SXSW!

“Wow! I’m wanted!” i assumed to myself upon receipt. however once basking in self-loving glory for many seconds, my pride gave thanks to mystification. For one, I’ve ne'er met the sender. We’ve changed one or two of LinkedIn messages, however I don’t assume that qualifies American state as a detailed friend. And in spite of everything the @Garyvee cite as a hook to lure the visitor felt additional unhappy than attractive. however most placing, to me, was that this sender isn't a PR person or helper WHO trades in building social connections, however rather associate bourgeois whose startup I respect. I won’t be attending the dinner, however I hope it goes nice which @Garyvee shows up (I’ve detected he's an amazing factual sommelier). I haven’t lost any respect for the bourgeois WHO invited American state, however I do have some new sympathy for him: He’s caught a prolific bug current geographic region this SXSW-esque time of

year: Networking Syndrome.

Ever had continual requests to “grab low and catch up” from individuals you once had a mediocre interaction with at some random event? however concerning uninvited email introductions to fogeys WHO you’re certain square measure super however you have got no interest in meeting? very like second-hand smoke, Networking Syndrome harms even people who aren’t afflicted. nevertheless it’s much more harmful for the infected – specifically, entrepreneurs and VCs WHO ought to pay less time networking and longer truly, well… operating. whether or not it’s the bourgeois WHO is organizing exclusive dinners that the majority possible won’t facilitate his company whereas his team is back at the workplace, the VC WHO without aim attends confabs and grabs coffees while not ever thinking deeply concerning the globe and what styles of investments she got to proactively hunt down, or the founder that cares additional concerning dropping the name of his highest-profile capitalist than he will concerning building one thing individuals truly wish. Building connections with different masses is inherently sensible. The relationships I’ve designed over variety of years with one or two of friends and mentors in technology are valuable. however they’re not transactional. Sufferers of Networking Syndrome pursue a short, tit-for-tat, borderline wild approach to connecting with others. rather than building real, nurturing, reciprocal bridges with individuals they care concerning, networking becomes the top in and of itself, exemplified by the overzealous commercialism of favors in blind pursuit of additional influence, additional contacts, additional invitations, and additional Twitter followers (btw, follow American state please). What airplanes and elementary faculties square measure to respiratory disease transmission, events like SXSW square measure to Networking Syndrome. SXSW could be a fantastic issue at its core – a chance for proficient, dynamic individuals from all aspects of the technology trade to come back along during a cool town, learn from each other, hear nice music, meet new individuals, and have a lot of fun (shameless plug: I’m speaking at it this year – please come!). the matter is that the many expressly “Networking Event”-branded get-togethers on the docket. The smart, fascinating individuals one would truly wish to network with abominate “Networking Events” and have learned to ne'er be caught dead at one. At SXSW they’ll be giving talks, looking for capital of Texas nightlife with friends, hosting parties, and yes, pampering within the occasional “exclusive dinner.” however they won’t be carrying emoticon face name tags and leveling handshakes with flip cups of 2 Buck Chuck in an excessively cool Radisson room. that the group action of any given Networking Event is invariably comprised of the organizers, strays or newbies WHO don’t apprehend any higher (yet), and people with Networking Syndrome. If you by mistake stumble into a networking event, prepare yourself for hokey speech communication and also the self-conscious inauthenticity of lonely individuals speed-dating through a space, urgently in search of some psychic ROI for his or her group action. the matter with SXSW is that such a lot of networking events compressed into thus few days associated many blocks of downtown capital of Texas act as an insane accelerant for the transmission of Networking Syndrome. once in Rome! there's only 1 breed of individual in geographic region WHO is resistant to Networking Syndrome: the Networking Person. “Networking People” is my blanket term to explain anyone whose primary vocation is building their network, that they either directly or indirectly legalise. There will ne'er be an excessive amount of networking for these individuals, as a result of they’ve opted to orient their entire career around it. Personally, I’d somewhat be forcibly confined to a Teletubbie Fan Meet & Greet Mixer for a month than be a Networking Person, however not like “Networking Syndrome,” it’s not meant as a derogative term. like any vocation, there square measure nice Networking individuals, dangerous Networking individuals, and simply plain insane Networking individuals. Networking individuals apprehend that being expressly branded as a “Networking Person” is that the kiss of death. that the good ones lay themselves in occupations that permit them to legalise their network during a slightly veiled means – be it PR, event designing, or the ever-treasured “consulting” and “advising.” And their networks constitute line: VC corporations don’t bring up the very fact that they pay lowlife quite little bit of cash to introduce them to fascinating individuals, and entrepreneurs don’t bring up the very fact that their company was nonheritable by school big X in massive half as a result of that company’s CEO owed a prefer to their PR person (whom school big X’s CEO could or might not have slept with). One will argue over whether or not it’s unhappy that a non-trivial portion of business in geographic region gets done this fashion. the very fact remains: It will. even as one should avoid those with Networking Syndrome, one should be agonizingly careful once managing Networking individuals. specifically else, they exist to make their personal network, not yours. So to them, you’re either the merchandise, the client, or the provision chain. If you’re the merchandise, congratulations – lots of individuals wish to fulfill you. The Networking Person can shower you paying attention, and {every one} you have got to try and do is show up and eat a canapé every currently so. If you’re the client, the Networking Person is somehow monetizing you, whether or not you’re expressly paying for his or her services as a PR person or adviser, or in another, additional hidden manner. however being the provision chain is out and away the worst. The Networking Person wants you to achieve access to either the client or product, and on the far side that, you have got no price to them. Being a part of a networking person’s offer chain is sort of sorta like being a pipe carrying water from a reservoir to a bathroom. nevertheless the rationale Networking individuals exist in geographic region the least bit is as a result of we'd like them. several nice technologists aren't terribly social, and a few square measure downright fearful of individuals. At a similar time, building a relevant and auxiliary network is important to scaling a startup. the most effective Networking individuals separate the wheat from the chaff and route the proper individuals in their networks to 1 another at exactly the proper time while not soliciting for something reciprocally. they need a insight concerning individuals, square measure perpetually sympathetic, ne'er artful, and that they sharply hunt down nice new individuals to bring into their fold during a means that feels entirely un-aggressive. the most effective Networking individuals inspire tremendous loyalty, and a few of them will even build a damn sensible Bloody Mary.

So if you reside to network, fantastic! Become a Networking Person! the globe wants you, and if you’re exceptional at networking, you’ll be served by building your keep around it. however if you’re attempting to make a technology startup – or invest in them – don’t catch the Syndrome. Soullessly networking sans a concrete arrange and mission can leave you feeling as empty as a fugitive one-night stand. Not that there’s something wrong with those… if truth be told, I hear The Driskill could be a excellent place for them.