Comments on: Want to Meet Powerful People? Five Places to Look

By: bolimao

bolimao — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:27:50 +0000

I sort of met Beyonce and her husband last Saturday in Neman Marcus in Atlanta. I was looking for a purse in front of Channel, and suddenly my friend poked me and said, "look over there" I saw a tall man in black and huge sunglasses. "He is?" "Yes! Yes!" Before I realized, a cute lady with jeans, jacket and a sweater hat walked by me and passed me. She was Beyonce! With little makeup on, her hair was perfectly curled which matched exteremly well with her outfit. She had huge eyes with smile. She looked like at ease and walked by with red high heels. Without bodyguards, she was so reachable. I said, "Hi!" She didn't hear me and walked over with her husband and agent. My friend said JZ tapped his shoulder to ask for the places to buy a hat, but he didn't realize what to answer. I have been thinking since the moment, how can you turn an unexpected moment to opportunity like that? What if I offered to help them search the hat? What if I told her how much I love her music? So, stay ready.

By: nicolepresents » 5 Places to Find Powerful People!

nicolepresents » 5 Places to Find Powerful People! — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:17:00 +0000

[...] they are often not all that anxious to meet us. So how can we get close to them? Click here for this great [...]

By: Jon Kuehn

Jon Kuehn — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:43:54 +0000

Keith,
Great info, as always. I would add joining an organization that helps the poor. Many powerful people want to give something back, so they organize or volunteer to help the poor. When you work beside them to help realize a goal they are passionate about, your generousity will show through. The upside is that they are givers, too and are more likely to help you.

By: Nancy Fox

Nancy Fox — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:24:17 +0000

Keith:
This is a great topic.
A couple of years ago, a client of mine wanted to write a book and also wanted to upgrade his network. I advised him to interview all the people he wanted to meet for his book - perfect way to connect with them, build a relationship with them, and give something of value to them while fulfilling his dream of writing a book. Leverage, leverage, leverage.

He started the process, meeting great people. Then, as often happens, he got stopped and let the project drop.

I took my own coaching - I'm writing a book and am interviewing and meeting unbelievable people: someone who worked with Bill Clinton while he was president, the personal assistant to an Oscar-winning actress, a best-selling author and ex-daughter in law of Warren Buffet, an author of a best-selling business book, a world-renowned artist, and many others. The interviews are vignettes I will include in the book exemplifying the key theme. I've used several pathways to meeting these people: HARO (Help a reporter out) Facebook, Linked In, my on the ground network, and Twitter.

By the way, my client that got stopped? He picked his project up again when he heard about me writing the book and meeting all these great people.

Keith, I have been a huge fan and follower ever since I heard you speak several years ago at The Learning Annex and have made NEA required reading for most of my clients.

Now, with this book, who knows, maybe you'll agree to be interviewed for my book. There wouldn't be a better example of the premise, I promise.

By: Debbie McMaster

Debbie McMaster — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:42:31 +0000

Dear Keith,

Your tenacity and creativity for connecting with powerful people is infectious. I've been more confident with asking people I want to get to know to speak at my executive networking organization. Even if they are too busy to speak at the time my approaching them has opened the door to a relationship with endless possibilities. I even get invited to their groups now. Your book Never Eat Alone really motivated me! Thank you Keith!

By: Marcus Svensson

Marcus Svensson — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:37:07 +0000

I second the comment of Gregory, helping is the coolest thing in the world.

Having lived in Stockholm during my 20ies (I am now 30) I made some valuable contacts in the party scene. To help others visiting Sweden I created a document with my suggestions for a perfect time while there - it covers restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels.

In short, what to do to have the very best of times, be it with business associates, friends or the love of your life. This document has so far, and will in the future, help me help others.

Believe me, it is all about helping people whom then will be there for you.

By: Keith Ferrazzi: Want to Meet Powerful People? Five Places to Look | The Latest Liberal Blogs

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:36:46 +0000

[...] Check out my blog for a list of ways YOU can connect with Powerful People. [...]

By: Gregory Hensley

Gregory Hensley — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:22:06 +0000

I've met over 75,000 people thus far. All one tweet at a time. The best thing to do is to help people. If you can help people they are by the very act, of real help, drawn to you. It's like magic yet it truly works. Help people. It's the coolest thing in the world.

By: Viviana Sutton

Viviana Sutton — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:05:33 +0000

An approach that has never failed for me is to share passions in giving back to the world. Practically everyone has a cause that means something to them personally. If it's a passion I genuinely share (or want to know more about so that I can serve them), automatic connection.

I love learning about people's service to others. It adds such a depth to our overall picture of them, especially when it's a famous person.

By: Brian Hughes Barron

Brian Hughes Barron — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:50:21 +0000

All of the aforementioned "shotgun approaches" may work for others, but I prefer the "rifle approach".......google the folks that you find in vocation specific news reports & blogs, then drill down into their citations until you find an e-mail address, phone number, or notable accomplishment that you can make a connection to. This saves a lot of convention expenses, poor chemistry, "urinal hang-time", and gets you connected with those where you can create a mutually beneficial relationship. If you are engaged in some endeavor that's worthwhile & exciting---like a renewable energy patent---most polymath people with big Rolodexes will be eager to connect with you. Good rifle hunting.....!!!