<aside>
💡 First Round Review
</aside>
Networking Advice on How to Become Insanely Well-Connected
Takeaways
the best way to be highly influential is to be human to everyone you meet.
...
Fralic's 7 Rules for Making Memorable Connections...
- Convey genuine appreciation → actively project warmth and energy (people like you when they feel liked by you)
- Listen with intent → demonstrate you've heard what was said, encourage continuation.
- Humility markers → aim to put others at ease, especially in stressful or awkward situations
- Investment meeting: "I'll often start the conversation saying I'm wrong all the time and I very well may be here" when knowing you will not invest with a group or in a company.
- A rejection stands out among people's interactions - take the time to have these conversations in person, it needs to be personal if necessary.
- Offer unvarnished honesty → Root your honesty in what will be most useful for the other party, even if that honesty will not be well-received.
- Blue-sky brainstorm → brainstorming with them, not for them (example of passing on investment, list others who might invest or potential avenues they could take to differentiate the pitch)
- End every meeting or conversation with the feeling and optimism you'd like to have at the start of your next conversation with the person.
- Author is always impressed by founders who - after turned down - send some variation of "thanks for looking even if it's not a fit. If you have other ideas for us or if anything changes, please let me know." OR "Chris, when we met, you had a question/issue about X. I just wanted to show you what we've done about it - no need to respond."
- "A person who says that shows he/she is savvy enough to not take bad news personally, or create obligation or awkwardness, or continue to argue their point after you've said no. I'll remember them for it [says the author]."
- Don't fake it till you make it → you need to know exactly why you care about that person or their company and you need to know how to articulate it succinctly.
- Everyone seems to have a story about a cold call miraculously turning into a career-making breakthrough. This doesn't happen by magic. It happens because your sincerity is clearly powered by diligent preparation.
...
Give before thinking about what you get. Always offer something of value before expecting or asking for something in return.
...
If you find yourself keeping score in your professional relationships, you're on the wrong track.