Our resident corporate Agony Uncle, CEO Ken Cheng, tackles business challenges – so you don’t have to
Dear Ken Cheng,
What’s an unorthodox good place to network with potential employers and clients? I’m not having much luck at the usual places, so wondering if there’s some sort of hidden lifehack?
– Dave, Nottingham
Ken Cheng:
There’s one perfect place I go to network. No, it’s not Airport VIP lounges. Only scum go there. The lowest of the low.
I go check out the anxiety disorder specialist waiting rooms.
All the greatest people to work with in any industry are plagued with massive anxiety. They make the best customers, employees and business partners.
Why?
Because they’re incredibly easy to manipulate.
Here is an exchange between me and an anxious person at a networking event a few weeks ago.
Them: it’s nice to meet you.
Me: we’ve already met, several times.
We hadn’t. But I could see their mind already being overcome with anxiety and disgust. They couldn’t believe they had made such a simple error and were now racked with guilt. I felt like Hannibal crossing the Alps. I was in control now.
This is why I turn up to all sorts of waiting rooms without an appointment. I make small talk with the other people waiting and within fifteen minutes, I get a connection on LinkedIn.
Within three days, they’re hired. It doesn’t even matter if they work in the right industry. Skills can be learned and taught. Anxiety exists deep in the heart and must be there from childhood.
Anxious people come with strings already attached. It’s up to you to make them your marionette.
To have your business issues addressed or to book Ken Cheng for your event: [email protected]
