Seven People You Should Know (Besides Kevin Bacon) to Connect with Almost Anyone

Posted on September 14th, 2009 by Keith Ferrazzi

kevinbaconThe thought of being obligated to another hundred or so people—sending birthday cards, dinner invites, and all that stuff that we do for those close to us—seems outlandishly taxing.

Only, for some, it’s not. These people are super-connectors. People like me who maintain contact with thousands of people. The key, however, is not only that we know thousands of people but that we know thousands of people in many different worlds, and we know them well enough to give them a call.

So here’s the good news for those of you who aren’t so aggressively social: Once you become friendly with a super-connector, you’re only two degrees away from the thousands of different people we know.

Connectors can be found in every imaginable profession, but I’m going to focus on seven professions where they most commonly congregate. Each of these kinds of connectors provides me with a link to an entire world of people, ideas, and information that, in a very significant way, has made my own life a little more fun, helped my career along, or made the businesses I worked for more successful.

1. Restaurateurs
Being a true-blue connector is a requisite for most people who own restaurants. The success of their enterprise depends on a core group of regulars who see the restaurant as a home away from home. And it’s quite easy to get to know a restaurateur: Become a regular.

2. Headhunters
Recruiters. Job-placement counselors. Search executives. They are like gatekeepers. Instead of answering to one executive, however, the really successful ones may answer to hundreds of executives in the field in which they recruit. Headhunters are professional matchmakers, earning their wage by introducing job candidates to companies that are hiring.

Can anyone contact a headhunter? To be honest, headhunters prefer to be the one contacting you. But if you’re careful about not trying to sell yourself and instead offering them access to your network, they’ll be receptive

3. Lobbyists
Well informed, persuasive, and self-confident, lobbyists are generally impressive networkers. By virtue of their job, they are intimately familiar with the ways of large organizations and how local and national government work. They are almost uniformly passionate people whose goal is to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent.

How do they work? Lobbyists will often host cocktail parties and dinner get-togethers, allowing them to interact with politicians—and their opponents—in a casual atmosphere. Their more grassroots efforts involve long hours spent on the phone and in writing letters, trying to rouse the community to get involved behind an issue. All of which makes them a rather easy group to please. Can you hold an event for them? Volunteer your services? Refer other volunteers to their cause? Introduce them to potential clients?

4. Fundraisers
“Follow the money” are words fundraisers live by. They know where it is, what it will take to get it, and most important, who’s most likely to give it away. As a result, fundraisers, whether they work for a political organization, university, or nonprofit group, tend to know absolutely everybody.

5. Public relations people
PR people spend their whole day calling, cajoling, pressuring, and begging journalists to cover their clients. The relationship between media and PR is an uneasy one, but at the end of the day, necessity brings them together like long-lost cousins. A good friend who works in PR can be your entrée into the world of media and, sometimes, celebrity.

6. Politicians
Politicians at every level are inveterate networkers. They have to be. They shake hands, kiss babies, give speeches, and go to dinners, all in the name of gaining the trust of enough people to get elected. The stature of politicians is derived from their political power rather than their wealth. Anything you can do to help them gain power with voters, or exercise power in office, will go a long way to ensuring you a place in their inner circle.

7. Journalists
Journalists are powerful (the right exposure can make a company or turn a nobody into a somebody), needy (they’re always looking for a story), and relatively unknown (few have achieved enough celebrity to make them inaccessible).

These are seven different professions tailor-made for superconnectors. Reach out to some. And there are others—lawyers, brokers, etc. Become a part of their network and have them become a part of yours. Seek out ideas from people you don’t ordinarily talk to who inhabit professional worlds you don’t ordinarily travel in.

In one word: Connect. In four better words: Connect with the connectors.

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20 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. I think Journalists are really interesting. I have tried to connect by sending them relevant stuff via email, but no success so far. Would you recommend to cold call them in the first place to establish a deeper connection? I would love to see if you had specific guides to each of the categories above. Great post Mr Ferrazzi.

    Tobias, PowerPointing.com

  2. Nice, Keith. As a former politician (Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles) and now a headhunter, I agree with you. These worlds offer keys to interesting people and insights. We headhunters have lately been flooded with resumes from candidates, so much so that it can be hard to respond to everyone. The best way to connect with me is via ideas, through my blog at http://www.JoyofHumanCapital.com. Talk soon, Keith! Joy

  3. The other integral part of "getting connected" is to be a connector yourself. When you help someone else make a strategic alliance, that is going to come back to you. Have fun creating change in other people's lives!?!? Whitney

  4. Great piece, Keith. Opened my eyes about the professions of "motivated networkers." Tapping into others networks opens up their world. Great to see "Headhunters" as #2. As a Search Consultant & Industry Trainer, I'm always speaking about the golden rule of business: Promote and be promoted.

  5. Keith,

    I admit it, I'm a little slow. I just assumed I wanted to get to know everyone! Now that you've narrowed it down, life is a lot easier! ;)

    Thanks for the insight!

  6. Wow, this is such an awesome list. I actually had written an article on my blog called "How to get free drinks and get treated like a VIP everywhere you go" and this would take that up another 10 notches. One of my favorite posts that you've written so far.

  7. Terver Zua Tule says:
    September 15, 2009 at 3:09 pm
    Reply

    what agreat posting.just opened my eyes to what i have been looking for. i now understand why my politician friends behave the way they do!

  8. What about the Hair Stylist? I had one that had her drawer packed with clients' business cards including my own and did indeed send a number of clients my way. One shouldn't overlook some of these integral people in our lives. They may not have the same "powerful" positions as the others you have mentioned, but they sure are connected, and know their connections intimately.

    From one networking advocate to another, thank you for your continuous encouragement and insights on networking. Too many job seekers today still don't get it.

  9. Thank you for the great post.. you made my day! :)
    Please keep sending more.

  10. Hey, well done blog. Want to get cash for blogging? Check out: http://bit.ly/PaidWriting

  11. @Tobias (and Keith)-- are you familiar with Dean Rotbart of http://newsbios.com/ ? Dean's site is "Home of the World's Most Influential Journalists"... I have interacted with Dean and have a couple of mutual friends so while this may come off as a pitch for his site, I am simply sharing this as a useful resource with readers of Keith's blog (and you too, Keith)...

    From NewsBios.com:
    Our profiles offer you exclusive insight on today's leading journalists. Find out information you need to know before pitching a journalist or before sitting down for an interview. Journalists do their homework about you, shouldn't you do your homework about them?

    Key Benefits
    Know exactly what a journalist covers.
    Know their contact information.
    Learn some personal information about the journalist to use as ice breakers.
    Know who and what you are up against.
    Know key pitching information.

    Anyway, hope this is useful.

    PS- Keith, if you don't already know Dean (which I would be a bit surprised if you don't), let me know and I'll send along an intro ;)

    PPS- thank you for your AWESOME work. you are an inspiration and having a HUGE positive impact on my life.

  12. Search jobs in jamshedpur and by the way nice article

  13. I concur with your feelings.Thanks for your time for your sharing.

  14. This is an extended and updated version of the prospecting term "centers of influence".

  15. As a former journalist, I can tell you one of the simplest ways to connect with a reporter is to call them up and offer to take them to lunch. Journalists make very little money, work under stressful deadlines, and don't get the respect they used to. Remember that and play up to those needs: treat them well, give them respect, and cultivate a relationship with them. They'll appreciate it.

    And do it before you need them.

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