Last May, I was a speaker at the Social Media in Recruitment Conference in Chicago. Some of my favorite colleagues were in attendance and we enjoyed being in such a hospitable city.
During my time there, I had the opportunity to meet David Armano. I'd been following (not stalking) him on Twitter and reading his blog, Logic + Emotion. After a few direct messages, David was kind enough to meet me and Eric Winegardner for happy hour with some of his colleagues, Suzanne Marlatt and Blagica Bottigliero, at the ROOF of theWit. David's transparency instantly earns your respect, while his demeanor captures your attention. However, I wasn't prepared. We chit chatted like you would with a stranger in the line at the DMV and I missed out on building a genuine relationship.
When you meet someone that you admire, be prepared. Discuss a specific experience, best practice or any advice they shared and how it inspired you. Also, don't be afraid to ask a follow-up question that shows you want to learn from them or get their perspective on a decision that you are facing. After your brief meeting, send him or her a handwritten note or at least an email to say thank you.
This March, I'll be speaking at SXSW Interactive with Robyn Cobb on how to "Shine a Light on Others to Build Your Brand". Hopefully, the invite to join David at the Edelman SXSW party is still open and I'll have the second chance to share how he has unknowingly had a positive impact on my career.