Manufacturing eCommerce Success – with

Damon Pistulka  00:00

Oh, that music just makes you want to just dance a little dance.

Gail Robertson  00:06

It’s Friday.

Damon Pistulka  00:08

Yeah, it’s Friday, everyone and you know what time that is. It is time for manufacturing ecommerce success. I am one of the CO hosts here Damon Pistulka. And that what? That’s, that’s not Curt Anderson. Yes. Gail Robertson. Thanks so much for being here today. Gail.

Gail Robertson  00:27

I’m excited to join you. And, you know, we were just talking about how long we’ve known each other in terms of you and Curt and through online networking, which are going to be talking about and the power of doing that both online and in person. Yes,

Damon Pistulka  00:45

yes, we’re gonna be talking about one of the title is networking with curiosity, because Gail, if you don’t know, is the chief curiosity officer in her company, Gail now, and we’re going to be ready to go here. Wow, we got I just want to say first of all, Dave’s here. King of process, we got Harry flowers here with this man leadership all the way. Thanks so much for being here, drop some comments, let us know where you’re coming from. And we shall get started. So Oh, who’s Dave loves network? I think I’ve got someone right there.

Gail Robertson  01:26

Yeah, Dale, kick us off here. Well, let’s go with that. Who loves to network? I’m gonna say not everyone. And that’s okay. We were talking about that. Daymond that, you know, I happen to love it. It does, it energizes me, whereas for many people, it doesn’t. But that’s okay. I use the example I have a friend that like, must run and much she runs and swims and cycles. And she feels driven to do that. I’m not driven to do that. But do I do it? Yes, I go to the gym, I get on my bike, not because I’m like, Oh, I have to do it. It’s because of the results that I get from it, how I feel up long, long term as well. So. So it’s really important to, you know, also just conquer that idea of fear as well. And acknowledge that you may not like it, I think people think you have to love it to get out there and network. And it has a bit of a, you know, it’s had a bit of a bad rap too, because I think people see it as Oh, I gotta go do small talk. And I gotta go, you know, talk to people I don’t like or don’t want to talk to. Or the other thing is, I could be doing other things that are more productive or what they believe it’s more productive. Sadly, though, they’re often looking at doing things like cold calling and emails. So Damon Well, I think we should talk about cold calling.

Damon Pistulka  02:53

cold call Yeah, that’s it that’s like the to me is like the most boring thing in the world to do but that’s but I’m gonna I agree with you i people think because because we do these shows that I’m some sort of extrovert I’m not I mean, I, I like to I like to meet people I’m really comfortable around them once I know him but but to go to the networking, things used to be really tough for me. And but it is it is something that you can overcome. I don’t care if you’re an engineer, accountant or whatever you can, you can learn how to do it and learn how to do it and have have some semblance of fun at it. It might not be your complete deal. But that’s the way it is. But I just want to say, Hey, first of all, we got Megan in the room. Megan, thanks so much for being here today. She’s normally doing her show, which she’s not doing it today. That’s awesome. We got Shafi in here today. Thanks for being here, Timothy. from across the pond as well. He’s in here today. But yeah, this you know, you think about it. It’s in people, I think people associate networking with selling. Yes. And, and I got actually a client of mine, he calls it making friends. I think if you go into a doing something like that, we’re just out making friends. That’s all you think about it’s a lot easier to do. And

Gail Robertson  04:15

the other thing too, and I think that’s a great, great way to look at it. How do you want to experience and what is your goal? You know, I do public relations strategy with people and one of the things I always start with this, what do you want to accomplish? Why do you want to do this? So if you’re going to say networking, maybe someone may say, you know, now it could be that they say I don’t need more business. Okay, that could be part of it. Maybe they don’t need more friends. But here’s the other thing is that it’s an opportunity and this is where Curiosity comes in. It’s an opportunity to learn more to learn more about other people, threes, often when I’m going to events, it’s not even sometimes I go to things that have nothing do with whether manufacturing or, you know, I went to a recent event it was for International Women’s Day was at the University and I ended up on the way in I, we were trying to figure out where the parking and I wasn’t sure. So I started talking to this woman who’s a lawyer. And it was we had a chat. We were talking, we ended up sitting next to one another. And now we’re going to be meeting and she’s interested in talking more about how to use LinkedIn for the work she’s doing. But in no time, did I say, Hey, do you want to work with me? Or oh, I could help you anything like that. She asked me what I did. I said what I did, she told me what she did. And as we talked, she was drawn to the idea of Okay, tell me more of what you do. I you know what I’m wondering if so she got curious about, well, why LinkedIn? What does it what opportunities it brings, so I just told her stories. And from that, that led to us but she’s also someone I really enjoyed talking to sitting next to. So when I went to that event, I had no plan to I’m going to hand up my business cards and print off. Right. So I think it is about, you know, making those connections and getting curious. That’s why I said, you don’t even need to think about it as like, say, friends or business. It could be what can I learn because when we’re learning, we’re growing, and we were expanding our knowledge. And that is when I’m an even bigger fan of and why I like going to various events, both in person as well as online.

Damon Pistulka  06:32

Yeah. Yeah. And then this is from Dwight be more interested than interesting. 150%? Because if you get, I mean, a handful of good questions to ask people you walk up to at a networking event. Everybody wants to talk about themselves, if you ask them. And you just ask the right questions, and they’re gonna walk away with a good feeling of nothing else. And you’re gonna learn like you said, you’re gonna learn a lot. Yes.

Gail Robertson  07:04

You know, the woman that I spoke to that event, Laura, it turns out, she lived in an area near where my niece lives. So I said, Do you know this store? It’s a pet food store. And that’s where my niece manages. She says, Yes, I took my dog in there. So we just had this whole interesting conversation. And I just want to go back to something that Megan said, that I think is really important that she loves it. But she says, But I have a time limit because I’m anxious introvert and need that reset time? Yes. And this is where a lot of people, people think that introverts are shy? No, that’s not it at all. It has more to do with what energizes, you know, there’s certain things I know someone like Megan is probably energetic. She’s a writer, she likes interviewing people, so she’d be very much on that one on one. And if you eat Megan, she is one of the most dynamic, interesting, like, wow, people you’re gonna meet, I just love her energy. She’s not shy. But that’s where we need to really revisit what those terms mean. And, you know, I’m not also a big fan of labels, you know, we started to label people, they’re an introvert or an extrovert or this like, I, most people would consider me an extrovert, but there’s more, there’s people more extroverted than I am, because I also do need a reset time as well. But what I find is is helpful is to think of it again as removing those labels. Instead, think of it as stepping out of what you feel comfortable with. I mean, there’s times I go to events to then I’m a little nervous, I walk in, you know, a lot of times I go by myself, right, so I walk in and like so what I usually look for someone else that also looks a little nervous, right? And go say, hey, and I’ll ask them a question. Do you know, whatever ask a question. And I’ve yet to have any real negative experience. The other thing is when I go to event and I see someone that enters that looks nervous or uncertain, I try to go over and talk to them and and make them feel more comfortable. So that’s

Damon Pistulka  09:06

great advice. I mean, because a you’re, they usually would welcome it. And V it’s it’s a it’s an easy, easy place to start a conversation and help them as well. So that’s awesome. Boy, we got a lot of comments coming in, man. So let’s get back here. Let’s let’s just see, where do we go? Baba Baba. We got some mentioning. I’m going to start here. Dale is in here from Nigeria. Thanks. Or Daffy? Excuse me. I can’t read this morning. And then Harry’s got a great comment here. Instead of trying to close a sale, why not open a relationship? Boom. That’s the way to do

Gail Robertson  09:46

hearing say, Whoa, let’s do let’s just reflect that. I love that. That is very true. Great

Damon Pistulka  09:54

one. Great one. And then Dave says something nice that syncs met a lot of great Get people through networking. And that’s that’s true. I mean, the the reality of it is, is you can meet life changing people by just getting out and talking to people. And that’s the way to go. And we got Katie’s in here today. Thanks for being here today. Katie.

Gail Robertson  10:15

Haven’t met Katie in person. No, we did. We did meet in person very briefly. Yes. We met briefly at a trade show. I just had to think because I was like, I’ve met you in person. I’ve met Dave Chrysler in person. And we all met during the epidemic, right? Yeah. Yeah. When we were mostly for many forced to do the online, I had already been doing it, but many felt they didn’t have any other opportunity until

Damon Pistulka  10:40

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s but the you know, the that’s the thing. That’s really cool. I think now is we see coming COVID taught us how to do it online. But as we see for manufacturing and other kinds of businesses now, the combination of in real life and online marketing really expands our ability to connect with people to get to know people, and to build community around in ourselves, our businesses, or whatever our causes.

Gail Robertson  11:14

Yes, and all of those things. Again, a lot of people do reference my title chief curiosity officer, Curiosity is a skill that can be like anything, it’s a muscle, it can be expanded and stretched. And you can get in there and just ask questions for anyone that hasn’t seen Ted last. So I encourage you to go watch that show. There’s a great scene in there. It’s the dark scene if you Google dark scene 10 lasso. And there’s a great line in there. Be curious, not judgmental. Now, I know listen, I wish I could say I’m never judgmental, of course, we all are at certain point. But I really work on that when I find myself getting judgmental, I stop and say, what can I learn from this person? What can I learn from this situation? And, you know, when you get curious, it really can help dial down, you know, fear, anger, uncertainty and inner society right now. And on my show, I have a show curious minds with Gail now. I do interview people that I see from a curiosity perspective, because a lot of times, we are jumping to conclusions, we are looking at snippets or small pieces of interviews. And I, I encourage everyone to sometimes just step back and be curious whether you’re applying it to networking, whether you’re applying it to politics, whether you’re applying it to any relationship, it’s so helpful, it’s probably been one of the biggest things that has been life transforming for me is to start getting curious, because when you do, you’ll be surprised at what you may find out. And sometimes it’s not what you initially thought

Damon Pistulka  13:03

150% Because I’ll tell you that it is it is good in meeting new people. But that curiosity is great in existing relationships, because, you know, I’m married, been married a long time, if you just assume you know why somebody is something’s happening, you should get more information. That’s all I’m saying. Because a lot of times we don’t understand whether it’s work, whether it’s home, net understanding, really allows the clarity to go, oh, this is why someone has this position. Rather than us being in you know, up in arms about it right away or something like that you can understand where someone comes from, you know, there’s, there’s a lot more behind a decision with anyone than we then we often take the time to understand,

Gail Robertson  13:52

you know, that is that nail that Daymond in terms of, you know, really in both current relationships, as well as future ones. And this has to do with, you know, manufacturers that are working with clients that are working with that are looking to recruit. When you get curious and you look for curious people. That’s where the magic can happen. Now, curious people sometimes can be sometimes a little more difficult. Because they will ask questions, they will sometimes push back. I don’t know anybody that pushes back. But but you know, you want that I always said whenever I work with anybody that I in my business to whether it’s designers, writers, whoever I’m working with, I want them to push back at times to ask questions and not just do as I asked them to do, yeah. Because, you know, sometimes you think, oh, yeah, this is what I want until someone asks more questions and luckily I surrounded in both my business As in personal life with people who are curious, and it is amazing, it really helps helps have success both personally and professionally.

Damon Pistulka  15:11

Yeah, yep. We got a bunch of comments here. So Dwight was talking about how his daughter went to a conference and then they hooked on networking. Now that’s, that’s great, because I think that’s the skill he said his daughter’s 21 that’s ill if you earn learn that early, that will pay dividends throughout your life. And and it’s it’s just those relationships you build throughout your your life and career can can really, personally and professionally make a big deal. Then Daffy talks about being an introvert deciding to go into a different area. And so he can interact and switch, you know, perspective. I think that’s as you do this more, you’re going to be able to understand perspective and how important that is. Because when you really ask a lot of curious questions you, it fills that perspective in like, gives you Well, I don’t know, kid, now I can see why they need that, whether it’s a manufacturer or some industrial company that’s trying to figure out why a customer has a problem, or why the customer doesn’t like your product, or they’ve got a bad review, it doesn’t really matter what it is, but that curiosity can give you the perspective that can help you come up with better solutions. So I think that’s awesome. And then Dave dropped the bomb.

Gail Robertson  16:29

Yeah, that is me to a tee. Not everybody would agree at times. But I always I always tell upfront, you’ve probably heard me say this story that anyone that usually I work with, you’re either gonna like my style or not like, because one of the things my goal is when I work with a client, or you know, anyone is that I want what’s best for them, I want to have them to have success. So if they say do this, and I think I don’t think that is what’s best for your customer. And I’ve had these conversations sometimes that, you know, when they’re writing copy, or when they’re wanting to do something on social media, I said, it’s not about you’re not necessarily the target audience. My job is to say, wait a minute, can you reword this differently? How about writing a post like this? How would including this information, it’s for your client, not for you, not for your friends and family necessarily. And that leads us to the issue of when people are posting why they sometimes have fear and uncertainty because they think that people are going to tease them if they post something, and so often, I’ll say because someone wants it Oh, I got to use what I said. Was it friends and family or was it clients and future clients? No, it was friends and family. I said, Okay, listen, I I get teased all the time. And my friends and family Gail now but you know what? They keep reinforcing my brand. When I go to friends, they sometimes even say, hey, Gail now is here. And I’m like, or they’ll go scale now. Haha, may think it’s funny. And I laugh along because I do too. i They Hey, thank you for keep keeping on with the branding. Yeah,

Damon Pistulka  18:14

well, and honestly, those people that are that are revenue about it. They don’t mean any usually. I don’t mean anything bad about it. But honestly, a thing Isaac’s I think said this to me or to Group A long time ago. You know, he talks about getting up and speaking you do a lot of speaking and, and people worry about getting numbered speaking. And most of the people that are looking at you up there speaking go, Holy heck, I would never get up there and do that. That’s what they’re worried about. They’re not worried about that your shoe was untied or anything like that. They’re worried about that. That’s what they’re thinking. They

Gail Robertson  18:45

think that and you know, I’ll tell you a quick story about when I did, I was out. When I was out in Seattle, I was speaking at an event and I’ve had this idea I did this I came out in a costume basically. Right. And then I had to take off this lab coat. And so I had to go from being a male character kind of to a female, and I turned around and so before children I had to put on lipstick. Well, I had changed at the last minute, I decided to use a different lipstick. So my hair was kind of shaky, because I was trying to do it so fast. So I hit a little mirror and I was like, Damn, we can’t get it. So I had to turn around with the lipstick kind of smeared. And I was like, Oh my God. But you know what I said, run with it. So I said, Well, part of this is a little bit of you know, get it listed. Right. So I just built it in to and you know what it was kind of it was a very, somewhat serious topic and transitioning to know going from something funny to something serious. Anyways, it it kind of broke the ice because people didn’t know what I was doing with this whole app, right? So it changed the whole energy and it actually started so many conversations because people came up afterwards and said, Oh, That was so great. And it made me more real to them to, you know, I could laugh with it. And it made them think oh my god, she’s up on the stage and there was a mistake happened and it was actually didn’t alter my talk and in fact added to it. So I encourage people, you know, if they have some fear, once you get past that, and if you make a mistake, you know, there’s that saying, The most successful people make the most mistakes. If you’re not making a lot of mistakes, you need to rethink a lot of things because you’re probably not encouraged increasing your success opportunities. You have to fall down, you have to get teased, you have to do things that sometimes make you look silly, because then people will, it makes you more relatable. And you learn from it. I’ve learned the most things like that was don’t change, you know, a profit the last bit. Yeah.

Damon Pistulka  21:02

No doubt, no doubt. And it’s great, great examples there. I mean, because those, those kinds of things, as you said, make you more human. Yeah, everyone, because for some reason, they could be putting you on a pedestal, and it really we all are all are just humans, right? We’re all making mistakes. And then too, we often think that successful people don’t make mistakes, I don’t care who it is. And sex successful people don’t have problems, they have bigger problems and more more mistakes that they then just hoping that it’s not a huge mistake that they make. And it’s it’s something that is on the way to success, like you said, if you’re not making enough bigger mistakes, and you’re just not, you’re not pushing hard, right.

Gail Robertson  21:46

And luckily, I’ve had mistakes along the way that now make me like one thing I do before I send anything off to print is check, double check, triple check, quadruple check, like, and I get fresh eyes on things as much as possible. So those are things I mean, and that came from a less than it was when I had staff actually in the staff that a postcard had got printed with a wrong number. And yeah, but what we did right away luckily, it was a small mailing. And the one first thing I said is, okay, what’s gonna be the remedy, we have to find it no sense waving our hands and saying, Oh, my God, something’s gone wrong. You find remedy first. So by the time I went to my the client, right, boss, I had to say, Okay, here’s what happened. Number one, I took responsibility. It was my staff, but and people had proofed it, but no one just no one had called the number two.

Damon Pistulka  22:42

Yeah. And it’s easy. It’s, I mean, mistakes are easy. They’re just easy. I mean, they’re so easy. And just want to say angers in the house.

Gail Robertson  22:52

Now, there was a there is the connection catalysts. Now there is someone who know how to do online networking, and for anybody that wants any support with their LinkedIn in group get in touch. And the other thing that is so amazing what what angers done anger has taken that to the next level and has got outside her comfort zone to go and do trade shows and be on the ground. So believe me, it can be done. And yeah, it just takes you gotta get out there and push against those demons that maybe want to hold you back.

Damon Pistulka  23:31

Oh, yeah. Yep. We could talk forever on the demons. demon girl there. Because you know we there, that’s a thing and you talk about it when we’re saying people might think you’re, you know, might think it’s goofy. They might rig rib you for this. But listen, honestly, if what you want to go after, is important enough to you, do it. Do it if you need to do it. If you know if you need to be upfront talking to people, if you need to be out networking, and you know that as your path to success. You can either do it and take that chance or you can live with the regret of not doing it. And I won’t tell you regret doesn’t go away. Someone really do. It’s like yeah, whatever after a while, like you said, it’s kind of like it bounces off yet. It’s like who cares? But that regret does not go away.

Gail Robertson  24:24

The other thing I think I and I’ve learned this, you know, working in the world of manufacturing, too, is that sometimes when people are teasing you it’s not a bad thing. It’s sort of like I roll with it. And now I realize a lot of times it’s a it’s just a way of you know, camaraderie and joking around about things. So yeah, and I’ve had some of the most success from some of those things that you think oh god, is this going to be goofy and Inger can attest to this when I was preparing for that speech. Right before I left I was like, huh This intro I have is a little strange. I don’t know, I don’t know. And luckily anger was the voice of reason that said Gail like this is that’s what people will resonate with. And will remember if you just get up and do a regular talk and sure enough to this day, I heard from one of the organizers once that said, Whenever she thinks of me, she thinks of the signup suit up and show up line that I have you see behind me because that’s what I talked about, you know, it’s an I broke that down into steps. And anyone in manufacturing, if you learn those steps, you know, the signup is all about mindset, the power of just deciding you’re going to do it. Yep, suiting up. That’s curiosity. That’s where you have to do your research, have an answer why, and then you show up. And if you do those first two steps, and then decide to show up, whether on social media, whether it’s a trade show, whether it’s a networking event, and one of the things that, you know, again, anger was a great help with me and encouraged me because even I had those doubts when it was my own story, my own speech. And that’s what I provide with other people is helping them to, you know, get out of their way. And I would say, if you listen to me on certain things, I know what I know about when it comes to showing up on social and, and networking. And now if you ask me about some other things, like I’m not going to be someone if you want, like an Excel spreadsheet, that’s not my area of strength, but there’s people that is their strength you know, cleaning my house, I have someone to help with that. That’s not just bookkeeping, I have a bookkeeper. Like, you know, you find the experts in your life. And that’s where that you know, networking curiosity, the world’s urine, which is, you know, manufacturing and ecommerce. I just want to say something when I was talking to someone else right now a friend that I actually am going to probably introduce him maybe to you or Kurt about e commerce because it’s a smaller business. But I asked I said you have anything that you have through your website, and it’s the type of business that could really get some help with that. So yeah, I would never have known about passing on your names if we hadn’t met through online networking.

Damon Pistulka  27:21

Yeah. It’s, it’s amazing and I, I’m blessed, we’re blessed to be able to do what we do and meet people and talk to as many smart people as we do. And I see for myself in my life with clients, I have more resources now than I did three or four or five years ago that I can draw upon the experts yourself many other people when we need when we need the experts in a business to help them with something it is so much better solutions we can bring to the table. And it doesn’t matter if I’m someone that’s a you know, I could be a salesperson for a company, I could be a manufacturer and I’m just trying to get our name out more all this is, by this networking, you’re just going to open your ecosphere of people that you know that could help your customers eventually and that will in my case it just keeps bringing business it just keeps bringing in business not not because it necessary for us all the time. It’s all our times it’s just hey, you need this help go go here’s some people to do that because that’s the thing that the network is really fun is when you can just help people yes

Gail Robertson  28:35

and you know having that exposure both in person as well as online helps open those doors like a lot of people dropping the comments today. You know I’ve met a few of these through online networking in shows like I think about Inger I met you know we’ve done work together. Katie McDermott says she wrote that I’m super nervous to meet people on purpose no nerves on video whatsoever so you know what that’s the thing it’s find the your area of strength and you know for those that haven’t yet met Katie I strongly encourage it she does. She really helps talk about research and education actually she has lifted many people up through through the the courses that through the I think it’s Katie what does it manufacture University University I want to get the right title but you know she’s really network to bring more people and help connect people Dave Chrysler and we we talk about all sorts of things talking about process we’ve helped each other you know, on those days when you just need someone that kind of give you a boost or or you get stuck on something so definitely good idea to make these connections. And also Oh yeah, m&r University at that. So. So there’s there’s all these, you know, doors that get opened, when, again you’re using when you’re curious. And when you can get out there network and, you know, even dropping comments on shows, right? So if you can’t attend a show even just drop in, so maybe we’ll talk a little bit about algorithm because that is I think very few people understand the why. So they may think, Okay, well, Gail is talking about networking and going on LinkedIn. And but I don’t have time for that. So what, why understanding algorithm is so important, especially for people in manufacturing, and those that come with more of an engineering brain. The way it works on social and especially on LinkedIn, people that comment, what happens is, if you comment, okay, I’ll use my if I go comment on your show, Damon, then people in my network will see that I’ve commented, see, I’m going to be there. No, not everybody. But if someone’s scrolling through might stop it. Now. Last night, I happened to stumble across a show with Chris Stone, who I met through Jim few. So Jim fuse had done a had produced a show for me one time for one of my clients, so and so I stopped in, I didn’t stay for the whole show, but I dropped a few comments, listen for a bit. So when you do that, it’s it’s it truly is a web. So when you’re commenting, it spreads out to everyone. Then if you tag people, it also sort of like tapping them on the shoulder and saying, Hey, there’s something happening over here. Ya know, Ben Baker couldn’t be here today. He wrote team replay, but he’s still commented back and forth. So this is an opportunity to tap into and use the algorithm to your benefit. And people I think, sometimes think that’s like, oh, they don’t want to think about algorithm. And I’m not talking about rigging it so that you get the wrong followers. No, you don’t. And you don’t want to tag people that aren’t going to be interested. So I take some people for this show, that I thought might be interested in attending might get something from it. So if you are listening, and I did tag you, I hope you will drop a comment. Because the people that I did tag, I did that a bit on purpose, too, because I want more people to learn about you to know what you’re doing. So, you know, Katie, a nutshell, I think, if I didn’t tell you, Katie, I showed up, but I know anger. So Dave, so these are opportunities for people just to come on, drop a comment, and then let people know what you’re doing. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It doesn’t make you seem like you know that it’s a bad thing. Because if you don’t believe in what you’re doing, if you don’t have faith in your business and in your abilities, then likely it’ll be harder to get other people to believe in that. So one of the things I’ve learned if I don’t believe in my ability to help with PR to help with strategy to help people understand how to utilize social media. How will anyone else believe in me? Now, Inger just posted on YouTube, thank you for tagging on YouTube, is there are many lurkers out there, Gail. Yes. Yay. To the lurkers? Yes, there’s a lot of people that aren’t commenting that you know, you may never see until they may need something and all of a sudden they will 150%

Damon Pistulka  33:39

Yeah, you will. If you are consistent in your networking, you may have met them some place somewhere you they may have seen you on social media, they may have you you. Even in real life, if you’re at a networking event, you meet so many people, sometimes you may not remember who it was, but they will call you up. If they if they remember you and you’ve made a memorable impact on them. It just happens. And the one thing that I always I always tell people when I when I’m talking about social media and they talk about LinkedIn and they go wow guy you know, you do a lot on LinkedIn. I say do so. But the scary thing about it is, is that people get to know you by your comments. People get to know you buy the videos by the posts you do by all that, and it starts to break down that know like trust, because they can really see oh, you know, I showed up at this event. Maybe it was something for Pat’s or for kids or was was to support your local community and the next day they see you on LinkedIn talking about something in business and they go Hmm, well this is a multifaceted person, you know, or something like that and Yeah, you know, that’s that’s just the kind of thing that I think that all this works together, both on and off with the algorithms and just kind of being a thoughtful participant in life is really what I think it is anymore to let people really help them as much as you can all the time and keep things going.

Gail Robertson  35:23

And always say yes. And so instead of saying yes, but or no, but yes, and to opportunities to speak to opportunities to help someone. Example of lurking, I was I was reached, someone reached out to me from Reuters, they were doing a conference over in Detroit. And they asked about me coming to moderate to panels. And at first I was like, okay, is this fake? Is it real? Because I was like, Reuters is reaching out to me. Now, I had no contact with this person I had, they weren’t, we weren’t connected on LinkedIn. And he sent me a direct message, we jumped on a call. And he said it was because of my content on LinkedIn, would I come and it was moderating two panels on. One was about EVs and the technology and another one was a pick up with the other topic. But anyways, it was two topics that, you know, I wasn’t necessarily super expert on it. But what he was more interested in was my ability, he knew I did research and would ask questions. And so I loved it, because I dove in, and I still have had contact with some of the people on the panel. And I actually connected up one of the panelists with Dave Chrysler, and we’ve had an event over in Detroit, and we’re continuing on to do a local connecting event, you know, for people in manufacturing and automation. And so, that’s what can start to happen when you say, Yeah, I’ll do it.

Damon Pistulka  36:59

That’s awesome. I mean, in. And, you know, it’s, it’s this networking with curiosity, though, the one thing that, that I’m reminded of, over and over is, if you’ve got a thirst for knowledge, if you’re if you are curious and curious in your industry, curious about other people, whatever it is, now, again, such a great place, because everybody’s got a skill. Everybody’s got something, and it’s so much fun. Just talking to people and learning from them. Go on, I never knew a that may be existed. And be that that just that had that happen. Just I mean, there’s just so many things, you’re gonna go wow, I never even knew that happened. And it nor did I know, that was an industry nor did I know there were experts in it. But it’s really cool to just just to know it.

Gail Robertson  37:55

Yes. And that brings reminds me of an interview I had with Harry Moser from during initiative, Virgin legend legend dari Perry Moser. So what an amazing which I actually met, he was speaking at an event. And I was in the comments. And I commented, and then I went afterwards from LinkedIn and sent him a connecting message saying, I just saw you on this show that a lot of that right. Now, to me, he’s kind of a big deal right here over and I’m Oh, yeah, that’s in from, you know, Canada here. So I ran a message. He says, Oh, that’d be great. We connected. Well, from there, we continue to have conversations. And then I had him on my, my YouTube show. But he has a great story that he shares where he went to a wedding. And this the the moral of the story is, sometimes networking can be in a place that you are comfortable at, or that it could be, you know, a hobby you have because you never know who’s going to be there. So he went to a wedding and he was at the table and the conversation about manufacturing. And lo Behold, someone at the table worked in manufacturing, he got talking, they exchanged cards, he ended up this is what he was selling some equipment. He ended up selling some equipment to this person. And it was like, so he didn’t go to that wedding saying, Hey, I’m gonna go do business. Now Harry is Harry’s, uh, oh, what a fascinating person. But he also told me this story. He went to some trade show. And he’s on the escalator and he turns around and he says, hey, if anyone needs whatever, see me a booth blah, blah, blah. That gets people pay with it. I saw you on the show. Now, that’s ballsy of I did. Yeah, that’s awesome. He’s out there saying so. You know, I’m not saying everybody’s going to be comfortable doing that. That is a very special I don’t even know. Could I do that I might be able to do it. Someone recently dared me to do something like a daring event. That’s a different level.

Damon Pistulka  39:56

I mean, you’re what you would do for a dare is like way up here. Well are you doing normal life or do without there’s like, yeah, I might even be down by the basement compared to

Gail Robertson  40:05

that. So that’s the challenge. But the real part of that story is think about if you really don’t like networking with strangers or networking in these big events, go do something that you are interested in that you do find interesting and, and just, you know, talk to people and you never know what, who you’re going to meet and talk to, like I said, I went to that. It was with epicenters with through the University of Windsor, it was, you know, decided to go just to support the organization. And lo and behold, I met some amazing women there too. So that’s awesome.

Damon Pistulka  40:42

Awesome. And Inger drops this great quote, it’s not about connecting people network. It’s about connecting people, with people, people with ideas and people with opportunities. That’s, that’s awesome. Because that’s really what it’s about. Yeah, yeah, mic drop right there.

Gail Robertson  40:57

That is we’ve had a couple of good quotes and comments about it being transformational. It really is, like I’ve had, I could go through personally a list of from my very early young days of how, you know, meeting people, I just had another person on my show on my curious mind show my 92 year old high school teacher who taught journalism class and we reconnected again, he tracked me down online and just amazing, right to have these conversations, and talk about, you know, my time with him and how I got into journalism and, and how, why he started the course. And, you know, I’m also a recovering journalist. So that’s what led me into being you know, I think curious, too, is that, because I was deciding between journalism and law, interestingly, but laws just so much detail work and reading. I mean, I like reading but I marvel at people who are lawyers. So that’s a that’s a whole different

Damon Pistulka  42:03

skill. Yeah, a different skill that for sure, we got Robin a thanks for dropping a comment in here today. And, and back here, I want to go back a little bit, Katie, hey, use me as example. I’m not consistent in my online activity. And that is one thing, and we talked about that before we got online. Consistency is key. I mean, it really is in you talk about if it’s once a month, be consistent, if it’s once a week, if it’s every day, whatever it is, be consistent. And I really think that now, even in b2b business, our potential customers and our existing customers have so much coming at them every day, that consistency is needed to keep your relationship strong to keep yourself top of mind to really keep your customers informed of potential changes, they should be aware of new technologies, there’s just so many things that that consistency brings. What how have you seen that consistency really helped some of your clients as they come into this?

Gail Robertson  43:08

Yeah, it’s, it’s so important that they not look at, you know, I use the analogy too, is like, you know, a yoga instructor will often say, it’s not what other people around you are doing it, this is your practice, this is you. So, you know, don’t look around and say, Oh, geez, they’re posting every day and feeling overwhelmed, or, you know, instead look at it is what will work for you. I usually encourage people to start off posts, decide you’re going to post once a month, you know, just spend some time doing that. And then spend some time in between doing comments, posts every two months, if you have to, but just set up a calendar. And, you know, figure out what best to do. I strongly suggest that rather than out of the gate doing every day, and then falling off, and then yeah, frustrated and saying I’m never gonna go on LinkedIn again. So it’s always easy to add more than to go from everyday to once. So yeah, consistency as in life and everything. You know, as I was saying, to my trainer about this, I said, if if I’m going to the gym, I’m taking my classes. So I know trainers want to work with you to three times a week, I said, Listen, if I come once a week, to do the heavy duty training, I’m still further ahead than not coming. So you know, pick something that and the other thing is right now I need to look at what I can consistently do, because it’s too hard to do three times a week through two and then all of a sudden shift back so I’m starting at something that I can manage in my schedule, and then I can always add that

Damon Pistulka  44:45

is awesome. That’s awesome advice. I mean, doesn’t matter if you’re trying to reading working out being a better person. I mean, the little minut changes consistently over time is what adds up, working out That’s a great thing. Don’t think you’re gonna go to the gym five days a week starting off, though. One day, go for 10 minutes. Yep. And you go, Oh, I can’t get a workout in 10 minutes. That’s okay. Yeah, go the next week for one day and go for 10 minutes, do that for a month, and then go for 15 minutes next month. And you’re gonna find that it’s so ridiculously easy that why wouldn’t you do it? Yeah, it’s like the posting consistency, you know, it’s once a month should be pretty easy for most people. And, and start off with something you can live with. Because your your frustration, it just leads to those peaks and valleys in what you do. So

Gail Robertson  45:43

I wouldn’t do. Yeah. I just wonder if anybody had any other questions. I, I often wonder, okay, why are people? Why are more people not using LinkedIn not using as a tool? So I’ve tried to do a bit of research, it seems to be time and fear. I don’t know if there’s anything else I think the time thing is, you know, we it’s the same thing why people don’t exercise. That’s why people don’t eat rel all this? Well, I don’t have time, so I’m gonna go get fast food, right. Or I think your thing is also just fear of not knowing what to do fear of being, you know, teased whenever there’s a whole bunch of things. But I think if we look back in life, you know, what are the things that you’ve used those two excuses for? And I call them excusive? Because we all have the same amount of time. Yeah, what? Time management? It’s priority management. So how do we prioritize and then decide what your goals are? There’s, there’s one or two people. It’s interesting. I’ve worked with someone that they actually do not probably need to use social media. And they’re the one that has actually listened to me the most in doing taking direction. A company so interestingly, hmm. And they’re phenomenally successful. Hmm. Interesting. Connect the dots.

Damon Pistulka  47:05

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. It’s, that’s where, yeah, it’s you. The networking, however, you’re going to do it is critical for long term success, I believe. Because we don’t know everything. We don’t have all the answers. But if we meet the right people, we can answer those questions. We can help ourselves personally and professionally. And that’s one of the things that I really, I think that you’ve you’ve taught me a lot is that curiosity allows us to meet people that may not necessarily be who we normally would meet, but can really teach us a lot.

Gail Robertson  47:45

Yes, you know, and I met, I met a woman on a train that was at that women’s event that I went to, she was now the lead person there. And she calls me her meet cute friend, because we met on a train just, and that was like, seven, six years ago or something. And we’ve just our paths crossed at different times. And just one quick question coming here from Harry that I want

Damon Pistulka  48:05

to put that up here, because I was gonna see that. Yeah. So what do you think Gail, this is

Gail Robertson  48:10

okay, this is a really good one. I’m going to add it to my list of the third third reason, there is going to be mean nasty people in real life. More so online, because people I know people that are meeting online and I’ve met them in person, I’m like, they’re very different than Don’t ya don’t come across that same way. So I think I have to use this there’s a scroll button for a reason. And when people are writing nasty stuff, I think most people look at the people writing the nasty stuff as being the problem, right? So I’ve had it happen to me, I did a post one time, that was a little, you know, I was over on Twitter and x and but, you know, they it blew up for a little bit. And then life went on. And I think sometimes the best thing is just ignore. Because the more you engage, right, the algorithm will work. It’ll just feed them and then they just Oh, yeah, no more. So the best thing I always said, if it’s not if someone’s writing something rude, mean, personal, ignore it, move along. And I’ve found the best success that way. Just ignore it in it eventually. And I wouldn’t let that stop you because you’re not going to prevent the mean nasties online. But ignoring them, it tends to you know, if you want something to grow, you feed it. Don’t feed the trolls. That’s yeah, that’s some people. I was told when it happened. Me. They said, Oh, if I engage in and help expand my network, but I’m like, I don’t want that network expand. Yeah. So yeah, ignored it. That was my decision.

Damon Pistulka  49:45

Exactly. And for me, trolls on LinkedIn is pretty easy. I delete comments. Yeah, I do. I delete comments. Just because I am like, Hey, don’t come into my posts and try to sell something. You’re gonna get deleted. That’s the way it is. But The feeding that is 150% of someone’s coming in rude. i You might even say great perspective. Yeah, that’s all you got to do. Yep. Just Hey, you know, everybody, because two things two things always come to mind. Is it one of them’s not going to be PC at all because Kurt’s not here today, so I can do this way. Is haters are gonna hate, right? They’re gonna find they woke up angry. They just the you know, and I don’t live that way. Now, a lot of us don’t live that way. And the second thing, everybody has an opinion, just like, everybody’s got something else that I won’t say. So. So, I guess I guess that perspective, right? They get that perspective, I don’t care what it is. And there’s a lot of different things. So those trolls are going to be trolls. And they’re going to be out there and it is part of it.

Gail Robertson  50:51

Just like curate your feed to like if and if anyone I do a lot of over on X, Twitter, whatever. And I like it. But I curate and I follow people I really care. I’m engaging with people who are informative and insightful. But do I get some crap too, but I sometimes see I just let it roll on my ear kind of see me off the mark. But yep,

Damon Pistulka  51:14

great question, Harry. And that’s, it’s something that you know, just as, as Gail said, just don’t feed the beast. Don’t feed the beast, whatever you do. And, you know, we can we can live positive no matter what other people are doing around us. That’s yeah, I’ve learned it the hard way. But you know, it’s, it’s, it’s a better life when you do that. It’s a better life. So. Well, Gail, it’s been awesome talking to you today. Good. I mean, the the showcase person for networking with curiosity in itself. Thanks for being here today. You know, Kurt was off on vacation this week. Glad he can get some time off and do that. We’re back again Monday on manufacturing ecommerce success with another great guest. And yes, once again, I didn’t check who that is.

Gail Robertson  52:08

But, Paige, go and follow you and connect with you. Yeah.

Damon Pistulka  52:13

But we’ll we’ll have fun. But thanks so much for being here today. I want to thank all the guests today. There are so many people and we that Lucy just jumped in here too. So, man, yeah, this is this is a great place for for us every week to be able to share wonderful people’s perspectives like yours, Gail, and, you know, Timothy, Inger Dave, Harry Dwight, I’m looking back into getting tons of comments today. We love that and, and I’ll lose the Megan. Katie. Wow, DAF eight just thanks so much for being Inger. I might have missed them. Chava thanks for being here today. We will be back again next week with more awesome people talking about great stuff. Thanks for being here today. Gail, hang out for a moment. We’ll wrap up offline. Thank you