Okay can I just say something?
DEAR INDUSTRY FRIENDS: I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase “connections are everything”? I hate it. And here’s part of the reason why. I hate this idea that people in LA are only worth whatever job connections they can get you. I hate that people treat networking like it always has to be “business first, friendship later.”
Why not both?
You want to make connections in the industry? Make CONNECTIONS. Talk to people. Everyone. But talk to them because you truly want to get to know them, not like they’re walking LinkedIn profiles. Ask them how their day is. Talk about sports. (I don’t even like sports and I’ll talk about it!) Figure out their passions outside of the industry. Ask them what their favorite song is. Say happy birthday over FB. STAY.IN.TOUCH.
People are a lot of things but at the end of the day they’re people. They want to be heard. They want to be cared about. I’m not saying be friends with every stranger you meet, but I’m saying treat strangers like a friend when you see them. That’s how you begin to turn small connections into lasting relationships.
Connections, at the very core of the word, means to connect with people. Know them. Talk to them. Be nice to them. See them for who they are. You want to succeed in the industry? Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. We learned that shit in kindergarten.
And you are not just a job title. You and everyone else in this industry are much more than just “A Connection”.
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