Networking when you don't like to network
Imagine thinking you are about to be kidnapped in an Uber when the driver proposed opening the trunk to show you his latest script! This true story sets the tone to dismantle the concept of Networking in the Entertainment Industry, but really, anywhere.
This book is for you if:
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You are navigating or exploring opportunities in the entertainment industry and want to reflect on networking.
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You have been feeling stuck and feel overwhelmed getting back “out there”.
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What you are currently doing isn’t providing the results you expect in connecting with others.
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You simply want to develop meaningful connections and go back to the basics.
How it started
What began as a simple essay on an evening in Los Angeles eventually evolved into this book. My goal is to give networking a pedagogical meaning by offering both philosophical insights and tangible frameworks. Passionate about this topic, I felt compelled to write from a deeply personal place, sharing my experiences as someone who started from scratch in challenging circumstances in Los Angeles, yet later found myself well-positioned within my industry.
Why this book
It is very important to note, this is not a book about how to make it through networking nor for the short gain. But to show you a way in, that in the long run can bring more fulfillment in your career and you will gain valuable skill sets along the way.
For a while, I doubted whether this project was too simple or too personal. But the more I experienced and observed unfortunate interactions around me, the more I realized how important it is to dissect the basics and redefine networking.
This book is a just the strong core to build upon. Sometimes we forget the basics in which things are built upon, as we often pretend to build from the top down, which can work in other instances but not precisely for networking.
Why me
Connecting with others deeply is one of the biggest joys I find in life and speaking of this topic is an authentic gift. My background in HR and Recruiting in well known companies brought me to live closely the networking experience in connecting with others, and others connecting with me in a professional setting. I attended dozens of conferences in the United States and Spain as part of my jobs and networking has been present for a big portion of my career.
My academic background is in pedagogy, and you will find a distinct pedagogic approach in this book with little sparks of design thinking principles embedded within the content. I leveraged storytelling to share experiences that can become more visual for the reader and hopefully will inspire action.
Networking when you don't like to network
Chapters
Introduction: #HeyHowAreYou?
Section 1: #NetworkingScaries
Section 2: #WhatsNetworking?
Section 3: #Net-learning
Section 4: #CommunicationTips
Section 5: #TheRecipe
Section 6: #ActionPlan
Section 7: #MentorsAdvocates
Section 8: #LastReflections
Section 9: The fine lines of Networking by Katia Grifols
Exercises
Resources
