Kelly Hoey
Author of Build Your Dream Network
Discussion
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
Hi, I'm Kelly Hoey, author of Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships In A Hyper-Connected World. It's a modern roadmap for connecting effectively and getting things done! I write for Inc.com and have appeared on CNBC's Power Pitch. I'm also a limited partner in two early-stage funds (Laconia Capital Group and Lattice Ventures), mentor for NZTE and the Canadian Tech Accelerator and am chief tech ambassador for the YWCA of New York City's Girls Geek Club. I have a career that is only explained by networks and relationships, so I'm delighted to share my insights on leveraging networks to achieve your goals. Ask me anything!
You can now pre-order Build My Dream Network and join my mailing list for book tour updates, networking insights + more.
upvotesharetweet・
Kiki Schirr / 史秀玉
@kikischirr · Founder, WeKiki Video Chat Platform
One thing I admire about you, Kelly, is how blatantly feminine your approach to social media is--despite being a mover and a shaker you take time to Instagram your shoes, which is wonderful.
I think that this helps women feel more comfortable in the business/tech space, to have role models that embrace their softer side.
In what other ways do you think we (as women) can encourage other women?
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@kikischirr Thanks Kiki! I have a short and loud answer to your question: BUY THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES! If you want to encourage other women then do so by truly supporting their business ventures. Send them clients. Refer them work. Buy their products!
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@kikischirr AND I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED THIS QUESTION!
Philip Kuklis
@philipkuklis · Co-Founder, Hubble
Hi Kelly, what’s your advice for foreign entrepreneurs who are trying to build a network in the US?
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@philipkuklis hey Philip! I just wrote about networking into the NYC startup community on Inc. http://www.inc.com/kelly-hoey/fi... // suspect you'll find some helpful tips here!
Andrew Ettinger
@andrewett · Product Marketing, Twitter (ex-PH)
What is your best networking tip for non-networking settings? The gym, for example.
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@andrewett Be the person you want to talk to! Listen for ways to extend conversations beyond the workout / trainers / gym hours (listening be the operative word).
COSTAS ANDRIOPOULOS
@candriopoulos · https://medium.com/strictly-curious
Hi Kelly, what's the best strategy to connect with leading figures (in their respective fields) who do not personally know you?
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@candriopoulos Read their blogs. Follow them on social media. Subscribe to their newsletters or mailing lists. Watch their TED talks or other online content. Listen and observe. Get to know them through the content they are distributing / sharing before your reach out to ask a question or request a meeting. It could be that the information you're seeking is already available (or answered). And that research will also ensure you ask a better question when you do reach out to them.
COSTAS ANDRIOPOULOS
@candriopoulos · https://medium.com/strictly-curious
@jkhoey Thank you so much Kelly for sharing your insights. I appreciate it.
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@candriopoulos Take a look at this post I wrote - http://myturnstone.com/blog/how-... - interviewing this entrepreneur really clarified some of my thinking on seeking out advice from leading figures.
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
Hi Kelly thanks for joining us today. What is the number piece of advice you find yourself giving to people who find it hard to network?
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@ems_hodge Hi Emily! My advice is to rethink what networking is. Networking is every single human interaction. It's not confined to cocktail parties and handing out business cards.
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@ems_hodge Networking is (a) your voice mail message (b) email signature line (c) engaging on Product Hunt Live (d) and all sorts of micro-actions we undertake daily.
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@ems_hodge Your email or voicemail may be the first networking contact someone has with you, so record or write your message in the manner you’d like to be remembered. Warm and friendly? A tenacious hustling entrepreneur? I use the signature box feature on Gmail to not only direct people to the best ways to reach me, but also to highlight a project or something I’m working on.
Mike Coutermarsh
@mscccc · Code @ Product Hunt
Hi Kelly! What have you done recently that’s scared you?
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@mscccc Wrote a book! And focusing my time on doing one thing with my career.
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@mscccc No plan B! Having a single focus is both scary and frankly, essential to get things done. It does make you look inside yourself as to what you want to achieve / accomplish (and how badly you want it). And that can be scary!
Chad Whitaker
@chadwhitaker · Design at Product Hunt
Do you have mentors? If so - how did you find them and what did they teach you?
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@chadwhitaker I have and had great mentors. An entrepreneur gave me great insights on how to think about mentoring or seeking mentors now. I wrote about it here: http://myturnstone.com/blog/how-...
Mike Coutermarsh
@mscccc · Code @ Product Hunt
When writing your book, what was an average day like? Were you writing full time? It's such a big project, any tips on how to stay on track?
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@mscccc Best advice I got on writing a book was from a novelist who worked full-time and has kids: 2 hours a day! Carve out your most creative, productive time and use it for your big project (writing or otherwise). Write daily (even if it's hard or you think the work product is crap). Just write!
Jake Crump
@jakecrump · Community Team with Product Hunt
What have you learnt during your career that has most surprise you?
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@jakecrump A 360 review revealed that I'm a great manager and leader of teams. On the flipside, I don't get jazzed by management and prefer to get stuff done!
M
Kelly Hoey
@jkhoey · Author, Build Your Dream Network
@jakecrump And I highly recommend having a 360 review if the opportunity arises at work to do so!