It s a shame I've been sitting on this book for about two years now. A friend of mine gave me Never Eat Alone , by Keith Ferrazzi a couple years ago (thanks Rey), and it s been on my bookcase ever since. It was resting there not because I didn't want to read it, but because I already had so many others in the pipeline. I finally got around to reading it last month and I definitely recommend it. In very simple terms, Ferrazzi explains why networking is important and how to do it. From how to make call lists to planning dinners to personal branding to goal setting, it s all here. He also maintains a valuable blog .
Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
Just last week, Kickstarter approved my project Menrva Labs for fundraising. And no, I’m not asking for your money right now. I’m asking for you to let me know what kinds of rewards you would like me to offer those willing to donate. I started this project about three years ago with the goal of promoting social change by increasing social awareness. I’m hoping to accomplish this by providing change agents with a platform to share their story who might not otherwise be able to do so. These individuals and organizations include teachers, authors, poets, artists, economic development people, international development people, etc.
I’ve been conducting interviews for the past year and have transitioned from blog posts, to audio, to video. Now I’m hoping to take those efforts to the next level and produce a speaker series, art slam series, a full-length documentary, and collector’s edition book. I will be raising money to purchase better equipment, cover travel expenses, and pay for graphic design and a new website.
Some ideas for incentives include the following. Please add your comment and let me know what you’d like to see. Also, feel free to send me your thoughts on Twitter at @michaelbmaine and @menrvalabs.
- Listing on the project website as a supporter (Including Social Media Links)
- Menrva Labs HD computer wallpaper
- Menrva Labs sticker
- Limited Edition Poster
- Signed copy of the finished DVD/Blu-Ray w/ Bonus Footage
- Limited Edition T-Shirt showing early support of the project
- Limited Edition Poster signed by artist
- Limited Edition hard-cover (cork cover) book including custom artwork – Signed
- Ticket to the movie release party/gala
- Everything above plus VIP ticket to the movie release party/gala, products in special packaging
- Everything above plus prominent placement on project website
- Everything above, plus individual story on website
- Everything above, plus 30 second feature in bonus material