Comments on: The Lost Art of Relationship Building http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building Shining Light on Social Media Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:23:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Heather Rast http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-3096 Heather Rast Mon, 11 May 2009 02:53:49 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-3096 Wow, I hope you don't take this the wrong way (or, I should say, I hope you take it as I intend it), but it's soooo great to hear someone else use the "righteous indignation" tone of voice (er, writing) in a post. I feel you, Mr. Gill, and I am so right there with you. Yes, it's hard. Yes, there are more slimy ways (which are perhaps easier) to make a connection than there are non-slimy ways. But that doesn't make it right. And I sure would question if it ever transitioned into a relationship of any real value or substance. A few months ago, I changed positions and snagged a spiffy new title. Yeah, I'm secretly pleased but I'm not stupid--the minute the local business journal ran their 5-word notice, I instantly received a "Congratulations! I'd love to come talk with you and your office about financial planning." email from some person I'd never met, never spoken with or exchanged deets with. Seriously? Don't people choose a financial planner with the same careful consideration women choose OBGYN's? Gak. Wow, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way (or, I should say, I hope you take it as I intend it), but it’s soooo great to hear someone else use the “righteous indignation” tone of voice (er, writing) in a post. I feel you, Mr. Gill, and I am so right there with you.

Yes, it’s hard. Yes, there are more slimy ways (which are perhaps easier) to make a connection than there are non-slimy ways. But that doesn’t make it right. And I sure would question if it ever transitioned into a relationship of any real value or substance.

A few months ago, I changed positions and snagged a spiffy new title. Yeah, I’m secretly pleased but I’m not stupid–the minute the local business journal ran their 5-word notice, I instantly received a “Congratulations! I’d love to come talk with you and your office about financial planning.” email from some person I’d never met, never spoken with or exchanged deets with. Seriously? Don’t people choose a financial planner with the same careful consideration women choose OBGYN’s? Gak.

]]> By: Quotes of the day #2 « Oleks’s Thoughtz http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2349 Quotes of the day #2 « Oleks’s Thoughtz Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:10:03 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2349 [...] The Lost Art of Relationship Building [...] [...] The Lost Art of Relationship Building [...]

]]> By: cara http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2231 cara Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:10:55 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2231 Great direct points on etiquette of networking. I enjoy your blog for its witty sarcasm yet open hearted honesty. Good stuff, look forward to the next one! Great direct points on etiquette of networking. I enjoy your blog for its witty sarcasm yet open hearted honesty. Good stuff, look forward to the next one!

]]> By: Eric http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2199 Eric Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:12:54 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2199 Hey Sonny - good advice. The art is not lost on me, I hope. I love social media just for getting to know people like yourself. Sure sometimes I'll promote my site(s) or whatever - but for the most part it's still about meeting people and building relationships. Hey Sonny – good advice. The art is not lost on me, I hope. I love social media just for getting to know people like yourself. Sure sometimes I’ll promote my site(s) or whatever – but for the most part it’s still about meeting people and building relationships.

]]> By: Angela Connor http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2166 Angela Connor Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:17:58 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2166 This is when people REALLY miss the point. I'm a bit disheartened by this story given the level of connectedness that we can all find on so many mediums. I could see if the two of you had a conversation or if she remembered something about you that legitimately made her think you'd have an interest in her product. She could have mentioned that and you may have been a bit more receptive. Maybe not, but the chances would have certainly been better had there been *some* connection. This is when people REALLY miss the point. I’m a bit disheartened by this story given the level of connectedness that we can all find on so many mediums. I could see if the two of you had a conversation or if she remembered something about you that legitimately made her think you’d have an interest in her product. She could have mentioned that and you may have been a bit more receptive. Maybe not, but the chances would have certainly been better had there been *some* connection.

]]> By: Sonny Gill http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2164 Sonny Gill Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:21:42 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2164 @Shannon - Another great but sad example at peoples misuse of really, our transparency. There comes a responsibility to these people within our communities when they have our information right at their fingertips. Sure its in their possession but to use it with no regard, is just bad networking and business practices. I messaged this person also, politely telling them what I thought of their practices. No reply though, which doesn't surprise but would much rather have had a bit of dialogue to see what they thought of their use (misuse) of people's information. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts and story! @Shannon – Another great but sad example at peoples misuse of really, our transparency. There comes a responsibility to these people within our communities when they have our information right at their fingertips. Sure its in their possession but to use it with no regard, is just bad networking and business practices.

I messaged this person also, politely telling them what I thought of their practices. No reply though, which doesn’t surprise but would much rather have had a bit of dialogue to see what they thought of their use (misuse) of people’s information.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts and story!

]]> By: Shannon Paul http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2157 Shannon Paul Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:08:58 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2157 A lot of great points to make how NOT to use someone's contact information after a networking event. I recently had someone add me on Facebook, write on my wall about something related to their business and automatically add me to an e-newsletter mailing list. As a result I deleted them from my friends list and unsubscribed to newsletter with an explanation that I thought adding my email information from my Facebook page was an abuse of that type of connection. I hope they learn -- most people (usually me, too) will simply delete/add to junk and ignore. I think what's more bothersome about this type of encounter isn't about numbers -- but license. These individuals may or may not be concerned with numbers, but they definitely take a great deal of license upon first meeting. Possession of a business card/Facebook friend does not entitle them to enter me as a "prospect" into their marketing machine. I don't hate them for this, but I've started trying to let people know how I feel about this in hopes that they learn to treat others with more respect. A lot of great points to make how NOT to use someone’s contact information after a networking event. I recently had someone add me on Facebook, write on my wall about something related to their business and automatically add me to an e-newsletter mailing list. As a result I deleted them from my friends list and unsubscribed to newsletter with an explanation that I thought adding my email information from my Facebook page was an abuse of that type of connection. I hope they learn — most people (usually me, too) will simply delete/add to junk and ignore.

I think what’s more bothersome about this type of encounter isn’t about numbers — but license. These individuals may or may not be concerned with numbers, but they definitely take a great deal of license upon first meeting. Possession of a business card/Facebook friend does not entitle them to enter me as a “prospect” into their marketing machine. I don’t hate them for this, but I’ve started trying to let people know how I feel about this in hopes that they learn to treat others with more respect.

]]> By: Sonny Gill http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2112 Sonny Gill Sun, 12 Apr 2009 04:49:42 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2112 If they sent a tweet directly to me to connect and converse, I'm absolutely OK with it. If they sent me that initial message wanting me to read their content or check out their product, like those two emails did, then no. If they sent a tweet directly to me to connect and converse, I’m absolutely OK with it. If they sent me that initial message wanting me to read their content or check out their product, like those two emails did, then no.

]]> By: Ari Herzog http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2111 Ari Herzog Sun, 12 Apr 2009 04:45:02 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2111 I see. As a followup, Sonny, if those 1,900 folks who you opted to follow on Twitter decided to send you a single tweet in a single day, you'd be OK with that? I see. As a followup, Sonny, if those 1,900 folks who you opted to follow on Twitter decided to send you a single tweet in a single day, you’d be OK with that?

]]> By: Sonny Gill http://www.sonnygill.com/the-lost-art-of-relationship-building#comment-2110 Sonny Gill Sun, 12 Apr 2009 04:40:47 +0000 http://www.sonnygill.com/?p=666#comment-2110 @Danny - Right on, Danny. There's a bigger time commitment for companies now than that existed a few years back. Customers take the time out to learn about a company or product, so it just goes to show that we've gotten smarter and expect the same in return. @Justin - Yup! I would've much rather actually connected with that person and get to know them vs. losing any possibility of that with two quick emails. Good experience, nonetheless that hopefully we all can learn from. @Ari - Well, there's a difference between having a large amount of people in a community that you've, at the least, attempted to connect with (which I admit, is hard to do with each and every one of) and attempting to directly push/sell a product to someone you've barely connected with. @Danny – Right on, Danny. There’s a bigger time commitment for companies now than that existed a few years back. Customers take the time out to learn about a company or product, so it just goes to show that we’ve gotten smarter and expect the same in return.

@Justin – Yup! I would’ve much rather actually connected with that person and get to know them vs. losing any possibility of that with two quick emails. Good experience, nonetheless that hopefully we all can learn from.

@Ari – Well, there’s a difference between having a large amount of people in a community that you’ve, at the least, attempted to connect with (which I admit, is hard to do with each and every one of) and attempting to directly push/sell a product to someone you’ve barely connected with.

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