2 builders who never spoke to each other

Work the rooms where your peers actually meet

Arrive at events with a written list of who you want to speak to and what you want to ask them, then spend the time listening rather than performing. Hosting your own small reception, volunteering a skill or seeking out the people nobody is queueing for all buy the same thing: relationships that exist before you need them.

The method

1. 01

   Work the specific places peer relationships form: private Slack groups and forums, social platforms, and conferences and local meetups in cities you visit.

2. 02

   Go to a conference with a written list of the specific people you want to talk to and the topic you want to raise with each one.

3. 03

   Host your own small evening reception at a conference, buy the drinks yourself, and hand out personal invitations to a deliberately varied mix of people.

4. 04

   Seek out the less famous attendees rather than only the podcasters and bloggers everyone else is queueing to meet.

5. 05

   Be the listener rather than the entertainer: lean in, hold your attention on the person and stop scanning the room for better options.

What it returned

• Justin met his business partner Jon Buda at the XOXO Festival in Portland, and built relationships inside MegaMaker as well as Startup Edition, which no longer exists.

• Attendees repeatedly tell Justin the informal hallway time is the most valuable part of MicroConf, more than the talks.

• Rather than ask Robert Scoble about blogging or technology at a speakers' dinner, Justin asked about his first job after college, learned about his uncle's photography store and followed up about sales and where such a shop makes its money.

• Justin's tip for photographers is to shoot attendees through the night and offer to email each person their picture, which manufactures both the connection and the follow-up.

Sources

• How to run a mastermind groupJustin Jackson · justinjackson.ca · How to find your mastermind members · undated
• Meet peopleJustin Jackson · justinjackson.ca · 5. Volunteer at an event · undated
• MicroConf conference tips and guideJustin Jackson · justinjackson.ca · The hallway track · undated
• This is what starting small looks likeJustin Jackson · justinjackson.ca · This is what starting small looks like · undated
• Be social IRLJustin Jackson · justinjackson.ca · Don't talk about yourself: take a keen interest in the other person · undated
• Gardening Your Twitter: Growing Your Followers | Peter SteinbergerPeter Steinberger · steipete.me · Conference Talks · 2020-10-21