 Alright thanks for staying with us. Many people try to avoid meeting people and networking all together but it is an activity that is crucial to get you from where you are to where you need to be and it's mostly comes down to one key thing, referrals. Now 31% of job seekers find listing through professional connections especially referrals. Networking is a mutually beneficial interaction that involves exchanging ideas and information between individuals who are connected by common career industry or interest and networking can open doors to new opportunities that might be out of reach otherwise. Now so today we're asking how can we start to build next level networks? That's the question. Now please let's hear what you have to say. Remember you can join the conversation. Send us an SMS or WhatsApp to 081 8038463. You can also do that at Weissho after one with the hashtag Weissho. I just want to quickly just point out now that we will not be here if we did not if I didn't leverage the power of networking because I remember that it was just a mention. I met my friend's younger brother and I was telling him oh I had this idea to do this do this I've gone to like two or three different media houses at that point but they were not given like they didn't have the capacity for what it was I wanted to do with ways right and I said oh no that he has someone you know that even though that initial connection did not work he then now he's friends with LC so he then now booked called up LC when Mr. K was still here and said you know what can you link up a friend of mine she's coming to see your boss and she wants to pitch an idea he likes the idea and all of that and the rest they say his history even in selecting all the anchors the way all the anchors yes it's so organic it is one person comes to this person oh okay I'm looking for a good lawyer I'm looking for this I'm looking because I had specifics you know and all of that so it's actually something that if you really pay attention to is very practical but you see now there's one level of okay meeting introduction all of that they have seen networks that are really taking people to the whole new level that's the one I want to learn today so let me hear your thoughts that I'm bringing down I guess gosh I think networking is so powerful I can't say it's enough I have a team of amazing young people that I mentor and networking is always the first item on the agenda like guys you have to understand what it means start now I wish that when I was in your shoes somebody had told me how important networking was because when I look at my network today I mean it's grown very deliberately over maybe the last five six years but if I think about where I started maybe some circa nearly you know 16 years ago it would be huge right now right and it would be across the world so the fact that in realizing a couple of key things for me around networking one everybody matters in your network you need to have a Rolodex well people that are too young I don't know what Rolodex are but you know you need to have like in your head because I've watched people build networks like I was saying earlier just from the power of being able to connect and solve problems and me I'm a problem solver but my own way of solving problems is I am the solution but the fact is when you think about the power that oh I know who I was looking for this and I know I am the connector and I connect them both of them will remember me right it's such a powerful ability to be a connector I mean the most the most awesome amazing connector I know in this world is NASA to see NASA work is a thing of duty like literally you call NASA NASA I need something I'm like and you know you're running through her head I should let me call this person and I'll get back to you right so the fact is then realizing the second key thing that I learned and I think that was what even sort of grew my network was the fact that it's a and I love that you said it it's mutually beneficial people come into you know how like imagine and everybody wants to meet her everybody wants to meet her but what are you bringing to her you don't think you can bring something to her but you must have something to bring it doesn't matter what so the fact that you realize that for you to build a strong network you also have to build yourself because you have to have something to offer so where's the value you're bringing absolutely on that note I am a dynamic professional with 19 years experience in business development project management sales and marketing communications now he has worked and led teams in various industries including education construction IT media and entertainment he is the managing director of riverbank technologies and engineering services limited the master franchise owner of card that center training services private limited the world's largest provider of engineering design training now he has been involved in several groundbreaking projects within and outside Nigeria and has a passion for providing mentorship and direction for new and emerging businesses and impact driven initiatives as you can see we are ready for him and he's a friend of the house I must add that because he's been on ways you know several times now thank you so much for joining us this evening he's live with us in studio I mean this is an interesting conversation like by the way first of all is your first time on our new set so welcome thank you thank you but thank you so much for joining us I mean when I was looking to find you know someone to discuss this conversation I kept on racking my head and thankfully we bumped into each other very recently and I said okay I think we have the perfect guest for this conversation you know people wonder why we bring certain topics to ways we don't just talk because we feel like talking we believe that with the right information lies will be transformed and that's why we're here so we're not just here because we feel like talking on TV and I've seen I mean like Uti rightly said I've seen how like literally just an introduction takes you to like levels you never thought you would ever get to and it is happening every day by the minute so really if you understand the power that this what was it called networking wields you would not you will not take it likely anymore you be very deliberate about how you take your everyday events meetings or whatever you know but I think a lot of people still struggle right um so I would ask right is it possible first of all to build a very very strong network well thank you so much thank you so much nice to be here with you guys again I think very importantly so is that a network that you would build is very possible I am a product of strong networks I tell people that everything I am all I have done to date what the last 19 going to 20 years this year now would be on the premise of strong networks but one of the things that many people tend to forget is that which we spoke about was most of the time we are not prepared when opportunities open up so people are not ready to be value-added when a door opens and then secondly many times we are always from the perspective of what to get not what to give and most of the high net worth individuals have met all got connected with me by virtue of what you are giving absolutely so the very first point of call was what I had to offer so then they were like oh sorry guys and then it don't open so there is no choice yeah when you want to do something just because because there are people so you're doing it not because you just want to get something in return but you're doing it because you know it's a valuable relationship you don't know where the door will open you know I have had to be through a particular relationship my mentor was purely a spiritual network my pastor and myself and that went on for close to 12 years just teaching guiding and then boom you are such a brilliant guy I think there's so much more you can do oh yes I can do so much more and that that you said the rest is so it's possible to build a strong network for you must be yourself a strong connection so you yourself because a network is two ways is a two way street so you have a connection that terminates another connection that is what a network is so there's a point to point to point so I do a strong point so that even if a line is drawn between you and someone else they like oh this is the real deal the question we must ask ourselves and in this day of social media everybody's health everybody's heads are bowed can we raise the head up again can we raise the head up again because we all hide behind because it's terrible so with the real the real human connections we saw ourselves and we hadn't seen it before and it was really like all like we had like never disconnected but a lot of people are having their head bowed they don't look at them anymore we don't even know what's happening around us in fact I was watching a video first Akil and me and god and Akil and me posted the video just a little what he just said of a young boy that saved the entire school boss you know because he was the only one without a phone because he was he was present right so it's very it's it's so that means I I try to say that it's rude now when you go into events because you know but that's what happens at events right and then we were just talking about that over the weekend like people come in and and I think that's also some of the reasons why I don't enjoy the whole of them movement because people just come in after you've taken all the pictures you eat then then you hear the song and then it's back down to it but I like the fact that we're talking technology because I also think that it being used the right way technology can actually help you expand your network I'll give an example with LinkedIn I work in customer experience deliberately being able to connect with you know customer experience leaders from across the world sites like you know LinkedIn and things like that have given you that ability but I if we're talking about and I think that when you talk about networking from people who are sort of midway or at the pinnacle of their careers it seems a bit easy but I wanted I wanted to ask a question that starts from the ground absolutely a lot of young people want to start building their networks you know conversations like this with them they go I have nothing of value to offer and I always say no you have something to offer have you had a conversation with this person and think how can I add value to this person so what would your advice be to those young people are saying how do I add value when I don't even think I have anything to give you you hit something on the head here because my my last EA who's not going on to be you know a tech guy they could in tech bro now he's gone on to become a tech bro he do you know how he connected with me he came to my IG DM and said sir I have gone I've done your page audit and I see there's a whole lot I can do for I've never met him before he then it was even in Akure on those states he gave me my DM I mean others have said please mentor me please guide me please lead me he came to my DM and said I have gone through your page I've done an audit of your page I believe that at that time I think I had maybe like 1000 followers or I was following I mean I remember and he said I know what to do I know how to rebrand you and grow your page not just grow my page I'm not repackage you that was what he said I know what to do and I can tell you that I will take your page from one to five thousand in that one year period but I would not buy a single follower that caught my attention he's young I mean at the time he bossed me with like 21 he's young so and he was in Akure on those states not even in Lagos I said you know what meet me on Monday Monday that was on Saturday he took a bus down the rest like they say is history so from some guy who was there and just you know bumping around I bought him a phone just do what you want to do and he was created a new logo for my brand started doing podcasts started doing videos and he literally was with me everywhere for no cost but I said I can't have you working with me at no cost put him on the company's payroll ask my EA so he worked with me to every meeting he sat through he was like I can start I can start doing your slides I do my slides myself he said I can do your slides I'm good at it I learned canva I bought him the premium canva from there he started learning UI UX okay so when I say that value adding I mean value it is from the very bottom so the question again is are you a person of value what do you really have with you right now that you can offer and networking is three ways so you have those above you those at your level and you have those in quote beneath you because the people that I roll with the most now are those who are way younger than I am and I have people who are way older than I am both those in my mid my level are like very few but those because I have to tell them you guys know that the future of the world is you people knowing what to do per time right so you must and your network must also cut across everything spiritual network emotional network social network professional and carrier network you can't just sit and say oh it's only professional because there will be times where you cannot break some thoughts professionally let me say again and again it will be that hey guys so um there's something and oh don't worry I put a call through and you do not know so let me say it again and say it again to the camera you do not know where your next big deal is coming from so don't block yourself in and say oh this is the place it's coming from but this person is that even in church yeah there are people that come in the church and they hear the grace of our lord Jesus Christ they are out I'm going to fall I'm going to fall they know it's the past of foolish people and he's walking out they don't wait for the grace they don't wait for better they are out they're out and I see those people are telling me I wonder how do you want to break into some circles what do you want to come to church to do because the very idea of church is fellowship is community it's all of that so you have to do that to get the best from it you know what let's go in a break where we come back from that break I want to see how to move to the next level because I have to I'm looking for right now hey with us from right back all right thanks for staying with us I didn't know that's we're already like all right so if you just tuned in I see the registry behind cameras right I will discuss in building a next level network with Ayola Jolay I mean now please let's hear what you have say remember you can join the conversation send us an sms or whatsapp is already one eight zero three four six six three you can also tweet others at wish I've gone with the hashtag wish show all right so I mean this conversation is at all levels right um I like the fact that we are actually hitting the nail you know where it's where it would make most impact which is you know understanding I always say this to my kids right um don't chase after money chase after value if you make yourself very valuable right you'll be so do you understand money follows in the direction of value because it's called currency yeah but the challenge I have now the crop of people that even the people you employ and all of the everybody's just all about so how do we even start to correct the mindset because look at what you said I've had so many people DM me oh this is that I mean she she brought somebody to my life that I always call her my guardian angel umalala you know umalala has made life easy for me umalala is not working for me because I'm paying her one million dollars do you understand is somebody first of all that she saw that this is where she can come this is where I need to be of help and she's going on to do a lot of good things we I'm seeing a lot of growth great things happening right for her but you see you try to tell young people these things these days right and it's almost like you don't understand you know and the country is hard this is this and you know and you just tend to water down so by the time the person talks to you like after like five minutes they want to leave you know because you're not even on that frequency right so how do we start to build like like build that mindset where we're thinking value so that when we get that value it is it's a no brainer every other thing will happen the growth will happen every other thing will happen okay so you know there's this saying that he said the young people have a short short attention span I think it's a lie it's just interest that differs so I think the first thing we need to start doing consciously is instilling in young people the thought around building themselves and not looking for money or quick quick ways like they call them once you out just give us a year like I tell for most of the guys that are under my mentor and I said just give yourself one year lock yourself out of circulation in quotes stop change chase stuff one year build yourself you know you want to be like why we want to be of value to what does who are doing she does this this this this I build my skill set that I know that if I'm going to go into was dm I would literally be almost irresistible to her that is the first thing first and then more often than not not of it would be the first network that would give you a bump but that first network if you have a chance of making the right impression that first network would open up another network because when you make a right impression and someone says oh I need someone to do I mean I've had to be there where some I did a job for someone and the other person said to that person said oh you know people have been disappointing in this particular task again and again he said look no further I have you're right the guy so the first one wasn't the big deal the second was the bumper deal oh my god because the person who referred me gave me a leverage to negotiate premium now premium dollars you get my point so we must first instill on people just do your just bury your head in work secondly we must stop putting money first it is becoming a plague right if that is a pandemic on its own it's hot and I'll tell you why there's a subtle even from very the high almighty this is subtle peer pressure that's crept in and become if it's been woven into a fabric that nobody is ready to take patience as a virtue anymore so I get into a circle and the next thing I'm looking for is who I will hit who will become and we don't want to build communities we don't want to build emotional connections anymore we just want to quickly get to we are gonna get a very transactional let me let me hear the name of the word we're very transactional so what do I get from you how do I get it from you how fast can I get it from you and the moment it does not come the interest wins will be drawn to the next person again so we must start changing the narratives immediately from now to help young people even those in our own farabale like calm down it would happen there are things that we've chased years and when it does come through eventually you know that it was because the pressing you must build trust you must build the camaraderie that comes with constant contact you can't breathe in today you're out for the next four months and you say oh I just stopped by to check up on you again and then I'm off again the next seven months and I'm saying that we will have that kind of I wouldn't see you because I don't even know what you have to offer which is why you see people joining clubs like eco eco yeah I was gonna ask I was just gonna ask because somebody has been terrorizing me is I love to drag or believe me it is the real deal and I would explain to you a lot of people have you know criminalized or bastardized the thought of being in societies or clubs because they feel they think around oh it's you know the stuff that are bad that happened there but key that's what that's the foundation of it in our own culture the key place is the place of building trust and community of value adders as it were I know that this is what I have to offer I mean this circle it will first come to you before it goes anywhere else same thing with church same thing with mosques same thing with associations I was saying to a few guys I said in my church where worship and also pastor I have people that when they're getting married even planer is in about the church oh yeah because this it's a community yes because we must keep the money within because it's a community it becomes a circular economy even planer church member decorator church member small shops church member his videographer I'm not joking as in it has happened this fashion designer for the bride church member suits church member why because you've created a system by which everybody's job is known and you've built trust trust and not just trust the competence in each person is glaring for all to see so you can't say you are you are you are mediocre and you are in a network and you expect people to keep giving you it would not happen so as I said bury yourself and build competence and value build it and be a person of trust that I can say go and do this and I'm sure without an outer of doubt that you would not go there and misrepresent me because what a network is that's how fickle it is a network means that if you are here and there's a bridge here this person that was here that I connected you with I can severe that whole relationship because of your misbehavior absolutely I'm telling you so that's why yes it's so fickle and that's why people protect their network you protect your network but I like the fact that you said that because the truth of it is there are different routes you know we've talked about the young people and we've talked about you know you have people but there are different routes to building your network so and like for me actually I like being the connector and I sometimes feel like that's the most powerful because every time you connect somebody that does a good job the connector and the connector are both grateful right so my currency has gone up in both of their eyes but I always have that goal you know when people are talking and it's always oh I have this problem I'm like oh I have a guy I have a guy and I when you live in Nigeria particularly in Lagos you have to have a guy before like the minute you have a problem I'm like no I have a guy I have a guy now people who struggle because let's be honest a lot of us want to have this currency this capital we want to have huge networks but people still struggle all these things we're talking about value and all it's all well and good somebody's watching that is still like this is when I was looking jammed and they still don't know what it means but the fact is if you think about somebody who has done a good job for even if it's a painter even if it's a carpenter and somebody tomorrow comes to you and says and the minute you're able to introduce that person and you make sure that person does a good job your network has just expanded and it's sort of an exponential multi-level marketing almost type of thing you're building that pyramid right as you go but today the people who I believe struggle the most I think the young guys just think I don't know if I have the people at the top are like everybody's coming for me but the people in the middle right they're sort of the real people who struggle because I've realized now somewhere in the middle that I need to have a network I'm not sure that I believe it will work for me because that's where I started I'm speaking about the way my own journey went I'm not sure if it's going to work for me but then I try once I say okay this can open the door that can open the door where do those kind of people start not necessarily because I may already be in the work environment and maybe a church environment I may be in all those different environments but how do I actually begin to connect with people people don't know how to start those conversations like I meet what today I don't want to say mentor me or give me this how can I it's just maybe given a picture of hello how are you building there are conversation starters yeah I'll put it that way so maybe not on an elevator page per se but there are conversation starters and which is where first and first is from the area of interests right so there might be common interests common goals you know love for sports love for or a current affairs politics they occur their communication starters and sometimes for me what has happened for me more often when I'm out of the country because they are in a different environment is when I'm going in I read up on the current affairs of that country before I go in so I'm in the train or I'm at the bus station or somewhere or maybe even in the subway and I'm like they're having a conversation and I just laugh that's a I've opened up that I just laugh to what they're saying oh you're listening oh yeah such a lie and then bam we start I'm I'm naturally an introvert so it's you're speaking to the person who can speak to the people who are the biggest those in the biggest dilemma I'm naturally an introvert I'm very to myself so I asked myself when I said what do I need first what are the interests so you read up on unless you go to a country read up on what is happening current affairs use if you're going to see a group of people what do they do really you're going to a sports group it's it's wrong to get to a space someone says my name is X and then you're seeing them tomorrow and you just can't remember their name so and I'm saying that because except you are just saying I do not you see you because you literally have to tell me your name three times fine what time registers in my head is one of the things that I do and I think everybody watching this has to try to learn to do this I take a picture with you when I'm going when I'm saving your number I save your picture with that number with that number okay the other technique that I use is I send you a text message straight away yeah so when I meet you I get your number as soon as I get your number I send your message oh hi this is it's you you met and so I so that helps to create a level of rapport and also you must make conscious efforts to make the right impression in your first contact learn to have a firm handshake don't go hugging everybody some people just don't want to be touched so so it's it's just the little sometimes we think about them as big deals but it's the little things find out the interests of the places you're going to and with a concert who are those are performing who are the kind of people that come for such concert what do I need to wear how do I need to look how do I need to smell look at all those little details and it's not it doesn't cost much to be intentional about those things it doesn't cost much it doesn't cost much and then when you make a contact don't collect a card and drop it in your your diary or you just ignore that oh it's gone and then you say oh I got a card it's not about getting card it's about getting a contact establishing a contact not just getting a card but establish a contact and service it it takes intention so we are buried enough when the question you said technology for instance I have WhatsApp or whatever it is that you use the question is when you go on those platforms or those medium you're probably talking to the familiar so we are buried in your catching up on gist what is happening in your alumni group you don't even know who is there some people are at university they go to Harvard and all that they have no clue what's happening there they go to even the Nigerian universities until your colleague now becomes a governor so the question now is why should he answer you when he does not have any form of association relationship absolutely the connection so less sees being transactional in this season where people are becoming governor absolutely less sees being transactional less have been relational build the networks build it invest because the person you're saying I mean I finished from university about 20 years ago and the people that finished with me then some of them are already CEOs of major firms there are some I cannot call you know why I didn't service them there are some that I can walk into their offices without an appointment you know why I service them so it's two ends of the poll the question is which end of the poll are you gravitating towards so you can be in an association and just be dormant there you're there like you're not there you can pay 10 million to join a co-e-cloak that's by public I'm not doing anything with it you know when I hear you speak now I'm so guilty of that but my one is where I'm guilty like I mean I haven't left that group here just because if I leave people would they know I actually left they brought me back yeah but when we had our anniversary my school turned 40 last year and you know I was shocked so my friend forced me onto the planning committee and then when they started calling names this person this person I'm like what now who now so you realize that actually I've been missing out because these are people that you actually now have a direct connection to absolutely I can reach out to you and say oh I went to navy we can catch up we can just we can you know and that's it and I just thought you know what networks are everywhere and the one word that I was looking for which you mentioned is the intentionality of it if we take nothing else away from this compensation is that we'd be intentional about it but I'm not I was going to ask a question but I'm a viewer has sent in this question and it says what are some of the strategies for following up which I think you've addressed and staying in touch with contacts after an initial meeting or networking events are you giving us some tips already take a picture save it send the text message to say how do you like to also guide people on doing when you're scheduling a meeting with someone let's say you've gone ahead to check and you agree that this person you can add value to them and you want to then you've done a few cold calls I would say or warm calls because it's not more cool because you've met them before but let's even take a cold call for instance you've gone ahead to do your research and you want to connect with the person don't say hello sir I am waiting for a response please stop it right stop it hello sir how are you sir how is your family how is your mother how is your father no no no I mean I'm these are things that happen every day you get it a lot so I get it the person will just say hi or that I'm wondering like what next right so can you just in the same breath go ahead and drop what you need and then you close that conversation when the person responds to you and say oh great I'd like to meet here is where the catch really is can we meet on Friday preferably at 2 p.m. does that work you've given yourself a shot at them responding with a firm response so I've said can we meet Friday say 2 p.m. at a preferred location you have when the person will be responding back to you I can guarantee you 90% of the time they will say oh sorry Friday doesn't work for me can we do Monday 4 p.m. which was the original work thank you all you wanted was give us the definite date so you've created the door you just took the work from me you just you got your food at the door then when you get in there please start and give you a step wise right from meeting the person to then making the impression when you get in there I know that for some of us we get very star stroke something hits us and we just feel like you know nervous take a breath just catch your breath and if possible rehearse what you would say in that place before you get there so you are not caught off guard because sometimes some questions you'll throw you off and you are blank right and please don't be too afraid to make mistakes sometimes you can laugh at yourself even in front of a new person it eases the pressure and the tension in the room so and then when you're out of there one of the things that you mentioned that I do all the time whether I'd meet you today or tomorrow is once I'm stepping out of the room it was nice meeting you thank you for such a great conversation I look forward to more engagement in the future yeah that's it so I think it's very important to do that so whether it's business whether it's religious whether it's social whether it's emotional you must learn to build that sort of relationship let them anticipate your coming let them look forward to you coming the next time okay so good evening my dear beautiful sisters what are you saying building a next level network building a next level network is very key to a business enterprise because it builds it up your guest made mention of possibility of building a next level network and having a personal connection which is strong powerful and key he also said we need to recognize our value and said that there are three categories of people so Daniel helps us to sum up our okay so there are three categories of people that are above you same level and beneath you which is correct my dear beautiful sister uti said joining two parties together for solution to build a strong network uti you look very beautiful good evening uh seeing you makes my day thank you Daniel thank you Daniel you like to summarize our messages you know we don't ignore that's so good our messages so I mean if you had one final thing to say to anyone that is listening right um how how um how do I how would you say um the approach to networking should be going forward right would you be aggressive would you be you know because there's difference between aggressive and intentionality sometimes when you're like people just coming at you like yeah so persistence is not pestering let's hold that you know like without persistence is not pestering okay so a lot of people pester people not that they are persistent yeah so you must you must be able to differentiate that so I reach out to you and it's happened to me a couple of times I reach out to you you you say oh I'd see you next week and then I say oh just a reminder that we're supposed to see next week you haven't confirmed date and time and the person responds oh I'm so sorry it's been a busy schedule can really schedule now the person has given you a cue or a cue to keep the contact going now when the person reads your message and doesn't respond you said the second a third a fourth at that point you should take a break because it means the person probably does not see value in what you have to say or they are just busy at that time taking a break is not cutting off completely so you give me like a week or two weeks and you're back to say I'm circling back with you on this particular thing or just at that point you might need to just say hello just just just just checking on you I'm making sure you're good that's all is everything all right I mean my sense of you I mean are you all right is everything well are you fine health wise and then someone respond and says oh I've been down in the hospital and then you must at that point be empathetic and don't go hitting your point again at that point yeah you don't say oh sorry oh no get well soon so I'm trying to ask you on that note I'll catch you do that I'll bring a book for you empathetic draw back a bit and just apply emotional intelligence show some concept and you know for what you just spoke about emotional intelligence you know there are two sides to it before you talk about self I mean people management there's a self-awareness and self-management there's a people awareness and people so you must first be aware before you start managing people be aware so it's important that we don't just absolutely well I'm telling you we are just in time there thank you so much for joining us thank you so much now you have to be friend of the house no no you just now need to make you remember all our social media handles remember you can like share invite your families and friends to watch and follow the conversation if you missed our quote for today here it is again it says networking is not about just connecting people it is about connecting people with people people with ideas and people with opportunities and go out today be intentional about you know building the right network for your next level of growth yes and service them build relationships thank you so much we had a fantastic conversation see you Monday