Good Karma = Good
So today I was called the “last good person” and “altruistic” but two separate people. I also left a third person (a family member) with her mouth agape when I said my networking philosophy.
What is it? Well, i’ve blogged about it before but it’s all about Karma.
Karma = doing good, adding value without asking for anything in return = GASP! you say. I say no. I say do onto others as you’d want others to do onto you. How so?
Well, when I meet people that I think are serious, I also offer myself to them and offer to help anyway I can, maybe advise on an idea or make introductions - WITHOUT them ever asking. I make unsolicited positive introductions. I also only introduce quality people to each other, well usually, we all make mistakes sometimes.
When I meet someone cool, I happily will give them free advice for a half hour and if i really like them, introduce them to potential partners or investors.
For example, I was leaving a meeting today and someone cornered me in the elevator and asked me what i do. I said I run an advertising company. He said he needed help with online advertising strategy.
I told him, “fuck online advertising - you need to build buzz.” He told me his product and in 30 seconds I came up with a very cheap and super viral marketing strategy for him that i am sure will succeed. It’s also something that has never been done. A big agency would have charged $100,000 for something i came up with in 30 seconds on the spot. Better yet, he asked me what i wanted in return, I said nothing. He was amazed.
I believe in karma. I will help anyone for a half hour that is serious and bothers to ask. Sure it kills time but you know what, that person will then offer to help me when I need it and go the extra mile, sometimes several miles. Also there’s a decent shot at building a real relationship out of it. Could I charge? Most of you will say I’m crazy for giving out so much free advice but I say, NO. I am just helping other entrepreneurs succeed. One day one of these guys will help me out and the world will be whole.
PS. As a result of my networking philosophy, I have a startup I’m working on and I have investors asking me for meetings - and I don’t even have the pitch ready yet.
Karma works.
