Let’s face it…creative people like us are a bit weird. Being socially awkward is just part of the package. Sitting in a dark room for days at a time making cool stuff – piece of cake. But throw us into a large crowd and force us to speak to other human beings and it gets ugly fast. But networking is a necessary skill to master if you intend to thrive in your creative career because no matter how awesome your work, people can’t hire you if they don’t know you exist!
I honestly can’t think of more than a small handful of people I know in my entire industry who are natural at “offline” networking (for those of you who spend all of your energy on social networking online, offline networking is in that vast terrifying space called “the real world.”) So for all of the socially awkward introverts out there like me, I’ve brought in an expert at offline networking to help you break the ice and start building your list of quality connections like a ninja.
My guest in this episode is Camille Virginia, the founder of Master Offline Dating. She has a unique talent and incredible passion for creating instant, in-person connections and building authentic relationships. Her specialty is helping singles who are burned out with online dating and apps to find love in their own lives by providing the key skills to boost social confidence, create connection, and find lasting commitment in the real world.
Trust me…the skills she teaches in the dating world are equally as applicable to professional networking settings because the key to networking is building meaningful relationships. I highly recommend taking notes and trying out a few of these approaches at your next networking event.
If you tried something that was successful from this interview, let me know! Drop me a quick note at contact@optimizeyourself.me, I read every single email I receive and do my best to respond if I’m able.
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Here’s What You’ll Learn:
- The universal building blocks of human relationships and social struggles
- Depersonalization and the pitfalls of online dating
- How can someone introverted have a successful networking presence?
- The similar mechanics of dating and networking
- How to approach strangers as “friends you haven’t met yet”
- Introducing yourself to people confidently and authentically
- Processing the emotional toll of intense social interaction as an introvert
- “You have something in common with every person that you speak to”
- Speaking out of curiosity rather than just engaging socially acceptable topics
- Valuing the people you are meeting for the first time
Useful Resources Mentioned:
Dating App Detox: The ultimate guide to getting a date without going online
Our Generous Sponsor:
This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter.
Guest Bio:
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Camille Virginia is the founder of Master Offline Dating. She has a unique talent and incredible passion for creating instant, in-person connections and building authentic relationships.
Through private coaching, online courses, and live workshops she helps singles who are burned out with online dating and apps to find love in their own lives by providing the key skills to boost social confidence, create romantic connection, and find lasting commitment in the real world.
Get her FREE gift Dating App Detox: The ultimate guide to getting a date without going online: www.masterofflinedating.com/yourself
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Jakin Rintelman. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love!
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).
Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Zack Arnold
Zack Arnold (ACE) is an award-winning Hollywood film editor & producer (Cobra Kai, Empire, Burn Notice, Unsolved, Glee), a documentary director, father of 2, an American Ninja Warrior, and the creator of Optimize Yourself. He believes we all deserve to love what we do for a living...but not at the expense of our health, our relationships, or our sanity. He provides the education, motivation, and inspiration to help ambitious creative professionals DO better and BE better. “Doing” better means learning how to more effectively manage your time and creative energy so you can produce higher quality work in less time. “Being” better means doing all of the above while still prioritizing the most important people and passions in your life…all without burning out in the process. Click to download Zack’s “Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Your Creativity (And Avoiding Burnout).”