Jeff is an international speaker and visual marketing consultant. He hosts the Social Media News Live show and podcast and is also the editor for Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People Podcast. He is also "Head Beard" at Manly Pinterest Tips.
The grumpy bearded man's guide to networking
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Howdy Reader! Ever feel like a fish out of water? That was me last week at the first-ever Newsletter Marketing Summit in Austin. Usually, I’m the guy on stage or hanging out with my conference buddy (and daughter) Abby. This time? I was just… that awkward bearded dude in the corner nursing his drink. Here’s the thing - I’ve spoken at countless conferences, but this one was different. I went solo. No speaking gig. No familiar faces. Just me, there to learn. And boy, did I learn something unexpected… It wasn’t just about newsletter strategies (though those were great). The biggest lesson came from feeling completely out of my comfort zone. Do you know the advice I always give my kids: “Nothing great ever happens with something easy” and “You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable”? Yeah… it turns out I needed to take my own medicine! Here are some hard-won lessons from my awkward adventure:
The coolest part? By day two, something magical happened. Once I embraced the awkwardness, doors started opening. I even reconnected with a past interview guest who’s now going to be on an upcoming show talking about e-commerce! Here’s what I realized: As creators, we NEED these uncomfortable moments. They shake us out of our routines and force us to see things differently. So next time you’re at an event and spot someone sitting alone (maybe a grumpy-looking bearded man staring into his drink 😉), go say hi. You never know what kind of connection you might make. See ya around the interwebs, -Jeff P.S. Have you ever felt completely out of your element at an event? Hit reply and tell me about it. I’d love to hear your story! |
Jeff Sieh
Jeff is an international speaker and visual marketing consultant. He hosts the Social Media News Live show and podcast and is also the editor for Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People Podcast. He is also "Head Beard" at Manly Pinterest Tips.
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