myTreat Blog - Social Skills

myTreat Contest: TreatUp and Win Cold Hard Amazon Gift Cards

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:48:16 -0700

In celebration of the launch of the new TreatUp feature in myTreat we are giving away several Amazon gift cards to a few good myTreaters. Read on to find out how you can claim yours.

What’s a TreatUp?

TreatUps are photo proof that you met with someone in person. It’s a photo with you and the other person you met (example below). TreatUps also help you keep track of all the people you meet.

What are the Prizes / How do I win?

To win you just need to post new TreatUps. This means if you’ve already submitted TreatUps you need to do new ones. Here’s what you can win:

$5 Amazon gift cards (quantity: 4): be one of 4 people to post 2 new TreatUps
$10 Amazon gift cards (quantity: 2): - be one of 2 people to post 4 new TreatUps

How do I a TreatUp?

Through the myTreat app you select the post tab at then choose “Post a TreatUp”
Take a new photo with you and the other person or submit an existing photo of you and the other person
Choose the myTreat username of the other person so they can approve it (note the other person will need to have installed the myTreat app)
Once the other person approves you both get 1 TreatUp

Who can I do a TreatUp with?

Friends, co-workers, people you meet on the street, etc… Just make sure the other person has the myTreat app and is a user in the United States.

How to claim a prize?

After you get the required number of TreatUps for the gift card you want email us at info@mytreat.co. Prizes are awarded to the first people to email us (pending verification of their TreatUps).

Rules / Restrictions

Contest only open to users located in the United States
In order for TreatUp to count other user must be a myTreat user
TreatUps must be new TreatUps (existing ones don’t count)
Contest ends when all gift cards have been claimed or by 11:59PM PST, May 3, 2013

Summary

Giving out amazon gift cards
To win, post new TreatUps - photos with you and another person
The other person you take a photo with needs to approve the photo (this means they need the app)
Email us at info@mytreat.co to claim your prize
Contest ends May 3, 2013 or when we run out of prizes
Don’t have the app? Get myTreat!

Interview: The Scriptwriters Network with Yanique Sappleton

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:18:21 -0700

Yanique is one of the co-organizers of The Scriptwriters Network meetup group which is a non-profit organization who help writers in the entertainment industry. Specifically “Whether you are a filmmaker, a screenwriter, a television scriptwriter or involved in screenwriting for non-traditional media, we help take your writing to the next level.” Today Yanique shares more about their organization.

Tell us about your meetup group, The Scriptwriters Network. Why did you decide to get involved with it? How is it different than other scriptwriters groups?

The meetup group the Scriptwriters Network is an additional social media route to find out about the events being hosted by the Scriptwriters Network.

The Scriptwriters Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, organization. It serves its members by providing educational programming, enhancing their awareness of the realities of the business, developing access and opportunity through alliances with industry professionals and organizations to further the cause and quality of writing in the entertainment industry.

I decided to get involved with the group because as a screenwriter myself I’m always seeking ways to improve my art and to learn more about what is going on in the business. Sometimes I think as screenwriters it’s hard to see what we do as both business and art. Which is exactly what it is. So I believe this group is different from many others because it focuses on getting writers informed about the business side of things and not just the creative side.

What are the backgrounds of your members? What are they looking to get out of the group?

The background of our members is varied and worldwide. There are newer writers who are both current or recent college students as well as writing veterans. There are people who already work in the entertainment industry, but are trying to make the leap to writing and there are the screenwriters with a dream. I believe they are all looking to make screenwriting a priority in their lives and invest what it takes to be successful in the business.

What have been some of the more popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

One of the more popular events was our TV writers panel discussion. We had Glen Mazzara, Executive Producer and Showrunner for AMC’s The Walking Dead, Dan O’Shannon has written for some of the most acclaimed network comedies such as Newhart, Cheers, Frasier, and Modern Family, and Alex Carey Showrunner for Homeland.

I believe it was so popular because many of our members, as writers, are fans of great writing and current successful shows. They want advice from those who have been perceived as successful in this business and they want to hear more about what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite shows.

Everyone says that “making it” in Hollywood is challenging, what are some of the challenges script writers face?

Wow, this is one for the ages. As I said before I think it’s tough for screenwriters to balance being savvy business people and creative individuals at the same time. Many of us want to pour our souls out in front of the computer screen then send off our babies and hope for the best. The truth about the industry now though is that we must learn to be writers, directors, and producers of our own work. Even if just as a calling card, it’s much easier to get someone to watch a five minute short than to read a 60 page pilot or 90 page feature. If we can learn to put ourselves out there as much as we try to put our work out, we increase our chances of “making it.”

It’s getting harder to get your material read as well as navigating the fractured range of screening outlets available to viewers. Writers also face the infuriating roadblock of expressing a unique voice which executives respond to, as well as understanding the market realities.

Connect with Yanique Sappleton

Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/The-Scriptwriters-Network/

Interview: Santa Monica New Tech Meetup Group with Marina

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:42:50 -0700

Marina is the organizer of Santa Monica New Tech Meetup group, one of the largest technology groups in LA, which hosts free monthly meetings with local startups showcasing their new technology. Previously, Marina worked as a management consultant, she volunteered for OLPC and is the founder of a web technology project about personal development. Today we learn more about her group.

Tell us more about your Meetup group, Santa Monica New Tech. Why did you decide to start it? How is it different from other tech related Meetup groups?

When I relocated to LA from the East Coast one year ago I was looking for a group with monthly pitch events similar to Boston New Tech. I didnít find it, so I started one in Santa Monica. I wanted to be a part of the LA Tech community to network and find a technical co-founder for my startup, which I did shortly after. Today our group hosts the most frequent and well attended pitch/demo events for tech startups in LA area! And they are free of charge.

What are the backgrounds of your members? What are they looking to get out of the group?

It is a high energy group of people passionate about innovation in web and mobile technology. Our members come from various backgrounds with different goals: founders of startups to promote their creation, technical and business people who have corporate jobs to get inspired and possibly launch a startup of their own in the future, people who already have ideas and look for co-founders, service providers to help startups grow, investors to find their next investment and media to cover this tech entrepreneurial movement.

What have been some of your most popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

So far weíve had mainly pitch events with 5-7 tech startups giving 5 min presentation (demo/slides) and 5 min Q&A. I think this format is easy to digest, as 5 min is long enough to explain the gist of the idea. We also have different industries represented. This way it never gets boring. Presenters are full of passion about what they do and it charges the audience with great positive energy. It is especially fascinating to hear about solutions to problems that you experience yourself. We usually have an open mike session at the end to help people better connect with each other. There is an opportunity to approach presenters after the event, converse more and exchange ideas. Besides pitch/demo events, we invite some interesting speakers and hold social events. We plan to create other events, like Technology Pay It Forward and tech panels.

What do you think of the Los Angeles Tech Community? What excites you about it?

It is the Wild West and the California gold rush all over again with numerous opportunities, if only you are brave enough and willing to take risks. Vast pool of entrepreneurs and tech pros who are going solo or with a buddy trying to find ìgoldî but in reality are gold themselves.

They just need to be persistent, connect to the similar minded people and get feedback. Los Angeles has a lot of newcomers, and migration constantly brings new waves of talent. This talent should be plugged into the community and that is what our group is for.

What do you think it takes to run a successful tech Meetup group?

Positive attitude and perseverance. In the past I had difficulties with venues, unreliable presenters and low attendance, but it was all temporary and I had to go through it to get to where we are now. I always knew that our events inspire Los Angelinos to pursue their dreams, and if that doesnít work try again and again. As one of our members said, this Meetup group is a tree and members are the birds that come and make it live. Only together they make a prosperous living ecosystem, neither one can do without another. It is a community of people passionate about tech innovation, helping each other and creating a better quality of life. In the end life is not that much enjoyable without passion and people to share it with.

Connect with Marina

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SMNewTech
Startup: http://theultimateanswer.org
Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/Santa-Monica-New-Tech/

Interview: The Art of Active Networking with Mark Sackett

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:37:00 -0700

Mark Sackett is the organizer of The Art of Active Networking which is a series of three meetup groups located in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The purpose of these groups is to “help people do better in this down and ever changing economy, and to work through life shifts, while meeting in a unique new way, people they would otherwise not connect with.” We learn more from Mark.

Tell us more about your Meetup groups, The Art of Active Networking. Why did you decide to start it?

I currently have three Meetup Groups (which by the way are very effective and active) in New york City, Los Angeles and in San Francisco where this started. I also use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter as a way to engage people in a conversation as well as my own massive database and mailing lists.

I started The Art of Active Networking worldwide to help people do better in life, love and business, to help them to better engage in a conversation that is not sell, sell, sell! I want to help people understand that they have a personal brand and that business is done through powerful relationships.

There are a million people out there doing what you do, some better at it than you and some worse at it than you. And if I have three people all equally qualified in front of my for something I need to do, who am I going to hire? Or call? I’m calling the one I know, the one I trust, the one I understand and like! RELATIONSHIP!

How is it different than other networking groups around your area?

My events are not like any networking event you have attended because at mine they are all about helping each other do better instead of the hard sell. Mine are about building powerful friendships and relationships instead. My events are only three hours with a half seminar/roundtable in the middle hour.

At most networking events people throw business cards at each other and barely wait for an exchange before moving on to the next person. They then leave with a pile of cards and then use what I call “rubber-band syndrome” they wrap a rubber-band around the cards and toss them on or in their desk, purse or backpack and never do anything with them!

My people followup, and that’s a big part of what I preach. It sounds sophomoric and stupid simple…and it is!

What are the backgrounds of your members?

I have had attendees from over 56 countries and from the unemployed to CEO’s and entrepreneurs. I have had people from over 1000 professions attend. I have now done my events in three countries and 8 cities worldwide for nearly 8000 people. I have had people from 19 to 82 year’s old attend that I know of and everyone in between!

What are they looking to get out of the group?

People come for all kinds of reasons. To sell themselves, to find new business or clients, to buy something, to get a date, to find a resource, to be less lonely, to simply get out of the house for a bit.

But my repeaters…they come because they have this powerful Aha! moment and they say to me all the time, “Wow Mark, I had no idea your events were this different, I have heard about this from so many people and I finally decided to come tonight, and I am so glad I did.” 60-70 percent of all attendees come again and become regulars!

Here are some actual quotes people recently sent me:

From CEO’s and Entrepreneurs to the Unemployed and in transition to something cool, people are showing up for this new kind of networking. It’s small, it’s connected, it’s intimate and it’s personal.These events are a wonderful social experiment. Mark helps us find group connection and sincerity in a context I used to despise (okay, fear). Who likes networking? I used to answer, “definitely not me.”

Mark, and the Art of Active Networking, seek not only to help professionals grow their businesses, but also make the world and our community a better place. Building community, enhancing relationships, and helping professionals to communicate “their holistic selves” — the person and the professional — is at the core of Mark’s philosophy. With the Art of Active Networking, it’s not only about what you do — but who you are as a person.

I just attended my first Art of Active Networking event and I was astounded, surprised and moved by what the evening provided. This is not your typical networking event where you exchange business cards, share a few words and then forget whom you met or talked with. It’s more of an informal party, hosted by Mark ,who sets a stellar example of how to network effectively by his own behavior. By the end of the evening, you have experienced much more than idle chit chat with some new people, you have potentially connected to people who might become friends or business associates.

What have been some of your most popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

All of my events are the same…I have a unique roundtable format that allows everyone who attends equal time to talk to the group by answering (in their own unique way), the same 4 questions in a timed :30 second format. And I make all of them fun!

What do you think it takes to have a good networking group?

Followup and friendships that develop! The amazing referrals that happen and the community that is developed. And the best part is the connections between cities and countries I get to make for folks!

I think everyone must be considered equal and everyone must be giving and not a taker. People so bent on selling themselves never really create sustainable powerful relationships! Give up coming from “need” and “want” and your world will surely change for the better.

What tips do you have for someone attending a group looking to network?

Don’t be a wallflower…you showed up for a reason.
Engage with many different people and find out about them.
Bring your cards.
And above all….FOLLOW UP! 70 percent of all “networkers” never friggin’ followup. So what’s the point of showing up at all?
AND HAVE A GREAT TIME! You are surround by amazing stories and cool people.

Connect with Mark E. Sackett

Networking Site: http://www.theartofactivenetworking.com/meetup.html
Personal Site: http://www.markesackett.com/

TreatUp Report: Lucas Bean of [Method]DRG

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:01:52 -0700

Another TreatUp report. Had the great honor to recently “TreatUp” with Lucas Bean the founder of [Method]DRG at Coffee Bean. [Method]DRG is a full service end-to-end marketing and business consulting company.

During our hour long coffee meeting I learned all about Lucas’s background in the software tech industry where after relocating to Los Angeles from the east coast he has worked for successful tech companies like LowerMyBills.com, Traffic Marketplace, and Crackle.com, Sony Pictures’ online video destination website.

In addition to running [Method]DRG he’s also one of the creators of Silicon Beach Young Professionals, a new organization dedicated to bringing together young professionals in the LA Tech startup communities to connect and network.

For more info on Lucas check out the links below:

- Ben

What’s a TreatUp?

Each time a person meets someone else in real life (through myTreat) that’s a TreatUp. We are documenting and highlighting TreatUps that we have as well as TreatUps from other myTreat users. If you’ve had a TreatUp send us an email (info@mytreat.co) and we’ll considering featuring it on the blog.

Interview: OC Golfing Singles Meetup Group with Mits Shinohara

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:32:56 -0700

Mits Shinohara is the organizer of the OC Golfing Singles Meetup Group located in Orange County California. The group gets together to “practice & play golf, discuss courses, techniques and tips.” Today Mits gives us a little more background about the group.

Tell us more about your Meetup group, OC Golfing Singles Meetup Group. Why did you decide to start it? How is it different than other Meetup groups around your area?

I started the meetup because I like golfing and wanted more friends to golf with. This group is the largest meetup golfing group in OC, possibly southern Cal … the member are great people, I am sponsoring the meetup so there is no cost for members currently…(my version of philanthropy).

What are the members of your Meetup group like and what are they looking for?

Members are mostly single, looking to play golf with other like minded people.

What have been some of your most popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

All events are popular… its golf.

What do you think makes a good social event? How can other social event organizers do a better job with their events?

Events where like minded people can get together and participate in an activity they all have passion for.

Connect with Mits Shinohara

Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/OC-Golfing-Singles-Meetup-Group/

Guest Post: 7 Tips For Reaching A Second Date

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:47:57 -0700

Today’s guest post is by Joshua Pompey author of Real Online Game. Also check out the My Treat interview we did with Joshua.

Are you tired of going on first dates that never turn into second dates? This is a common problem in the online dating world. With millions of men and women signed up, the attention spans of beautiful women when it comes to dating can be extremely short to say the least. This means we must do everything perfect on a first date if we wish to make it to that often elusive second date. Here are a few tips that may just get you on the right path:

1. Keep it cheap.

Spending a lot of money is not only bad for our wallets, but it wreaks of trying too hard, and sends the signal that we may be lonely. The first date should strictly be about getting to know the other person. Hold off on the expensive dates until next time.

2. Be creative.

Keeping a date cheap does not mean that we need to be boring. Women get tired of going on an endless stream of dates that involve meeting for drinks. Try to come up with a fun little activity to keep things exciting.

3. Tailor the date to her interests.

Is your date an artist? Does she love dogs? The more you tailor your date to her biggest interests, the more impressed she will be, and the more fun she will have. Her profile should be your cheat sheet as to what her interests are, and what the perfect date could be. Use this to your advantage.

4. Never ask or accept when a woman offers to split the bill.

Women may offer to pay half. But don’t accept this, it’s a trap. First dates are all about chivalry. Only accept money if you realize there is no chance for a second date, or if your date insists on paying for something small, such as a round of drinks.

5. Come prepared.

You should always go into a first date with plenty of interesting stories to tell, or fun topics to talk about. It’s not enough to just show up. You have to be interesting as well if you wish to be remembered long after the first date ends.

6. Be slightly aggressive.

Don’t be a perfect gentleman the entire time. Flirt a little bit. Touch your date on the hand or arm every now and then. Take charge of making decisions. Women are mainly attracted to alpha males, so show you have the confidence to be one. Just keep it innocent. There should be no heavy petting or intense sexual flirting. Everything should be light an innocent.

7. Don’t make the goodbye awkward.

An awkward goodbye has the potential to ruin everything that came before it. Don’t force a first kiss if it doesn’t feel natural, and don’t linger endlessly around your date. Be confident, say goodbye, and live to fight another day!

More Info

For more advice, including the world’s best online dating guide, and free online dating first date tips just click here now.

Come Check Out myTreat at the Silicon Beach YP Event

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:04:19 -0700

We’ve teamed up with the fine folks at Silicon Beach YP (Young Professionals) who are throwing a launch party on April 4th, from 6-9PM at Busby’s West in Santa Monica. If you are looking to network with other tech professionals or just interested in coming out to meet us we’d love to have you and highly encourage you to do so :)

In addition to meeting cool people the best part is that it’s free to sign up and join. Get tickets here.

myTreat Fun at Tech Cocktail LA Showcase

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:54:39 -0700

A few days ago we mentioned how we were selected by Tech Cocktail to be one of the chosen startups to be be featured at their Los Angeles Showcase Mixer. There were a ton of great startups and great people who showed up to check out our “wares.” Below is our photo journal of the event. Many thanks again to Tech Cocktail for giving us the opportunity.

When we heard we were chosen we had less than a week to figure out what we were going to exhibit. In the email they told us we would have 4 feet of table space to setup whatever we liked. Since we’ve never setup a table space before for myTreat we didn’t have any signs or marketing schwag.

They say necessity is the mother of invention. I thought back to the last time I exhibited anything and the only thing I could remember was an eighth grade science fair project in which I won honorable mention (my mom did most of the work…thanks mom!). With that inspiration I sketched out this super professional diagram.

I won’t bore you with the details of measuring, cutting, glue-sticking, etc… but I will say it did bring me back to my middle school years. In the end from that super professional diagram we ended up this this:

If you can’t tell, the middle part is actually a cut out we made so we could place an LCD monitor there that would show photos of people we took while at the event. The frame around it is an iPhone… you know, because we’re an iPhone app (genius, right?).

With the myTreat marketing materials finished it was off to the Tech Cocktail Science Fair. We got there early to setup.

Behind the board you’ll notice the craziness going on behind the scenes. We have a paper cutter, photo printer, and my computer. What we decided to do was to take photos of people meeting new people at the event, print them out, and give them to each of the people in the photos. The end product looked something like this:

We hole punched the photo and put it on a key ring (along side one of our business cards). We also labeled it with the people’s name so people could remember who they met there (and thus cherish the memories forever).

Above in the photo is Frank Gruber, founder of Tech Cocktail and Michelle Magoffin, founder of Sprawl 3. After receiving her myTreat schwag Michelle tweeted out:

Totally random swag from @mytreat at #techcocktailLA. Now I have a pic of me and Frank, CEO of @techcocktail. twitter.com/PeevedMichelle…
— Michelle Magoffin (@PeevedMichelle) March 28, 2013

Random indeed, but hopefully memorable :)

Anyway… back to the story. Once our “booth” was all setup it was time for the obligatory team photo.

And like all good startups we do have our own sassy and savvy interns, Shawnee and Ariane (big thanks for them for helping out!).

We got to the event early and like all events in the beginning it’s not that crowded.

Here Eric is pitching myTreat to Dennis.

Since we are all about meeting new people and documenting it (ie the TreatUp… new feature coming soon!) Ariane snapped a photo of them.

In addition to meeting other entrepreneurs at the event we also got to meet quite a few USC students who were there as part of their entrepreneurship class. Here I had the pleasure of meeting Brenda and Juho (who is an exchange student all the way from Finland).

They also took a TreatUp photo:

Later on in the evening all of the showcasing companies had a minute to pitch their products on stage. And then the audience had a chance to vote for their favorites.

Me pitching from the front:

Me pitching from the back:

People in awe of the myTreat pitch:

… maybe not everyone was impressed:

Even though we didn’t win audience favorite we still managed to pull through a respectable 3rd or 4th place (out of twelve) finish (I don’t remember the exact result). In either case I do remember the winner. Congrats to the Atlas team for winning!

As the night went on we met a ton of great (and fun) people and had a ton of TreatUps that took place.

Thanks again to Tech Cocktail for choosing us and Cross Campus for hosting us!

- Ben

TreatUp Report: Vanessa of Buyerly

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:25:15 -0700

I had the great pleasure of meeting up with Vanessa Ting at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, which recently has been my “spot.” Vanessa is working on a really cool startup called Buyerly which is a online platform that connects consumer brands and product creators to a network of major retail buyers in order to get feedback on their products. Buyerly’s slogan sums it up nicely. “Talk to retail buyers. Place your product in more stores.”

Vanessa’s background is also as equally exciting as her startup. She went to Georgetown University for grad school to get her MBA. After she graduated she went to work for Target as a retail buyer. She then moved back to LA and rather work for another company she decided to start her own. Leveraging her experience as a retail buyer she consults with with other companies and entrepreneurs on how they could reach and market their products to retail buyers at big companies like Target. From her consulting experience and her retail buying experience she thought a platform to connect these two groups would help even more people so hence Buyerly was born.

The Treat: Iced Coffee and Croissant

The Place: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

For more info on Vanessa and Buyerly check out the links below:

- Ben

What’s a TreatUp?

Check Out myTreat at Tech Cocktail's Los Angeles Mixer

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:39:51 -0700

Good news! myTreat was selected to be one of the showcasing startups at Tech Cocktails’ upcoming mixer and showcase. If you’re in the Los Angeles neighborhood, you’re over 21, and you’re interested in tech startups be sure to come out and say “hi!” We’d love to meet you in person. If you can’t make it, don’t worry, we’ll be posting photos from the event.

Get tickets here.

myTreat Demo at Santa Monica New Tech Meetup

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:20:52 -0700

The kind folks over at the Santa Monica New Tech Meetup group selected myTreat as one of the startups to demo their product at their monthly demo night event. We had the pleasure of showing off some of our yet-to-be-released features to over 250 people in the audience. It was great connecting with the other startups and the people at the event. Check out further below for photos from our pitch.

Interview: Networking Should Have a Purpose More than Just Handshakes and Shared Drinks with Brad Feld

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:38:39 -0700

Brad Feld is one of the co-founders of TechStars, a mentor-driven accelarator for technology and Internet software companies. In addition to assisting with TechStars he’s also one of the managing directors at Foundry Group, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage software / Internet companies throughout the United States. Today we invited Brad to share his thoughts on business networking.

Interview Highlights:

Startup entrepreneurs should be “people collectors” (collecting the best people to ehlp with their project)
When approaching Brad it’s good to have a short intro and why they want to talk to him
To build relationships with influencers start small like posting comments on their blog
It’s possible to be polite while at the same time “brutally honest” (key is not to be presumptuous)

Full Interview with Brad Feld

For a startup entrepreneur how important is networking and where in the list of priorities do you think it should fall (ie compared with building product, testing, customer development, etc…)?

One of the key roles of a startup entrepreneur is to be a “people collector.” You need to surround yourself with the best people you can find and attract - to partner with, to work for you, invest in you, and to mentor you. Networking should have a purpose - you aren’t just going to events and parties. Rather, you are trying to engage with your startup community, your industry, and potential employees and investors. You do this through continual interaction, not just handshakes and shared drinks.

When attending events, for example a tech meetup or happy hour, how do you like to be approached by someone? How do you not like to be approached?

If I go to a public event, I assume that I’m going to be approached by a lot of people. I try to talk to everyone who wants to talk to me. The best interactions are ones where the person seeking me out has a short intro - they describe what they are doing and why they want to talk to me. Often, they have a single question that I can respond to in real time, that creates the basis for additional interactions - either in the moment or later via email.

What should people looking to start relationships with people outside their existing network do to get started? Send emails, call, tweet, etc?

Engage with something the person you are trying to reach is interested in. If they write a blog (like I do), start commenting on the blog. Write a post on your blog linking to something they wrote. Respond to requests they have, or help a company they are involved in. Use my “give before you get” approach - do something that is useful for the person your are trying to start a relationship with in advance of any expectation of getting anything back from them.

Meeting people is sometimes the easy part of “networking”, what’s harder is keeping in contact with the people that you meet. Do you have a specific system or method that you use to keep in in touch with the professional or personal contacts that you have?

I don’t have a specific system, but I try to be immediately responsive to anyone I’m developing a relationship with. I try to give more than I ask for and specifically not be “that guy who is always requesting something.”

You have an interesting post on “Grinfucking” (people who pretend to be nice to someone’s face and then act the opposite behind their back) and how you believe in being brutally honest with people (as well as wishing they do the same to you). Is there a line between being a dick about being honest with someone versus being polite about it? What’s the difference?Full Interview witfh

You can be polite while being brutally honest. Just be direct and clear. Don’t judge, don’t assume bad intent, don’t criticize gratuitously. Say how you feel and why, but don’t go into a long justification. Don’t be presumptuous and tell the other person what they should have done better - just be clear about what you think they did wrong.

Connect with Brad Feld

Site: http://www.feld.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfeld
Wall Street Journal Column: http://blogs.wsj.com/accelerators/tag/brad-feld/

Interview: Connecting to Greatness New York Networking Group with Kate Gaffin

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:20:09 -0700

Kate Gaffin is a life long Entrepreneur and sought after presenter on the very important, yet often overlooked ‘Soft Skills’ aspects of Business Development, Customer Service and Customer Retention. And, in addition to running one of NYC’s largest and most respected Business Networking groups, ‘Connecting to Greatness’ which boasts 4,000 members, Kate is also just finishing up her first book, ‘Super Star Networking for Real People.’

Tell us more about your Meetup group, Connecting to Greatness - Inspired Business Networking. Why did you decide to start it? How is it different than other Meetup groups or networking groups?

I started ‘Connecting to Greatness’ at the end of 2008 just as I had closed down a company I created and ran for 7 years. With that company, ‘Beautiful Futures’ I focused on the children’s gifting industry and because most of my time and energy went into growing relationships and creating business with anyone/anything connected to this world, I realized, I didn’t really know too many people outside of it. So, I started my group essentially as a way to build up my own network. However, being an entrepreneur, I also wanted to create a successful business entity. And so I set out to create a different kind of group where relationship building, professional development and even fun was at its core. I didn’t want to put on the kind of events where people were just thrown into a room with no facilitation of any kind and a goal not much bigger or inspiring than to get the 25 business cards they came with into other people’s hands.

First and foremost, my intention was to give attendees a warm, very positive and productive networking experience. This experience shows itself in the content, style and personal touch of my marketing communication to members. It then continues on as each event attendee is warmly welcomed upon arrival. It is further deepened as I foster a ‘relationship first’ philosophy at each event. I also bring in well known speakers in all kinds of areas of business building with an emphasis on the ‘soft skills.’ And, a couple times a year, I present to the group on topics such as ‘SuperStar Networking for Real People,’ and ‘The Art of Stellar Follow Up.’ Our group has a reputation in the NY area for being very different than others in that it has focus, wonderful energy and puts the relationship first.

What are the backgrounds of your members? What are they looking to get out of the group?

My group is mostly made up of Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs from a variety of industries…Real Estate, E-Commerce,Tech, Coaching, Health and Wellness, Marketing, Financial, Legal, Marketing, just to name a few. Of course everyone would like to meet their next client at my events and many do. Others find out about new resources, gain referrals and a lot of friendships get formed. And, out of these friendships, a lot of business gets done. When we have our ‘learning events’ members are attending to hone their business building skills, experience an ‘aha’ moment or two as well as to meet others.

Do you have any examples where networking helped either further your career or company’s goals?

I have tons of examples because to me, networking happens all the time. It’s not just confined to an ‘event.’ Several years ago while building my business, Beautiful Futures, a customer of mine from the west coast emailed me that she’d be in NYC for a couple of days and asked if I’d meet her for lunch. I didn’t really know much about her other than that she placed orders online fairly frequently with me. It wasn’t my norm to meet in person with individual customers because my days were pretty busy but I decided to this time. Over the course of the lunch, I mentioned I was looking for investors and three months later, she and her husband put in twice the amount I was looking for. This was astounding to me because I could have easily said ‘no’ to lunch and it certainly was not my intention to mention that I was seeking capital. In fact, outside of my inner circle, she was the first person I mentioned it to and it was actually a very spontaneous decision to do so. So to me, ‘networking’ is just meeting people, having conversations, getting to know each other, finding ‘connection’ and putting your ideas and desires ‘out there’ because you just never completely know the world and people that exist behind someone you are just meeting. This can happen with your seat neighbor on a plane, online at the supermarket, with the person next to you at Starbucks. If you hold it in your heart and mind that the next conversation you hace could change your life, you will find those that do…and in places and at times you might not ‘normally,’ expect them to.

Some people have no problem meeting new people, however, what’s more difficult is keeping those connections and relationships strong and healthy. What is the system you use to keep in contact with people? Twitter, Facebook, phone calls, etc…?

You’re absolutely right on this point. Most people make one contact after meeting someone and then never another. Mostly it’s because they don’t know what to say or how long to wait in between points of contact. I was an early adopter of Twitter but am not so active on it anymore. One of the things I do after I meet someone is to see if they are in Facebook and if they are, I’ll send them a Friend Request and I’ll like and comment on posts. One of the great things in doing this is you get to see what their hobbies are, trips they’ve taken, celebrations of things that are important to them. This is great for bonding and learning about those you’d like to get closer to. And then what a great thing it can be to make mention of one of these things the next time you see or talk to them. As an example, one of my contacts/customers is very passionate and very vocal about animal rights issues and I only learned of this because of her FB posts. This is now something I can engage her on which can work to build our rapport and deepen our bond.

In terms of additional points of contact, I’m very ‘permission/agreement’ based when it comes to this. If I meet someone at an event and we find something in common or there’s been an agreement that one of of us might have something of value to share with the other, I’ll ask if it’s okay that I call them tomorrow to set up a time to continue the conversation, schedule a meeting, etc. If they say ‘yes,’ I’ll ask what the best time to reach them is. This ‘mutually agreed upon next action step’ is huge for keeping the conversation going and it feels very honoring to the other person to ask permission to keep going. Sending unsolicited piles of info by email the next day as many do is extremely ineffective as is connecting again and making it all about you, your needs and your desires.

In terms of ‘systems,’ I’m a big fan of those that can simplify and automate ‘warm touch’ marketing to foster retention and loyalty. And the ‘system’ I use to stay in touch is the most effective ‘warm touch’ marketing tool I’ve come across and it’s called Send Out Cards. You know how you always hear how important it is to send handwritten ‘thank you’ cards? And while the intention may be there to do so, either we don’t have time to go to the store, we don’t want to spend $4 on a card or maybe we’re just a little lazy like I know I can be. This system, one I’ve been using for five years allows me to go online a choose a beautiful ‘real’ card from a catalog of 16,000. I then type in my message with a font created out of my own handwriting and Send Out Cards prints it, puts in a beautiful white envelope and takes it to the Post Office to mail…all for about a dollar. And the cool thing is, I can put my card sending on autopilot by setting up cards to go out in advance like for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Anyone that would like to try it can visit the following link to send out a card at no cost. www.SendOutCards.com/24039

What resources do you recommended for becoming a better networker?

The best networkers I have ever seen have two inherent qualities. First is that they are genuinely curious about others. They want to know what drives people and they enjoy meeting and getting to know others. The next is that they are ‘Connectors.’ They like bringing people together, providing value to others, helping people move their passions along and this in turn inspires others to want to help them. I would say the best thing you can do to become a better networker is to get good, very good at these two traits. If you’re not curious about others, get curious and in doing so, worlds will open up with those you meet. And if you’re not now a ‘Connector,’ simply look at your network and start becoming one.

Connect with Kate Gaffin

Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/ConnectingToGreatness/

TreatUp Report: Brian of Silicon Beach Young Professionals

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:00:00 -0800

Today I had the pleasure of meeting up with Brian Gaouette at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. On myTreat I posted an offer to treat someone to “Coffee or tea and conversation” and how I was “looking to meet movers and shakers in LA doing interesting things…” and Brian, being a mover and shaker responded.

Brian, like myself, is a transplant to the southern California area. He’s originally from western Massachusetts and moved to Hermosa Beach about a year and a half ago. Not only did he move to a much warmer climate zone, but he’s also just feet away from the beach. As you can imagine, he likes it a lot.

What brought Brian to California was a new job. Brian is the Director of Social Media at [Method]DRG, which is a consulting group which helps organizations acquire customers and retain them as well.

Recently, Brian’s been working on a new project called Silicon Beach Young Professionals or Silicon Beach YP (SBYP). Silicon Beach, for those who don’t know, is what has been dubbed as Los Angeles’s answer to Silicon Valley - a hub of upcoming and promising software technology startups. SBYP was created to bring together the young professionals are who part of this community to “share ideas, build networks, and create a stronger community.” If you’re in the Los Angeles area be sure to sign up on their launch page so you’ll be up to date with their upcoming events.

The Treat: Coffee

The Place: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

For more info on Brian and his projects check out these links:

- Ben

What’s a TreatUp?

myTreat Featured App on PreApps.com!

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:48:17 -0800

The cool folks at PreApps.com, the exclusive place to preview new and exciting upcoming mobile apps, were kind enough to feature myTreat on their website. If you have an interesting app you’re working on or you’re someone who likes finding the coolest new apps before everyone else be sure to check out PreApps.

Thank you PreApps for the shoutout!

Interview: The Professional Womens Network of Southern California with Victoria Pynchon

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:17:31 -0800

Victoria Pynchon is the organizer of the Professional Womens Network of Southern California (PWNSC) Meetup group which is focused on helping high level women professionals pursue concrete business and networking plans so they can reach their goals. We invited Victoria to share more info on her group and why she started it.

Tell us more about your Meetup group, Professional Womens Network of Southern California.

The PWNSC is open to all women professionals, executives, managers and entrepreneurs. There have been years in which we’ve had to find outside venues for our meetings because the number of attendees would not fit in our living rooms. There was at least a year hiatus when I was too busy to attend to this group. Fortunately, one of the women who attended the first meeting back in ‘07 became a friend and offered to get the group back up on its feet again about six months ago. So we’re building active members again and are once again meeting in our living rooms. We charge a small admittance fee for overhead (management and snacks) and sometimes, when we have a guest of national prominence like author Whitney Johnson of Dare, Dream, Do (via Skype) we charge slightly more, mostly to insure that the women who say they’re coming actually come. My experience is that just about one-half of the women who say they are coming will actually arrive. If we have a speaker of prominence, we want to assure ourselves that she will have an audience.

Why did you decide to start it? How is it different than other networking Meetup groups around your area?

I decided to start the meetup group when I first started marketing my mediation practice back in ‘07. At that time I was transitioning from a 25-year career as a corporate litigator to a commercial mediator and arbitrator. I knew next to nothing about marketing so I decided to form a group in my own home that would be free and easy. I formed my own group because I don’t much like rules or the feeling that everyone is present primarily to pitch themselves to everyone else who’s present. I saw the PWNSC as more of a mutual support group where women shared contacts as well as their challenges and successes with the goal of being of service to others as much or more as “getting” something from others.

What are the backgrounds of your members? What are they looking to get out of the group?

We have more than 600 members, all of whom are executives,managers, professionals or entrepreneurs from nearly every walk of life. We have doctors (who knew they marketed?) lawyers, therapists, journalists, designers, bakers, restauranteurs, accountants, financial advisors, movie directors and producers, clothing designers, real estate brokers and agents, and every type of small business owner imaginable in retail, wholesale and the service industry. We even have an army captain who has served two tours of duty in Iraq.

Everyone is looking for pretty much the same thing - networking contacts to build their business, the “soft” support any group of women with similar interests inevitably provides (friendship, shared knowledge and wisdom, and opportunities that arrive only when you’re in conversation with another human being) and advice on matters such as marketing, cash flow, financing, better business practices and the like.

What have been some of your most popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

Our most popular event featured the true crime writer, Cathy Scott, who is a friend of mine and made a trip down from her home in Las Vegas to discuss publishing. Cathy has written and published nearly a dozen non-fiction titles and is a former journalist and journalism professor. Anytime we can offer a speaker who has the depth of knowledge and experience of someone like Cathy, we draw a pretty big crowd.

What do you think it takes to have a good professional networking group?

A good networking group is as much about giving as it is about getting. No one wants to be “sold” and most women don’t like to “sell.” We have no rules and no requirements for membership other than a desire to be of service to others and open to creating professional and business contacts that are mutually beneficial. Our meetings are simple but powerful. We introduce ourselves and our business or profession and briefly say what we’re hoping to gain from the group. Women start nodding their head’s and indicating that they have something valuable to offer before we get a quarter of the way around the circle. Then we have a speaker, almost always someone from inside the group so that our women can practice their presentations and everyone else can learn what another woman in business does and how she manages.

I’ve served on a million committees, attended thousands of networking events in my “market” (Fortune 500/AmLaw200), and ascended to positions of leadership in my original profession - legal practice - and my “second life” as an author, mediator, keynote speaker and negotiation consultant and trainer. Nothing, however, has been as powerful as this meetup group that I started in my living room in 2007 simply by posting a notice on the meetup site. I have found great friends and terrific contacts but mostly I joined a community of powerful women who have the desire to walk up to a stranger’s door, knock, and ask “is this the women’s meetup group?”

Connect with Victoria Pynchon

Twitter: @VickiePynchon
Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/pwnscal/

Interview: The Bay Area Business Networking events, Marketing, & Leads Group with Sunil Bhaskaran

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:21:00 -0800

Sunil Bhaskaran is a Creative Innovative Strategist and organizer of the Bay Area Business Networking Events, Marking, and Leads Meetup group. Their regular meetings focus on “both networking time periods and educational presentations highly relevant to business performance.” We invited Sunil to share additional details about his networking group.

Tell us more about your Meetup group, Bay Area Business Networking Events, Marketing & Leads Group. Why did you decide to start it? How is it different from other Meetup networking groups?

The meetup group is for a select group of people who are committed to increasing their business performance via training and effective, focused networking. We provide training and networking opportunities: I feel this is an effective use of time and gives good returns to people who attend: we have a good track record and currently have about 1,200 members and a meeting about every month. We have chapters in the East Bay (separate meetup) and Mid Peninsula (seperate meetup).

I started this group in response to some of the problems I saw in most networking opportunities

People had no training to focus their networking and marketing message: so people were confused on how to make introductions for them: hence the need to train people in business, so people can be clear in their messaging and efforts towards generating business.
People were insulted or insulting in the manner of their networking: they are either too pushy (pushing business cards) or too shy in their approach. This is understandable given the lack of appropriate quality business training out there.

I started the group to address these two pains.

We are different from other meetups in the following ways

We are consistent in our building and selection of members; people have to be selected when they apply to join.
We provide valuable training and networking: most if not all of our meetups have been highly rated by our members.
Quality presentations and trainings
We work to help people introduce themselves: The training helps people get clear on what they need to do to message and manage their business efforts.

What are the backgrounds of your members? What are they looking to get out of the group?

The members come from various backgrounds: mostly people in small business, a minority of career professionals, startup tech people.

What they gain: high quality business training + networking in a focused manner.

What have been some of your most popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

The most popular events are our training and networking events. People love the trainings!

After organizing several networking events what do you think it takes to be a good networker?

Listening, Listening clearly, Attention and Focus
Solid follow up and demonstration of reliability and consistency
Focus on being proactive
Asking the right questions

What other tips for networking do you have?

Take an elevated commitment to developing your business skills: strategy, marketing, time management
This will help you stand out immediately from the rest

Connect with Sunil Bhaskaran

Site: www.SunilBhaskaran.com
Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/BayAreaBusinessLeadsSocialNetworkingGroup/

Networking Interview: Networking is the Lifeblood of a Professional with Jason Nazar

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:04:12 -0800

Jason Nazar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Docstoc.com, the premier online community to find and share professional documents. Before starting Docstoc, he was a partner in a venture consulting firm in Los Angeles where he worked with dozens of startups. Today we learn what role networking played in his success and other tips he has for successfully networking.

How do you define networking and how important is it for people’s careers or lives?

Networking is the lifeblood of a professional. It’s the process of expanding and adding value to a network of contacts you intend to help and ask for help. At any major step in your professional life both the size and quality of your network is directly connected to the amount of opportunity you can create.

Do you have any examples where networking helped you further your goals?

Networking helped me raise 4 million dollars, find my co-founder, build out the majority of my organization (40+ people strong), and in some meaningful ways is connected many of the major business decision we’ve made to continue to grow Docstoc.

What are some common mistakes people make when it comes to networking (ie, what are people doing wrong)?

There are 3 big mistakes people make. 1) Asking before Giving: you’ll be most successful at networking when you first focus on helping others. 2) Breath & Quality: it’s important to both know a lot of folks but also build quality relationships, one without the other may not get you to where you need to be. 3) ROI: have some barometer to make sure that the time you spend networking is paying off in the ways you need it to.

I have more advice in this video:

http://premium.docstoc.com/video/80774888/The-10-Keys-to-Business-Development

Some people have no problem meeting new people, however, what’s more difficult is keeping those connections and relationships strong and healthy. What is the system you use to keep in contact with people? Twitter, Facebook, phone calls, etc…?

The real challenge is always in keeping relationships not forming them. Personally I use all of the above: email, social media, one on ones, large public speaking events to be able to stay in touch with my network.

Connect with Jason Nazar

Site: http://www.jasonnazar.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jasonnazar

Dating Interview: Online Dating Can Lead to Constant Searching with The Private Man

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:46:17 -0800

The Private Man is a blogger who writes about online dating, relationships, and Men’s issues. He’s self described as “I use online dating ruthlessly and have become the very definition of ‘dated briefly.’” Today we invited him to learn more about his dating experience and why he created his blog.

What was the inspiration for creating your blog, The Private Man?

My primary motivation was to blog about my own dating experiences while also advice to guys who are over 40 and single. But after the first year, I realized that the advice became more important than the stories of my personal dating experiences. Most of the dating and advice blogs are for folks under 35, usually never married. I wanted my blog to target an older demographic because I see a huge need there, for both men and women alike. As an active participant in the “Manosphere”, I have the privilege of sharing and learning the almost subversive truths about attraction and dating between the genders.

What are some of the popular questions you get ask by men? What advice do you give?

The most popular questions revolve around guys wanting to increase their attractiveness. My advice is that they first work on their confidence by mastering an activity/enthusiasm for themselves, not to impress women. Women can intuit when a guy is merely trying to impress them and that’s shallow and desperate. Confidence is all about the guy trying to impress himself or gain the respect of his peers. Women are secondary to his overall confidence. Women will sense that and find themselves attracted to such a man.

One of the pieces of advice you offer with regards to dating profiles is having professional photos taking. Why do you think this is necessary?

Two reasons… firstly, it shows that the person is serious about online dating and meeting his/her relationship goals. Dabbling in online dating - especially for men - won’t result in many dates or meeting his relationship goals. Secondly, it shows the person in their best possible light. For better and worse, online dating is an exercise in marketing, the product being the person doing the selling. For the record, I advise only one or two professional photos . The other three or four photos should be honest and RECENT candid shots. A full body shot is mandatory, especially for women.

How do you define Charisma? How does someone get better at Charisma?

Charisma is a combination of emotional, social, intellectual, and physical (not as important as some might think) attributes that causes people of both genders to be drawn to the person with that Charisma. It can be learned. For men, it starts with confidence. Then, social skills are added. Those social skills must be keenly refined and applied at the right time and in the right context. This is a matter of patient practice and people deeply aware of one’s impact on other people.

Usually, Charisma is word applied to men. Much of “Game” is all about learned Charisma. For women, the phrase “feminine charm” is more appropriate. People are drawn towards feminine charm as people are drawn to towards masculine Charisma.

What if any downsides do you think there with online dating?

The most important downside to online dating is the abundance mentality where individuals of both genders are always available should a profile or date not be attractive. Online dating can too easily yield constant searching and never committing because it becomes far too easy to reject a person.

The other biggest problem with online dating stems from the abundance mentality. If there is always another profile to review means that a person won’t come to the understanding that they must bring something to the dating table themselves.

Connect with The Private man

Site: http://theprivateman.wordpress.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/man_private

myTreat Blog - Social Skills

myTreat Contest: TreatUp and Win Cold Hard Amazon Gift Cards

What’s a TreatUp?

What are the Prizes / How do I win?

How do I a TreatUp?

Who can I do a TreatUp with?

How to claim a prize?

Rules / Restrictions

Summary

Interview: The Scriptwriters Network with Yanique Sappleton

Tell us about your meetup group, The Scriptwriters Network. Why did you decide to get involved with it? How is it different than other scriptwriters groups?

What are the backgrounds of your members? What are they looking to get out of the group?

What have been some of the more popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

Everyone says that “making it” in Hollywood is challenging, what are some of the challenges script writers face?

Connect with Yanique Sappleton

Interview: Santa Monica New Tech Meetup Group with Marina

Tell us more about your Meetup group, Santa Monica New Tech. Why did you decide to start it? How is it different from other tech related Meetup groups?

What are the backgrounds of your members? What are they looking to get out of the group?

What have been some of your most popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

What do you think of the Los Angeles Tech Community? What excites you about it?

What do you think it takes to run a successful tech Meetup group?

Connect with Marina

Interview: The Art of Active Networking with Mark Sackett

Tell us more about your Meetup groups, The Art of Active Networking. Why did you decide to start it?

How is it different than other networking groups around your area?

What are the backgrounds of your members?

What are they looking to get out of the group?

What have been some of your most popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

What do you think it takes to have a good networking group?

What tips do you have for someone attending a group looking to network?

Connect with Mark E. Sackett

TreatUp Report: Lucas Bean of [Method]DRG

For more info on Lucas check out the links below:

** What’s a TreatUp? **

Interview: OC Golfing Singles Meetup Group with Mits Shinohara

Tell us more about your Meetup group, OC Golfing Singles Meetup Group. Why did you decide to start it? How is it different than other Meetup groups around your area?

What are the members of your Meetup group like and what are they looking for?

What have been some of your most popular events? Why do you think they were popular?

What do you think makes a good social event? How can other social event organizers do a better job with their events?

Connect with Mits Shinohara

Guest Post: 7 Tips For Reaching A Second Date

1. Keep it cheap.

2. Be creative.

3. Tailor the date to her interests.

4. Never ask or accept when a woman offers to split the bill.

5. Come prepared.

6. Be slightly aggressive.

7. Don’t make the goodbye awkward.

More Info

Come Check Out myTreat at the Silicon Beach YP Event

myTreat Fun at Tech Cocktail LA Showcase

TreatUp Report: Vanessa of Buyerly

The Treat: Iced Coffee and Croissant

The Place: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

For more info on Vanessa and Buyerly check out the links below:

** What’s a TreatUp? **

Check Out myTreat at Tech Cocktail's Los Angeles Mixer

myTreat Demo at Santa Monica New Tech Meetup

Interview: Networking Should Have a Purpose More than Just Handshakes and Shared Drinks with Brad Feld

Interview Highlights:

Full Interview with Brad Feld

For a startup entrepreneur how important is networking and where in the list of priorities do you think it should fall (ie compared with building product, testing, customer development, etc…)?

When attending events, for example a tech meetup or happy hour, how do you like to be approached by someone? How do you not like to be approached?

What should people looking to start relationships with people outside their existing network do to get started? Send emails, call, tweet, etc?

Meeting people is sometimes the easy part of “networking”, what’s harder is keeping in contact with the people that you meet. Do you have a specific system or method that you use to keep in in touch with the professional or personal contacts that you have?

Connect with Brad Feld

Interview: Connecting to Greatness New York Networking Group with Kate Gaffin

Tell us more about your Meetup group, Connecting to Greatness - Inspired Business Networking. Why did you decide to start it? How is it different than other Meetup groups or networking groups?

What are the backgrounds of your members? What are they looking to get out of the group?

Do you have any examples where networking helped either further your career or company’s goals?

Some people have no problem meeting new people, however, what’s more difficult is keeping those connections and relationships strong and healthy. What is the system you use to keep in contact with people? Twitter, Facebook, phone calls, etc…?

What resources do you recommended for becoming a better networker?

Connect with Kate Gaffin

TreatUp Report: Brian of Silicon Beach Young Professionals

The Treat: Coffee

The Place: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

For more info on Brian and his projects check out these links:

** What’s a TreatUp? **

myTreat Featured App on PreApps.com!

Interview: The Professional Womens Network of Southern California with Victoria Pynchon

What’s a TreatUp?

What’s a TreatUp?

What’s a TreatUp?