Being able to talk with anyone

In today's obituary for early television pioneer, Art Linkletter, he is quoted as saying he credited his conservative older adoptive parents with teaching him to be able to talk with anyone.

That's a talent or skill we could all use. Mr. Linkletter used it to his professional advantage in being able to talk with children on his long-running segment of his TV programs, "Kids Say the Darnedest Things." He also knew when to let the other guy, or kid, get the laugh. Because he knew it wasn't about him.

I saw this trait in action in yet another generation this past weekend when I visited my son and daughter-in-law. Jaclyn is one of those people who can talk with anyone. I'd heard the stories of her engaging the strangers next to them on planes to the point of getting a ride home from the conversant. But I had never witnessed it first hand.

We were all walking down by the locks on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis when she walked by a man fishing from the pavement above the river. A freshly caught Catfish in his bucket, the middle-aged black man with the fishing rod was telling this blond girl in pink all about the bait he used and what time of day was best to fish that location.

What was most important about this conversation is that Jaclyn was listening and the fisherman was talking. She proved to me why she is good at sales for the freight company she works for. She had this guy volunteering all kinds of data.

But realize this is not just because she's pretty and blond. Jaclyn knows the tools of a great networker--listening and speaking carefully. Look past the obvious and listen and ask, rather than talking and directing. You just might learn something and get someplace you hadn't considered a destination.

Relentless

Fishing and Networking

It goes without saying that networking and fishing have a lot in common. Really.

There are three things to remember in each:

• Choose your spot. Where will the fishing be best? You know where the best fish hang out, go to them. Not sure if GPS works in networking, though. Shoreline or IABC happy hour?
• Have the right gear. That lightweight rig or the tie with the blue pattern, nightcrawlers or customized business cards?
• Know the species you are looking for. Walleye or CMO, Sunfish or IT guy, Crappie or C-level exec?

The analogy works, so keep these simple concepts in mind and you should be luck in both.

Relentless