“Networking that matters is helping people achieve their goals.” –Seth Godin
Everyone who is anyone inside the Military Influencer arena is excited about Curtez Rigg’s creation The Military Influencer Conference set to go live September 23-25th in Orlando, Florida. Mainly because of the sponsorships, exhibitors, and speakers set to attend. It looks as if Curtez and his team have already 10X the value of the conference from last year and made it diverse for anyone at any level of influence.
I am specifically excited about seeing: Eric Mitchell from Life Flip Media, Laura Early from Wise: Advise and Assist Team, Steven Kuhn creator of H.I.T. Training (Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency), Evan Hafer President of Black Rifle Coffee, We Are Mighty Founder David Gale, and many others!!
Dan Dwyer did a great job in his blog: “15 Must-Haves to Bring and Wear for Success in Orlando, FL” on explaining the tangibles. Now let’s dive into the non-tangibles for creating long lasting SUCCESS leaving Orlando, FL.
Last year was about learning strategies on how to build an audience, position as an expert, and messaging for our avatar to engage. Now, after building a tribe from 0-550 in 12 months completely organically, launching a podcast that has over 100 downloads a month right now in just 20 episodes, and becoming a best selling author of the ebook: 10 Steps to Predicted Success Out of the Uniform, we are excited to go to the next level this year! This year we are excited to create Win/Wins with other influencers by promoting them on The Ambitious VET Podcast and create long lasting relationships with new and current friends who are REALLY making an impact in our community.
This will be my second time going and this year I am bringing a team member in Ben Killoy who has stepped up over the last 12 months in our Ambitious VET Community and proved that he has what it takes to LIVE AN IMPACTFUL LIFE OUT OF THE UNIFORM. If you’re anything like us we are HUNGRY AND DESPERATE to make this experience FULFILLING, IMPACTFUL, & PROFITABLE. With that comes nervs, anxiety, and overthinking, which we have definitely experienced in our process of strategizing this conference. However, with the commitment to maximize our time and efficiency while we are there, we have uncovered a KEY CONCEPT THAT WILL AND HAS ATTACHED LONG TERM ROI (Return On Investment) to our bottomline.
Here is the biggest #GoldenGrenade to blow your next industry conference up:
LISTENING FOR THE GOLD!
Too many people go to conferences with the intent to solve their own problems vs solve others! When you do this you won’t hear the opportunity to provide value to another. We have heard the saying, “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason,” RIGHT? Well, most people are so attached to an outcome at a conference that they can’t help but share everything about their latest product and service, which leaves the other person not feeling valuable or heard at all.
Here are my 3 seeds to plant in every conversion when your networking like an “Ambitious VET:”
–Active Listening: means to listen deeply to everyone, repeat what you hear and even what they aren’t saying. When I started maximizing every conversation in front of me at conferences and letting go of who is around me, I created life long friends and strategic partners. Dan Dwyer in his latest blog “15 Must-Haves to bring and Wear for SUCCESS in Orlando, FL” explains how having questions ready for key people you want to meet can bridge the GAP in awkward encounters. Anyone who attends a conference of any kind deals with nervousness and even the dreaded “Imposter Syndrome.” Be ready to ask good questions and be ready to listen for the GOLD.
–Questioning concepts: Now, one thing that helped me listen for GOLD and even provide GOLD for the person I am speaking to is; Questioning concepts. When people begin sharing conceptually that means that they are not clear enough for action! An example of this is someone saying: “We got our branding in place and we are slowly but surely growing at a steady pace.” Well, what does this mean?? So many influencers are not connected to the REALITY of their passion projects, business, or side hustles. You can provide GOLD by simply asking what do you mean, what is your end goal, and even the WHY question to get people more honest and connected to what they are REALLY challenged by in their business. Questions are an old philosophical APPROACH BUT STILL WORK TODAY in getting what you want out of conversations which for most professionals is to influence the person in front of them speaking.
–Listen for challenges: People love to share what is working in their lives, jobs, and business’ but are slow to reveal the struggles. It comes down to we just like to look good and avoid looking bad. How do you build trust enough for people to share these? It’s SIMPLE! LISTEN. When you listen curiously and engage by asking deeper layering questions people not only get clearer on their challenges and intentions, but want to create a long term relationship with you.
WHY is that? Well, not a lot of people listen to understand… we listen to PITCH!!
This is how you build enough social capital to be an MILITARY INFLUENCER IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE NOT JUST BUSINESS.
We will see you guys in Orlando, FL.
By: Chris Hoffmann, Founder of the Ambitious VET Network