamp (22:48.651)
Damn capitalism.
Becky Mollenkamp (22:56.479)
I'm just wondering 'cause you said it frees up your time, right? So that's the the joy of technology.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (23:13.355)
Now I have more time to generate business because with that more time I'm either fostering relationships with my existing customers, my existing networking partners, or getting to know my prospects better, or having more time to prepare for speaking engagements, whether it's in person event where I'm giving a workshop or virtual event where I'm giving a workshop or just doing a podcast. Like I have more time to showcase my, you know, bio individuality. Yeah. Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (23:40.137)
Mm-hmm. So what the setup process, cause this is what you do, right? So tell people like what does your work look like when it comes to CRM setting it up, managing, customizing it, and how did you bring that into what you built here? 'Cause is what you built is not just a off the shelf system.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (23:58.006)
Yeah, yeah. So I have I have four CRMs in my tool belt that I know very well and I wanted to have multiple options because I want to give people multiple options and not a one size fits all solution 'cause I don't believe in one size fits all anything, health or technology or whatever it may be. and so when I know that somebody needs my help, I I always give a free CRM consultation with the goal is to understand their business and their budget. That's the most important thing.
And then from there I'll make a recommendation for a CRM if they're looking for one. Because a lot of times they do ask for a recommendation. So if I know that they're a good fit for one of my solutions, I'll let them know and I'll let them know why. And if they're not, then I actually refer out to my networking partners that specialize in different CRMs. Because the people on my network understand that we can't solve every problem and not everybody is a fit for the solution that we offer. And if we know that the person who's our prospect is not a fit, we refer out. That's just good business.
You're not gonna sell s a solution to somebody that where it's not truly a right fit. And I don't believe in doing that because that's just bad business. and then I always tell people like my my my criteria for or I guess showcasing my integrity, like the CRMs are in my tool belt only align with my values in terms of the customer service levels. So if they have bad customer service where it's literally impossible to get in touch with a human being and there's no good human support, I'm not even gonna look at that CRM. Now if they have good human support, I'm definitely gonna look
Further into it because cut customer service is the foundation of a good business. and if they they don't do something called stair set pricing, they're a good fit. So things that a stair set pricing model does is they nickel and dime you as you grow. So for example, if you grow your contact list beyond a certain amount, they're charging more money. If you add staff members into your CRM, they charge you per user per month. If you need additional features, they make you upgrade to a more expensive package. And sometimes that expensive package, the price per user per month also goes up. So it gets really expensive.
You know, so companies like, you know, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Pipe Drive, Money.com are just examples of CRMs that do that. And I don't wanna support those CRMs because I don't wanna refer a client to a CRM that's going to nickel and dime them as they grow. And then that client looks at me is like, Why did you refer that CRM to me like three years later? I'm paying like an arm and a leg right now. I don't wanna do that. You know what I'm saying? So I have like rules and integrity rules. Go ahead.
Becky Mollenkamp (26:19.889)
sorry. I'm say because a CRM is the kind of thing that once you're in it, it's it becomes like the farther you're into it, the more custom it's become, the more it's working for you, and the harder it is to switch. So I love that you're thinking that way.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (26:23.543)
Hard to leave.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (26:30.539)
Yeah. Yeah, and I've helped people switch too as well 'cause I know how to do that migration process too as well. But I wanna get catch people early so that they could really take in consideration their long term growth plans. If they do plan to grow and do plan to grow the staff member lists or whatnot, then I tell them these aren't CRMs you should be looking at. Unless you don't mind paying a arm and a leg. I mean that's that's a you decision. Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (26:54.359)
Who are those people?
Becky Mollenkamp (26:58.293)
Not me. and who are the kinds of people you work with?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (27:02.367)
Yeah, so I I I so I've been in business for about seven years and I was focusing only on a certain niche and then my niche got wider and bigger and it came down to only service based businesses and I realized that it's a personality and a value alignment that really matters that I that I really look at. So they are so it it's back to relationships. Like if they're a relationship driven, if they understand the importance of building relationships in their business
then or it's at the forefront of their business, then they're definitely gonna be a good fit because a C that's what a CRM is supposed to do if you're gonna build it correctly. It's supposed to nurture your relationships with all your business contacts so that you create opportunities for yourself and for other people. So if they understand that it doesn't matter what industry they're in as long as they're service based, then they're a good fit because the C R could be a good fit for them and if there is value alignment, I'm gonna have fun working with them because we we value the relationship building piece. So yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (27:58.284)
Yeah.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (27:59.266)
I mean, I've worked with multiple industries. They've been like marketing agencies, web design, web development agencies, nonprofit organizations, travel agencies, business coaches, consultants, fractionals, health practitioners and a lot of speaking like keynote speaker type people or whatnot. That's who I've worked with so far, but I've added those industries because I realized that when I talk to that person who who was a referral, yeah, they're a good person. I they align with my values and therefore I just added new, you know, new industries to what I do. Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (28:28.715)
Yeah, I mean I can relate because I think the heart of what we're talking about here is that relationship piece, which is very much who you are even more than what you do. And I feel the same way. And so it makes total sense. I want to wrap things up talking about as somebody who has 7,000 people plus in their system, you have had a lot of meetings. You've met with a lot of people, you do a ton of networking. What do you notice about what people like do wrong, where things go wrong?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (28:59.366)
in the the whole networking process?
Becky Mollenkamp (29:01.372)
Yes. Like what are your pet peeves? You've mentioned a few red flags, but just like what are the things for people who are listening who are like, I wanna do better at networking, maybe or newer to it or still have those icky feelings. Like what are the things you see? You can tell me both sides of it. The things you see people do really well and the things that you still see happening a lot that you're like, why are we networking like this in twenty twenty six?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (29:21.677)
yeah, when the biggest pet peeve is when people don't they don't respect boundaries. The biggest pet peeve is when they don't respect time boundaries. my god, that just really gets to me. Like I give my calendar and they look at my calendar and my next availability is not for like a month or two months and they're like, Hey, could I meet you like next week? and I'm just I just laugh and be like
You see my calendar, right? Like like I had to take care of my responsibilities that I have with meetings with my clients, my prospects and my returning networking partners. Like you have to wait in line. Like I don't I just I I see those people as a line cutter. Like you just wanna cut in line and like no, like you gotta respect everybody else's time. Like I respect my all the people that have booked a meeting with me, I respect their time and I'm not gonna have somebody else cut in line just to t so that you can meet with me sooner.
That really gets to me, that's usually a red flag and I really pursue the having a meeting with them. Because if they're gonna be like that, then I don't want them to be like that to my networking partners. And all my networking partners are pretty good at are really good at respecting time boundaries.
Becky Mollenkamp (30:30.729)
Yeah. Are there things that when it happens in a call that it's like, that's a green flag? Maybe things that we wouldn't think of.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (30:37.415)
A green flag. a green flag is when they beat me to the when they beat me to all the good questions. Like I had a actually today, the guy was like, Yeah, I wanna know who I could connect you with. Like who are who are good people that could refer you business? And I'm like, I I was like, Man, I I usually am the first one to get that question off, but hey, I already know this person's already I'm already good with this person already. I already know they're a green light. from from the jump. So if if they're already like being s like
very inquisitive before I could actually shoot off any of my questions. That is a huge green light. Yeah, yeah, 'cause they're trying to they're already trying to give before they even take. So that's already like a good sign. Like usually I I find myself like seventy percent of the time always asking questions about them so I could extract that information about them so I could provide them value. So when people beat me to the punch, I already know it's gonna be a match made in heaven. Like 'cause they're already asking, they're already seeing how they could support one another. I'm like, green light for sure. Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (31:11.255)
That's good. That's good to know.
Becky Mollenkamp (31:35.586)
Well, and I've had the benefit of meeting you and having a call with you, getting follow-ups, emails now for a while, because I've met you maybe six months ago or something like that. So I've had a couple of those follow-ups and some introductions that you've made, which have now led to layers deep of more introductions and really great fit kind of people. And you've really inspired me. I mean, you have inspired me. I am yet to take full action on my inspiration, but I plan to around systematizing because
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (31:51.713)
Yeah, okay.
Becky Mollenkamp (32:04.093)
I'm doing a lot more networking and I have not always been great at developing a system. And I know what happens when you don't have a system to support the behavior. People fall through the cracks. You lose touch. People you meant to stay in touch with, you don't. You forget about people. And then you're like me, the person going, I know, I know somebody who does that, but I can't think of who it is. All of that.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (32:21.963)
Yeah. It's not like you're a bad person, this is naturally human you can't
Becky Mollenkamp (32:26.411)
Well, right. And so for people who are, you know, like, I want to, I don't want to have to use so much technology. I don't want rely on technology. I just, I think one of the reasons I really wanted to make sure I had you in this series is because this, you are to me a real example of what it looks like to say the technology is the tool that allows you to show up the way you want to show up.
not relying on the technology. It's not about the technology, but it's because we have access to that tool that we are able to show up the way we want to show up as humans. And I just think that's really important because too often the technology is is sort of reducing how we show up as people, it feels like. And this is one of those rare cases where it's, I've seen it in action. I've seen because you have these systems in place that allows you to show up in a way that's very memorable, right? I mean, it really does make you stand out. is there anything else about that?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (32:45.197)
Yeah.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (33:11.073)
Yeah. I don't I don't have to stress about anything 'cause I know like my system is handling it. And now I'm stress free and I could have fun conversations with people I like and trust and I could have more of those conversations but makes me happier. That's why I'm happy with technology, especially used in the right way with the right strategy. It gives me more time to engage with the people that I want to continually foster relationships with. And that's what brings me joy. I mean, yeah, it's just a tool to give you more time.
And I like t having more time. And I like having more time with the people that I want to talk to.
Becky Mollenkamp (33:44.856)
I mean, it makes sense and it's great. And yet, too often we either leave it to chance or rely on our brains or think like, I, you know, I don't want to deal with the tool, the technology for all of that. and you miss out. Like, I you've made me see like I'm missing out. And so I have been slowly starting to try and create some better systems for myself. It's certainly not gamified, it's not the level of yours. Maybe I'll get there, but it's a great starting point and just even having
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (34:06.923)
Yeah, yeah. It's a great starting point, you recognize it and you're working towards it and that's what counts. So so yeah. Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (34:13.141)
Yeah. Yeah. So thank you for inspiring me. Hopefully you inspire others. What do you want to leave us with? Like what if people were going to do one thing this week related to what we've talked about, what would be the one thing you'd want people to to like take action on?
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (34:17.118)
Yeah.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (34:25.877)
Yeah, that's actually a really good that's a very good question. Lead with yeah, you know, like I I would I would say the based on the book I read, the go giver, lead with a go giver mentality. Like just just naturally give to people that align with your values, obviously. because there are some we all make mistakes. We give to some people that aren't aren't really worthy. And that's okay. Like we all make mistakes as a human thing, but like
When you give to those good people and you really listen to them ask a lot of inquisitive questions to find out how you can support them, those good people will remember you and that's a business strategy. And because they remember you, down the line, those people will reciprocate and therefore it's gonna contribute to growing your business and their business, therefore creating an environment where everybody's winning. Like that's what we want in our business. We wanna create a winning environment for all the people that come into our network. so yeah, or or just go go read the Go Giver.
Becky Mollenkamp (35:22.623)
I will I will link to that in the show notes for people. I'm gonna check it out. Or people interested in checking it out. Yeah, I will.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (35:25.473)
Yeah. Yeah, it's a really good book. It's a pays turn out. I think it's only like a hundred and less probably a hundred ish pages or whatnot, but it's a very just a very good lesson to learn for for for giving and and and networking. Yeah. Yeah.
Becky Mollenkamp (35:37.665)
I love it. Well I'll link to that show notes as well as how to get a hold of Brandon and where to find Brandon to connect. If you're lucky enough to get on a coffee chat with Brandon, it's it's worth your time. And if you want to build out a system like this, then Brandon's the guy to do it. So thank you so much for doing this, Brandon. I really appreciate it.
Brandon Drake - HealthyDataGuy (35:54.828)
Yeah, thank you so much. I appreciate it. continued success for you two as well.
Becky Mollenkamp (35:59.372)
Thank you.