Comments on: Networking for Geeks: My Top 10 Tips http://www.coloradostartups.com/2006/09/28/networking-for-geeks-my-top-10-tips/ The Startup Blog Network Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:54:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Casey Schorr http://www.coloradostartups.com/2006/09/28/networking-for-geeks-my-top-10-tips/#comment-1175 Casey Schorr Sun, 03 Jun 2007 03:26:11 +0000 http://ColoradoStartups.com/?p=116#comment-1175 Wonderful advice! On this beautiful Saturday in Colorado I'm thinking about how we're going to find a rock-star programmer to add to our team. It's not easy finding quality employees comfortable in a startup environment. After thinking about this for a few minutes I realized we (my co-founder and I) need to become better networkers. We need a network to lean on. Problem is, neither of us are natural networkers. Usually when there is a networking event we skip it because there is so much work to be done in the office. Today we had this sudden realization-- we need to make networking a priority. Instead of building all the technology ourselves we need to hire people to do this for us (duh). We need to stop thinking we are wasting an evening (because no ‘real’ work will be done) going to a networking event or web 2.0 thing (I hate that term). As the founder of a startup, it’s essential to make networking one of your core skills. Finally, after three years, I am starting to realize this. Wonderful advice!

On this beautiful Saturday in Colorado I’m thinking about how we’re going to find a rock-star programmer to add to our team. It’s not easy finding quality employees comfortable in a startup environment. After thinking about this for a few minutes I realized we (my co-founder and I) need to become better networkers. We need a network to lean on. Problem is, neither of us are natural networkers. Usually when there is a networking event we skip it because there is so much work to be done in the office.

Today we had this sudden realization– we need to make networking a priority. Instead of building all the technology ourselves we need to hire people to do this for us (duh). We need to stop thinking we are wasting an evening (because no ‘real’ work will be done) going to a networking event or web 2.0 thing (I hate that term).

As the founder of a startup, it’s essential to make networking one of your core skills. Finally, after three years, I am starting to realize this.

]]> By: Jim Pollock http://www.coloradostartups.com/2006/09/28/networking-for-geeks-my-top-10-tips/#comment-258 Jim Pollock Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:28:05 +0000 http://ColoradoStartups.com/?p=116#comment-258 Ouch. Ouch. Oooh. Ouch. Ouch. Oooh.

]]> By: David Cohen http://www.coloradostartups.com/2006/09/28/networking-for-geeks-my-top-10-tips/#comment-257 David Cohen Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:23:40 +0000 http://ColoradoStartups.com/?p=116#comment-257 I think I have been the target of being told everything you know once or twice, Jim. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes. Sorry, could not resist. ;-) I think I have been the target of being told everything you know once or twice, Jim. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes.

Sorry, could not resist. ;-)

]]> By: Jim Pollock http://www.coloradostartups.com/2006/09/28/networking-for-geeks-my-top-10-tips/#comment-256 Jim Pollock Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:21:15 +0000 http://ColoradoStartups.com/?p=116#comment-256 Great article, David. I've always known networking was important, but since being involved at CTEK for the last year, I've learned how important it REALLY is. One good connection, one good introducxtion can sometimes be the dealmaker. When there is someone that you really need to meet (that key potential investor, that potential first customer at Qwest or Lockheed, that strategic first partner) even if you KNOW the name, phone and email of THAT key person, there is NOTHING like a warm introduction by a 3rd party that knows you both. When you network up, sideways and down, you exponentially increase the likelyhood of having that 1 DOF-away warm intro. One of my favorite professors, Dr. Harold Edgerton lived by 3 principles: Get up early, tell everybody everything you know, and make deals with a handshake. I especially ascribe to #2: tell everybody everything you know. When you meet someone in an unstructured networking enviornment (happy hour etc), politely ask each person you meet (then listen!) what they are up to, what they are about, and then concisely "tell them everything you know" about what your are passionate about. You never know where it will go, but more often than not you'll find a terrific connecting point and that obscure introduction that you would never have found otherwise. Thanks for the structured rules, David. Jim Great article, David. I’ve always known networking was important, but since being involved at CTEK for the last year, I’ve learned how important it REALLY is. One good connection, one good introducxtion can sometimes be the dealmaker.

When there is someone that you really need to meet (that key potential investor, that potential first customer at Qwest or Lockheed, that strategic first partner) even if you KNOW the name, phone and email of THAT key person, there is NOTHING like a warm introduction by a 3rd party that knows you both. When you network up, sideways and down, you exponentially increase the likelyhood of having that 1 DOF-away warm intro.

One of my favorite professors, Dr. Harold Edgerton lived by 3 principles: Get up early, tell everybody everything you know, and make deals with a handshake. I especially ascribe to #2: tell everybody everything you know. When you meet someone in an unstructured networking enviornment (happy hour etc), politely ask each person you meet (then listen!) what they are up to, what they are about, and then concisely “tell them everything you know” about what your are passionate about. You never know where it will go, but more often than not you’ll find a terrific connecting point and that obscure introduction that you would never have found otherwise.

Thanks for the structured rules, David.

Jim

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