How Networking Gave Me One of the Best Years of my Life

A few of the experiences I was fortunate enough to be a part of in 2018 included directing/editing a music video, being part of the crew for a national TV show recorded on a fancy Hollywood studio lot, directing/editing three videos for the Techstars Air Force Accelerator, producing 3 events (women in tech, marketing, animation) in Boston and LA, and…and and and. Blah blah blah. Blergghh.  

Ugh. A long list of of stuff I did this year isn't really helpful to anyone or even much of a story. It doesn't give context to the struggles I had during the year or previously in my life nor does it acknowledge the turmoil and struggle felt by a lot of folks this tumultuous year (a bit more on this later.)

On a purely practical level, someone deciding to follow the steps that I took this year after reading my story is like someone watching a Roadrunner cartoon and following the plan that the Coyote came up with. I don't advise it.

Deciding to follow the steps that I took after reading my story is like someone watching a Roadrunner cartoon and following the plan that the Coyote came up with.

Accomplishing things in life you set out to is fine. But I believe that what you experience and what you accomplish in your life, no matter how interesting or exciting, is far less meaningful than why you had those experiences, who you shared those experiences with, and what you learned along the way. So let's start this again. I'll share the why and who of this year's experiences another time, but for this piece, I'll focus on what I learned along the way and hope that readers find it to be useful.

So Here We Go

Looking back on the past year, I've realized that the most fulfilling experiences I had in 2018 revolved around collaborating with some of my favorite people...all of whom I met through that activity that many of us dread but that we still continue to begrudgingly do anyway: 

I’m talking about networking Yo.  

Almost one year ago to the day that I am posting this article, I moved on from my job without really knowing what my next move would be. That said, I had spent time to take a serious look at my life, where I was going, where I'd been, to determine what I wanted for myself and what I wanted my life to look like moving forward. I saw that I was privileged to live the life that I had to that point and I appreciated all of it. Still, I knew I wanted something different.

On New Years Eve 2017 I decided to leave a party early even though it was filled with good friends (most of whom I met through networking) because I felt that I should use what little time that was left of the year for me to consider, write down, and plan all the goals I wanted to accomplish and the experiences I wanted to have in the upcoming year. (Run on, got it)

Whether you believe it was because of manifesting, good ol' hard work, timing, luck, privilege, or something else--that's for you to decide--but it turned out that though it wasn't easy or exactly how I imagined, everything I put on my list and set out to accomplish that night eventually came to fruition throughout my 2018.

I'm not sure how it all came together the way that it did this year, but what I am sure of is that none of it would have happened without the efforts and support of the friends and family in my network.

My hope is that this article provides encouragement and offers a few examples illustrating that sometimes authenticity, hard work, and persistence---and networking--can pay off.  In my case, it resulted in a year of incredibly rewarding experiences, new business opportunities, and building meaningful friendships.

Before We Get to the Fancy Stories, a Few Acknowledgements

There’s a deeper and more vital conversation to be had about how privilege affects gaining access to networks in the first place and then how folks are received and perceived once they are part of a community.  Beyond that, I’d like to mention that not everyone has the kind of supportive friends and family that I have to help them along their journey. 

And the truth is that this year was incredibly challenging for me in a number of ways: financially, emotionally, and so on…I even managed to tear a knee ligament or two. Fun. But we know that the online world is filtered and presents an unbalanced view of most stories, even if the story is true.   

Another caveat is that this is not an "X Steps to Success" type of article. I don't believe there is a formula to success that everyone can follow and get the same result. Everyone's situation, available resources, and what they stand to risk are unique, so the result of any steps you take will be unique to you as well.

It Started with an Ending...and a Leap of Faith

It wasn’t easy for me to leave a full-time job as the head of events at Workbar, one of the most well-known coworking spaces in the Boston area. It was especially difficult because of how much I believed in our mission, enjoyed working with my co-workers, and was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of our members.

I wasn’t sure what my next move would be and didn’t have another job or even a job interview lined up, but I knew it was time for me to explore a new path. (Cue music) To be open to different opportunities, take a risk or two, and to get into adventures…y’know, like the Incredible Hulk or the team from the “Tiny House Nation” (a show I worked on briefly, but that’s another story.)

All kidding aside, I knew that it was time for a change, even if I didn’t know what that change would be.

Directed/Edited Videos for a Techstars Accelerator

I got to know the folks from the Techstars Air Force Accelerator via my role at Workbar. Together we chronicled the first year of their innovative program over the course of a few months. My team and I created 3 videos that we are very proud and that we couldn't have done without each other. It was a fun experience working with close friends and a great team of folks at Techstars and the U.S Air Force. Here's one of the videos that we created, if you'd like to take a look:

This project was also a helpful reminder to me that my strengths and passions are executing on complex projects, logistics, collaborating with a variety of stakeholders, producing community-building events, and creating stories with a positive message that emotionally connects with the audience. 

Being reminded of this truth, of who I am at my core and what I feel I am meant to do with my life, was perhaps the most powerful and meaningful result of this past year.

Networking Tip: When I first got to know the folks at Techstars, they weren't aware of my video production background, mainly due to the fact that our point of connection was events. But when I did approach them about video, they already had a sense of me as a person, collaborator, and as a professional. While my experience and video reel is strong, I believe that knowing me as an individual made it easier for them to trust me with their brand, their time, and their video budget.

The lesson from my perspective is that if you approach networking with the mindset of seeking to connect with folks simply to learn about them as individuals out of your sheer curiosity, rather than having a conversation to figure out if you can help each other in some way, then you both have a chance to create opportunities that you'd never predict or expect.

Worked with the Crew of “Lip Sync Battle”

Tracking the connections that brought me this opportunity is pretty fun:

I had mentioned to a friend that I was looking for film/TV production work in LA, and a couple days later I get a text from her with a lead for a gig. So she connected me, through a friend of hers, to a friend of her friend, who then connected me to a coordinator, who worked on a spin-off of the TV show “Lip Sync Battle.” Yeah, that's how it works sometimes.

I met this friend a number of years ago while I was producing a film called “The Legacy” that won Best Short Film at the Comic-Con Indie Film Festival...the myriad of long-time friends and colleagues I have from that production is a pretty amazing story itself, and involves "That 70's Show" and a networking group known as the "Emerson Mafia," but that's another story for another day.

What started as a couple days of work, thanks to my work ethic and my fancy dance moves (okay, maybe not that last one, but still), turned into a longer gig than I first expected. I was grateful for the work; enjoyed getting to know the fun, hard-working, and dedicated crew; and it was a trip for me to be back on the lot working with a national show again.

I hadn't worked on a network show or on a studio lot since back in the day when I worked in the production offices of the NBC drama "ER", which coincidentally, was filmed on the same lot as this show.

My role on the "Lip Sync Battle" production was that of a fill-in Runner/PA for one of the departments, basically as entry-level as you can get...Running errands and doing whatever was needed. It's a role often held by folks much younger than me.

But I loved every minute of it Yo.

First, I was working on a studio show, something I didn't think I'd ever get the chance to do again...I realized long ago one day when I was working at NBC Late Night and getting to be around the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "later" crew, that regardless of what your role may be, working for a studio production is an honor and a gift that needs to be appreciated fully...and an opportunity that not a lot of people get.

The funny thing is that as the highest-credited producer on 20+ indie (small) productions, I did all the exact same jobs that I did as a PA...whatever was needed. Ultimately, this experience reminded me that I enjoy hard work whether I'm in a leadership role or not and that I need to appreciate my life experiences as much as I can while I can.

Favorite memory from my stint with this show: Treating the crew to popsicles (on me) on a hot summer work day as a thank you for them welcoming me as part of the crew as warmly as they did.

Networking Tip: With almost all of my production work throughout my career, I started out at an entry-level or close-to-entry level position. But either I would quickly work my way up "the ranks," or someone I met on the production would later hire me or refer me to another gig. That hasn't happened in this particular case, yet. But it's amazing to me how much a positive attitude, a grateful outlook, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to get stuff done can turn into new opportunities down the line.

Directed/Edited a Music Video 

While working on the Techstars videos, I was asked by one of our camera people, Roger Metcalf, if I wanted to direct a music video he was producing for a female-led rock band. 

I met Roger about 5 years ago when he was working with musician/artist Ruby Rose Fox, (not to be confused with Ruby Rose) whom I in turn met through a radio/club DJ and filmmaker friend. He introduced me to Ruby a few years before at the Boston Emissions Rock n' Roll Rumble while I was putting on a fundraiser music concert for the Filmshift Festival (a film festival I created that was screening that friend’s film.)

And just last week (January 2019), about 6 years after I got acquainted with Boston Emissions, they hosted the premiere of the music video (along with a live music show). I had nothing to do with the planning of the event, but it's seems relevant to mention the symmetry.

Our cinematographer for the music video, Amanda McGrady, was the DP on the Techstars videos as well. Amanda was also the DP for the first video I produced for City Awake back in 2014.

This is of note because I met a friend, who with myself and a few others, co-founded the first iteration of City Awake, (t's a completely different organization now, but at the time, it was a 130+ partner/90+ event week celebrating social impact and innovation in Boston) at an event in 2013 that I produced and that was hosted by Workbar...

...the very coworking space that I would eventually become head of events for 5 years later.

This relates because I met Amanda in 2013 while she was the DP for a film I was helping to produce directed by a co-founder of The Boston Calendar.  After that film wrapped, my friend asked me to help him put on the event at Workbar.

At that same event, I also met folks from the Startup Institute who would end up being sponsors of one of my future events and become one of my first corporate video clients…and when I later decided to go through their technical marketing program, I met a friend who introduced me to the folks at WeWork (now called The We Company), a coworking space where many of my events in LA and Boston are now hosted.  

To sum up: A majority of my efforts, paid work, fun times, and friends from the past 5 years can be traced back to that event.

Fancy.

Networking Tip: The lesson to me here is to take the long view of networking because you never know where life may take us...yes, I'm mixing my metaphor, just enjoy the messiness Yo. The other lesson is to try your best to explore your varied interests. If you don't know what your interests are, start networking, you may just find one or two that suit you.

Produced Panel events in Tech, Animation, and Content Marketing

After leaving my role as head of events at Workbar and diving back into video production, I found that I still felt passionate about putting on free-to-the-public community building events.

By leveraging my network, I was able to put together strong panels, included folks from the American Marketing Association-Boston, Dreamworks/Netflix, Resilient Coders, and Amazon Network, just to name a few.

By way of example, the Women in Tech panel was comprised of a former co-worker of mine at Workbar, two friends I met while at Startup Institute, a friend who I had put on an event with previously, and it was moderated by a friend I knew through events (and who did marketing for City Awake after I left).

Plus, I got to work with a couple of my former video production students from the video technical school I taught at and my friend who got me the "Lip sync Battle" job, all of whom have also been crew on a number of my productions.

It was great to feel so supported by my friends in the innovation community, but with my next two events I challenged myself to actively and mindfully engage new folks to collaborate with.

By reaching out to folks that I didn't really have a connection to, I met some of the most interesting, accomplished, and kind people I've ever met. Aside from building new friendships and business connections, it's been inspiring to see how something so simple as reaching out to someone authentically via one email can result in so much long-term awesomesauce awesomeness. Yeah, it's a thing, look it up.

Networking Tip: Strategically reaching out to or folks in the business community via email that you'd feel you'd like to connect with, rather than in person, might be your thing. Also, competitive pop-and-lock breakdancing might be your thing too. I don't really know, but in either situation, there's a chance you might meet some cool people.

Travel, Travel, Travel

This one will mostly be a list since I need to keep some memories and moments to myself. So Here We Go

I drove cross country from Boston to LA and back. I stayed with friends and family along the way, including visiting a friend that I met through Workbar and one of my former roommates whose brother I currently work with. I was able to visit my Godson on his birthday, my brother's family on Thanksgiving, and my nephew's Christening. I visited family and friends in Martha’s Vineyard, Vermont, New York City, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, North Shore, and Connecticut. Again, blah blah blah blerrrgh. But I mention this because all of it was on the list I created last New Years Eve.

I know, because I was there.

Got It. You Had an Interesting Year. What Else?

If you're still reading this, thank you, but you should probably check on that casserole you put in, it's been a while, or perhaps you should chime in on the Slack discussion so people know where you stand on the new coffee choices in the office. I've been writing this for what seems like forever, so I am So doing both of those things in about 5 minutes.

Looking at 2018 from a broader view than just networking: For me, if I can stay true to my path while paying my bills, well, that's "Yahtzee." I'm not fully there yet and I may never get there...but in my experience, life is a rollercoaster, not a ladder. I'm trying my best to handle the ups and downs and to enjoy the ride.

Life is a rollercoaster, not a ladder. I'm trying my best to handle the ups and downs and to enjoy the ride.

As philosopher/poet Miley Cyrus said in her song, "The Climb": "There's always gonna be another mountain...ain't about how fast I get there, ain't about what's waiting on the other side, it's the climb."

What this quote means to me is that as long as I'm making progress along a path that feeds my soul, even if it's in tiny increments or improvements that I may only recognize, if I gain a new understanding of myself or the world...and I can pay my bills, then I'm good Yo.

Life is tough in the NBA, and challenges will continue to come up no matter how many you conquer. If you can find understanding, clarity, growth, and strength as you tackle each challenge, that can often be more valuable than what you gain when you reach the top. At least, that is the mindset I'm focusing on continuing to have.

Another acknowledgment: It's easy to say all that, especially if you're financially secure. I don’t want this story to come across like the blog posts I’ve read that tell me how I can retire from work early as long as I manage a financial picture and a tax-bracket that I’m not anywhere near being in.

In times of tragedy, despair, hopelessness, or the world telling you on a daily basis that you're not good enough, silly platitudes like "it's the climb" isn't helpful and can serve to diminish the severity of people's pain and struggles.

Also, if you are in a toxic work, personal, or family environment, those situations are by definition not the path you're supposed to be on.

But from a perspective of personal growth, a general career/business mindset, and for the purposes of this article, it's a pithy reminder: If you know what you truly want, and take even the tiniest of steps towards your goal, then you may find that appreciating what you experience along your journey, the new directions it takes you in, and who you become along the way, is more of a reward than what you originally set out to achieve.

Life tends to unfold one way or another whether you know where you're headed or not. Luckily for me in the case of 2018, it unfolded in mostly wonderful ways. These days I'm trying my best to appreciate my past, to learn from it, and apply what I've learned towards this new year ... and then probably blog about it. Stay Fancy Yo.