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The 3 Bones of Networking for Student Success | Isaac Serwanga | TEDxCSUS


June 4th 2013 it was graduation for me

June 4th 2013 it was graduation for me and it was mixed emotions on one side I

and it was mixed emotions on one side I

and it was mixed emotions on one side I was elated to graduate from the number

was elated to graduate from the number

was elated to graduate from the number one academic institution in the country

one academic institution in the country

one academic institution in the country I was excited on the other end and we

I was excited on the other end and we

I was excited on the other end and we have some college graduates here to

have some college graduates here to

have some college graduates here to graduate unemployed kind of hurts her

graduate unemployed kind of hurts her

graduate unemployed kind of hurts her gut a little bit but it raised some

gut a little bit but it raised some

gut a little bit but it raised some questions and I could remember one of my

questions and I could remember one of my

questions and I could remember one of my good friends giving me a book in the

good friends giving me a book in the

good friends giving me a book in the book changed my perspective the book was

book changed my perspective the book was

book changed my perspective the book was never eat alone by Keith Ferrazzi it

never eat alone by Keith Ferrazzi it

never eat alone by Keith Ferrazzi it talked about his journey his

talked about his journey his

talked about his journey his professional journey as he used

professional journey as he used

professional journey as he used networking and building relationships to

networking and building relationships to

networking and building relationships to not only grow professionally but

not only grow professionally but

not only grow professionally but personally so I thought to myself if it

personally so I thought to myself if it

personally so I thought to myself if it could work for him maybe I should try it

could work for him maybe I should try it

could work for him maybe I should try it so the next six months I did in the

so the next six months I did in the

so the next six months I did in the results were amazing instead of looking

results were amazing instead of looking

results were amazing instead of looking for jobs instead of reaching out jobs

for jobs instead of reaching out jobs

for jobs instead of reaching out jobs were coming to me

were coming to me

were coming to me JP Morgan NCAA Princeton University I

JP Morgan NCAA Princeton University I

JP Morgan NCAA Princeton University I was amazed I was excited for myself but

was amazed I was excited for myself but

was amazed I was excited for myself but more so it raised the question in my

more so it raised the question in my

more so it raised the question in my mind how was I getting these results and

mind how was I getting these results and

mind how was I getting these results and number two why aren’t our academic

number two why aren’t our academic

number two why aren’t our academic institutions why aren’t our colleges in

institutions why aren’t our colleges in

institutions why aren’t our colleges in our high schools teaching young people

our high schools teaching young people

our high schools teaching young people this very important skill set this

this very important skill set this

this very important skill set this inspired me so I went back to my alma

inspired me so I went back to my alma

inspired me so I went back to my alma mater and I wanted to tell my friends

mater and I wanted to tell my friends

mater and I wanted to tell my friends profound Ivy was a program that was a

profound Ivy was a program that was a

profound Ivy was a program that was a passion project but it grew to so much

passion project but it grew to so much

passion project but it grew to so much more and over the course of three years

more and over the course of three years

more and over the course of three years I wanted to teach these principles of

I wanted to teach these principles of

I wanted to teach these principles of networking to young people just like me

networking to young people just like me

networking to young people just like me so that when graduation comes they

so that when graduation comes they

so that when graduation comes they wouldn’t experience that same feeling

wouldn’t experience that same feeling

wouldn’t experience that same feeling over the course of three years results

over the course of three years results

over the course of three years results were great over ninety percent of the

were great over ninety percent of the

were great over ninety percent of the students that were in profound Ivy

students that were in profound Ivy

students that were in profound Ivy landed their dream internship or their

landed their dream internship or their

landed their dream internship or their dream job at the end of the year college

dream job at the end of the year college

dream job at the end of the year college graduates

graduates

graduates College undergraduates rather they

College undergraduates rather they

College undergraduates rather they understand the principles of networking

understand the principles of networking

understand the principles of networking but how can we take this ever so

but how can we take this ever so

but how can we take this ever so important this ever so important detail

important this ever so important detail

important this ever so important detail and apply it to young people I thought

and apply it to young people I thought

and apply it to young people I thought long and hard

long and hard

long and hard a year goes by and I go to Compton

a year goes by and I go to Compton

a year goes by and I go to Compton California and I’m asked to teach

California and I’m asked to teach

California and I’m asked to teach networking to students of course I say

networking to students of course I say

networking to students of course I say it’s great catch now they’re elementary

it’s great catch now they’re elementary

it’s great catch now they’re elementary students you guys left because you

students you guys left because you

students you guys left because you understand there’s a little bit of a

understand there’s a little bit of a

understand there’s a little bit of a different pace there I remember the

different pace there I remember the

different pace there I remember the first time I walked in the classroom and

first time I walked in the classroom and

first time I walked in the classroom and I’m thinking to myself how do you teach

I’m thinking to myself how do you teach

I’m thinking to myself how do you teach this complex topic but ever so important

this complex topic but ever so important

this complex topic but ever so important to young people so I asked the crowd and

to young people so I asked the crowd and

to young people so I asked the crowd and I say does anybody have a dream and a

I say does anybody have a dream and a

I say does anybody have a dream and a young man by the name of Alejandro he’s

young man by the name of Alejandro he’s

young man by the name of Alejandro he’s about 4 feet tall but his arm shot to

about 4 feet tall but his arm shot to

about 4 feet tall but his arm shot to the sky he said I have a dream I have a

the sky he said I have a dream I have a

the sky he said I have a dream I have a dream

dream

dream Alejandro and he stood up and he said my

Alejandro and he stood up and he said my

Alejandro and he stood up and he said my dream is to be at a cross coach like my

dream is to be at a cross coach like my

dream is to be at a cross coach like my lacrosse coaches and I said ok he has a

lacrosse coaches and I said ok he has a

lacrosse coaches and I said ok he has a dream and I thought to myself this is

dream and I thought to myself this is

dream and I thought to myself this is important here he knew something there

important here he knew something there

important here he knew something there was some conviction there so I want to

was some conviction there so I want to

was some conviction there so I want to share with you what I believe can be

share with you what I believe can be

share with you what I believe can be incredibly important for young people

incredibly important for young people

incredibly important for young people how do we teach young people the

how do we teach young people the

how do we teach young people the principles of networking 3 bones to

principles of networking 3 bones to

principles of networking 3 bones to networking three simple bones and you

networking three simple bones and you

networking three simple bones and you guys all know this we all know this it’s

guys all know this we all know this it’s

guys all know this we all know this it’s common sense but sometimes common sense

common sense but sometimes common sense

common sense but sometimes common sense is not common practice so the first bone

is not common practice so the first bone

is not common practice so the first bone of networking wishbone whether you’re a

of networking wishbone whether you’re a

of networking wishbone whether you’re a college graduate or you’re an elementary

college graduate or you’re an elementary

college graduate or you’re an elementary school what do you want and who can help

school what do you want and who can help

school what do you want and who can help you attain that alejandro had it he

you attain that alejandro had it he

you attain that alejandro had it he wanted to be a lacrosse coach and he

wanted to be a lacrosse coach and he

wanted to be a lacrosse coach and he knew that he had to reach out to a La

knew that he had to reach out to a La

knew that he had to reach out to a La Crosse community to take that very next

Crosse community to take that very next

Crosse community to take that very next step phone number two jawbone now

step phone number two jawbone now

step phone number two jawbone now there’s two components to a jawbone

there’s two components to a jawbone

there’s two components to a jawbone competency and humility competency and

competency and humility competency and

competency and humility competency and humility competency do you know what

humility competency do you know what

humility competency do you know what you’re talking about

you’re talking about

you’re talking about have you done your research one of the

have you done your research one of the

have you done your research one of the reasons I believe profound Ivy was so

reasons I believe profound Ivy was so

reasons I believe profound Ivy was so good at what it at producing results was

good at what it at producing results was

good at what it at producing results was because before students would reach out

because before students would reach out

because before students would reach out we made sure that they did research on

we made sure that they did research on

we made sure that they did research on their industry and in their company and

their industry and in their company and

their industry and in their company and then the department and then the

then the department and then the

then the department and then the position and then the individual so

position and then the individual so

position and then the individual so before they began to network they had so

before they began to network they had so

before they began to network they had so much extensive knowledge but by the time

much extensive knowledge but by the time

much extensive knowledge but by the time they opened their mouths people were

they opened their mouths people were

they opened their mouths people were intrigued to hear what they wanted had

intrigued to hear what they wanted had

intrigued to hear what they wanted had to say the other part of that jaw bone

to say the other part of that jaw bone

to say the other part of that jaw bone humility you could know everything in

humility you could know everything in

humility you could know everything in the world but if people don’t like you

if people don’t like you they will not

if people don’t like you they will not help you

help you

help you one simple part of humility is this and

one simple part of humility is this and

one simple part of humility is this and I’m wearing his shoes these of garyvee

I’m wearing his shoes these of garyvee

I’m wearing his shoes these of garyvee shoes and he has this his principle that

shoes and he has this his principle that

shoes and he has this his principle that he says and it’s 5149 whenever we make a

he says and it’s 5149 whenever we make a

he says and it’s 5149 whenever we make a relationship and we’re trying to connect

relationship and we’re trying to connect

relationship and we’re trying to connect with someone it’s usually 50/50 but in

with someone it’s usually 50/50 but in

with someone it’s usually 50/50 but in networking if we can learn how to be the

networking if we can learn how to be the

networking if we can learn how to be the 51 if we can learn how to give more if

51 if we can learn how to give more if

51 if we can learn how to give more if every time we reach out to someone we

every time we reach out to someone we

every time we reach out to someone we could look and say what is it that

could look and say what is it that

could look and say what is it that they’re looking for and how can I help

they’re looking for and how can I help

they’re looking for and how can I help it puts us in a position to succeed and

it puts us in a position to succeed and

it puts us in a position to succeed and last but not least my favorite the last

last but not least my favorite the last

last but not least my favorite the last bone that we need to network is the

bone that we need to network is the

bone that we need to network is the backbone persist persist persist the

backbone persist persist persist the

backbone persist persist persist the most common word and networking is the

most common word and networking is the

most common word and networking is the word know you’ll hear it over and over

word know you’ll hear it over and over

word know you’ll hear it over and over again I like to tell students this story

again I like to tell students this story

again I like to tell students this story and I’ll tell it to you the same way I

and I’ll tell it to you the same way I

and I’ll tell it to you the same way I wanted to become an author I had no idea

wanted to become an author I had no idea

wanted to become an author I had no idea how to begin very simple formula and I

how to begin very simple formula and I

how to begin very simple formula and I wanted to follow my own advice I wanted

wanted to follow my own advice I wanted

wanted to follow my own advice I wanted to reach out to ten authors who wrote in

to reach out to ten authors who wrote in

to reach out to ten authors who wrote in the particular area that I wanted to

the particular area that I wanted to

the particular area that I wanted to ride him I read ten of their books at

ride him I read ten of their books at

ride him I read ten of their books at the end of their book I saw their email

the end of their book I saw their email

the end of their book I saw their email I reached out to the ten authors of the

I reached out to the ten authors of the

I reached out to the ten authors of the ten authors I reached out to to reply to

ten authors I reached out to to reply to

ten authors I reached out to to reply to me of the two that got back to me one

me of the two that got back to me one

me of the two that got back to me one respondent and he was a best-selling

respondent and he was a best-selling

respondent and he was a best-selling author and I’m so excited and I opened

author and I’m so excited and I opened

author and I’m so excited and I opened the email it says good luck

the email it says good luck

the email it says good luck but there was one guy a guy by the name

but there was one guy a guy by the name

but there was one guy a guy by the name of Adam someone who I still talk to to

of Adam someone who I still talk to to

of Adam someone who I still talk to to this day Adam called me Adam spoke to me

this day Adam called me Adam spoke to me

this day Adam called me Adam spoke to me on the phone for three hours Adam taught

on the phone for three hours Adam taught

on the phone for three hours Adam taught me how to market a book how to publish a

me how to market a book how to publish a

me how to market a book how to publish a book how to write chapter by chapter and

book how to write chapter by chapter and

book how to write chapter by chapter and at the end of our call Adam told me call

at the end of our call Adam told me call

at the end of our call Adam told me call me when you finish chapter one powerful

me when you finish chapter one powerful

me when you finish chapter one powerful powerful through networking through

powerful through networking through

powerful through networking through networking that was my passion to become

networking that was my passion to become

networking that was my passion to become an author and networking got me there

an author and networking got me there

an author and networking got me there the reason why I believe these three

the reason why I believe these three

the reason why I believe these three bones to networking is so crucial in

bones to networking is so crucial in

bones to networking is so crucial in today’s world is because young people

today’s world is because young people

today’s world is because young people have to understand this is a skill set I

have to understand this is a skill set I

have to understand this is a skill set I envision a time where networking is

envision a time where networking is

envision a time where networking is taught just like math just like reading

taught just like math just like reading

taught just like math just like reading just like writing because in the 21st

just like writing because in the 21st

just like writing because in the 21st century I truly truly believe truly

century I truly truly believe truly

century I truly truly believe truly believe that networking is the currency

believe that networking is the currency

believe that networking is the currency of our age today an individual who has

of our age today an individual who has

of our age today an individual who has the ability to make connections with one

the ability to make connections with one

the ability to make connections with one another you’ll always be in a place we

another you’ll always be in a place we

another you’ll always be in a place we can progress where you can go forward

can progress where you can go forward

can progress where you can go forward skill sets are okay right most people

skill sets are okay right most people

skill sets are okay right most people think of networking as a skill set but I

think of networking as a skill set but I

think of networking as a skill set but I hope with today and I hope going forward

hope with today and I hope going forward

hope with today and I hope going forward that we can start to teach younger

that we can start to teach younger

that we can start to teach younger people that networking is also a skill

people that networking is also a skill

people that networking is also a skill set but it’s also a mindset the people

set but it’s also a mindset the people

set but it’s also a mindset the people to your left and your right can help you

to your left and your right can help you

to your left and your right can help you in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine so

in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine so

in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine so if any of you know young people and

if any of you know young people and

if any of you know young people and you’re saying what do you want to teach

you’re saying what do you want to teach

you’re saying what do you want to teach them three bones to networking wishbone

them three bones to networking wishbone

them three bones to networking wishbone state what you want

state what you want

state what you want jawbone ask with competency and humility

jawbone ask with competency and humility

jawbone ask with competency and humility and last but not least backbone persist

and last but not least backbone persist

and last but not least backbone persist persistent persist thank you guys

persistent persist thank you guys

persistent persist thank you guys you

”

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